Calendar of Events: holiday markets, Fall Steeplechase and more

If you would like to submit an item to be placed in the calendar of events, please email producers@theaugustapress.com.

Ongoing

• The Columbia County Fair will run through Nov. 12 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit columbiacountyfair.net.
• The Hawk Law Group is accepting applications for “Hawk Helps,” an initiative for families struggling with bills during the holiday season. The public can nominate deserving families by going to hawkhelps.com by Nov. 25. Gifts will be distributed before Christmas.
• Evans on Ice will run now through Jan. 15, 2024 at Evans Towne Center Park. For more information, visit https://evansonice.com.  
• Visitors can experience Christmas during the American Revolution at the annual Christmas at Meadow Garden, the Augusta home of George Walton. On Dec. 1-2, guests can enjoy a candlelight open house and explore the holiday traditions of the 18^th century. Click here for more information or call 706-724-4174.

Sunday, Nov. 12

• The Holiday Market at the Marina will start Nov. 12 and will be held every Sunday through Dec. 17 from noon to 4 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 13

• Destination Augusta, the Augusta Sports Council and Film Augusta are hosting the 2023 Experience Augusta Annual Tourism Celebration event at 3:30 p.m. at the Miller Theater. The event will feature entertainment and recount tourism highlights from the year. Experience Augusta will present the 2023 Tourism Awards. For more information and to get tickets please visit https://www.visitaugusta.com/expaug2023/.

Thursday, Nov. 16

• Sacred Heart Cultural Center’s annual Holiday Market will be held Thursday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please visit the Sacred Heart Cultural Center at https://www.sacredheartaugusta.org/event/holiday-market-2023/?event_date=2023-11-16
• The Feast before the Feast, a free Thanksgiving meal returns this year to four locations: Community centers at McBean, McDuffie Woods, Carrie J. Mays and Bernie Ward and Oak Point public housing complex. Turkey, ham, yams, green beans and all the traditional fixings will be offered at the sites from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 16.
• Organizations involved in revamping Augusta Municipal Golf Course are hosting community input sessions. Anyone interested in the future of “The Patch” is invited to share input at one of the multiple sessions scheduled Nov. 16-18. Space is limited, so please RSVP for a session here.
• Town of Jackson Thanksgiving drive-thru will start at 5 p.m. at the Jackson Community Center, 104 Main St., Jackson, S.C. Dinners will be available while supplies last. For more information, visit https://www.jackson-sc.gov/news-events.

Saturday, Nov. 18

• The Aiken Fall Steeplechase will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2020 Richland Avenue East, Aiken, SC 29801. The gates open at 8 a.m. with the first race starting at 1 p.m. For more information, visit https://aikensteeplechase.com. 
• Gingerbread Fun Day will be held at the Augusta Museum of History from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Children of all ages are invited enjoy a reading of “The Gingerbread Man” by Jim Aylesworth with a craft following the story. This event is free to the public. Those interested in participating are asked to sign up in advance at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdws3FIuzU8Mh9kAlUFN1qhWNW625SN8j6KXImHUNRfkwn_lA/viewform
• The Grovetown Police Department is holding its first “Cruisin’ For Christmas” car show on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Liberty Park Community Center All of the proceeds will go toward providing Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in the city. For more information, visit the Grovetown Police Department Facebook page. 
• CSRA Walk for Water will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. starting at SRP Park. The organization works to bring safe water to people all around the world. For more information, visit the CSRA Walk for Water Facebook page.
• Holiday vendor festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Harlem High School. For more information, visit https://www.visitthomsonga.com. 
• Augusta Genealogical Society will host a virtual program on Mayflower Research at 11 a.m. Presenter Rev. Alan Smith will explain the myths and process of claiming Mayflower descendants. For more information or to obtain limited seating for the program at Adamson Library visit www.augustagensociety.org or call 706-722-4073.
• Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson will host the annual sweet potato giveaway from 10 a.m. to noon at 4102 Windsor Spring Road.

Friday, Nov. 24

• The Edgefield town tree lighting will take place in the Edgefield Town Square from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.exploreedgefield.com/event/edgefield-town-tree-lighting.

