Dear Visitors,
I enjoyed meeting so many of you who came out and joined us for Nature Rocks! More than 700 children attended this event. So much work went into preparing for this event behind the scenes that requires recognition. First, thank you to the City of Aiken staff members that prepared the grounds, set up event tables, and staffed a booth to share the wonder of nature with the children. I want to thank all of the people who hosted booths at the event! Thank you to the Trustees of the Friends of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch who organized and worked at the event. Thank you to the volunteers with Clean Up Aiken for cleaning the garden before the event! Thank you to the Fresh Market for sponsoring the lunch for the volunteers from Clean Up Aiken. This truly was a community event where we all came together to provide a special day in Hopelands Gardens for the families in our community.
If you missed the October guided Fall tours by Executive Committee Board Member, Allen Riddick, there is one last Fall tour, on November 2 at 10:00 AM. If you’d like to join us on the tour, meet us in front of the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. This is a free event that is a wonderful way to learn more about the history of Hopelands Gardens. What makes this tour special is the person leading the tour. Allen brings to this tour a knowledge that is only gained firsthand from growing up in Aiken as a native South Carolinian and Aiken historian.
This continues to be a busy time of year as we prepare for the holidays in Hopelands Gardens. Stringing the beautiful white lights that illuminate the gardens during the holidays has become a fun event for many. Did you know that you could participate in this lovely event? You could come and join us for the annual Lightbulb Day at Hopelands Gardens! We’re looking for volunteers to help string the light lines that illuminate the paths for Christmas in Hopelands. It is easy to participate!
Here is all the information you need to know! First step, if you’re able to join us, please reach out to Kadi Dubs of the City of Aiken Tourism Department by email at kdubs@cityofaikensc.gov to let her know you will attend. Then show up on December 3rd at 8:30 AM and meet her at the Aiken Thoroughbred Hall of Fame inside the courtyard. Kadi has been leading this event for years now and has some tips to offer. Here are her tips. Dress warmly and comfortably for the weather. Bring a bag and a friend! We’ll have bags available if needed. Enjoy some coffee and donuts as a token of our appreciation for your time and help.
We would love to have you join us for this special day as we help bring the magic of Christmas to the gardens!
Warm regards,
Laura Momot
Executive Director, Hopelands Gardens
Mission Statement
Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch, Inc., provide advice to the City of Aiken and raise funds for the preservation, improvement, and use of the properties so they can be enjoyed by Aiken’s residents and visitors consistent with the donors’ written wishes that Hopelands be a quiet, peaceful garden of excellence and that Rye Patch serves as a civic center of suitable dignity.
