SATURDAY
Aiken Fest will be held through March 19 at the Western Carolina State Fairgrounds, 561 May Royal Drive. The event will feature 20 fair rides, including children's rides, as well as food vendors and games. Gate entrance with no rides is $5 (children 5 and younger are free). Unlimited rides are $20 on weekdays and $30 on weekends and include gate admission. Unlimited ride passes are $20 online for all days. Gates open at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit aikenfestival.com.
FOTAS will hold a Dog Ears Reading Session at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road. This program helps children improve their reading skills while helping to socialize dogs and cats. To reserve a spot, call 803-642-1537 or email info@fotasaiken.org. Participants must be at least 5 years old.
American Legion and Auxiliary Post 26 will hold a Trash and Treasure sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Post home, 636 Old Airport Road. A lunch of hot dogs, chips and a drink will be available for $6. All proceeds will go to support post programs.
A Community Pet Food Drive will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road. FOTAS is offering pet food assistance to those in the community in need. Those who need pet food may drive up to the shelter’s front door and remain in their car while FOTAS volunteers bring out a registration form and place dog or cat food in their vehicle’s trunk. For more information, call 803-514-4313 or email info@fotasaiken.org.
"Strange World," rated PG, will be shown at 3 p.m. Saturday in the first floor meeting room of the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W. For more information, visit abbe-lib.org.
The Aiken Civic Orchestra will hold an evening of Wine Tasting and Music at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry St. S.W. Anastasia Petrunina and Denis Petrunin will perform. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aikencivicorchestra.org.
The 35th annual Aiken-Augusta Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St., Augusta. Admission is $4 per day or $6 for a weekend pass. Only cash is accepted. Children 12 and younger are free with a paid adult. For more information, visit aikengmfs.org or agams.club.
The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department will hold a Movie in the Park on Saturday at Beverly D. Clyburn Generations Park, 700 Mack Henry Holland Drive. Community input determined "Encanto" will be the featured presentation. The movie will begin 10 minutes after sunset. Attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets.
The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.
SUNDAY
A Family and Friends Day will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday at Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 596 Johnston Highway, Trenton. Mrs. Jennifer Pinckney, widow of the the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney who was a victim of the shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, will be the guest speaker. Sammie L. Williams is the pastor. For more information, call Richard Parks at 803-646-2840.
An Installation Service for the Rev. Dr. Lamar D. Johnson will be held at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Anna Baptist Church, 2612 Banks Mill Road. Johnson will be installed as pastor. For more information, call the church office at 803-648-7017.
The Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum's 2023 lecture series, titled "Preservation and Restoration of Aiken's Treasures" will be held at 3 p.m. Sundays through March 12 at the museum, 433 Newberry St. S.W. Lectures include: Preservation and Conservation at the Aiken County Historical Museum by Lauren Virgo, executive director of the Aiken County Historical Museum, on March 12. Tickets for the lecture series are $60 and can be purchased online at achmfriends.org. Tickets to individual lectures are $15 and can be purchased at the museum on the day of the lecture. For more information, visit achmfriends.org.
MONDAY
A Horse Talks lecture series will be held through March 28 at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 East Pine Log Road. A lecture titled "The Trials: Aiken's Triple Crown Kickoff" will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Lisa Halland Barry Doss will be the presenters. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 2350.
Let's Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.
TUESDAY
The Aiken Newcomers' Club will hold its Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Newberry Hall, 117 Newberry St. The program will feature fashions from Dillard's in Augusta. Reservations are required. The cost is $30 per person and is payable at the door. To make or cancel a reservation, A-M call Sharon Mazurski at 803-644-7924 or N-Z call JoAnn Kirsch at 720-281-3939 or email newcomers29803@gmail.com. Reservations or cancellations are due by March 9.
A Teen Craft and Game Night will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W. This program is for teens in sixth through 12th grad. Registration opened March 1. For more information or to register, call 803-642-2020 ext. 1121.
The film "Storming Caesars Palace" will be shown at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W. Sponsored by SCETV, the Children's Trust of S.C. and the Imani Group, the film screening will be followed by a panel discussion. For more information, visit abbe-lib.org.
The Aiken Concert Band will perform its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Etherredge Center on the campus of USC Aiken, 471 University Parkway. This year's concert is titled "Journey: A Musical Excursion Around the World." Tickets range from $20 to $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 803-641-3305 or visit aikenconcertband.com.
