Nov. 28—As the Thanksgiving break wanes, holiday events begin to pop up around Aiken County. Christmas tree lightings are planned, participants prepare for parades, and festive gatherings highlight each weekend. The Aiken Standard has rounded up a listing of holiday events to mark your calendar. Don’t see your event listed? Email event information to [email protected].
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Tree Lightings
The North Augusta Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, in Calhoun Park.
The Festival of Trees will be held Dec. 3-31 at the City of Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum, 406 Park Ave. S.E. The festival kicks off with a trees lighting at 4 p.m. Dec. 3. Residents can vote for their favorite tree.
The Downtown Aiken Tree Lighting will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, on Newberry Street in downtown Aiken. Kick off the holiday season with a live musical performance, a special hello from Santa, and a countdown to the lighting of the singing Christmas tree. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Parents can grab a take-home craft kit for children.
The Town of Wagener Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.
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Christmas Parades
The Town of Wagener Christmas Parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, along Main Street in Wagener.
The New Ellenton Christmas Parade will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 4. The parade will start from the assembly area at Ellenton Village on Main Street, continue up Main Street, and will end at St. Paul United Methodist Church.
The GVW Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4. The parade will start in the parking lot of Leavelle McCampbell Middle School located at 82 Canal St., Graniteville. It will proceed through Graniteville on Highway 191 all the way to the traffic light at Highway 421 in Warrenville. If the parade is canceled for any reason it will be held on Dec. 18 at 3 p.m.
The North Augusta Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, along Georgia Avenue in downtown North Augusta.
The Town of Windsor Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. The parade begins at Cedar Road and ends at the Old School/Park with festivities. For more information, email [email protected].
The Town of Jackson Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, on Highway 125 in Jackson.
The Edgefield Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, in downtown Edgefield.
The Midland Valley Christmas Parade will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11. It will start at Augusta Road and Lion’s Trail and end at Augusta Road and Old Depot Street in Langley.
The first Christmas Parade in Crosland Park will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. For any groups that want to participate (churches, fire department, ect.), contact Dale Couch at 803-508-8418 or Bob Fry at 803-649-3622.
The annual Aiken Jaycees Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, in downtown Aiken. The parade will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit aikenjaycees.com.
The Hoofbeats and Christmas Carols Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in downtown Aiken. Stop include Trinity on Laurens and The Willcox.
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Holiday Events
Christmas in the Backcountry will be held Nov. 27-28 at the Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta. The buildings will be open for visitors to tour, and there will be demonstrations.
Night of 1,000 Lights will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in downtown Aiken. Experience luminaries lining the streets as shops stay open late and offer holiday treats, drinks and music for a festive evening out. This is a free event.
The Christmas Craft Show in Aiken will be held Dec. 3 and 4 at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road. The show will open at 9 a.m. each day. The show features handmade crafts and goodies made by talented artisans from across the Southeast.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” presented by the Aiken Community Theatre, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 and 2 p.m Dec. 5 at the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W. For more information, visit aikencommunitytheatre.org.
“The Polar Express” will be shown at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5 at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 406 Park Ave. S.E. Reservations must be made in advance, and the cost is $5 per person. Watch the movie on the deck at the depot, wear pajamas, and bring pillows and blankets. Popcorn will be available. The movie begins at 6:30 p.m.
Christmas for the Birds will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at the the Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta. Participants can create decorations for the birds to eat throughout the winter.
The Nutcracker Tea will be held at Dec. 4 an 5 at the Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry St. S.W. For more information, visit aikenballet.org.
Joye in Aiken’s first “Joye to the World!” Holiday Concert will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Etherredge Center, 471 University Parkway. For more information, visit www.joyeinaiken.com.
A Holiday Cookie Stroll will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at participating locations in downtown Aiken.
The Aiken Concert Band will perform its Christmas Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Etherredge Center on the campus of USC Aiken, 471 University Parkway. Ticket are $10 and $15. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit etherredgecenter.universitytickets.com.
Holidice, a synthetic ice skating experience, will be open Dec. 10-Jan. 23 at the Aiken Fairgrounds located at 561 May Royal Drive. Holidice will be closed Dec. 13-15, Dec. 25, Jan. 3-6, Jan. 10-13 and Jan. 18-20. For more information, visit holidice.com.
Breakfast and a Book with the Clauses will be held fat 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center. The event will feature breakfast, a craft and a holiday story read by Mrs. Claus. Each family will receive a copy of the book. The cost is $5 per person. Registration is open through Dec. 9 or until filled. For more information or to register, stop by the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road; the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, 400 Kershaw St. N.E.; or the Lessie B. Price Center or online at cityofaikensc.gov/prtregistration.
St. Mary’s School will hold a Gingerbread Dash 5K from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at Citizens Park, 651 Old Airport Road. Check-in begins at at 8:30 a.m. with the race starting at 9 a.m. Registration is $20 for adults age 18 and older, $15 for children and free for those age 5 and younger. For more information or to register, visit st.maryscholaiken.com.
The 30th annual Christmas in Hopelands event will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11-23 in Hopelands Gardens. The walk-through exhibit features over 2 miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays. There is no cost to enter the event or to utilize the shuttle service. All guests should use the shuttle service; shuttles run continuously from Citizens Park, located at 1060 Banks Mill Road, from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Handicap parking is available at 135 Dupree Place. No animals are allowed on shuttle vehicles.
The Aiken Symphony Orchestra will present its “Home for the Holidays” concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Etherredge Center, 340 Scholar Loop. The afternoon will be filled with holiday melodies as well as the added bonus of including two additional Aiken groups, the Aiken Choral Society and the Aiken Civic Ballet. For more information, visit aikensymphonyorchestra.com.
The Aiken Symphony Orchestra will present its “Messiah” concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, at St. Mary Help of Christians Church. For more information, visit aikensymphonyorchestra.com.
A Ladies Night Out shopping event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at participating locations in downtown Aiken.
“The Nutcracker” ballet, presented by the Aiken Civic Ballet, will be held Dec. 17-19 at the Ettheredge Center, 471 University Parkway. For more information, visit aikenballet.org.
A Holiday Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at Rose Hill, 221 Greenville St. N.W. For more information, visit rosehillinaiken.com.
Santa at the Depot will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 406 Park Ave. S.E. The event is free. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 803-293-7846.
