Celebrate Aiken at kickoff event

Grab your confetti, the City of Aiken is turning 175.

Saturday marks the kickoff of the City's yearlong birthday celebration.

The event, called "Sights, Sounds and Tastes of 1835," celebrates the year the City was founded. It will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in various locations on Newberry Street, including Newberry Hall, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, the Municipal Building, Aiken Center for the Arts and The Alley.

Those who plan to attend the event are encouraged to dress the part by wearing period costumes, however, it is not required to attend.

"Sights," will be held rain or shine and is free of charge. Guests will also have a change to taste foods and beverages at the event for a small fee.

A few weeks ago, the City launched its website, began airing commercials and began offering brochures on its Celebrate Aiken campaign.

On the Celebrate Aiken website, "Sights," is described as a family event designed to entertain and educate people on the history of Aiken.

Entertainment includes historic interpreters dressed in 1835-era clothing, showing how Aiken's forebears lived 175 years ago. They include a potter, blacksmith, farm spinner and weaver, in addition to people making brooms, rope, soap, candles, baskets, butter and quilts. They will also be a replica schoolroom assembled.

Other entertainment from the era includes a flea circus, a medicine show, clogging, a gospel choir and a washboard band, along with toys and games that were popular in the mid- 19th century.

More than 20 events have been planned for the City's birthday. The events will continue through Dec. 18, 2010, when the City will hold its official birthday party at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

Activities for the celebration have been divided into quarters. The first quarter of activities is called History, Horses, Health and High Society and will run from January through March. The second series of activities, called Art Education and Entertainment, will run from April through June. The third quarter, called Business, Innovation and Technology, will run from July through September. The final quarter, called Aiken's Future, will run from October through December.

For more information on "Sights," contact Tommie Culligan at 641-6777 or Kathy Huff at 644-9165.

For more information on the City's anniversary and upcoming events, visit www.celebrateaiken.com.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.