Christmas in Aiken 2014

8/10/2019 Christmas in Aiken 2014

1/16

40 YEARS OF FUN AND CRAFTS

AT THE CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW

INSIDELOOK

EmbracingChristmas Spirit

Craft shows Family fun

Parades

History ofHopelands 10 acres of more

than 100,00 lights

Aiken Civic Ballets

Nutcracker

December 20 & 21 Performinglocally since1970.

SEE SOME UPCOMING CHRISTMAS

EVENTS AROUND AIKEN COUNTY

BRINGING SMILES TO CHILDREN

THROUGH TOYS FOR TOTS EVENT

Pray for Snow

Christmas Day!*

*See store

for details


2/16

Sunday, November 23, 20142

Introduction

BY ANNE FULCHER

Generations of children wait, excitedly,every year for the Christmas parades inthe Midland Valley area of Aiken County.This area has held the Midland Valley andGraniteville parades for well over thirty

years each and has become a loving traditionith many families. Hundreds of childrenand adults participate by riding on a foat ormarching with their local church, school orcivic organization. . One of the continued

traditions is the tossing of candy to the mass-es of children in attendance. The sparklein the eyes of the little ones as they gaze upat the shower of sweets brings joy to everyparents heart. The sugar rush along withthe anticipation of the arrival of Santa makesit such a special time of year for all of those

involved. The Graniteville parade is sponsored bythe Graniteville Vaucluse Warrenville(GVW)Fire Fighters and stretches one and a halfmiles with over 100 entries and thousands of

viewers. Graniteville makes a day of specialevents by ending the evening with the LoveOur Town Tree tree lighting ceremony. Thetree lighting is held at 7:00pm on Main Streetat the large Graniteville entrance sign. Formore information regarding the GranitevilleChristmas special events, contact Tina Bev-

ington at 803-349-6143. The Midland Valley Area Chamber ofCommerce has been the sponsor of the Mid-land Valley parade for the past 18 years. Thisparade is approximately 3 miles in length,

with over 90 entrants and more than 6000people lining the sidewalks to get a peak ofthe Jolley Old Fella himself. The GrandMarshall of this parade is always the Mid-land Valley Area Chamber of CommerceCitizen of the Year. This years Grand Mar-shall is Rep. Roland Smith. Please feel free

to contact Robert Workman, parade chair-man, at 803-593-4907. This year the townof Burnettown will hold an Open House forthe new Burnettown Municipal Building onparade day from 9:00am until 5:00pm.

Midland Valley

BY LINDEN HAMMETT

From the white buds of the pear trees inspring to the brill iant reds and oranges offalling leaves, every season is beautiful inAiken. But it is at the beginning of winter,when the days are short and skies are a clear,chilly blue, that the true beauty of the city isrevealed. Aikens holiday season showcasesnot only lovely Christmas decorations, butalso the generous hearts and jolly spirits ofthe local community.

Holiday celebrations and gatheringsabound, featuring music and performances,

toy drives and craft shows. Children per-form in choirs and dance troupes, liftingtheir voices together. Residents meet for ca-sual get-togethers and large, formal holidayparties. Businesses and charities work intandem to raise funds and gifts for the lessfortunate. The areas sense of community isenhanced with each meeting and event, aswe all enjoy the festivities together.

GVW Ladies Auxiliary FD Christmas Parade ..........December 6, 2014, 3:00pmGraniteville Love Our Tree Tree Lighting .............December 6, 2014, 7:00pm(Contact Tina Bevington at 803-349-6143)

Burnettown Municipal Building Open House ................... December 13, 2014, 9:00am-5:00pm(Contact the Municipal Building at 803-593-2676)

Midland Valley Area Chamber of Commerce ............December 13, 2014, 3:00 pmChristmas in the Valley Parade(Contact Robert Workman at 803-593-4907)

Midland Valley Parade Schedule

STAFF PHOTO BY MELANIE HERBOL

The Southern Thunder Cloggers dance in the Midland Valley parade Saturday.

