Aiken-Rhett House CLOSED March 11 and 12 in preparation for Indigo: Variations in Blue

Exterior of historic home in Charleston South Carolina

The Charleston Festival

CELEBRATING CHARLESTON'S HISTORY AND CULTURE SINCE 1947

The Charleston Festival is Historic Charleston Foundation's most anticipated fundraising event of the year!

Historic Charleston Foundation has celebrated houses, history, and culture through its annual spring festival. Now in its 79th year, the annual spring festival has evolved into a larger, and more holistic celebration of Charleston’s history, architecture, culture, and community. Formerly known as the Festival of Houses & Gardens, The Charleston Festival will continue to present House & Garden Tours and engaging lectures, in addition to a variety of new programs and venues to explore for the 2026 season — March 18 through April 11, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Festival's dedicated website, TheCharlestonFestivalSC.org. Learn more about the Festival, below.

Browse The Charleston Festival 2026 brochure online, now!

March 18 - april 11, 2026

2026 Festival Highlights

Each spring, The Charleston Festival presents a wide variety of events ranging from tours, concerts to intimate lectures and exclusive events in between.

New for 2026, Charleston by Design will have its own identity, weekend of events, and website. Tickets for both fundraising events and more information available on each respective website.

Indigo dyed linen hanging from the ceiling with artists

Art at ARH: Indigo

An original art exhibition exploring indigo as color, memory, and meaning inside the historic Aiken-Rhett House c. 1820, on view March 13 through June 28.

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House & Garden Tours

The hallmark of Historic Charleston Foundation's spring festival since 1947, The Charleston Festival will continue to present House & Garden Tours throughout Charleston's historic peninsula.

FESTIVAL TOURS

Festival Music Series

Each spring, The Charleston Festival Music Series includes a variety of performances by celebrated musicians in the Lowcountry and beyond. Just one part of the Festival, don't miss this annual favorite.

FESTIVAL EVENTS

Learn from the Lowcountry

The Charleston Festival is not only the Foundation's most critical fundraising tool, but it is also an annual opportunity to share the best of Charleston with visitors and residents through its robust schedule of events. In addition, Learning from the Lowcountry programs invite expert speakers to Charleston to share their unique experience, skill set, or research, with Festival attendees.

March 18 - april 11, 2026

2026 Festival Speakers

In a variety of formats, dive deeper into the rich and layered history of Charleston, South Carolina with renowned experts and speakers. For more information about each speaker, program and to purchase tickets, visit TheCharlestonFestivalSC.org

The Challenges and Successes of Gardening in Charleston

Join us at the historic American Theater for an engaging panel discussion with Landscape Architects, Elizabeth Pope and Glen Gardener, and designers Tracee Lund of Potted Pleasures and Patrick Bradley of Charleston Gardenworks.

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Female Entrepreneurs in the Lowcountry

Hear from trailblazing women from in Charleston who pave the way. Join speakers, Susan Pearlstine, Cokie Cox, Jessica Munday and Stephanie Hunt for an engaging conversation about women overcoming longstanding barriers to defy social norms and clear the path for women in the future.

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Food for Thought Lecture Series

The 2026 Food for Thought Luncheon Lecture Series will feature: Dr. Jacob Steere-Williams, Assistant Director of Museums Valerie Perry, the team at Carolima's Catering, archaeologist, Dr. Andrew Agha, Herb Frazier and Joseph McGill, Jr., Louisa Pringle Cameron, and more!

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