(Mon 08/29) The Hopelands Summer Concert Series continues on The Windham Performing Arts Stage. Monday evening, it’s “The Aiken Concert Band”. Show time is 7pm and admission is free. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets are welcome!  Hopelands Gardens is located off Whiskey Road in Aiken.  Additional information is available at “CityofAikenSC.gov”. 

(Tue 08/30)   You can meet editor and award-winning author Rob Spillman Tuesday at 4pm at Augusta University’s Jaguar Student Activities Center. Mr. Spillman currently lectures in Columbia University’s MFA graduate writing program. Tuesday’s event includes a reading from the author’s 2016 memoir, “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” This free event is open to the public. You can learn more online at calendar.augusta.edu

(Wed 08/31)   It’s Super Awesome Story Time at Augusta’s Book Tavern—TOMORROW morning from 10:30-noon. This week, Augusta’s own Karen Gordon is the special guest. As always, cookies and juice are provided following Story Time. The Book Tavern is located at 936 Broad Street in downtown Augusta. More info online at http://www.booktavern.com/calendar/

(Thu 09/01)  A new art exhibit is opening. The work of Jill Stafford, Lala Mulherin and Lou Ann Zimmerman is on display at The North Augusta Arts and Heritage Center, 100 Georgia Avenue, through the month of September. An opening reception is set for Thursday from 6 til 8pm in the Center’s main gallery. Additional information is available  at  ArtsAndHeritageCenter.com .   

(Thu 09/01) Two jazz heavyweights are set to perform at the Bell Auditorium.  Sax-man “Boney James” and vocalist Marsha Ambrosius are in concert Thursday evening, 7:30 at The Bell Auditorium on Telfair Street in Downtown Augusta. It’s part of the Garden City Jazz Labor Day Weekend Jazz Celebration. Tickets and additional information available at Augusta Entertainment Complex.com

 (Fri-Sun 09/02-09/04)    A stage production of a classic tale is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Aiken Community Playhouse is presenting “Beauty and the Beast”. The Aiken Community Playhouse is located at 126 Newberry St. in Aiken. Information about tickets and show times is available at AikenPlayhouse.US .

(Mon 09/05)   This Monday, September 5th, you can paddle the creeks at Clark’s Hill Lake in search of sunken clues. It’s a Paddling Scavenger Hunt from 9 to noon at Mistletoe State Park in Appling, with canoes available for loan or you can bring your own. Paddlers meet at the Mistletoe Road boat ramp between 9 and 11 and have one hour to find clues. Directions, maps and more info online at gastateparks.org/mistletoe

(Thu 09/08)  Antiracist Essayist, Author and Educator Mr. Tim Wise is set to speak on “The Importance of Student Activism”. He’ll be joined by Lecturer, Activist, honorary U.S. Cultural Ambassador Ms. Yewande Austin who’ll host a Social Justice Discussion: “The Art of Change.” The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place at 6:30pm next Thursday at Maxwell Theatre in connection with The 6th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit. More info at Calendar.Augusta.edu         

 (Fri 09/09)   On Friday, September 9th, Columbia County is holding “A Day of Remembrance” beginning at 8:30am. The ceremony takes place at the Military Memorial Wall in Evans and is to honor the nearly 3,000 people, including emergency response personnel, who lost their lives on 9/11 and those who continue to serve today. The Memorial Wall is located behind the Evans Library at 7022 Evans Towne Center Boulevard. More info on the Columbia County facebook page under events

(Fri-Sat 09/09-10)  The annual “Aiken’s Makin’” arts and craft show is happening next Friday and Saturday, September 9th and 10th, in historic downtown Aiken, South Carolina. It’s the 40th annual family-friendly event featuring unique handmade arts and crafts, performing artists, fabulous food, and loads of fun. Hours are 9 to 6 Friday and 9 to 5 on Saturday. Details, including maps and directions, online at aikensmakin.net