‘Holiday Magic’ will light up the Kaminski House Museum in Georgetown

‘Holiday Magic’ will light up the Kaminski House Museum in Georgetown

Festive events are set to usher in the holiday season at the Kaminski House Museum in historic Georgetown on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®.

Dubbed “Holiday Magic,” the special events include a Holiday Market, a concert presented by the Saltwater Chamber Orchestra, a wreath auction, candlelight tours of the historic home, a Holiday Village for children, rides on the a Holiday Trolley, and the museum’s annual “Light Up the Lawn” event.

Kim Leatherwood, deputy director of the museum, said, “The Friends of the Kaminski House are thrilled to open the doors of the museum for guests to view all its rooms decked out in glitz and glamour for the holidays. This year, the decorations inside the Kaminski House are fabulous and many feature elves which make this holiday season even more whimsical and magical.”

Home design specialists

This year’s featured home décor specialists are Karyl Doscher and Ginger Gray (Doodlebugs Children’s Finery & Gifts); Melanie Hein (Indigo Bakery & Café); Kevin Jayroe (Bluebird Vintage & Bienvenue Home); Melissa Levey and Cathe Crooks (C & C Auction); Rebecca Ceron Martin and Hope McFaddin (South Carolina Maritime Museum); and Tessa Terry (Alchemy RV Restoration). The Holiday Designers’ Showcase may be viewed now during the regular daily tours at the Museum at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Holiday Market

The Museum’s Holiday Market will be held on the lawn on Friday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“The Holiday Market will feature handcrafted ornaments and jewelry from local artisans and delicious holiday pies, cookies, and treats,” Leatherwood said. “The market is a wonderful opportunity for shoppers to pick up unique treasures for the gift-giving season.”

Auction of holiday wreaths

The Museum will also present an auction of holiday wreaths during the Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m. And later that same day, the Saltwater Chamber Orchestra will perform on the lawn from 5–6 p.m. Participants will be given a sip of champagne to toast the switch being flipped to “Light Up the Lawn” for the  2023 holiday season.

Candlelight Tours

Holiday Magic at the Kaminski House Museum will continue with the Candlelight Tours on Thursday, Dec. 7, and Thursday, Dec. 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. both days. A performance by the Pawleys Island Flute Choir will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 7, and the Waccamaw Chorus will perform on Thursday, Dec. 14.

The Museum will offer tours of the rooms, drenched in warm candlelight. The Candlelight Tours will include a walk through the Kathryn and David Kossove Terrace with lighting in memory of or in honor of loved ones during this special time of year.

Holiday Trolley and Tick Tock

To close out the 2023 holiday season, the Kaminski House will offer rides aboard the Holiday Trolley on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 4 – 6 p.m. This year local author Christine Thomas Doran will read her book, “Tick Tock the Christmas Mouse,” on the porch of the Kaminski House Museum on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. 

“Come out for a special afternoon of holiday cookies and cocoa and hear the story of Tick Tock and his adventures inside the Kaminski House Museum,” Leatherwood said. “A scavenger hunt and tour of the Kaminski House Museum will also be included.”

Rides on the Holiday Trolley will feature the businesses on Front Street all decorated for the holidays amid the City of Georgetown all aglow with sparkling holiday lights from 4–6 p.m. 

History of the museum

Constructed circa 1769, the Kaminski House Museum was home to many prominent Georgetown residents. The home’s pre-Revolutionary architectural details are an elegant background to the varied interiors that help bring to life Harold and Julia Pyatt Kaminski, the home’s last residents.

Mrs. Kaminski left the house and its contents to the City of Georgetown upon her death in 1972.  It was opened as a house museum in 1973. The Museum was operated by the City of Georgetown for many years. The Friends of the Kaminski House assumed management of the Kaminski House on July 1, 2013. Located at 1003 Front St., the gift shop at the Kaminski House Museum is open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for seniors over 65; and $10 for children ages 6-17.  Children under 5 are admitted free of charge.  For more information, visit the museum’s website, or call the museum office at 843-546-7706.