AIKEN — Hundreds of guests visited Hopelands Gardens Dec. 22 to see more than 100,000 twinkling lights winding through two miles of pathways This year marks the 34th anniversary of the event.
In addition to taking a leisurely stroll through the park, visitors could view the Dollhouse festively decorated for the season as well as the Rye Patch, where Santa posed with children for photos and children could make Christmas crafts.
Outside the Rye Patch, people could roast marshmallows and make s’mores.
Members of the Southern Elite Cloggers performed on the Roland H. Windam Performing Arts stage.
The 34th annual holiday event opened Dec. 13; Dec. 23 will be the last night for activities with Josh Martin performing at 7 p.m. People can still visit to view the lights from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 27-28. Shuttles leave from Citizens Park.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