Downtown Aiken becomes bright with holiday spirit during Night of 1,000 Lights.

326 Rutland Drive, Aiken, SC 29801(803) 648-2311 | aikenstandard.com

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHEREllen C. Priest

ADVERTISING DIRECTORDee Taylor

EXECUTIVE EDITORMelissa Hanna

DESIGN & LAYOUTShana Donahue, Lauren Haley,

& Mary Watson


3/16

Sunday, November 23, 2014 3


4/16


Lights on South DixieBY JENNIFER GREEN

The Lights on South Dixie starts out onsunny, 88 degrees October afternoons,where Robin Whittle is working in a eldinstalling Christmas lights. While Christ-mas may seem so far away for some ofus, Robin can tell you the number of daysuntil opening night for The Lights on SouthDixie, a Wagener attraction ready for itssecond season of operation. Robin andher family are the owners of The Lights onSouth Dixie, an event that began as a fam-ily activity that has grown into what many

residents hope will become an annualtradition.The lighted hayrides take visitors through

acres of brilliant light displays, highlightedby a one-of-a-kind Nativity scene. Thefocus of the Lights on South Dixie is keep-ing Christ in Christmas and many of theunique light displays are Christian based.The 28-passenger hayride trailer is pulledby a John Deere tractor and is accessible toeveryone. A re pit for toasting marshmal-lows, making smores and hot chocolate,

along with classic Christmas movies willprovide extra entertainment for all visitors.

Robins 2 youngest children, Hailey andBailey, 10, say that greeting customers andmaking new friends is their favorite part ofhosting visitors. Robin enjoys being ableto celebrate Jesuss Birthday and keeping

the Christ in Christmas.The Lights on South Dixie is located at637 South Dixie Road in Wagener, SC.,ashort drive from Aiken, Orangeburg, Barn-well, Pelion and Lexington. Hours of op-eration are Wednesday and Friday-Sunday,6 until 10pm. This family friendly activityofcially opens on Friday, November 28and runs through Christmas Eve. Admis-sion is $6 for 13-up, and $3 for kids 3-12.Children 2 and under are free.

For more information, check out their

Facebook page at on.fb.me/1GTyB8m, orcall 803-564-7091. SUBMITTED PHOTOThis are some of the displays at the first Lights on South Dixie.

5


5/16


S d N b 23 20146


6/16


BY LINDEN HAMMETT

For many years in the late nineteenthand early twentieth centuries, Aiken was aWinter Colony, serving as a playground for

ealthy northerners.One lasting legacy of that era was be-

queathed to the City of Aiken by HopeIselin. The beautiful 10-acre tract is nowknown as Hopelands Gardens and is hometo one of the city's most beloved Christmastraditions.

Christmas at Hopelands, the city's largestChristmas attraction, is held at night and

features more than 100,000 lights sparklingalong the pathways of the gardens.Participants can wander the more than 1.5

miles of illuminated pathways and enjoy a

multitude of bright holiday displays.Hot chocolate and apple cider warm visitors

as they meander through the festive gardenwalkways. Each year more than 15,000 peo-ple enjoy the glowing holiday celebration.

The lights are placed each year by vol-unteers who are dedicated to bringing themagical holiday wonder to Aiken. In all,the workers will screw in more than 40,000bulbs and string more than 100,000 lights.

This year visitors will be required to take ashuttle to the gardens. The shuttle will departfrom Citizens Park, 1060 Banks Mill Road.Christmas at Hopelands will be held Dec. 12-

15, 18-23, 26 and 27 from 6 to 9:30 p.m.Shuttle rides and admission are free, butdonations are accepted to help continue thiswonderful holiday tradition.

Hopelands

Submitted photo by Mark Hudson

Submitted photo by Mark Hudson

AIKEN STANDARD FILE PHOTO

Trey Ryan and his grandmother, CathyGriffis, are bundled up and prepared forthe chilly weather on the opening night of2013s Christmas at Hopelands.


