October is a lively month in the Lowcountry, featuring a busy schedule of festivals, oyster roasts, seasonal celebrations, concerts, and the perennially popular house and garden tours.

MOJA Arts Festival
MOJA, Swahili for “one,” is an all-inclusive celebration of harmony in the Charleston community. Highlighting the many African-American and Caribbean contributions made to western and world cultures, MOJA’s range of events includes visual arts, classical music, dance, gospel, jazz, poetry, rhythm and blues, storytelling, theater, children’s activities, traditional crafts, ethnic food, and much more.
September 27 – October 7, 2011

Preservation Society of Charleston Annual Fall Tour of Houses & Gardens
Experience Charleston’s distinctive architecture, history and culture from the inside, as you tour privately owned properties open to the public exclusively for this popular event. Tours highlight American architecture from the early Georgian period to the 21st century, showcasing unique neighborhoods that represent Charleston’s flourishing culture from the colonial era to the present.
September 27 – October 28

Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch
At the Pumpkin Patch, the whole family can pounce on the 70’ x 30’ “Largest Jumping Pillow in the State,” climb the two-story “Mount Playsant” Hay Mountain and Slide Tower, take a spooky hay ride, and wander through the eight-acre Boeing 787 Dreamliner Corn Maze (the largest in the Southeast). At the end of the day, go home with your own Boone Hall pumpkin.
October 1 – October 31

Isle of Palms Connector Run and Walk for the Child
Runners and walkers of all experience levels are invited to enjoy one of the most scenic road races in the Southeast. 10K runners and 5K walkers and runners experience a challenging road race from the Isle of Palms across the IOP Connector and are rewarded with beautiful vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and lush creeks and marshes. Proceeds benefit local child-abuse prevention and other child-related programs.
October 6 | 8:00am

CSO Spiritual Ensemble Concert
Founded in 2008, the 35-member Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble honors the “spiritual,” the historical musical form born of the suffering and endurance of African slaves after arriving to the southern shores of this country. The CSO Spiritual Ensemble performs in church settings, concert stages, and beyond in powerful performances celebrating the unique, indigenous harmonies that helped form African-American cultural traditions. First Scotts Presbyterian Church.
October 6 | 6:00pm

Charleston Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Concert: Holst’s The Planets
The CSO season begins on a dramatic note with compositions about fate and the heavens, with Gustav Holst’s popular orchestral suite The Planets, renowned for its seven distinctive movements and large orchestra. The CSO Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Robert Taylor, will lend its voices to The Planets, and will be featured on Johannes Brahms’ profound Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), also on the program. Giuseppe Verdi’s Overture to the opera The Force of Destiny (La Forza del destino) opens the concert. David Amado, described by Southern Living magazine as “one of the country’s most talented young conductors” and currently Music Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, will conduct. Pre-concert talk from the stage for ticket holders one hour before the start of each concert. Sottile Theatre.
October 12 & 13 | 7:30pm

South Carolina Aquarium Family Fun Fest
It’s a family affair at the Family Fun Fest at Aquarium Wharf. All-ages activities at the Aquarium include kids in Halloween costumes, visits from a special mascot, and participation of local family-friendly businesses.
October 14 | 9:00am – 5:00pm

HALOS Oyster Roast
Help raise funds to support programs for child victims of abuse and neglect while enjoying oysters, drinks, music, and family-friendly activities overlooking beautiful Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. Ticket price includes oysters, beer, wine, jambalaya and desserts from Barbara Jean’s, hot dogs for kids, and great entertainment. The Cottage on the Creek, right on Shem Creek, is a perfect spot to enjoy a fall oyster roast. Guests can hang out on the dock at the water or relax on one of the two porches overlooking the creek. All proceeds benefit HALOS and support programs that provide resources to abused and neglected children and their caregivers including back to school support, holiday gifts, summer camp opportunities, and help for kinship families where children have been placed in the care of their relatives.
October 14 | 4:00pm

Charleston Concert Association: Here to Stay: The Gershwin Experience
Experience the music of George and Ira Gershwin, one of the greatest teams of collaborators in the history of American music, interpreted by pianist Kevin Cole, leading Gershwin interpreter, and Grammy Award-winning soprano Sylvia McNair. Produced by Todd Gershwin, great nephew of George and Ira, this multimedia event provides an unprecedented insider view into the legendary duo with rare audio and video footage from the Gershwin’s family archives. Sottile Theatre.
October 17 | 7:00pm

Mount Pleasant Children’s Day Festival
Old and new traditions merge at the annual Children’s Day Festival, where children have their pick between time-honored festival games and old-fashioned pony rides, enormous inflatable slides and jump castles, live entertainment, wall climbing, face painting, and more. Admission, all activities and parking are free. Food concessions are offered by East Cooper schools as a fundraising opportunity for their programs. Park West Recreation Complex.
October 21 | 12:00 – 5:00pm

Charleston Horticultural Society Gardens for Gardeners
Spend an afternoon touring the beautiful, lush resort island of Kiawah exploring 10 to 12 exquisite gardens, most maintained by the homeowners themselves.
October 21

Charleston Jazz Orchestra Concert: Jazz on the Stage
Taking inspiration from Tin Pan Alley, the Charleston Jazz Orchestra will belt out some evergreens from the Great American Songbook, as well as some lesser-known treasures. Charleston Music Hall.
October 27 | 7:00pm

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