Story Time will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays through April on the lawn of the Rye Patch, 100 Berrie Road. Admission is free. Each family will receive a free book to take home. There will be no story time on Tuesday, April 4. In the case of inclement weather, story time will be held inside Rye Patch. For more information, call 803-642-7650.
The Awesome Aiken Al-Anon group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Christian Church, 900 Kerr Drive.
Nar-Anon Aiken For Comfort Family Group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in person in the conference room near the main sanctuary at St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. S.W. and via Zoom. For more information, email momofoscar4@gmail.com.
Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step group for men and women, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road.
The Depression Anxiety Bipolar Support Group of Aiken and Surrounding States will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays online via the GoToMeeting App. For more information contact Mindy Harmon at 803-507-2214 or email manicgh@yahoo.com.
WEDNESDAY
STAR puppy classes will be offered at 11:15 a.m. beginning Wednesday, March 15, at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road. The class will meet on Wednesdays for six weeks. Puppies will learn commands and those who qualify will be eligible for the AKC STAR award at the end of the course. Puppies must be between 10 to 20 weeks old and have two sets of shots. Pre-registration is required, and enrollment must be completed prior to the first class. For more information, call 803-642-7631.
Basic Dog Training classes will be held at 10 a.m. beginning Wednesday, March 15, at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road. The class will meet on Wednesdays for six weeks. Dogs will learn basic commands including come, sit, down, stay, wait, stand, etc., and topics will include basic dog care and what to expect from training. Dogs must be over 20 weeks of age, have a current rabies vaccination and be registered with the city if the owner lives within the city limits. Pre-registration is required, and enrollment must be completed prior to the first class. For more information, call 803-642-7631.
A Millinery Moment with Natalie Simmons will be held from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave. Simmons, a hatmaker from Charleston, will give a talk on the history of hatmakeing and modern hats today. She will hold a trunk show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday also at The Willcox. For more information or to register, call 803-648-1898.
The Senior Men's Club of Aiken will meet at noon Wednesday at the Woodside Country Club, 1000 Woodside Plantation Drive. The guest speaker will be Brittany Kisner of the Kisner Foundation. The cost is $25 without dessert or $28 with dessert. For more information about club membership or to make a reservation, call Rick Endler at 803-649-7697 or email afendler@bellsouth.net.
An ACBL Sectional Bridge Game is held at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. A free bridge lesson will be held at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email AikenBridgeClub@gmail.com.
The Savannah River Site Museum, 224 Laurens St. S.W., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The museum features exhibits and resources related to the Savannah River Site and the Cold War. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-648-1437 or visit srsheritagemuseum.org.
THURSDAY
A Carolina Millinery Company Trunk Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave. The show will feature a variety of casual and dressy hats available for purchase. For more information, call 803-648-1898.
A Law Talk series will be held at 6 p.m. Thursdays, March 16, April 20 and May 18 at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W. Topics will include Wills, Estates and Probate; Family Law; and End of Life. A brief Q&A will be held follwoing the presentation. For more information or to register, call 803-642-2020 ext. 3.
4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.
FRIDAY
The Aiken Civic Ballet presents The Four Seasons with the Aiken Symphony Orchestra and Excerpts from "Sleeping Beauty" at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W. Tickets are $31. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aikenballet.org.
The Aiken County Community Association will hold mini Books-N-Things Fairs from noon to 6 p.m. every Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through April at the Graniteville Marketplace, 3770 Jefferson Davis Highway.
The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism will hold the 15th annual Breakfast at the Gallops at 8 a.m. Friday, March 17, at the Aiken Training Track, 724 Two Notch Road S.E. Acacia Courtney will be the guest speaker. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, 1700 Whiskey Road; Folly, 116 Laurens St. N.W.; Meybohm Real Estate, 142 Laurens St. N.W.; Aiken Training Track Office, 538 Two Notch Road S.E.; Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum, 406 Park Ave. S.E. and the Aiken County Visitors Center, 133 Laurens St. N.W. For more information, call 803-642-7631 or email halloffame@cityofaikensc.gov.
The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department will hold a Game Night from 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 17, at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. The cost is $5 per person or $18 for a family of four. The event will feature games, food, door prizes and more. Registration is open through March 10. For more information or to register, call 803-643-2181.
