Walterboro plans 2nd antique, history, art fest

Last year's festival was so good, they decided to do it again.

The second annual Walterboro Antiques, History & Arts Festival is set May 16-18. Singers, songwriters, performers, an antiques fair, homes tours, artists, an antique tractor show, parade, among other attractions, will bring excitement to this year's festival, said Gale Doggette, executive director of the Colleton County Historical & Preservation Society.

The society joined forces this year with the city of Walterboro, the Downtown Antique Dealers, the Colleton County Arts Council, the S.C. Artisans Center, USC-Salkehatchie and the Colleton Museum to plan the three-day weekend.

Friday

A reception and awards presentation will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Colleton Center, 494 Hampton St., for the Lowcountry Art Show. The Colleton Museum is free and features a permanent collection exploring the history of Colleton County from prehistoric times to the early 1900s. The museum also has an ongoing exhibit, "Animals of the ACE," a natural history display featuring Lowcountry wildlife.

The Opening Night Soiree (admission is $25), with cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres, will be at the Green Lady Gallery, 261 E. Washington St.

Saturday

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., antique dealers and vendors from three states will be at Washington and Lucas streets in downtown Walterboro.

Also on tap are a Historic House Tour (tickets are $20), 2-5 p.m.; and the opening of the farmers market downtown. Scheduled are storytelling by USC-Salkehatchie, the Lowcountry Art Show sponsored by the Arts Council, the S.C. Artisans Center and Colleton Museum.

A barbecue lunch will be served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the National Guard Armory on U.S. Highway 17A. New events include an Antique Tractor Show by the Lowcountry Tractor Club and the Salkehatchie Tractor Club, a tractor parade and guided tours of the Great Swamp Sanctuary. Singers and songwriters will perform 1-4:30 p.m. at Waterfall on Washington Street.

Sunday

Antique dealers and vendors will be at Washington and Lucas streets at 1 p.m. A guided tour of the swamp sanctuary will begin at 1 p.m., and a garden tour (tickets are $10) will take place 12:30-3 p.m. A free gospel concert is set 2-4 p.m. at Waterfall on Washington Street.

Tickets are available at Downtown Books & Espresso, Hiott's Pharmacy and all participating antique dealers. To buy tickets, call 549-9633 or visit www.colletonhistoryandpreservation.com.