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Christmas in the Back Country at Living History Park in North Augusta (Saturday after Thanksgiving; https://colonialtimes.us/public-events/.
• Palmetto Peach half marathon, 10k and 5k will be held. The race will start and end at SRP Park. For more information, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/SC/NorthAugusta/PalmettoPeachHalfMarathon.  
• The Town of Salley’s Chitlin Strut will begin at 8 a.m. with the parade taking place at 10 a.m. There will be live music, food vendors, craft vendors and more. For more information, visit the Town of Salley Facebook page. 

Sunday, Nov. 26

• Christmas tree lighting service at Church of the Good Shepherd will take place at 6 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/911130700463834/?active_tab=discussion.

Tuesday, Nov. 28

• The North Augusta Tree Lighting will be held. Following the tree lighting will be a cocoa and cookie crawl. For more information, visit the Downtown North Augusta Facebook page. 
• The Feral Swine workshop, sponsored by Columbia County SWCD, McDuffie County SWCD, and Lincoln County SWCD, will be held at the Lincoln County UGA Extension office located at 2080 Rowland-York Drive, Lincolnton, GA 30817. There will be speakers and a demonstration with a hog trap. Dinner check-in begin at 5:00 pm. Registration is required. To register, visit https://www.gacd.us/events/2023/11/28/feral-swine-workshop-with-columbiamcduffielincoln-counties.

Thursday, Nov. 30

• The Fort Gordon Christmas Festival and Tree Lighting will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fort Gordon. For more information, visit https://eisenhower.armymwr.com/view-event/christmas-festival-and-trees-troops/6241574/82072. 
• Thomson Christmas tree lighting will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Thomson Depot. For more information, visit visitthomasga.com. 

Friday, Dec. 1

• The Christmas Craft Show will be held over two days at the Odell Weeks Activity Center in Aiken from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.cityofaikensc.gov/christmascraftshow/.
• The Aiken Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held on Newberry St. SW in downtown Aiken on Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Facebook page. 
• North Augusta Tour of Homes will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. Five homes are part of the tour. For more information, visit https://natourofhomes.org. 

Saturday, Dec. 2

• The Christmas Craft Show will be held over two days at the Odell Weeks Activity Center in Aiken from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.cityofaikensc.gov/christmascraftshow/.
• The 49^th annual City of Grovetown Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas parade will be held at 10 a.m. The parade will start at Augusta Tech’s Columbia County campus off Horizon South Parkway and end at Grovetown Middle School on Harlem Grovetown Road. For more information, visit the City of Grovetown website or call the Grovetown Leisure and Recreation Department at 706-863-4576, ext. 307.
• Grovetown Christmas Festival will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Liberty Park. There will be vendors, live entertainment, a train ride and the Christmas tree lighting. For more information, visit the City of Grovetown website or call Grovetown Leisure and Recreation at 706-863-4576, ext. 307.
• The Aiken Christmas parade will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Aiken. For more information, visit https://www.visitaikensc.com/event/downtown-christmas-parade/.
• Tinseltown Forest will take place at 336 Georgia Ave. in North Augusta from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy fresh cut fir trees and wreaths, s’mores, beverages and more. For more information, visit the Downtown North Augusta Facebook page. 
• North Augusta Tour of Homes will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. Five homes are part of the tour. For more information, visit https://natourofhomes.org. 
• Jingle Jam 10k will be held at 8 a.m. starting at Evans Towne Park. This will be the final year for the race. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/jinglejam10k

Sunday, Dec. 3

• Christmas in Columbia County will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3. The holiday market will begin at 1 p.m., the Christmas parade will begin at 3 p.m. and the tree lighting will take place at approximately 6:15 p.m. For more information, visit columbiacountyga.gov.
• The North Augusta Christmas parade will be Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. in downtown North Augusta. For more information, visit the North Augusta Lions Club Facebook page. 
• 50^th annual Edgefield Christmas parade will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.exploreedgefield.com/event/50th-annual-edgefield-christmas-parade-1.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• Christmas in Harlem will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9 in downtown Harlem. Vendors will be out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the parade will be at 6 p.m. and the tree lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit harlemga.org or Facebook.
• Thomson Christmas parade will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For details, visit visitthomsonga.com.

Saturday, Dec. 16

• The Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols parade will take place in downtown Aiken. Visit the Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols parade Facebook page for details.