2008 Calendar of Events
April 8 - Charles Wadsworth Chamber Music Series
Come listen to four amazing performances that will leave you breathless! Old friend and famed pianist Charles Wadsworth returns and evening of glorious chamber music featuring some of the world’s most renowned musicians.
6:00 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar)
7:00 p.m. Concert
Wood Auditorium
April 8 - Stacy Morgan in the Bassett Gallery
An award-winning painter from Lexington, SC, Morgan focuses on coastal nature scenes and capturing personalities of animals in pet portraits.
Opening Reception
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Bassett Gallery
On exhibit through May 5
April 8 - Camden and Charleston Garden Club Exchange
The Camden Garden Club will host the Charleston Garden Club to tour the beautiful historic grounds of several Camden homes.
April 17-19 & April 25-27 - Oklahoma!
A Camden Community Theatre production.
Don’t miss this special 25th Anniversary production of the first show produced in the FAC’s Bassett Building in 1983. Oklahoma! is a heartwarming romance, a jubilant comedy, a celebration of the grit and spirit that made America what it is, and a showcase of some of the most beautiful songs ever written for the stage.
8:00 p.m. nightly
3:00 p.m. Sunday matinee
Wood Auditorium
18 – 19 April - The Chicken Strut, Bethune, SC.
The Chicken Strut is a three-day festival held in April to recognize Bethune as the largest egg producer in the United States. A short 21 mile drive from Bloomsbury, events include concerts, square dancing, sky diving demonstrations, craft fairs and pony rides. Bring the family to the home of the Bethune Chicken Strut for a weekend of family fun and entertainment. Rides, vendors, street dances, live music, and equine events provide fun for “kids’ of all ages.
April 20 - Camden Community Concert Band
This Fine Arts Center affiliate of over 50 performers who love to make music. Enjoy their melodious sounds at their FREE concerts.
3:00 p.m.
Rectory Square
May 3 - How I Became a Piratea
Columbia Children’s Theatre production. Arrrrrrrrr you ready for adventure on the high seas? Come along as Jeremy Jacobs learns all about being a pirate in this hilarious musical adaptation of South Carolinian Melinda Long’s beloved children’s book. It’ll blow ye’ down, Matey!
2 p.m.
Wood Auditorium
May 4 - The Camden Cup - a benefit polo match
Take a trip back in time when Camden was one of the country’s most illustrious polo centers. The Sunday polo match features players from around the world and will evoke images of Camden in the early 1900’s. Come enjoy May’s warm weather and the timeless excitement of this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants event.
Camden Polo Field
Tailgate and Luncheon Tent seating available by reservation.
May 9 & 10 - Aviance Dance Ensemble
Angela Bryant's company of young dancers perform hip hop, jazz, and modern dance with Broadway flair. This high-energy event is expected to sell out!
7:00 p.m.
Wood Auditorium
May 12 - Concert Choirs of Kershaw County
Under the direction of Dr. Susan Wyatt’s direction, this concert will feature performances by the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Boys’ Choir, and Girls’ Choir.
7:30 p.m.
Wood Auditorium
May 13 - Camden Art Association Honors Show
Winners from the fall members show have the opportunity to showcase their favorite pieces.
Opening Reception
6 - 7 p.m.
Bassett Gallery
May 16 & May 17 - Jazz at the Center
In its fourth year, Jazz at the Center 2008 will be a full weekend of workshops, restaurant and nightclub shows, and a concert in the Wood Auditorium, featuring some of the hottest jazz guitarists from around the country.
May 17 – Strawberry Festival at McCloud Farms, McBee, SC
Spring is the season for strawberries! This is the time of year where spring fruit and vegetables begin to bloom and grow. Since they cover the strawberries with blankets during the cold winter months, local strawberries start ripening 4 weeks early - around the 15th of March. Now no matter what Sunday Easter falls on, you can have fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert. McCloud Farms grows 15 acres of the sweetest, red strawberries in the Carolinas for your eating pleasure. You can buy their pre-picked strawberries. Or, for a little adventure, you can take a trip into the strawberry patch and pick your own! Their juicy strawberries are perfect for canning, jellies, cakes, pies, or straight out of the basket. Strawberries are available from the middle of March until the end of May. During the festival they have free face painting, local entertainment, horse drawn carriages, a strawberry recipe contest, and other family fun activities. See www.macspride.com
17 May – Thunder at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC.
Come join the Celebrate Freedom Foundation and the United States Armed Forces for an exciting day to honor our military…past present and future. The event is free and open to the public. Gates to Fort Jackson will be accessible to event attendees. Displays will include Cobras, Hueys, Loaches, Sea Hawks, Blackhawks, and Apaches. The living history encampments will feature replicas of field encampments from every war.
For more information go to www.celebratefreedomfoundation.org/events
22-25 May – Iris Festival, Sunter, SC.
Sumter's Iris Festival is South Carolina's oldest continuous festival and is ranked among the top festivals in the Southeast. The 4-day festival includes concerts, an arts and crafts show, a golf tournament, a flower show, a food tasting, the crowning of the Iris Festival king and queen, and a number of contests and children's activities. Sumter's Swan Lake-Iris Gardens -- the main staging area for the Iris Festival -- is home to all eight types of the world's swans including swans from Asia, Australia, England and South America.
For more information please go to www.sumtersc.gov/VisitingUs/Festivals_Iris.aspx
May 30 - Finally Friday Concerts
Fine Arts Center's concert series. Bring your lawn chairs and come out for an evening of fun family entertainment! Food and drinks will be available.The series is graciously underwritten by National Bank of South Carolina (NBSC).
6:00-8:30 p.m.
FAC grounds
This Month's Band: Rusty Davis
July 4 - Lake Watree Fireworks Show.
Come enjoy the Lake Wateree Association Annual fireworks show. Sparks will start flying at 9:15. A fun event for the whole family! Rain date will be July 5th. 9:15 p.m.
July 12 - Peach Festival at McCloud Farms, McBee, SC
Since 1916, McLeod Farms has produced mouth-watering Southern peaches right outside of McBee, SC. For 4 generations, the McLeod family has grown peaches in the Sandhills. Campbell McLeod remembers when they would sell peaches to people traveling on the railroad. They wouldn't even have to step off the train. Like the drive-through windows of today, the travelers would roll down their window to buy peaches. McLeod Farms harvests peaches from the end of May to the end of August. They grow over 22 varieties of the sweetest peaches. This family friendly festival will feature free face painting, local entertainment, homemade peach ice-cream, a peach recipe contest, horse-drawn carriages, and other fun activities. See www.macspride.com
8 December - The Elgin Catfish Stomp, Elgin, SC.
The city of Elgin welcomes thousands to sample the tantalizing stew made from prime local catfish. Live country music, square dancing and good-hearted competitions round out the thoroughly unique day. The town of Elgin, located just 13 miles from Bloomsbury, jumps with excitement during this annual pre-Christmas festival. The festival has been re-organized somewhat because of the commercial construction on the primary festival site since the last event. A parade, children’s activities, gospel singing, and lots of mouthwatering Catfish Stew top off the fun. The Catfish Stomp is held annually first Saturday in December. Christmas parade at 10 a.m., then enjoy lots of food (catfish of course), live music, and arts & crafts. There will also be a carnival with rides and games for the children.
