JULY 13 -- Meet the real heroes! Hometown Heroes, 10 am - 2 pm at The Clinton Chronicle, 513 N. Broad St., Clinton -- free Hometown Heroes Edition; DJ, food truck, BIG trucks, games, popcorn for the kids.
July 13 - Martha Dendy Community Center, First Summer Jam, 11 am - 4:30 pm at 301 N. Bell St., Clinton. Food, fun & fellowship - If you are interested in being a sponsor and/or vendor for this event, please contact marthadendycommunitycenter@gmail.com by June 30, 2024.
MUSEUM
Colonial and Native American Agricultural Practices Museum Talk on the Ag&Art Tour
June 29
Laurens — Landscape architect, nurseryman, and historian will speak about “Colonial and Native American Agricultural Practices“ on Saturday, June 29, at 10:00 am, at the Laurens County Museum, 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC. The lecture is part of the SC Ag&Art Tour and will compliment the artisans who will be displaying their skills and art on that day and the next, Saturday and Sunday, June 29 & 30, from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. The talk by Ashmore is free and open to the public.
For more information call (864) 681-3678 or visit LaurensCountyMuseum.org.
Historic Quilts of Laurens County Exhibit Opening, Workshop, and Lecture Schedule
Laurens - Beautiful and inspiring handmade quilts as old as 170 years will be on display starting June 22, 10 am, at the Laurens County Museum in the “Historic Quilts of Laurens County” exhibit. A quilt made by President Andrew Johnson and his beloved Sarah Word circa 1825 will be on display for one day - tentatively August 17. Displays of antique sewing machines and other vintage sewing tools will be in the exhibit. See the schedule for a hands-on quilting workshop, a live demonstration of indigo dyeing, and other quilt related gatherings below. As an added bonus a local seamstress has donated a quilt to be raffled for the benefit of the museum.
June 22 to August 30 — Quilt Fundraiser Tickets available, $5 donation each or 5 for $20.
July 12 — Quilting Workshop by Suellen Holmes, $50, spaces limited. Call for registration information. Learn the “Matilda’s Star” pattern.
July 27 — Indigo Natural Dye Demonstration by Judith Brown, $5.
August 17 — Gathering of Quilters and Quilts of Valor Wrapping
August 12-17 — Quilts on Display by Loose Threads Quilting Guild
August 31 — Quilt Fundraiser Winner
The Laurens County Museum is located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC. The exhibit hall is open 10 am until 3 pm Tuesdays through Saturday. For more information call (864)681-3678 or go to LaurensCountyMuseum.org or Facebook.
June 27 -
Defy Gravity at the Laurens Library!
Laurens —The Laurens County Library System presents its next Summer Reading program on June 27 with two special shows. Gravity Check features the juggling duo of Ken Julian and Kyle Brown from Charlotte, North Carolina. Their unique style combines amazing juggling with hilarious wittiness. Isaac Newton never had so much fun!
You can enjoy Gravity Check at either the 10 am program or at the 2 pm show. Space is limited so come early.
For more information contact the Youth Services Department at 864-7323 x221.
June 27 - Laurens County Community Foundation invites you to a Celebration of Giving, 4:30 - 5:30 pm at City of Clinton Council Chambers (upstairs), MS Bailey Municipal Center, 211 N. Broad St., Clinton - please join us for hors d’oeuvres and hear about how the foundation supports giving in Laurens County.
June 29, 10 am - “Colonial and Cherokee Agricultural Practices” by Durant Ashmore
June 29 & 30, 9 am - 4 pm - SC Ag&Art Artisans Fair, Magnolia Room
June 29-30, Ag + Art Tour coming to Laurens County - Saturday and Sunday. 9 am - 4 pm, a program of the Clemson Cooperative Extension.
June 30 - Laurens Police Department 2nd Annual Caesars Head Bike Run, registration Laurens Square Plaza starting at 9 am, all bikes out at 10 - $25 per bike or vehicle - kids summer camp benefit.
July 2 - Patriotic Concert at The Villa, Martha Franks Retirement Community, Laurens, 7 pm - Rock of Ages in Concert.
July 3 - Laurens Freedom Fest, 4 pm on the square, live performances followed by fireworks, featuring the band Bowling for Soup.
July 6 - Lights on the Lake, 4 - 10:30 pm, at Camp Fellowship, Spectacular Fireworks Display over Lake Greenwood. Gates open at 3 - come by land or boat, food vendors, refreshments, live music all day. Free event, parking fee for Camp Fellowship.
July 12 - LCSO is holding our annual Fill the Cruiser back to school drive on Friday, July 12th at Laurens Chick-fil-A. School Resource Officers and volunteers will be present and ready to accept donations from 9AM to 2PM! You can just drive by to donate, you don’t even have to get out of your car! Needed: bookbags (clear and regular), notebooks, packs of paper, pencils/erasers, sharpeners, folders, binders, graph paper, glue, highlighters/markers, crayons, colored pencils, pens and markers.
SAVE THE DATE
Aug. 13 - Laurens Master Gardener Course Offered
The Clemson University Extension Service will be offering a Master Gardener Volunteer Training Course this Fall in Laurens County. The Program will be held once each week on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. and will last for 17 weeks. The purpose of this program is to provide horticultural training and information to area residents.
Urban Tree Care, Turfgrass Management, Vegetable Gardening, Weed Identification and Control, and Annuals and Perennials are just a few of the many excellent classes provided in the course. This is a hybrid course, with presentations by instructors both in-person and through video. After completion of the course graduates will volunteer 40 hours of service to the Laurens County Extension Program or community beautification projects.