MARCH 18
The Axel Adams Foundation will hold its sixth annual scholarship gala Saturday, March 18, at the North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Ave., North Augusta. A VIP reception will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by the gala and dinner at 7 p.m. VIP tickets are $75 and gala/dinner only tickets are $50 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit axeladamsfoundation.com.
The Augusta Choral Society will perform Brahms "Ein Deutsches Requiem" in German at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene St., Augusta. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and $15 for students and military. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit augustacs.org or call 706-826-4713.
Keep Aiken County Beautiful will hold a Parkway Pickup at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18, to celebrate the start of the Great American Cleanup. Cleanups will be held along the 118 Bypass: Rudy Mason Parkway, Hitchcock Parkway, Robert M. Bell Parkway and University Parkway. Supplies will be distributed on each parkway. For more information, visit volunteer.kab.org.
The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.
A Pass the Salt food bank will be held from 10 a.m. to noon today at Central Baptist Church, 1652 Wire Road. Free food will be available for local families, and free school supplies will be available for kids.
MARCH 19
MARCH 20
A Horse Talks lecture series will be held through March 28 at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 East Pine Log Road. A lecture titled "Aiken Spring Steeplehchase: Part Two of Aiken's Triple Crown" will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 20. Jessica Miller and Frank Mullins will be the presenters. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 2350.
Chapter 1145 of the South Carolina Vietnam Veterans of America will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 20, at VFW Post 10601, 250 Hudson Road. For more information, email vvaaiken@gmail.com.
The Savannah River Stringband will hold a jam session from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2724 Whiskey Road. Sessions are open to acoustic instruments only. For more information, call 803-508-4431.
Let's Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.
MARCH 21
A Family Game Night event will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W. This drop-in event is open to all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration opened March 1. For more information or to register, call 803-642-2020 ext. 1121.
Story Time will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays through April on the lawn of the Rye Patch, 100 Berrie Road. Admission is free. Each family will receive a free book to take home. There will be no story time on Tuesday, April 4. In the case of inclement weather, story time will be held inside Rye Patch. For more information, call 803-642-7650.
A book club will meet from 2:30-3:45 p.m. at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W., on the third and fourth Tuesday of the month. The group meets in the first-floor meeting room. Group A will meet Tuesday, March 28, and discuss the book "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan. Group B will meet Tuesday, March 21, and discuss the book "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman. For more information or to sign up, call 803-642-2020 x. 3.
The M'Aiken A Difference Lewy Body Dementia Support Group will meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. N.W.
The Crosland Park Neighborhood Cooperative will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, in the Community Resource Center, 1248 Crosland Drive. Meetings are open to all residents and property owners. For more information, email cpnc@cpncs.org.
Tuesday's Music Live will continue its 34th season at noon Tuesday, March 21, with Duo Formosa at St. Paul's Church, 605 Reynolds St., Augusta. Admission is free. For more information, visit tuesdaysmusiclive.com.
The Awesome Aiken Al-Anon group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Christian Church, 900 Kerr Drive.
Nar-Anon Aiken For Comfort Family Group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in person in the conference room near the main sanctuary at St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. S.W. and via Zoom. For more information, email momofoscar4@gmail.com.
Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step group for men and women, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road.
The Depression Anxiety Bipolar Support Group of Aiken and Surrounding States will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays online via the GoToMeeting App. For more information contact Mindy Harmon at 803-507-2214 or email manicgh@yahoo.com.
The Mountain Dulcimers of Aiken will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Living Hope Fellowship Church, 2550 Old Dominion Road. Players of all levels and anyone interested in learning to play are welcome. All acoustic instruments are welcome. For more information, call Gary Warnock at 803-226-9280 or Tommy Harman at 803-599-8962.
MARCH 22
A Memory Cafe for those living with memory issues or their caregivers will be held at 10 a.m. every other Wednesday beginning Feb. 22 at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 East Pine Log Road. The drop-in cost is $7.50 per day or $15 for all seven days. The price includes one person and their caregiver. For more information or to register, visit aikensenior.org/enrichment.
An ACBL Sectional Bridge Game is held at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lessie B. Price Aiken Senior and Youth Center, 841 Edgefield Ave. A free bridge lesson will be held at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email AikenBridgeClub@gmail.com.
The Savannah River Site Museum, 224 Laurens St. S.W., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The museum features exhibits and resources related to the Savannah River Site and the Cold War. Admission is free. For more information, call 803-648-1437 or visit srsheritagemuseum.org.
