Winter is one of the best times to visit Aiken, SC, when the weather is mild and the social calendar is full of exciting events. Get ready for Hunt Week, Joye in Aiken Swing Dancing, Breeze Days and more. From horse shows and history walks to concerts and flower festivals, there is no shortage of fun things to do in the South’s Best Small Town. Mark your calendar now for the following events in Aiken this February.
Are you ready to escape the ice and snow? Leave the freezing temperatures behind and head south to Aiken, SC this winter. If you are considering relocating to the area, we would love to help. Contact Aikenhorserealty to begin your home search today. We hope you can plan a visit here soon!
Equus Events presents the Winter Encore Horse Show, a free public event hosted at beautiful Bruce’s Field in the heart of Aiken, SC. Come watch these talented horses and riders compete at this wonderful USEF National A Rated Level 2 Jumper show.
The Aiken Center for the Arts’ Aiken Antique Show is celebrating its 24th year. This fantastic annual 3-day event features the best antique dealers from around the region! Come, experience, and celebrate one of the Southeast’s most distinctive events. The show and sale will feature vintage pieces for gardens as well as high quality antique furniture, paintings, lighting, jewelry and rugs. The show and sale will be held from 10 – 6 on February 2nd and 3rd, and from 11 – 4 on February 4th. Tickets are $20 per person for the duration of the show.
There is also a Cocktails and Collectors’ Preview Party on Thursday evening, February 1st, 2024 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. This is an opportunity to preview and purchase your favorite pieces ahead of the show and have fun with other antique enthusiasts while enjoying cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and fabulous desserts. Tickets for the Preview Party are $95 each ($85 for ACA members) and include Show & Sale admission for the duration of the Show.
The Aiken Antique Show is the largest fundraising event for the Aiken Center for the Arts. Proceeds help to support access to the arts, art education, cultural activities, and art exhibits, as well as community outreach and the Center’s day to day operations. The event enables us to fund scholarships for classes, camps, programs, and art instruction allowing the Aiken Center for the Arts to offer unparalleled learning experiences to interested children and adults throughout the CSRA. We invite you to discover the many things that the Aiken Center for the Arts has to offer, including classes, concerts, lectures, and exhibits, and many volunteer opportunities.
Get ready for “Aiken fashion’s biggest night out!” The Fashion for Compassion Gala is a fundraiser benefiting Aiken Equine Rescue. Suzy Haslup, Aiken Horse Realty is honored to be the Belmont Sponsor for this event. Join us for an unforgettable evening of style and compassion at The Reserve Club at Woodside. Prepare to be dazzled by the latest fashion trends, all while supporting and great cause. Indulge in a night of glamor and enjoy a showcase of the finest attire from renowned Lauren’s Street “fashion houses.” Be prepared to cheer on our very own Aiken Celebrity models featuring stunning ensembles.
However, this event is not just about fashion. It’s about making a difference in our community. Proceeds from the gala will benefit Aiken Equine Rescue, spreading compassion and support to one of the largest equine rescues in the southeast. The evening includes dinner, a live auction and silent auction items. The cash bar will open at 6:00 and be available all evening.
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event! Grab your friends, dress to impress, and join us for a night filled with fashion, compassion, and unforgettable memories. Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to reserve your spot today. (Update: This event is now sold out).
Take a walk back in time to Aiken in the age of the Winter Colony! Join Allen Riddick, local historian, for an engaging and informational history walk through beautiful Hopelands Gardens. Learn about Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch, the historic properties, and the people who owned them. History Walks take place on the first two Fridays in February.
Online registration is available or you can register in-person at the front desk of Odell Weeks Activity Center. For more information, please email info@hopelandsgardens.com or call the Weeks Center at (803) 642-7631. History Walks are sponsored by the Friends of Hopelands & Rye Patch, Inc.
Pickleball and pizza: could there be a better combination? Come out to beautiful Virginia Acres Park for this free event hosted by the Southern Pickleball Academy. Between the City’s 14 pickleball courts, there is plenty of room for everyone to play. No sign-ups are needed and all levels of play are welcome. There will be extra paddles available for those wanting to learn, as well as volunteer instructors. Pizza is ordered based on the number of players. The pizza is free but donations are accepted.
One of the great things about living in Aiken is that there is always something blooming – even in winter! The mild climate provides the ideal habitat for flowering camellias this time of year. Come see the colorful blooms for yourself at Cold Creek Nurseries for a day devoted to Camellias. This free, family-friendly event features live music by The Gavin Reilly Band, Hometown Grounds Coffee truck, and complimentary food samples from the Market. Don’t miss the highlight of the event – Sharon Stillwell’s Camellia Seminar starting at 11 am. Learn the essentials about Camellias, Sasanquas, and hybrids, including planting, pruning, and addressing disease or insect issues.
Here is your chance to hear a Stradivarius violin up close and personal! Violinist Lun Li performs on the Stradivarius “Samazeuilh” 1735 violin, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. Come to the Etherredge Center and hear this magnificent instrument played by one of today’s leading young violinists in Vaughan Williams’ spellbinding work, The Lark Ascending. Also on the program are William Walton’s coronation march Crown Imperial, Edward Elgar’s epic Symphony No. 1 and the suite from the television/film sensation Downton Abbey.
