Aiken is Magical

By Jessica Campbell, City of Aiken PRT Department

The City of Aiken PRT Department puts together a collective effort to offer a charming holiday season for all. We promote the time of year as “Aiken is Magical”.

It’s all starts with a Farmers Market Christmas Craft Show on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Being that it is low season for produce, we open available tables for craft vendors. Each year brings approximately 35 artisan crafters alongside the regular market vendors. This event is followed by our annual Christmas Craft Show, over 50 years running. This indoor/outdoor show is held at our largest activity center and park. Featuring over 125 exhibitors from across the Southeast, the two-day event brings in nearly 5,000 shoppers.

A family favorite event is Polar Express Movie Night, where kids dress in their festive pajamas and snack on popcorn while watching the motion picture The Polar Express, held at PRT’s Performing Arts Center. Just as popular is Breakfast and a Book with The Clauses. Held at our Senior & Youth Center, children enjoy a fun filled morning of breakfast, crafts, and story time with Ms. Claus, and then Santa makes his appearance to hear everyone’s Christmas wishes.

Like many other agencies, Aiken PRT sponsors a community tree lighting in early December. However, our tree is quite unique! The spectacular 24-foot tree has 8,000 flashing lights that dance in patterns synchronized to favorite holiday tunes. This event is held in conjunction with the local Downtown Development Association and brings in support of the local business. The tree lighting also features musical performances, a speech from the Mayor, a visit from Santa Claus, and an abundance of people enjoying the start of the holiday season together in downtown Aiken. For a more traditional tree lighting, we offer the Festival of Trees. Held at our Visitors Center and Train Museum, a dozen local organizations participate by decorating trees to put on display. The festival kicks off with a tree lighting event, and locals and tourist can vote for their favorite display throughout the month. The Visitors Center becomes full of holiday cheer, and all the work is done by our partners who decorate the trees.

Hopelands Gardens is a 24-acre public garden located just outside downtown. Each December, for 12 or more consecutive nights, we transform the gardens to a beautiful holiday wonderland. Featuring two miles of lighted pathways and displays of over 100,000 twinkling lights, live music, fresh baked cookies, hot chocolate, crafts for kids and visits with Santa all free of along with support of over 200 volunteers to assist in implementation of installing lights, serving refreshments, shuttling in guests and more! The event has grown tremendously since its beginning in 1991, with an amazing record attendance of 21,491 in 2017, and our most attended night to date of 4,589 spectators in 2019.