COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 1, 2020) – Historic Columbia announces its October 2020 events calendar that includes a unique Bluegrass, Bidding and BBQ silent auction event and the addition of multi-site outdoor tours.
Family Day | History Hunters at Robert Mills House
Saturday, Oct. 3 | One-hour sessions from 9 a.m.-Noon | Robert Mills House & Gardens
Join Historic Columbia for a family-fun day exploring a different era. Families will explore the 19th century and learn about what life was like before electricity. Crafts, games and an interactive tour of the Robert Mills House are all part of this experience.
This event requires timed ticket entries to ensure maximum social distancing and the safety of our participants. All tickets must be purchased in advance as walk-up registration will not be available. Clicking “Buy Tickets” on the event page brings prospective attendees to entry time options.
Each session is one hour. Late arrivals for scheduled entry times risk losing chance to participate in the program. Face masks are required for all adults and children 11 and over in accordance with City of Columbia’s ordinance.
Tickets for HC members are $5 for adults ($7 for non-members) and $10 for youth ($12 for non-members). Free admission for those 3-years-old and under. To purchase tickets, visit historccolumbia.org, email reservations@historiccolumbia.org, or call (803) 252-1770 x 23.
Virtual Conversation | On the Table
Tuesday, Oct. 6 | 11:30-1 p.m. | Virtual
Join Historic Columbia for another installment of “On the Table” conversations.
This virtual discussion though Zoom features panelists Dr. Mercedes Lopez Rodriquez, Chair of the Latino Faculty Caucus at the University of South Carolina; Cheryl Nail, Community Relations Director at Columbia Jewish Federation; Kimberly Eison Simmons, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Anthropology and African American Studies and Interim Director for Institute for African American Research at UofSC; and Matthew Butler, Director of Operations at the Harriet Hancock Center.
Multiple issues such as racism, sexism, economic disparities, social injustices are confronting everyday lives and this session – titled “Conversations on Creating Inclusive and Equitable Communities” – will address them. Panelists will provide a brief overview of their community work before participants on the call will be invited to ask questions in a live Q&A format.
This marks the third consecutive year of HC’s partnership with Cola Gives and Central Carolina Community Foundation for “On the Table,” a platform designed to bring people together to build personal connections, share ideas and inspire action.
To register for the event, visit historiccolumbia.org, email mplott@historiccolumbia.org, or call (803) 252-7742 x 12.
Multi-Site Outdoor Tours
Beginning Thursday, Oct. 8 | 11 a.m.-Noon, Thursday-Saturday | Robert Mills House and Gardens, Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
Beginning Oct. 8, guests can once again be guided through the grounds of HC properties as the Robert Mills House and Gardens and Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens are open for a combined outdoor tour. Visitors will connect to the history of 19th century Columbia by learning about architecture, the planter class, enslaved individuals, and the evolution of these historic sites.
While indoor tours remain unavailable, this outdoor tour is designed with safety and education in mind. Masks are required for all visitors and HC tour guides. The tour group will meet at 11 a.m. Thursday-Saturday outside the Gift Shop at the Robert Mills House. Tours last approximately 60 minutes. Guests are encouraged to take photographs, ask questions and bring their own beverage. Restrooms at HC properties won’t be open to the public.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. They are $10 for adults, $7 for youth (ages 17 and under) and free for HC members. To purchase tickets, visit historccolumbia.org, email reservations@historiccolumbia.org, or call (803) 252-1770 x 23.
Tours | Historic Gardens, Historic Grounds
Beginning Friday, Oct. 9 | 10-11 a.m. | Robert Mills House and Gardens, Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
Explore the native and exotic with Historic Columbia's Director of Grounds, Keith Mearns, as he offers insight into the varied and beautiful gardens at the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Site.
Each encompassing a full city block, the development of the gardens at these sites is guided by collections policies formulated to maximize their interpretive value. Subjects discussed will include botany, horticulture, landscape design and historic precedent. Tours are offered each Friday and begin in front of the Gift Shop at the Robert Mills House.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. They are $10 for the general public and free for HC members. To purchase tickets, visit historccolumbia.org, email reservations@historiccolumbia.org, or call (803) 252-1770 x 23.
Palladium | 16th Annual Bluegrass, Bidding, and BBQ
Thursday, Oct. 15 | 5-6 p.m. | Virtual (Silent auction runs Oct. 13-15)
Rescheduled from March, the annual Palladium event is being conducted with a unique approach as it shifts to a virtual platform. In celebration of International Bluegrass Day (Oct. 1), Historic Columbia begins releasing on social media a wide array of bluegrass and BBQ-related content, including sneak peeks of premier auction items. Bidding will happen entirely online with items available to view Oct. 1. Bidding opens Oct. 13 and closes at 10 p.m. on Oct. 15.
A one-hour Bluegrass, Bidding and BBQ web special will begin at 5 p.m., Oct. 15, on Facebook and will feature lively discussion on the history of BBQ in South Carolina, bluegrass tunes from Willie Wells and the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass, craft cocktail demonstrations silent auction item highlights. All proceeds from the auction will support Historic Columbia.
For more information about how to participate in the event, contact Charles Calhoun at ccalhoun@historiccolumbia.org.
Movies in the Gardens | Hocus Pocus
Friday, Oct. 30| 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
Enjoy an evening with your family at the first of HC’s Movies in the Garden series presented by Art of Real Estate. Watch this 1993 classic family film Hocus Pocus (rated PG) in socially distanced pods on the Hampton-Preston Mansion grounds with food from Doggy Bagz, a local food truck.
We encourage families to embrace their Halloween spirit and dress in costume for a scary fun time! Families will enjoy a goodie bag and fang-tastic craft just for their little ghouls and goblins in each pod. Bring food, chairs or blankets to enjoy a spook-filled evening!
While the movie begins at 6:30 p.m., gardens will open at 5:30 p.m. for ticket holders to arrive early and enjoy a picnic on the grounds.
Admission is $5 for Historic Columbia members and $10 for the general public. Children 5 and under are free. To purchase tickets, visit historccolumbia.org, email reservations@historiccolumbia.org, or call (803) 252-1770 x 23.
Historic Columbia Gardens
Gardens at Seibels House (1601 Richland Street) are open for visitation from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Gardens at Robert Mills (1616 Blanding Street) and Hampton-Preston (1615 Blanding Street) are open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and on Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
The Hampton-Preston gardens are also open Thursday evenings until 7 p.m.
Historic Columbia adheres to CDC guidelines to keep guests safe. These measures include strong encouragement of face coverings, reduced capacity and directional signage. See our FAQs for more information.
About Historic Columbia
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. Over the next five decades the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of six historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. Visit historiccolumbia.org or find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
SCBIZtv is part of the SC Biz News family, serving 100,000 high-level business execs throughout South Carolina.
Click for more from SCBIZtv.
