Popular event series ‘Harvesting Heritage’ returns to the State Museum

Guests will enjoy a discussion panel, crab crack reception, and more.

The South Carolina State Museum is excited to announce the return of the popular Harvesting Heritage event series with Harvesting Heritage: Changing Tides, taking place Aug. 22, 2025, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The special evening will honor the past and future of creativity, innovation, and artistry in Black foodways throughout South Carolina.

The event kicks-off the second year of Harvesting Heritage, which will highlight our state’s harvesters — farmers, crabbers, fishermen, foragers, game hunters and more—who help shape South Carolina’s food culture.

“We are thrilled to bring back Harvesting Heritage for another powerful year of honoring the deep-rooted traditions and evolving stories of Black foodways in South Carolina,” says State Museum Executive Director Amy Bartow-Melia. “This fall, we intend to celebrate the stewards of our land and waters, whose creativity and resilience nourish our communities. We look forward to gathering once again to uplift their voices, share their knowledge, and honor their contributions to our State.”

Guests on Aug. 22nd will enjoy a crab crack reception catered by Donnie Green’s Catering, as well as a special discussion panel with award-winning Chef Amethyst Ganaway; Tia Clark, owner of Casual Crabbing with Tia (one of the top Air BNB experiences in the world); and Keisha Rainey, food systems leader at Roots & Rain.

Coming This Fall: 

Harvesting Heritage: Stories in Season 

On Nov. 15, Keisha Rainey, founder of Roots & Rain, will host Harvesting Heritage: Stories in Season, a program dedicated to Black farmers and agricultural leaders in South Carolina.

Stay tuned for more on our February and June 2026 programs! We are grateful to our sponsor, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Tickets for Harvesting Heritage: Changing Tides are $50 for the general public and $35 for museum members. Tickets include event activities, food, and a drink voucher. Tickets are on sale now at scmuseum.org. Ticket information for the other Harvesting Heritage events will be released soon.

About the South Carolina State Museum

Since opening in 1988, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org