🌴 Summerville Treasures: Timrod Fall Fest + Free Art Exhibits

November is here!

For those of you with older kids, enjoy the extra hour of sleep this weekend. For those of you with young kids, best of luck with the transition. As of this morning some of you may be in full blown Christmas mode and don’t worry, we’ll have amazing local gift guides, activities, and don’t miss events featured soon. For today, we’re still clinging to fall vibes a little longer.

Tomorrow is the Sweet Tea Half Marathon and 10k so if you’re out and about make sure to cheer the runners on and be prepared for road closures.

The Coastal Carolina Fair kicked off yesterday and will be at the Exchange Park until November 10th. We’ve shockingly never been but plan to go this year and will share any tips or trips we discover. If you have some tips to share with us before we go, reply to this email!

Want to support your favorite, local newsletter? Now you can help keep Palmetto Parents free and wear an amazing Dad Hat or Comfort Color Tee while you walk around Hutchinson Square in the sunny November weather. 😉 

Click either image below to visit the Palmetto Parents store and get your merch now.

By the way, if you’d like to include your business in our weekly newsletter to nearly 3,000 Summerville parents, we would love to feature you. Learn more now.

TO DO

Public Works Art Center Family Trip

The Public Works Art Center is a lively community art hub dedicated to fostering creativity for all ages. They offer art classes for all ages and levels and have rotating exhibits of local artist’s work. Admission is free to the public and you can visit anytime Tuesday-Saturday between 10am-5pm. As a free art gallery, it’s a great opportunity to teach your kids how to appreciate art.

Last week for part of our day date, my husband and I spent time exploring the Public Works Art Center and I was in awe of the work I saw on display as a part of the Spark Exhibit, which allowed both adults and kids to submit art to display. Anyone was able to submit their art and there was a variety of beautiful pieces displayed. I was very tempted to spend hundreds on local artwork.

The Spark Exhibit closes tomorrow, November 2nd.

Starting November 8th, Student Art Exhibition will be on display. This annual exhibit showcases the work of young artists from the Tri-County area. It’s an inspiring display of local talent and offers families a chance to support children and celebrate their creativity. There will also be an “Objects are Smaller Than They Appear” exhibit by Ken Hamilton and “Every Good Intention” exhibit by Adrian Rhodes.

In November,  PWAC offers a range of family-friendly and creative events and workshops. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect:

• Indigo Dye Day – On November 2 (tomorrow), from 10am - 2pm, participants can bring their own items (like shirts or scarves) to dye with indigo for just $5 per item. It’s a hands-on event that’s both fun and educational, perfect for all ages​.

• Pottery Classes – A four-week Beginning Pottery course kicks off on November 6, where participants will learn hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques. This class is a great option for both teens (13 and up) and adults who want to try something new and create pottery from scratch​.

• Faux Cake Decorating Class – On November 6, adults and teens (15 and up) can try their hand at creating decorative “cakes” using plaster and paint, making for a fun, no-calorie treat that’s perfect for display.

• Needle Felting Workshop – On November 13, kids and teens (9 and up) can explore “painting with wool,” a beginner-friendly needle felting class that teaches unique, textured art techniques.

While there, we overheard the PWAC director telling students on a field trip there that they never want money to be an obstacle for participants attending classes. If you’re interested in classes but the price isn’t in your budget, be sure to contact them to see how you can still join!

Also, to celebrate el Día de los Muertos, PWAC will be hosting a community ofrenda today. From 4-6pm later this evening you can create art, then there will be a celebration with live music, spoken word, and homemade tamales from 6-8pm. Bring a picture of your loved ones who have passed to participate in the ofrenda. Registration is required; click here to get more details.

FROM OUR SPONSORS

Artificial Intelligence Actually Can Help Parents

Friend, if you’d to support Palmetto Parents, I recommend checking out this awesome tool for parents by clicking the link below. We get paid for every click and it really does go a long way in helping us make this newsletter totally free for you, every single week.

Say ohai to an AI assistant...and bye to parental overwhelm

Introducing Ohai.ai, an AI assistant designed to lighten the mental load of busy parents. Ohai keeps track of the details that take up your time and brainspace – like managing your family calendar and to-do list, planning endless meals, remembering everything, and reading all those emails.

Ohai can help you:

• get organized

• coordinate tasks

• make meal plans

• order groceries

• anticipate upcoming events and conflicts

• and scan emails for key info.

Try Ohai.ai and use code FALL50 to get 50% off your first month.

LOCAL EVENT

50th Annual Fall Fest at Timrod Library

If you want to participate in a beloved Summerville tradition, stop by Timrod Library’s 50th Annual Fall Fest tomorrow, November 2nd, between 9:30am and 2pm. For the kids, the fest will include face painting, bookmark coloring, and a very large selection of gently used kids and junior books from $1-$3. Plus, if you mention that you heard about the fall fest from the Palmetto Parents newsletter you will get a book for free.

