COLUMBIA — Button collecting is alive and well in the Gold Rush era town of Columbia.

The California State Button Society (CSBS) and the Columbia Button Club are staging the 2nd annual Columbia Button Show will be held in Columbia State Historic Park on Aug. 25 at Angelo’s Hall.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.

According to Janelle Giles, CSBS President, “The inaugural button show in Columbia last year was a fabulous event that exceeded all our expectations, so we are even more excited to co-host the second annual show along with the Columbia Button Club.”

“Columbia is fortunate to have a past president of the California Button Society living and working in Columbia”, said Giles. That would be Clare Bazley, owner of Columbia Kate’s Teahouse in Columbia where some of her buttons are on display as part of the teahouse décor. “I meet a lot of folks who have more than a passing interest in buttons”, said Bazley. “Costumes and period clothes are an important part of the ‘fabric’ of our community. Buttons, fabric and vintage clothing are appreciated and understood here. It’s a natural place to have a club and our show is the perfect way to allow button enthusiasts in the foothill are to enjoy buttons and speak with experts and other enthusiasts”, explained the former society president.

The show will be Saturday, Aug. 25, at Angelo’s Hall in Columbia State Historic Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be several button “experts” on hand and a table will be dedicated for button appraisals. The public is invited to bring their own buttons to learn about their history and value.

For more info go to Cabuttonsociety.org