By: Kathryn Siders
Vibrant azaleas, Derby days, and sunny 75-degree weather…there’s no doubt about it, spring is in full bloom in Aiken, SC! Whether you live here or are visiting for the first time, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with this charming Southern town. From art festivals and garden tours to polo matches and live music festivals, there are many ways to celebrate the spring season in Aiken. Mark your calendar now for these upcoming events!
Spring polo is back, and there’s no better way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon in Aiken, SC. The first Sunday match of Aiken Polo Club’s spring season will kick off April 28th at 2 p.m. Enjoy a wonderful day of horses, friends, fashion, and food. Whether you mingle beneath the pavilion or tailgate beside the field, this is bound to be your new Sunday afternoon tradition. Please visit the Aiken Polo Club’s website to see a list of upcoming matches. First games start at 2 p.m. and second games begin at 3:30 on Sundays.
New Bridge Country Club is another fabulous venue hosting 8-goal polo matches this spring. The 2024 schedule includes the New Bridge Championship 8-goal (April 22 – May 5), Tommy Hitchcock Memorial (May 6-26), Pete Bostwick Memorial (May 29 – June 16), Louise Hitchcock Women’s 8 – 14 Goal (May 27 – June 9) and the New Bridge Arena International (May 25 & June 8).
La Bourgogne Club de Polo is one of the newest local polo venues. Head over to Wagener for an exciting weekend of fast and competitive polo! Games are on Friday afternoons, and Pavilion games are every Saturday at 3 and 4:30 pm. The 2024 schedule kicks off April 19th and includes:
Have a great night out on the town at Amp the Alley! Join us every Thursday night to enjoy live music, art, and local restaurants in the heart of downtown Aiken! Amp the Alley starts at 6:30pm every Thursday. This concert series is free to the public and is the longest running concert series in the CSRA spanning 32 weeks. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, listen to some great live music, and stroll the Alley with your favorite drink while you browse the arts and craft vendors. Some of the upcoming performances include:
…and many more! See the full lineup here: https://www.ampthealley.com/schedule-1
Enjoy a fabulous evening of live music under the trees in beautiful Hopelands Gardens! The 50th Annual Hopelands Concert Series is held every Monday night from April – June. The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. in April, and 7 p.m. in May and June. We recommend arriving a little early. Bring a lawn chair or a picnic dinner, and enjoy an evening of live music beneath the live oaks, deodar cedars, and magnolia trees. The family-friendly concerts are free. Aikenhorserealty looks forward to sponsoring Preston and Weston’s performance on Monday, May 13th.
When it comes to Aiken, SC, horse events, the Spring Classic is one to add to your list! Competitors from near and far travel to Aiken to compete at the USEF Premier Level of show jumping. Events take place at Highfields Event Center daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sign up to compete or come watch and cheer on your favorite competitors!
The Carolina Dog Society is proud to present its first All-Breed Dog Show, from April 19th to 21st, 2024, at the New Era Farm Arena in Aiken, SC. Join them for a weekend filled with wagging tails and canine celebrations as they showcase various breeds and their talented handlers.The show will be held outdoors, in a covered arena and starts at 9 a.m. Vendors & Food Trucks are on site daily.
Spring is Strawberry Season in Aiken, SC, and you won’t want to miss out on the annual Strawberry Festival at Mead Hall. This family-friendly festival includes Inflatables, rides, games, vendors, a bake sale, silent auction plus plenty of food, handmade strawberry ice cream, shortcake, and some of the freshest strawberries you will ever taste! Admission is free; tickets required for attractions. The 2024 Strawberry Festival will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on April 20th.
Residents and visitors are invited to the Cedar Creek community on Saturday, April 20th, during Art in the Park, to enjoy art and meet artisans. Walton Heath Park in Cedar Creek will be filled with vendors offering a variety of artworks, including acrylic and glass mixed media, handmade jewelry, season wreaths, watercolor art, quilted items, handmade jewelry, woodwork, and more. The event runs from noon to 3:30 pm. Walton Heath Park is located at the corner of Club Drive and Walton Heath Way.
Lace up your running shoes and get your blood pumping at the RUN UNITED Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun Run! The event takes place on Newberry Street in downtown Aiken from 7 – 10 a.m., starting with the half marathon and 10K 7:30 a.m. Next is the 5K at 7:45 a.m. Please visit the event website for details and pricing. The One Mile Kids Fun Run begins at 9:30 a.m. and is free. Awards for each race will be presented at 10:00 a.m.
Pickleball and pizza: could there be a better combination? Come out to beautiful Virginia Acres Park every first Friday of the month 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.
Head over to Bruce’s Field for the Aiken Charity Horse Show this May. Whether you are competing or spectating, you won’t want to miss this USEF Premier AA Rated Level 4 Jumper horse show. Visit the show’s website for more information and prize list.
Don your best Derby day attire, grab a Mint Julep, and come celebrate the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Bruce’s Field! Party in style in the VIP tent, enjoy specialty cocktails, watch the $50k Chesterfield Cup GP, then place your bets for the greatest 2 mins in sports. The party begins at 4 p.m. with the Chesterfield Cup GP. The KY Derby Race Post Time is approximately 6:45 p.m. Limited tickets are available for this event, so get yours today!
Mark your calendar now for the Annual South Carolina Ag + Art Tour! Come and experience the many great farms and talented artisans of Aiken County. This is a free, self-guided tour of farms and markets featuring local artisans at every stop. During the tour visitors have the opportunity to see first-hand where their food comes from, watch artists in action and purchase their works, enjoy the melodies of local musicians, and learn more about rural life. The tour is the largest free farm and art tour in the nation with over 85,000 visitors participating since 2012. Participating farms include Boondock Farms, Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, Jenks Farmer Crinum Lily Farm, Proveaux Plantation, Purebred Compost, Rutland Ranch LLC, Southerly Farm and Trustee Farm.
Spring is in full bloom in Aiken, SC, and there is no better way to experience the beauty of the season than at the Aiken Garden Show. There will be six private gardens open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two of the gardens are in the midtown historic horse district and three are on or near the historic Aiken Golf Club in the Highland Park area. One garden is a historic Winter Colony garden.
In addition to the garden tour, The 2024 Aiken Garden Show will feature interesting and informative speakers. Plan to join us in the parlor of the Aiken County Historical Museum to learn the best way to design, grow, maintain, and enjoy your own garden.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 day of event. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $20 per person. Food trucks will be located at the Aiken County Historical Museum, including Heart Pine Homestead (Sourdough focaccias, cinnamon rolls & muffins), DJ’s American Grill (Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken), and Flanagan’s Ice Cream.
Put on your red, white, and blue and kick off the long weekend with the Aiken Memorial Day Parade! The parade begins at 10 a.m. and is held in the center of downtown Aiken on Laurens St. SW and Park Ave SW.
Shop local and support small businesses! The Aiken County Farmers Market has some of the tastiest fruits and vegetables in town. Stock up on fresh produce, delicious baked goods, meat, honey, or dairy products. Take your time browsing the handmade crafts or pick up a bouquet of spring flowers to brighten up your home. The market is open year-round every Tuesday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Are you thinking about relocating to Aiken, SC? We’d love to welcome you to the South’s Best Small Town! If you’re considering a move to the area, contact Suzy Haslup today. Between her experience as a Realtor® and horsewoman, Suzy will ensure that you find your dream home or equestrian property, land, downtown cottage or home in Aiken’s Historic Horse District.
Are you ready to make your dream of living in Aiken, SC, a reality? Contact Suzy to begin your home search now!