Swift Devoti, David Devoti and Kyle De-voti took a break to listen to a musicalperformance on the opening night of the2013 Christmas at Hopelands.

Sunday November 23 2014 7


7/16


Christmas at the Lake


ohn Blair decided to dress up as Santa forprevious Christmas at the Lake event.

BY LINDEN HAMMETT

Aiken Regional Medical Centers hosts Christ-mas at the Lake each year in mid-December,bringing Aikenites together for an evening lledwith beautiful lights, music, carols and fun.

Revelers can enjoy hot apple cider, hot choco-late, cookies and other light refreshments in aspecial gathering next to the lake on the hospitalcampus.

The evening is hosted by WJBF News Channel6 Anchorman Brad Means. This year, the AikenHigh School marching band will perform, aswell as local childrens choirs. The cheerful se-lection of holiday music and a special visit fromSanta Claus draw a large crowd each year.

The annual holiday celebration is in its 23rdyear, and has grown exponentially. The gather-ing is also a collection for the hospitals supportof the Aiken Salvation Army Toy drive. Lastyear more than 300 toys were donated by hos-pital staff and local residents who attended theChristmas at the Lake event.

This year, Christmas at the Lake will be heldon Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. Donations ofnew, unwrapped toys will be accepted, and alltoys will be given to local Aiken children inneed.


Ryan Westberry, center, conducts the Aiken High School marching band at a previousChristmas at the Lake. The band is now led by Greg Priest.

Sunday November 23 20148


8/16


Each year the small communities locatedithin Aiken County celebrate the holidays

in their own specic style. From tractors andparades to tree lighting ceremonies and musi-cal performances, the towns and cities herelove to continue long-held holiday traditions.Join your friends and neighbors in celebrat-ing the joys of the season with any number ofspecial gatherings and celebrations.

The Aiken Community Playhouse willperform Its A Wonderful Lifeat the URSCenter for the Performing Arts, 126 Newber-ry St. S.W., Nov. 28 and 29, and Dec. 5, 6, 12,13 at 8 p.m. For more information or to pur-chase tickets, visit www.aikenplayhouse.us.

The University of South Carolina Aikenill hold its Holiday Feston Tuesday, Dec.

2, at 5 p.m. in the Student Activities Center.

Aikens annual Christmas tree lightingill be held Friday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at

the center of Laurens Street and RichlandAvenue.

Wagener will hold its annual HometownHoliday Celebration, including the an-nual Christmas Parade, the rst weekend inDecember. Friday, Dec. 5, evening events

ill feature performances from the WSHSJROTC, Busbee Corbett Elementary MiddleSchool Chorus, the WSHS Band and thegroup Crossover. After the musical entertain-ment, there will be a tree-lighting ceremonyand reworks display.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, beginning at 8 a.m., aCommunity Yard and Craft Sale will be heldbeside the Petal Shop. Visitors are encour-aged to stay for the annual Wagener Christ-mas Parade, beginning at 11 a.m., as well asthe Car and Tractor Show taking place fromnoon to 2 p.m. Carriage rides will also beavailable, as well as access to the WagenerMuseum.

The Christmas Craft Showwill be heldFriday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. andSaturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. atthe H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700Whiskey Road. For more information, call803-642-7631.

Beta Sigma Phi will hold its 2014 NorthAugusta Christmas Tour of HomesonFriday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., andSaturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thetour will feature homes in The Village, theRiver Club, Hammonds Ferry and Ham-mond Hills. Refreshments will be offered atthe Arts and Heritage Center. A brunch andfashion show will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at9:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall of First Bap -

tist Church, 625 Georgia Ave., North Augus-ta. Tour tickets can be purchased in advancefor $20 through 3 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Jim BushFlowers and Gifts, Communigraphics andParks Pharmacy in North Augusta, and atDesigned for Change in Martinez, Georgia.Brunch tickets, which must be purchased inadvance, are $10 and may be purchased at thesame four locations until 3 p.m. Dec. 1.

