Körner’s Folly

06/02/2026

What do a Victorian clock, a pair of guardian lions, a NASCAR jacket, a flowering container garden, and a pearl caterpillar have in common? 🐛

They're all waiting at the Party for the Pergola Silent Auction! ✨

A collection of curious treasures, local experiences, and unexpected finds has begun to gather in support of the restoration of Körner's Folly's historic Pergola.

Come wander, discover, and perhaps take home something wonderful.

June 4 • 5-8 PM

🎶 Live music by Allen Alston & The Strum Troupers
🥂 Botanical cocktails & tea party provender by
🌿 Proceeds support the restoration of the historic Pergola

Ticket link in bio & at KornersFolly.org

06/02/2026

Thank you to Katei Cranford for this wonderful, witty, and well-written piece on local weirdness!

As Historic Preservation Month comes to a close, there’s a real rad wave of weird girl energy swelling around the region, pushing boundaries to explore time and space with unique

05/31/2026

The menu is set. The lanterns have been spruced up. The music is ready. 🍰🏮🎼

This Thursday, we'll gather on the lawn for Party for the Pergola, an evening inspired by gardens, summer hospitality, and the restoration of one of the Folly's most curious structures.

Enjoy a beautiful tea garden menu by , live music from our dear Allen Alston and friends, botanical beverages, silent auction treasures (including this lovely container garden), and a chance to help preserve a small but meaningful piece of the Folly's landscape.

The Pergola may be wrapped in caution tape, but with your help, it won't be for long.

Party for the Pergola
June 4 • 5-8 pm (Early Entry Available)
Körner's Folly

Tickets available through the link in our bio.

05/30/2026

Back by popular demand, we present our most popular Taste of History program to date!

Have you ever wondered if there was a tunnel to another building under Körner’s Folly and Main Street? Have you heard of the myth of hidden treasures buried during the Civil War? On Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10 am – 11:30 am, the Körner’s Folly Foundation will present our monthly Taste of History program, featuring a fun exploration into the local legends and myths of the Kernersville Community.

Join us for an enlightening discussion as we delve into the fascinating world of facts versus myths that shape our community! This program will feature local figures with real-life stories from their time growing up in Kernersville. Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the area, come with your questions and curiosity and discover those local stories that blend real historical events with community folklore and answer those burning questions about Kernersville!

The June 2026 Taste of History – Local Legends: Fact or Fiction? program is held in the Community Room of the John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitor Center. Program Admission is free and includes light refreshments. No pre-registration is required.

05/29/2026

As we wrap up Historic Preservation Month, we’re looking back on the restoration work that has been completed throughout Körner’s Folly.

These before-and-after images offer a glimpse into years of stewardship, craftsmanship, and community care. From restoring original color schemes and woodwork to stabilizing architectural features throughout the house, each project helps ensure that the Folly remains a place for exploration, conversation, and discovery for generations to come.

This vital work continues with the Party for the Pergola, an open-air evening on the Folly grounds supporting the restoration of the historic pergola and its pathway to ensure that it remains part of the Folly’s living landscape for years to come. Guests will gather for live music, botanical drinks, a tea-party–inspired menu by Short Street Bakehouse, and a silent auction beneath the early summer evening sky. Help us restore the pergola and enjoy a grateful garden gathering on June 4.

🎟 Party for the Pergola tickets can be purchased HERE: https://kornersfolly.org/events/party-for-the-pergola/

05/28/2026

What a beautiful evening at Körner’s Folly. ✨🎶

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for Salon Solo. An unforgettable night of solo music inside one of Winston-Salem’s most treasured historic spaces. We are so grateful to our musicians, guests, and partners who made the evening so special.

There’s nothing quite like live music shared in an intimate setting, and we loved experiencing it with all of you.

05/28/2026

What happens when evening falls upon the Folly? 🌙

On June 13 from 5 PM- 8PM, spend an evening exploring Körner’s Folly after hours during Night at the Museum, an all-ages evening filled with discovery, play, and conversation throughout the house and grounds.

