Picnic planned to celebrate anniversary

In honor of the City of Aiken's 175th anniversary celebration, "Remember When ... A Picnic and Lawn Party" will be held on Tuesday, May 4 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Rye Patch, 100 Berrie Road.

The idea for the period picnic came from reminiscing over the Sesquicentennial Anniversary picnic held in 1985. The picnic drew nearly 400 people, and a panoramic photograph taken at the event still adorns walls around town today and is featured on the cover of "The Aiken Historical Cookbook" by Kathy Huff.

The picnic created such fond memories that when plans to celebrate Aiken's 175th anniversary began to form, Sissy Brodie, chairperson of the picnic 25 years ago, decided the 2010 celebration must have a picnic of its own. Joining Brodie in coordinating the picnic for the second quarter events of Celebrate Aiken are Suzanne Jackson and Marti Healy.

"I just felt like the picnic was enjoyed by so many people 25 years ago that we needed to do it again," Brodie said. "Aiken is a party place, and it's not hard to get a group of people together for good friends and good food. And there are so many newcomers who may not have ever experienced a Southern picnic. We are trying to duplicate the one from 25 years ago with music, antique cars and carriages."

Brodie, Jackson and Healy prepared 190 invitations, including a red-and-white checkered napkin and silverware, and hand-delivered them to local businesses, churches and organizations as a way to create excitement about the event. The entire community is invited to the picnic.

During the picnic, famed Southern artist Jim Harrison, who created the original artwork for the Celebrate Aiken poster, will be available to autograph posters and talk about his career. His work is on exhibition at the Aiken Center for the Arts.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in period attire and to bring elaborate spreads maybe even incorporating a theme. Everyone attending the picnic should bring their own quilt or table and chairs, food and beverages and other picnic items from "plain to fancy, upscale to down-home."

"We want people to feel like they can just put together something that is special to them," said Brodie.

Admission is free; no ticket or invitation is required. In case of rain, the picnic will be rescheduled for Wednesday, May 5 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Call Brodie at 648-1445 or Jackson at 507-0984 or 648-3817 for more information.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.