Christmas for the Birdswill be held atthe Living History Park in North Augusta onSaturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ad-mission is free, and attendees will learn howthe colonists celebrated Christmas. Therewill be a visit from Father Christmas, whowill be available for pictures with children.

Bound to Singwill perform its fall concertat St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, 125 Pend-leton St. S.W., on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m.

The Aiken Civic Ballet will hold its Nut-cracker Teaon Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. inthe Aiken County Historical Museum, 433Newberry St. S.W. This is a free event.

The City of New Ellenton will host the

Atomic City Christmas Paradeon Satur-day, Dec. 6, at noon. This years theme isWinter Wonderland. The parade route willfollow Main St. from Ellenton Village Shop-

ping Center past Risher Ave.

The GVW Volunteer Fire DepartmentChristmas Paradewill be held Saturday,


Jamie Eckmyre rings up customer Jackie Lefebvre at Re-Fresh last year during theNight of 1,000 Lights.


Riders aboard festive horses were among the participants in the Aiken Jaycees Christmas Parade last year.

Upcoming events



9/16

Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. Participants should report tothe school by 2:30 p.m. The parade will beginin the parking lot of Leavelle McCampbellMiddle School and proceed through Gran-iteville on Highway 101. Trophies will beawarded for the beset religious and commer-cial oats, and the best non-musical group.

TheEdgefeld Christmas Paradewill beheld on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m. on Court-house Square. The celebration will include theparade, a visit from Santa and seasonal music.

Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, 400 Ker-shaw St., will hold its Christmas tree light-ingon Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Storytime with Mrs. Clauswill be heldTuesday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. in rooms 6 and 7 ofthe H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700Whiskey Road. Children 8 and younger areinvited to hear a story read by Mrs. Claus andenjoy cookies and juice. This is a free event.For more information, call 803-642-7631.

The Aiken Choral Society will host A Mad-rigal Dinner: A Renaissance Yuletide Feaston Sunday, Dec. 9, and Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 6p.m. at the Aiken County Historical Society,433 Newberry St. Tickets are $70.

The Night of 1,000 Lightswill be celebrat-ed in downtown Aiken on Thursday, Dec. 11,from 6 to 9 p.m. The downtown streets willbe lined with luminaries and sponsoring busi-nesses will stay open late. Visitors will enjoyshopping, eating, and spending time withSanta and his elf.

Joshua Messick will present HammeredDulcimer Christmasat 7 p.m. Wednesday,Dec. 10, at the URS Center for the Perform-ing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W. Tickets are$18 in advance and $20 at the door for adults,$12 for students and $5 for children 5 andyounger. For more information or to purchasetickets, call 803-648-1438 or visit www.aiken-playhouse.us.

Christmas at the Lakewill be held at 6p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the lake on thecampus of Aiken Regional Medical Centers,302 University Parkway. Celebrate the holi-day season with songs performed by localchildrens choirs and the Aiken High Schoolmarching band, and enjoy hot apple cider, hotchocolate and cookies. Even Santa Claus willmake an appearance. Bring a new, unwrappedtoy for the Salvation Armys Christmas ToyDrive.

Christmas in Hopelandswill be held Dec.12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23,and Dec. 26 and 27 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thiswalk-thru exhibit features more than 1.5 milesof lighted holiday displays and pathways. Re-freshments will be offered each evening. Thisis event is free but donations are appreciated.For more information, call 803-642-7631.

Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tour-ism and the Serenity Charity Club will host aChristmas dance for mature adultsFriday,Dec. 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the AikenCounty Recreation Center, 917 Jefferson Da-vis Highway, Graniteville. For more informa-tion, call Tandra Cooks at 803-663-6142.