As daylight fades, guests are invited to wander through the Folly’s winding hallways, unexpected staircases, and richly detailed rooms during special self-guided tours. Throughout the house, encounter scavenger hunts, historic toys, and hands-on activities that encourage curiosity and close looking.

Outside, the grounds fill with lawn games, bubbles, and space to gather and play together. Softgolf will be on site with closest-to-the-pin challenges and best shot contests using a variety of uniquely sized clubs and equipment.

All are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds or inside the John & Bobbie Wolfe Community Room. Glow-in-the-dark art activities will also be available throughout the evening, alongside food and beverage vendors offering additional items for purchase.

Night at the Museum offers a chance to experience the Folly in a different atmosphere — moving through the house after hours, discovering small details by evening light, and spending time together in one of North Carolina’s most distinctive historic homes.

All materials and activities are included with admission. Last house entry will be at 7:00 PM. Please note that tickets are nonrefundable.

🎟 Purchase your tickets on our website today!
kornersfolly.org

Image 1: Captured by Brajan Funes

05/27/2026

May Collections Spotlight: Körner Family Bible

In honor of Historic Preservation Month, the Collection Spotlight highlights the Körner family Bible on permanent loan from the Wolfe family. Inside the Bible’s cover, an inscription states, “This Bible bought by Mrs. J. Gilmer Körner in the year 1887.” While the Bible shows signs of wear over the 140-year use, it is a beautiful example of a leather bound, gilded book, lovingly held for generations.

Published by Edgewood Publishing Company in Philadelphia, the Körner Bible reflects a broader trend of large, ornately bound “family Bibles” that became especially popular in late-nineteenth-century America. Often designed as both a devotional text and a centerpiece for the home, these volumes typically featured leather bindings, gilt-edged pages, and elaborate detailing. The Körner Bible showcases illustrations from the work of French artist whose dramatic biblical scenes captivated audiences across Europe and America during the late-1800s. The Körner family were fans of Gustave Doré’s work, so much so that they named their daughter Allie Doré (b. 1889) after the illustrator.

The Körner family utilized the “Family Records” pages to record important information, beginning with Jule Körner’s father, Philip Körner. Over time, these entries expanded beyond simple lists to include photographs, pressed flowers, newspaper clippings, and for some families, even locks of hair tucked between the pages, transforming each Bible into a deeply personal archive.

As Bible historian Paul Gutjahr observed, this practice allowed individuals to “insert” themselves into a sacred narrative, blending personal histories with biblical tradition. The Körner family Bible serves as both a spiritual guide and a historical artifact as well as a testament to the ways in which families preserved their stories. The Körner’s Folly Foundation plans to restore this beautiful piece to be placed on display inside the home of the family who used this special book.

Images: Körner Family Bible on permanent loan from the Wolfe family. Inside the Bible’s cover, an inscription states “This Bible bought by Mrs. J. Gilmer Körner in the year 1887”

05/27/2026

An early summer evening on the grounds of Körner’s Folly. 🌿

On Thursday, June 4, we’ll gather for Party for the Pergola: an open-air evening supporting the restoration of one of the Folly’s quietly remarkable historic structures.

Originally part of a children’s playhouse and later repurposed as an entrance to the family carriage house and stable complex, the Pergola reflects the same layered creativity, improvisation, and craftsmanship found throughout Körner’s Folly itself.

Join us for live music by Allen Alston & The Strum Troupers, botanical cocktails and refreshments, a tea-party-inspired menu by Short Street Bakehouse, and a silent auction celebrating gardens, craftsmanship, art, and curious collections.

As Historic Preservation Month comes to a close, the Pergola Restoration Project is now more than halfway funded, and every ticket, donation, and share helps carry this work forward.

We look forward to gathering with you! Garden casual, creative, or tea party attire encouraged.

🌿 Tickets and project support available through the link below:
https://givebutter.com/pergola-restoration-fundraiser-cpb19y