Community Art for the Holidays

The holiday season has sped up quickly with plenty of events to kick those winter blues. Take a moment to share the spirit with your local community this weekend. On Friday from 5-7pm bring the family to enjoy the Downtown Tryon Christmas Open House, Santa will be visiting with children at the Rotary Clock Tower and there will be caroling, refreshments, carriage rides, entertainment and good cheer to help you shed the work week and relax into the weekend. If you start strolling from the south be sure to step into the Upstairs Artspace and explore “Wondrous Things: Celebrating Local Craft.” Enjoy the fine work of local wood crafters such as Andy Costine, Dave Prudhomme, and Mike Reeves, glass blowers Louie Long and Shane Smith, metal smith artist Joe Cooper and many others. Then take a moment to wander up past Morris to visit The Book Shelf where Claire Wharton, author of Pearl Maker, will be present to meet & greet the public. At the next light on Trade Street travel up to find Julie McIntyre demonstrating the fine art of creating lamp worked glass beads from 6-8pm at Simply Irresistible Gallery. Finish up your stroll by stopping for music and coffee at the Gallery Coffeehouse’s Picking Parlor after 7pm.

You might not want to tarry too long if you have tickets for the Community Chorus Concert directed by Jan Impey with the Blue Ridge Ringers at Polk County High School Friday at 8pm unless you decide to catch the show Sunday at 3pm. True to her dynamic style Jan has arranged a wonderful concert of music ranging from Bach’s "Gloria Patri" in “Magnificat,” to sweet holiday gems such as “Carol of the Bells,” “I Wonder as I Wander,” and “How Far Is It to Bethlehem." The rousing “We Need a Little Christmas" from Mame,” “The Christmas Song,” a group of carols with the Polk County High School Brass, and selections from the Blue Ridge Ringers Bell Choir round out the show. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Scholarship fund.

While you’re out this weekend, catch The Red Clover Gallery Annual Winter Art Expo which opens on Friday. They will be featuring the work of over twelve artists in a variety of disciplines. Or slip up to Flat Rock to visit the Hand in Hand Gallery for the Holiday Trunk Show Saturday, from 10am-5pm featuring the work of Jane Voorhees, Chad Alice Hagen, Charlie Patricolo, and Martha Thompson.

Make plans now to get the whole family out of the house by 4pm Saturday for the Christmas Parade in Columbus. With a new committee this year to pull the community together they have assembled a festive parade with fire trucks, marching bands, beauty queens, horses, and floats from local churches and other organizations such as the Foothills Youth Rodeo and Foothills gymnastics. Expect it to last about 45 minutes and afterwards enjoy Santa’s Village and the tree lighting. Take a horse drawn hayride and listen to church choirs singing carols amid the new decorations and lights. The Thermal Belt Outreach will be serving warm winter snacks while Foothills Barbeque will be selling some heartier food. If you’re worried about parade parking, the town suggests parking over on Ward Street and near Columbus Hardware, then view the parade at the courthouse area.

Later, step inside Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Gallery Too for the “Five Easy Pieces” reception for local artists Mike McCarthy and Jeff Jenkins on Saturday 5-7 pm. Then, warm up over dinner in Saluda at the Purple Onion to the beautiful lyrics and vocals of Americana blues singer Eliza Lynn at 8pm.