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Events

Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens Reimagined for 2021

2021 marks the 74th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens. The festival celebrates the history, culture, beauty and architecture that Charleston boasts. Proceeds from the festival will benefit education and preservation efforts for the Historic Charleston Foundation.

In order to keep staff and festival-goers safe, this year’s festival will look a little different. Officials have made the difficult decision to cancel some annual events and have required that tours only feature private gardens and the exteriors of homes. 

The festival will begin on March 11th with virtual Food for Thought Luncheon Lectures. In-person luncheon lectures will begin on April 5th at the Captain James Missroon House on East Bay Street.

Traditional events like the annual Sip and Stroll and Garden Splendor have been cancelled for the 2021 season. However, in place of those events, a new program will be held. Festival Fridays will start on April 23rd and take place every Friday through August 27th. Festival Fridays will include Morning History Walks and Food For Thought Lectures.The Glorious Gardens Tours will be also held on April 30th, May 14th, May 17th and May 21st. 

Click here to learn more about the lineup of events taking place this year and see how you can celebrate this beautiful city.

News

Charleston City Council Considers Plan to Preserve Smokestacks

The Eastside Community’s historic 135-feet smokestacks are at the center of a debate over their preservation.

Charleston City Council officials are considering an estimated $3 million preservation plan to save the smokestacks, which are currently located in downtown Charleston at the St. Julian Devine Community Center.

There was initially a push to remove the smokestacks from city officials due to safety concerns. Some experts warn the smokestacks are at risk of falling on homes during natural disasters like a hurricane or earthquake. 

President of the Eastside Community Development Corporation, Latonya Gamble, said the smokestacks are “an important part of our history, it has some African American history, it has some industrial history. It has a beautiful skyline and it gives our neighborhood character.”

The Charleston City Council will soon vote on a supposed $200,000 preservation contract with an engineering firm to create a plan to preserve the historic smokestacks.

A majority of the preservation funds are expected to come from fundraising, with the rest of the funds being taken from a fund reserved and property taxes.