Photos courtesy of lightsofthesouth.com
Spectacular Lights
With millions of Christmas lights in the shapes of American flags, the Armed Forces, castles, characters and more, Lights of the South is the perfect family entertainment for the Christmas season. They also offer marshmallows for roasting, hay rides, playgrounds and a chance to meet Santa! Let the magic of Christmas warm your heart and make a new family tradition at Lights of the South
Photos courtesy of Colton Ballet Company, Facebook
A Classic Tale
On Thanksgiving weekend, Colton Ballet presents the Nutcracker performance. Your entire family will enjoy this classic holiday tale that has become a tradition in the Savannah River Region.
photo by Sir Mildred Pierce -Flckr
Illuminated Gardens
Experience over two miles of lighted pathways and illuminated displays at Hopelands Gardens Christmas Lights this holiday season. Hopelands Gardens provides complimentary refreshments as well as a shuttle service to the gardens each night. S’more kits are available for purchase and Santa will be available for photos at the Rye Patch each night.
Photo courtesy of kisnerfoundation.com
Giving Back
Founded in 2016 by Brittany and Kevin Kisner, the Kisner Foundation is centered around childhood support and growth using their three pillars: education, health and sports. As of 2020, they have donated over $400,000 to organizations across the Savannah River Region that help support children in need.
On November 11, the foundation will hold their Concert On The Green event featuring Charles Kelley and Darius Rucker at Top Golf in Augusta. Indivdual tickets and VIP packages can be purchased at kisnerfoundation.com.
Photos courtesy of kisnerfoundation.com
On South Carolina’s Island
If you’ve lived in the South for most of your life, the name Edisto Island has definitely come up in conversation.
Gullah Geechee Home Cooking Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island by Emily Meggett contains the history and recipes of the Gullah Geechee people. Historically isolated because of their location on the island, the community and their culture, language and food are beautifully represented in the cookbook for people everywhere to enjoy.
Find this cookbook at the Morris Museum gift shop!
Photo by Todd Bennett
An Aiken Tradition
The Blessing of the Hounds is a ceremony that pays tribute to the various traditions of foxhunting, the heritage of Aiken’s historic hunting culture, and the skilled hounds that make this sport so engaging. The community is invited to observe the ceremony, which takes place at Memorial Gate in Hitchcock Woods at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Photo courtesy of The Augusta Players, Facebook
A Holiday Performance
The Augusta Players holiday family tradition, A Christmas Carol, is back! With Ebenezer Scrooge confronting his Past, Present, and Future Christmas Spirits, this is a show you do not want to miss! The musical performance will be at the Imperial Theatre on December 9-12 this year.
2022 Holiday Market
November 4-6, the Junior League of Augusta presents the 11th Annual Holiday Market at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. Merchants will be selling their products at the market, which makes it a timely opportunity to buy Christmas gifts. Santa will also be available for photos at his workshop. Every ticket purchased promotes the Junior League of Augusta, Georgia’s Mission to support the community by improving the lives of women and children. Feel great about the gifts you share this holiday season knowing that a portion of your gift is making a difference in the life of someone in the Augusta community.
All photos courtesy of Orange Otter Toys
Traditional Toys
For children, one of the greatest joys is picking out a toy from the local toy store. In an era of online shopping with mass produced toys coming from retail gaints as a “one-stop-shop,” it can be hard to find high quality toys that include the experience of picking them out by hand. Orange Otter Toys in North Augusta is here to bring that experience back to life with a unique toy selection for any growing child!
Photo courtesy Evans on Ice, Facebook
Evans on Ice
Evans on Ice features an expansive outdoor ice-skating rink, ice-skating lessons, private parties, weekend train rides and marshmallow roasting. Located at Evans Towne Center Park, the ice-skating rink is the perfectly cool place to experience holiday magic this season.
Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash
Feast Together
One Table, Aiken’s community Thanksgiving dinner, is a free event hosted by volunteers including the Aiken Public Safety Department. The volunteers cook a Thanksgiving dinner for the community and set a long table with plates and utensils. The table, placed in Aiken’s Alley downtown, is a great way for the community to serve people from all over and make sure no one eats alone on Thanksgiving. They even have a Thankful Banner for attendees to write down what they are thankful for this holiday season.
Appears in the November/December 2022 issue of Augusta Magazine.