Come out to Bruce’s Field for Tuesdays in the Park! Tuesday schooling days provide an excellent opportunity for riders to prepare for all of their upcoming competitions in world-class arenas. Tuesdays in the Park occur weekly from January 9 to March 12 from 7:45 a.m. – 4 p.m. (please note there is no Tuesday schooling on February 27th). The event is free and open to the public.
Stop by the Willcox every Thursday evening from 7 – 9 p.m. for the smooth sounds of live jazz in the Living Room. From nostalgic classics to seasonal delights, indulge in a hearty meal or a tall drink to complement the musical symphony that awaits!
Incorporating four hunts and social events every evening, Hunt Week is an annual festival of foxhunting held during February. Hunt Week 2024 is scheduled for February 7 to February 13. The annual Hunt Ball, gourmet breakfasts, tailgates and cocktail parties all contribute to a festive celebration of horse and hound. Guests come from as far as Canada, New England, Florida and numerous points west. The hunts are all in thousands of acres of beautiful countryside. There is ample room for everyone and a place for every horse and rider in one of our three fields. First, Second and Hill toppers.
Visit https://www.whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com/hunt-week for a complete schedule and event details.
See https://www.whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com/hunt-week for more details about location.
Mark your calendar for Breeze Days at the Aiken Training Track! Come join us at the Clockers’ Stand to watch the young Thoroughbreds learn to become racehorses. The early morning scene at the Aiken Training Track is not to be missed! Young horses, often coming onto the track in groups of 2 or 3, train with enthusiasm, while trainers watch closely and time their work. Breeze Days begin at 7:30 AM, held by the Aiken Training Track and The City of Aiken. Mark your calendars now; this is one event you won’t want to miss!
Here are two more USEF horse shows to add to your calendar. The Cupid Classic will take Place February 9 – 11, and the Carolina Classic is February 16 – 18. Both PSJ shows will be held at Highfields Event Center.
Put on your dancing shoes and come celebrate Valentine’s Day with Joye in Aiken! At this “JOYEful Valentine” Swing Dance Party, you’ll be able to enjoy:
Get your tickets today. All proceeds will help to fund Joye in Aiken’s extensive Outreach Program, which to date has reached over 48,000 area students. So you can swing the night away, all while supporting a good cause – the perfect Valentine’s Day combination!
Aiken Music Fest is pleased to present a new Winter Music Series in 2024. ‘Gaston Unplugged’ is a 3 show series that will feature a new band for each show. Head over to Gaston Livery Stable on February 10th for great live music by Josh Daniels. For more information, please visit https://www.aikenmusicfest.com/
Proceeds benefit Gaston Livery Stable.
Dressage is back at Bruce’s Field in Mid-February. This USEF/USDF Level 2 horse show is a free public event hosted at the beautiful Bruce’s Field in the heart of Aiken. Visit the event website to see the full schedule.
Thousands of spectators travel to Aiken each year to see soldiers and living historians recreate one of the last Confederate victories of the war: The Battle of Aiken. The event commemorates battles that were typical of the engagements during Sherman’s march through Georgia and the Carolinas. The rare Confederate victory in Aiken saved the town from being burned in 1865.
This annual weekend event has been awarded the SC Parks, Recreation, and Tourism’s Governor’s award for Best South Carolina Event. In addition, The Battle was also awarded the Dr. James Butler National Award for being the nation’s Best Living History Program. In addition, Reenactment Guide selected the Battle of Aiken as one of the top 10 Reenactments in America.
Take a step back in time and hear, see, smell, and feel the thunder of cannons, muskets, and horses! Tour through numerous stations to interact and learn about Civil War music and dance, Uniforms, Confederate and Union Camps, Artillery Batteries, Saber Demonstrations, Cavalry Camps, 1861 Women’s Fashions, Blacksmithing, and other 19th Century Crafts. Spectators can tour an authentic 19th-century log cabin as well as a recreated one-room schoolhouse, jail, and country store. The highlight of the festival is the weekend’s three dramatic recreated battles. Watch as soldiers recreate the Battle that saved the Town of Aiken! This is a family-friendly event and tickets range between $5-$15 at the gate. Admission for children aged 5 and under is free.
You don’t need to travel all the way to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. The Aiken Downtown Development Association is bringing Bourbon Street back to Downtown Aiken this February for the 6th annual Mardi Gras festival! Head to Newberry Street to enjoy live music, creole cuisine, authentic craft and Abita Beer, a second line Parade, and live music from Soda City Brass Band. Admission is free!
Are you ready to experience a fabulous winter season in Aiken, SC? Now is the perfect time to visit if you are planning a permanent move to Thoroughbred Country. Once you arrive to town, you won’t ever want to leave. Contact Aiken Horse Realty to begin your home search today. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Looking for more fun things to do in Aiken, SC? Check back on our blog soon for upcoming events in March 2024.
