ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — The Orangeburg County Arts Center launched the holiday season with its second annual Art of Christmas Festival, bringing festive talent and holiday cheer to the community.
The event, which took place at the Arts Center, featured 25 vendors and food trucks, all gathered under the twinkling holiday lights. The festival helped to kickstart the holiday shopping season, with shoppers traveling from various locations to find unique gifts.
Heather Rast, executive director of the Orangeburg County Arts Center, expressed excitement about the event.
“It’s our second annual Art of Christmas festival and we are celebrating Christmas early this year,” she said.
One of the festival’s shoppers, Roslyn Freeman, shared her appreciation for the chance to shop in person rather than online.
“You get a chance to actually look, touch, smell, and enjoy what you’re purchasing," Freeman said. "When you do it over the internet, or whatever, you may get something, but it might not be the right size, and then the person that you are giving it to, you won’t know it until they open it."
Local artists, including Lisa McAlhany, who traveled from Bowman, also benefited from the festival. She explained the holiday season's importance for artists like herself, who rely on seasonal sales.
“We depend a lot on our local economy to be able to provide for our families, and the holidays is the best times for us to get sales because people are looking for those unique one-of-a-kind gifts, and that’s what we offer,” McAlhany said.
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Alivia Burks, a young entrepreneur and a crochet artist from Cordova, shared her enthusiasm for the event.
“You get to see people, meet people, you get to know where they do it, how they do it, their story, and they’re from the same town as you, so anybody can do it,” she said.
McAlhany further emphasized how vital the festival was for local artists, particularly in rural areas like Orangeburg County. “In Orangeburg County, it is hard to find the opportunities to showcase your items and your products that you have available, so it’s very important for us to have venues like this in this rural county because it’s harder for people to get around and find places, so it’s very important for people to support us during that time,” she stated.
Click here for those looking for more holiday cheer. The Arts Center in Orangeburg has additional offerings this season, including upcoming galleries and classes.