PFLAG Aiken will hold its holiday socialfrom 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Ai-ken Unitarian Universalist Church, 115 GreggAve.

Breakfast with Santawill be held Satur-day, Dec. 13, at 8:30 a.m. in rooms 6 and 7 ofthe H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700Whiskey Road. The cost is $3, and the eventis open to children 12 and younger accompa-nied by an adults. Pre-registration is required.The registration deadline is Sunday, Dec. 7.For more information or to register, call 803-642-7631.

The Goodwill Hire Grounds Cafe, 1379Washington Road, Augusta, will hold a gin-gerbread house workshopSaturday, Dec.13, from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a free event.For more information or RSVP, call NancyBrowning at 706-650-5760 or email [email protected].

The North Augusta Lions Christmas Pa-radewill be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, from2 to 5 p.m. on Georgia Ave.

The Aiken Jaycees will hold its 2014Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 14, at 2p.m. in downtown Aiken. The theme for thisyear is A Star-Spangled Christmas. The costto register is $25, and the deadline to registeris Monday, Dec. 1. For more information or toregister, visit www.aikenjaycees.com.

The Aiken Choral Society will hold a Mad-rigal Concertat 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, atCornerstone Baptist Church, 100 CornerstoneDrive. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for stu-dents and military, and free for children ages12 and younger.

The Aiken Performing Arts Group presentsThe Continuo Collective of the SouthonThursday, Dec. 18. This performance willbe held at the URS Center for the Perform-ing Arts, 126 Newberry St., at 7:30 p.m., andis black-tie optional. Heavy hors doeuvres,Christmas sweets and wine will be servedbefore the performance. Tickets are $40. Formore information or to purchase tickets, visitwww.apagonline.org.

Christmas at the Depotwill be held Satur-

day, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ai -ken Visitors Center and Train Museum, 406Park Ave. S.E. Admission is free. For moreinformation, call 888-AIKEN-SC.

The Aiken Civic Ballet will perform TheNutcrackeron Saturday, Dec. 20, from 7 to8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21, from 2 to 3 p.m.at the USC Aiken Etherredge Center, 471University Parkway. Tickets are $20 for adultsand $15 for seniors, students and children. Formore information or to purchase tickets, visitwww.aikencivicballet.com.

y, , 9


This puppy gets in the holiday spirit at lastyears Christmas parade in Aiken.


Pictured are Andrew Siders as the jester, Catherine Jackson and Lilianne Ross at theAiken Choral Societys Madrigal Dinner last year.



10/16

Christmas Craf ShowBY LINDEN HAMMETT

Gathering for fun and craftsat the City of Aiken's AnnualChristmas Craft Show has beena holiday tradition here for morethan 40 years. Friends and fami-lies can visit the booths of morethan 100 vendors chosen by theshow jury each year. Craftersfrom all over the South offer a

ide variety of handmade items.Held the rst weekend in De-

cember at the H. Odell WeeksActivities Center, the ChristmasCraft Show is the perfect placeto start checking off items onyour Christmas list. Choose froma multitude of holiday items,including wreaths, ornaments,oral arrangements, Christmasclothing, ceramic dishes andgurines and wooden yard deco-rations. Crafters also make Santagurines in every shape, size andmaterial imaginable!

If you're interested in other giftitems, the selection also includesbaked goods, confections, soaps,

lotions, quilts, jewelry and wood-en furniture.

Visitors will be tempted by thewonderful smells emanating fromthe food trucks and vendor cartslocated outside the Weeks Center.Tastebuds will delight with freshfunnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburg-ers, sandwiches, kettle corn andpopcorn, as well as hot chocolateand apple cider. This year's fes-tivities will include holiday tunesperformed by Roger and BarbRollins.

The family-friendly atmosphereof the show usually attracts around5,000 people who take advantageof the free parking and free admis-sion. Santa Claus will be acceptinggift requests from children of allages on Saturday. There will alsobe a professional photographeroffering pictures with the jolly oldsoul.