The first class will be held on August 13 at 6 p.m. in the Laurens County Extension Building, which is located just off the Square at 219 West Laurens Street. The registration fee for the Master Gardener Program is $300, which includes books, supplies, handouts, and other materials. Registration for the course will close on August 1. We require a minimum of 10 persons to hold the class, and the class will be limited to a maximum of 20 persons. If you have any questions or comments please contact Bryan Smith at (864) 705-1101.
The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
AUGUST 16 -- Charles Chadwell Special Education Institute, Tenth Annual
In celebration of the 40th year of the Charles Chadwell Endowment, the PC Education Department cordially invites you to attend the 10th Annual Charles Chadwell Special Education Institute featuring author and speaker Dr. Temple Grandin.
Temple Grandin is an influential advocate for autism awareness and a renowned professor of animal science, recognized for her groundbreaking work in improving livestock handling practices. Her unique perspective as an autistic individual has profoundly impacted both the understanding of autism and the humane treatment of animals.
Dr. Grandin will deliver her talk entitled, “The World Needs ALL Kinds of Minds” followed by a book signing. Books will be on sale at the event.
Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
Location: Belk Auditorium
Start Time: 5 p.m. (1 hour talk followed by book signing)
Everyone welcome! This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required with form on the Presbyterian College website.
Aug. 23-24 -- Youth Livestock Show that will be held on August 23rd and 24th. Beef, Dairy, and Meat Goat Shows will be held at the Laurens County Park (409 Recreational Park Rd). The Rabbit Show will be held at the Joe R. Adair Outdoor Education Center and the Dog Show will be held at Dog Trainer’s Workshop (207 Greenpond Rd, Fountain Inn).
Entries are $5 per class, and they will be accepted until August 9th. Business, farm, and individual sponsorships are also much appreciated. All show paperwork can be found online on the Laurens County 4-H Facebook page or can be picked up from the Laurens County Extension Office.
It is free for the public to attend.
Oct. 13 - 2024 Laurens County Military Hall of Heroes, 3 pm at Presbyterian College. Info: 864-984-4041.
Oct. 11-12 - The South Carolina Bigfoot Festival is returning to Westminster, South Carolina, on October 11th and 12th this year! Since 2019, thousands of people descend on this small town during the month of October to celebrate and learn about the most well know mysterious creature in the world – Bigfoot! People from all over the United States have come to the festival since 2019 and many have returned every year.
The South Carolina Bigfoot Festival was named one of the Top Five South Carolina Festivals in October by The State newspaper in 2023! Attendees, participants, and vendors testify this is one of the best festivals of its kind anywhere. Whether or not you believe in the Big Fella, you will have fun listening to expert Bigfoot researchers, tapping your feet to live music, participating in or watching the multiple contests, or perusing the many vendors up and down Main Street Westminster!
Westminster is located in the upstate of South Carolina. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, rivers, and lakes this area has a lot to offer visitors who want to take a vacation built around the South Carolina Bigfoot Festival.
Vendors may apply to participate by going to www.scbigfootfestival.com or emailing scbigfootfestival@hotmail.com.
NOV. 21 - ”Cold Case Live": Brings Real-Life Crime Solving to Newberry Opera House
NEWBERRY, SC— True-crime fanatics and web sleuths will have their chance to be in the detective’s shoes with a brand-new live show that will take audiences on a fascinating journey to unlock the mysteries of – and potentially help solve – America’s most notorious cold cases. “Cold Case Live” is making a tour stop at Newberry Opera House on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 7pm, as part of the performing arts center’s 26th season lineup. Hosted by retired NCIS Special Agent, Joe Kennedy (“Real NCIS” and Starz TV’s “Wrong Man”), the international cold case expert has successfully solved hundreds of murders while working with detectives around the world to implement his methodology.
Tickets start at $35 before applicable fees. A VIP package is also available for $135. This package includes one premium seat ticket, a meet and greet with the host of “Cold Case Live,” and a collectible VIP laminate. For more information about this package, please email coldcase@insidersexperiences.com. Secure your seat for this show by visiting NewberryOperaHouse.com or by calling the Box Office at 803-276-6264.
“Cold Case Live” is a deep-dive exploration into the world of unsolved crimes. The show will feature in-depth analyses, firsthand insights, reenactments and more during an evening of shocking revelations as host Kennedy takes audiences behind-the-scenes and walks them through the process of solving cases. Together, they’ll inspect clues from chilling cases like The Zodiac Killer, The Golden State Killer, and The JonBenét Ramsey case, among others.
Kennedy will also discuss developments in forensic techniques including investigative genetic genealogy that have changed the nature of cold cases in recent years (such as the Grim Sleeper case), and how technology and AI will shape the future of cold case investigations to help tip the balance in favor of justice. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for audience members to participate in a Q&A session with Kennedy and share their thoughts on who could have committed these crimes.
“‘Cold Case’ Live will give you a much deeper understanding of why these cases go cold in the first place, and how my methodology helps successfully resolve them – the same method detectives around the world are using to solve their cases today,” says Kennedy who lives in Winston-Salem and is a North Carolina native. “Many shows and books delve into the criminal’s perspective, but now you’ll get a glimpse into the minds of top detectives. I strongly believe that “Cold Case Live”—with some help from our audiences -- will help us solve another important case so we can help bring justice and resolution for victims and their families.”
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, nearly 340,000 murder cases in the United States remain unsolved today. “Cold Case Live” is produced by Right Angle Entertainment, the same producers of last season’s riveting and successful national tour of “The Psychology of Serial Killers.”
Tickets start at $35 before applicable fees. A VIP package is also available for $135. This package includes one premium seat ticket, a meet and greet with the host of “Cold Case Live,” and a collectible VIP laminate. For more information about this package, please email coldcase@insidersexperiences.com. Secure your seat for this show by visiting NewberryOperaHouse.com or by calling the Box Office at 803-276-6264.