Aiken's plans for 175th in motion
Plans are under way for the City of Aiken's 175th anniversary celebration.
Bill Reynolds, chairman of the planning committee for Aiken's quartoseptcentennial events, presented City Council members with an update of activities that will be held in commemoration of Aiken's birthday during a work session before Monday's City Council meeting. The events for the year-long birthday celebration for Aiken will kick off in January 2010.SClBReynolds said the activities will center on the theme, "Celebrate Aiken."
Jan. 9 marks the first event - a kick off party in downtown Aiken, celebrating the sights, sounds and tastes of 1835, the year the City was founded. The City of Aiken was established on Dec. 19, 1835.
The party will continue in the coming months with activities that center on arts, entertainment, education, technology, business innovation and other themes. Toward the end of the year, the City will invite local schools to take part in the celebration with a essay contest titled, "What will Aiken be like in 25 years?" The essays will be placed in a time capsule, which Reynolds said will be opened 25 years from the day it is buried.
The celebration will conclude on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, with the City's birthday party, which will be held at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. The party will be free and open to the public.
The committee has been putting together plans for the celebration since February, Reynolds said.
He said organizers are working with a "buy Aiken first philosophy" and will look to purchase all supplies for the activities locally.
The group has also been successful in getting sponsors for the events thus far, Reynolds said, telling Council members the group is more than confident that it will double its $25,000 sponsorship goal and will not need the $20,000 the City planned to put toward the anniversary celebration.
"This will be a true, community-financed event," he said.
Final plans for the celebration will be unveiled to the public at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 3, 2010.
Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.
12:30 AM: Broadway Rebound to perform
12:30 AM: With dozens off S.C. ballot, some are seeking two offices
12:58 AM: Bottega defeats Mt. Brilliant to win Pete Bostwick Memorial
12:30 AM: Right at Home named Provider of Year by the CSRA Area Agency of Aging
12:21 AM: UPS takes city fitness challenge title
12:08 AM: Player recalls game against Yankees after throwing first pitch at GreenJackets game
- Arizona tribes talk about significance of solar eclipse
- S.C. budget plan is up for debate on Senate floor
- Obama calls for help for small businesses
- ABC orders 10 new series for upcoming season
- UPDATED: One dead, one wounded in early morning shooting
- Aiken artist murdered; Police shoot, kill murder suspect
- Suspect shot by police following call on Cherry Hills Drive
- Finding a 'normal' diet is key for weight loss
- More information on Churchill Commons shooting to be released
- Two, arrested, charged following meth lab bust
Notice about comments:
Commenting rules: Do not post offensive, racial or violent messages. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the commenter, not www.aikenstandard.com. Click 'report abuse' for any comments that you feel should be removed from the site. However, www.aikenstandard.com is not obligated to remove any comment posted on the site. Moderators do not have the ability to edit comments.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.