This year's Christmas CraftShow will be held at the H. OdellWeeks Activities Center in Aikenon Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday,Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Aiken residents and visitors visited local food vendors and more than 100 artisans, while enjoying the weath-er during a previous Christmas Craft Show at H. Odell Weeks Center. This years Christmas Craft Show will takeplace Dec. 5 to 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.



11/16

Aiken GivesBY LINDEN HAMMETT

Anyone can celebrate the holidays with lovelymusic, dance and beautiful decorations. It takesa special combination of compassion and adesire to serve to bring the people of a commu-nity together to give to the most needy amongthem. The people of Aiken County work tire-lessly during the holidays to provide the lessfortunate with gifts, supplies, and toys to giveeveryone joy during the holiday season.

The South Aiken Presbyterian Church will

sponsor its 28th annual Secret Santa of AikenCounty program this year. Reaching out to helpchildren of low-income families, the SecretSanta program provides parents with up tothree toys for children ages one to 12. Needyfamilies ll out applications in early November,and local volunteers sign on to sponsor a family.

The program often helps hundreds of chil-dren receive the gifts they most desire.

Applications to sponsor a family can be foundat the churchs website, southaiken.org.

Each December, shoppers recognize the

familiar ringing of bells to signal the kickoff ofthe Salvation Armys Red Kettle program. Thecharitys annual holiday fundraiser dependson hundreds of volunteers to man the brightred kettles located outside of popular area busi-nesses. The money raised each year goes tofund the local homeless shelter, soup kitchen,social services ofce, boys and girls club andChristmas programs. The money provides themost needy in our area with hope during timesof desperation. Donations are accepted at anyred kettle throughout the holidays.

Many local businesses and individuals alsoparticipate in toy collections for local charities.The Dixie Thunder of Aiken County ABATEof South Carolina holds a Motorcycle Toy Runeach year to benet Helping Hands, a localcharity that runs an emergency shelter andresidential group home. The toy run providesgifts to needy children, and raises much neededmoney for the charitys various advocacy pro-grams.

From lling an Operation Christmas ChildBox for a local church, to dropping coins ina red kettle, there are myriad ways that thepeople of Aiken come together each Christmasto ensure that the people in need receive giftsof love and assistance in the true spirit of theholidays.

STAFF PHOTO BY MAAYAN SCHECHTER

Mrs. Claus and Santa, otherwise known asSpooky and Debbie Spradley, led the DixieThunder Run ABATE of South Carolina intoHelping Hands Saturday as they donatedtoys to children for Christmas during theirannual Toy Run.

STAFF PHOTO BY DEDE BILES

Sam Johnson, left, and Gary Tucker carrybags of toys that are about to be distrib-uted through South Aiken Presbyterian

Churchs Secret Santa of Aiken Countyprogram.

STAFF PHOTO BY AMY BANTON

Operation Christmas Child volunteer Jen-nifer Williams with her daughter, Julia and

a box of supplies that they will send to achild in need somewhere across the globe.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Town and Country Club continues its year-ly tradition of bell ringing at WalMart forthe Salvation Army. Pictured from left: KayHummert and Sue Gibson.



12/16

BY LINDEN HAMMETT

Each year, the Aiken Civic Ballet presentsthe community with one of the seasons mostbeloved holiday performances the Nutcrack-er. Featuring the familiar strains of Tchai-kovskys brilliant music, the local Nutcracker

as rst performed by the Aiken Civic Balletunder the direction of Carl Crosby in 1970.

In the years since, the ballet company per-formed the Nutcracker sporadically, workingin conjunction with other dance companies.Over the past six years, however, the produc-tion has become a yearly tradition.

Aiken dancers perform under the tutelageof Diane Toole Miller, artistic director of theCivic Ballet and former professional ballerina.This years performance will feature morethan 100 dancers of all ages. It takes a multi-tude of performers and volunteers to engineera production of this size, but everyone pullstogether brilliantly for the annual performance.

