Charleston Home and Garden Tour and 10th Annual Charleston Antiques Show Dates Announced

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The Festival of Houses and Gardens, March 21-April 20, 2013, and the Charleston Antiques Show, March 22-25, 2013, celebrate the decorative arts, history and culture found only in Charleston. Tickets will go on sale November 1, 2012.

Charleston, S.C. (PRWEB) August 15, 2012

Historic Charleston Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and protect the integrity of Charleston's architectural, historical, and cultural heritage; announced the dates for the 66th annual spring Festival of Houses and Gardens, which will take place from March 21 through April 20, 2013. The premier event of its kind in the country, the Festival offers visitors the rare opportunity to experience Charleston including a home and garden tour in the city's renowned historic district during peak blooming season. Other special events include a concert series, wine and spirit tastings, lectures and more. Kicking off the Festival’s first weekend of festivities is the 10th annual Charleston Antiques Show, March 22-25, 2013. The Festival of Houses and Gardens and the Charleston Antiques Show celebrate the decorative arts, history and culture found only in Charleston. Tickets for the Charleston home and garden tour and the Charleston Antiques Show will go on sale November 1, 2012.

The 66th annual spring Festival of Houses and Gardens includes a series of tours and events:

•     Charleston Home and Garden Tours: Each self-guided tour will provide exclusive access into the private residences and historic properties otherwise only viewed from the sidewalks of Charleston’s earliest neighborhoods. Beautiful architecture and lush blooming gardens are woven throughout the fabric of Charleston.
•     Daily Morning History Walks: Expert guides lead two-hour walking tours of the Old and Historic District, providing the background for the Festival’s house and garden tours.
•     Musical Concerts: From bluegrass to instrumental classical music, each concert is a special opportunity for guests to experience period music in an intimate historic setting with informative interpretations.
•     Luncheon Lectures: This series of entertaining and educational presentations features different speakers daily along with a light lunch. Participants will also enjoy a brief tour or hands-on experience that relates to the day’s topic.
•     Wine and Spirits Tastings: Guests will discover why Charleston is known for its fine cuisine while savoring wines with paired hors d’oeuvres.

Learn more about the Charleston home and garden tour and special events of the spring Festival of Houses and Gardens at http://www.historiccharleston.org/Festival.

In its milestone 10th year, the Charleston Antiques Show, managed by The Antiques Council, will kick off the Festival with several special opportunities to learn more about rare antiques and decorative arts:

•     Preview Party: An elaborate social event with entertainment and elegant décor in a setting that showcases the decorative arts—the historic Memminger Auditorium. The Preview Party provides an exclusive, first glimpse of the show before it opens to the public.
•     Special Event Package: Members of the Charleston Antiques Show’s “Collectors Circle” will be invited to the Preview Party as well a private cocktail hour preceding the event. The Collectors Circle package also includes exclusive invitations to parties in historic, private residences; access to the private Collectors Circle Room, an elegantly designed space adjacent to the show floor; unlimited daily admission to the show through private entrance and more.
•     Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Guests will learn more about the art of collecting antiques and how to incorporate historic objects with contemporary design during educational and entertaining tours of the show led by industry experts.

Together, the Charleston Antiques Show and the Festival of Houses and Gardens give visitors rare access to Charleston homes and gardens including the inside many of the city’s finest residential houses as well as the opportunity to experience history in the form of the nation’s most impressive antiques. Tickets will go on sale November 1, 2012.

Private, customized connoisseur tours are also available for small groups, visit http://www.historiccharleston.org/SpecialTours for more information.
With the help of more than 700 volunteers, both events are organized by Historic Charleston Foundation with proceeds supporting its mission to preserve and protect the historical, architectural and material culture that make up Charleston's rich and irreplaceable heritage. To learn more about volunteer roles, benefits, and training, visit http://www.historiccharleston.org/Volunteer.

About Historic Charleston Foundation
Established in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the historical, architectural and material culture that make up Charleston's rich and irreplaceable heritage. The Foundation is known for its preservation and advocacy programs including protective covenants and easements; education and outreach; and it is the first organization in the country to establish a revolving fund to acquire and preserve important buildings, a model now replicated in historic communities across the nation. Preservation coupled with education and outreach is at the heart of the HCF mission. This mission is supported through the generosity of preservation-minded donors, the annual Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens, the Charleston Antiques Show, a licensed products program, and retail shops. In addition, HCF fulfills its educational mission through the interpretation of its collections and two museum sites: the Nathaniel Russell House, c. 1808, and the Aiken-Rhett House, c. 1820.    

About The Antiques Council
Since its inception in 1990, this leading nonprofit trade association for American and European antique dealers has worked to maintain a sense of confidence between its members and the public. One of the primary aims of the Antiques Council is to manage antiques shows for charity organizations. “An Antiques Council managed show offers the opportunity to experience firsthand the excitement of seeing some of the finest antiques offered anywhere for sale by many of the top dealers in the country, while at the same time buying with the confidence that purchases are guaranteed in writing by those same dealers,” says Marty Shapiro, President, The Antiques Council.

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