MARCH 23
An Artist Talk with Bernice Tate will be held at 6 p.m. Tursday, March 23, at the Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Newberry St. S.W. Tate will give insights into her work as it relates to her exhibition, "Sacred Scraps," that is currently on display at the arts center. The event is free and registration is required. For more information, visit aikencenterforthearts.org.
What a Wonderful World: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 23 and 24 at the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, 126 Newberry St. S.W. Tickets are $45. This show is part of the Aiken Performing Arts's 2022-23 season. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit aikenarts.com.
The South Carolina Writers Association will hold a virtual writing series through May. Sessions will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays via Zoom. Speakers will be S.C. short story writer Scott Gould on March 23; thriller author Stacy Willingham on April 20; and West Coast poet Kelli Russell Agodon on May. 4. The cost is $25 for SCWA members. For more information or to register, visit myscwa.org/events-calendar
A Reading Between the Wines event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at The Book Tavern, 978 Broad St., Augusta. Mia Tsai, author of "Bitter Medicine," will be the guest. For more information, visit booktavern.com.
4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.
MARCH 24
Shannon Rollings Real Estate and the Seniors Real Estate Institute will hold a free seminar for seniors at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Newberry Hall, 117 Newberry St. S.W. Topics will include Downsizing Made Easy, How to Create a Plan, Senior Housing Options and downsizing resources. For more information, email shannong@shannonr.com.
The Aiken County Community Association will hold mini Books-N-Things Fairs from noon to 6 p.m. every Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through April at the Graniteville Marketplace, 3770 Jefferson Davis Highway.
MARCH 25
The Back to Basics Alcoholics Anonymous group will meet in-person at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 961 Trail Ridge Road. Masks are encouraged for those who are not vaccinated.
MARCH 27
The South Carolina Writers Association will hold a virtual writing series through May. Sessions will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays via Zoom. Speakers will be Ashleigh Bell Pedersen, author of "The Crocodile Bride" on March 9; S.C. short story writer Scott Gould on March 23; thriller author Stacy Willingham on April 20; and West Coast poet Kelli Russell Agodon on May. 4. The cost is $25 for SCWA members. For more information or to register, visit myscwa.org/events-calendar.
A Horse Talks lecture series will be held through March 28 at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 East Pine Log Road. A lecture titled "Pacers & Polo: Part Three of Aiken's Triple Crown," will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 27. Tiger Kneese and Mary Driscoll will be the presenters. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 2350.
Let's Go Bingo will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at the Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. There is a $5 cover charge. Game cards are $1 each or $15 to $25. For more information, visit facebook.com/letsgobingoaiken.
MARCH 28
Story Time will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays through April on the lawn of the Rye Patch, 100 Berrie Road, beginning Tuesday, March 7. Admission is free. Each family will receive a free book to take home. There will be no story time on Tuesday, April 4. In the case of inclement weather, story time will be held inside Rye Patch. For more information, call 803-642-7650.
A Horse Talks lecture series will be held through March 28 at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 East Pine Log Road. A lecture titled "The Horse Show in the Woods: An Aiken Tradition," will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 28. Joanna Sampson will be the presenters. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 x. 2350.
A book club will meet from 2:30-3:45 p.m. at the Aiken County Public Library, 314 Chesterfield St. S.W., on the third and fourth Tuesday of the month. The group meets in the first-floor meeting room. Group A will meet Tuesday, March 28, and discuss the book "Small Things Like These" by Claire Keegan. Group B will meet Tuesday, March 21, and discuss the book "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman. For more information or to sign up, call 803-642-2020 x. 3.
The Awesome Aiken Al-Anon group meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at First Christian Church, 900 Kerr Drive.
Nar-Anon Aiken For Comfort Family Group will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in person in the conference room near the main sanctuary at St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. S.W. and via Zoom. For more information, email momofoscar4@gmail.com.
Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step group for men and women, meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road.
The Depression Anxiety Bipolar Support Group of Aiken and Surrounding States will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays online via the GoToMeeting App. For more information contact Mindy Harmon at 803-507-2214 or email manicgh@yahoo.com.
MARCH 30
4 Cats in the Doghouse play jazz from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at The Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave.
MARCH 31
The Aiken County Community Association will hold mini Books-N-Things Fairs from noon to 6 p.m. every Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through April at the Graniteville Marketplace, 3770 Jefferson Davis Highway.