Rehearsals for the dancers began in Septem-ber, and the production team

has planned everythingfrom costumes to props,backdrops and special ef-

fects.We try to changethings up from yearto year, said Miller.We change costumes

and dancers, and revisesome of the choreog-raphy. She said thatthis year she has addeda pas de deux pairingfor the classic Arabiandance. The Arabian is

traditionally a female solo,but I thought it would beneat to showcase the talent ofour male company member,

Samuel.The Nutcracker is ex-

tremely popular, and both

shows last year were sold out. We encourageeveryone to buy tickets in advance to ensureyou get a seat, said Miller. This year thetroupe will also perform select divertissementsfrom the second act for Aiken County publicschool children on Friday, Dec. 19.

Its a wonderful way to expose children tothe world of dance, Miller said. Many of thechildren coming in for a eld trip will havenever seen ballet performed live. Its a greatexperience for them, and a way to encouragethe growth of arts in our community.

This year, the Nutcracker will be performedon Saturday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday,Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Etherredge Center atthe University of South Carolina Aiken.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students

and seniors and are available at the EtherredgeCenter Box Ofce, 803-641-3305.

In addition to the performance in late De-cember, visitors at the Nutcracker Tea, held onSaturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Aiken CountyHistorical Museum, can enjoy meeting castmembers in costume.

Te Nutcracker


Aiken Civic Ballet Board Member Dot Poe, left, and Nutcracker Tea Host Sissie Brodiework on decorations for the last years event. Also pictured, from left, are Anna, Samu-el and Isaac McNamee who are decorating the tree.


Alyssa Raynor, 6, and Katie Raynor, 4, takea moment to enjoy their tea and cookiesduring the fifth Annual Nutcracker Tea.


13/16



14/16

Toys for TotsBY LINDEN HAMMETT

Every child deserves a toy at Christmas-time. The United States Marine Corps

orks hard to make sure that is the casefor as many children as possible.

Its Toys for Tots program collects new,unwrapped toys during October, Novem-ber and December each year.

The toys are then distributed as Christ-mas gifts to less fortunate children inthe community in which the campaign isconducted.

The program, which the Secretary ofDefense approved as an ofcial activity

of the Marines in 1995, is for all children,including military kids.

The Toys for Tots objectives are as sim-ple as they are honorable:

Help less fortunate children through-out the United States experience the joyof Christmas.

Play an active role in the developmentof children.

Unite all members of local communi-ties in a common cause.

Contribute to better communities inthe future.

Activities

The principal Toys for Tots activity isthe annual collection and distr ibution oftoys, which is generally coordinated bythe local reserve unit.

In communities without a reserve unit,the campaign can be conducted by a de-tachment or an authorized group of vet-eran Marines.

And Toys for Tots is not st rictly focusedon Christmastime. Campaign coordina-tors also conduct annual events includinggolf tournaments, foot races, bicycle rac-

es and other voluntary events designedto garner support and donations for theprogram.

Achievements and How to HelpTo date, the organization has distrib-

uted nearly 500 million toys to more than200 million less fortunate children. It hasalso been named the Outstanding Non-prot Organization of the Year by vari-ous high-prole federations and mediaorganizations.

You can help this program by donat-ing a toy at one of your local toy-droplocations or by hosting an event at yourhome.

Visit www.aikenmcl939.org/toys tolocate local drop-off and volunteer loca-tions in Aiken County.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Savannah River Remediation construc-tion employees assist Santa Abe Dial asthey load donated toys as part of SRRsU.S. Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Totscampaign. Two large trucks containing

over 3,800 donated toys and bicycleswere collected.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

McKayla Morris of North Augusta, 2013Miss Southeast Preteen USA National, de-livers toys to The Jewelers Loupe in Aikenfor the Toys for Tots program.



15/16



16/16

Documents

Christmas in Aiken 2014