Admission to the fest is free, but the main event includes a sale of:

• hundreds of books in a variety of genres at low prices

• vintage and rare books

• homemade baked goods, soups and casseroles

• stationary and kitchen gift items.

The Hanahan Sweetgrass Basket Weavers will be there selling their sweetgrass baskets. There will also be a silent auction and a cash prize drawing. All proceeds from this event benefit the Timrod Literary and Library Association. This is a great opportunity to get a jump start on some holiday shopping while supporting a local library.

The Timrod Library is a historic gem for Summerville, having its start in 1897 when a group of young women in Summerville created a reading circle with a collection of books. The library was chartered in 1908 and named after poet Henry Timrod who wrote the state song of South Carolina. Today, the library is one of two of the state’s membership libraries. The Timrod Library holds over 12,000 volumes, including bestsellers, classics, rare books, and local titles. The children’s section offers picture books, juvenile fiction, young adult novels, and graphic novels. Click here to find out more about membership.

Want to receive free books monthly for your 0-5 years old? The Timrod Library is an affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. You can register your child for free books or to donate to help with shipping costs here.

Looking to buy, sell, or invest in your next home?

Meet Ernest Govan, aka "The Dream Maker Agent," your go-to realtor for Summerville and Charleston! As a Palmetto Parents Preferred Partner, Ernest is trusted by our entire family—he helped us, my brother, and even my parents find the perfect homes. He’s known for being patient, communicative, and never pushy. Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to invest, Ernest will guide you through the process with ease. Ready to make your real estate dreams a reality?

Contact The Dream Maker today!

If you haven’t yet, consider joining the Palmetto Parents Community to chat with fellow parents in real time! It’s like a big group DM to ask questions, communicate about IRL meetups, get advice, and more. It’s small but growing. 😄

RESTAURANT

The Eclectic Chef

The Eclectic Chef is a cafe that prides itself in using the freshest ingredients to create unique (dare I say… eclectic) and delicious sandwiches, paninis, soups, wraps, quesadillas, salads and desserts. They have a large menu that rotates seasonally and also have kids options.

It is locally owned and operated and has been thriving since 2004. I enjoyed a delicious Italian sandwich special (on gluten free bread 🤩).

The restaurant has a very cozy, small town vibe, which is perfect for families — and the walls are covered with local art. While my husband and I enjoyed lunch there, we saw many regular customers pass through, chatting with the staff. Many of the customers knew each other and it was clear this restaurant is a favorite for established Summerville residents. For my Gilmore Girls fans, I saw something recently that said Summerville is the Stars Hallow of South Carolina and my experiences at The Eclectic Chef was giving me major “Luke’s” vibes.

The Eclectic Chef’s central location in downtown Summerville makes it easily accessible to visitors and a staple for locals. If you’re looking for a casual yet flavorful dining experience, The Eclectic Chef is a great option.

• Location: 125 Central Avenue, Summerville, SC

• Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11am - 4pm

The Eclectic Chef also offers a Cooking Studio where they offer classes on how to make fresh pasta, cook for a dinner party, make homemade sausage, or prepare holiday appetizers. They also pride themselves in doing gourmet to go meals. This includes anything from dinner parties or making meals for someone who is sick or recently lost a loved one. They offer options for cooking on site, dropping off, or pick up. See their website to get more info on catering and classes.

PALMETTO PIECE

End the Year Strong

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished as parents and how our kids have grown throughout the year. Whether your year has been full of joy or disappointment, dreams accomplished or unmet expectations, try not to rush on to the next year and take advantage of the last two months of the year and all that they can hold. If it’s been a great year, keep celebrating and being grateful for all the good. If it’s been a rough one, these next eight weeks can still hold a lot of joy and happy memories.

For many of us, the busy holiday season can bring joy but also stress, and it’s easy to get swept up in the rush. However, there’s something special about slowing down in these last couple months to fully enjoy time with our families and make meaningful memories. What I’m learning is that our most special memories are usually created when I least expect it, in the simplest and most laid back moments at home. Whether it’s carving out time for simple family activities like movie nights or cooking a meal together, these little moments often become the memories we treasure the most.

Over the last weeks of 2024, try reflecting together on favorite memories of the year, practicing gratitude as a family, or setting small goals for the coming year to connect your family and focus on the positive of this year and the next. If you have dinner together, these are great topics of conversation for your family.

Let’s make the most of these last months by being present with our loved ones, embracing a little extra kindness, and ending 2024 with purpose and joy.

If you made it this far, thank you x100000. You are the reason we write this weekly newsletter, and it would be nothing with you.

If you are one of the thousands of parents who read Palmetto Parents every week, would you please consider sharing this newsletter? You can copy your unique link below, paste it on Facebook or in a text message or in your local neighborhood group — every share goes such a long way.

PLUS if you get just 3 referrals we’ll give you 25% off the Palmetto Parents Tee. Pretty good deal if you ask me 😁 

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