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From YouTube: Aiken This Week - November 23, 2015 : Christmas Downtown
Description
Jenny Burghardt, Tourism Supervisor, and Avery Spears-Mahoney, Executive Director of the Aiken Downtown Development Association, share the holiday plans for Downtown Aiken and explain the extensive collaboration between the City and the Association to promote the downtown area.
A
Welcome
to
aiken
this
week,
I
memory,
Langston,
we're
kicking
off
the
holiday
season
today
and
I'm
so
pleased
to
be
joined
by
Jenny,
Burkhardt
who's
tourism,
a
supervisor
for
the
city
of
Aiken
and
with
Avery
Spears
Mahoney,
who
is
the
executive
director
of
the
Aiken
Downtown
Development
Association.
Thank
you
both
for
being
here
today.
We're
so
excited
to
kick
the
holiday
season
off
and
the
train
museum-
and
this
is
just
such
a
wonderful
spot
to
be
today
so
I
will
just
get
started
in
Jenny.
B
Thanks
so
much
for
having
me
a
little
bit
about
what
I
do
is
I'm
the
tourism
supervisor
with
the
city,
so
that
falls
under
the
parks,
recreation
and
tourism
division.
So
I
ever
see
this
wonderful
facility
at
the
visitor
center
and
train
depot,
making
sure
that
we
have
all
the
resources
available
for
our
visitors
when
they
come
in,
as
well
as
overseeing
the
train
museum
upstairs,
which
has
the
dioramas
that
represent
Aiken
towards
its
visit
towards
its
beginning
and
showing
the
line
that
went
through
town.
B
So
that's
one
really
fun
aspect
of
my
job:
I
also
oversee
the
farmers
market
and,
along
with
the
visitor
center,
we
run
the
historic
in
trolley
tours
and
so
I'm
involved
in
that.
But
the
the
broad
scope
of
my
job
is
just
to
work
with
visitors
and
and
to
promote
tourism
to
aiken
so
doing
the
advertising
outside
of
aiken
working
with
the
media
running
our
visit,
aiken
website
visit,
aiken,
SC
social
media,
all
of
those
components
that
get
Aiken
into
the
spotlight
and
and
help
show
people
what
a
wonderful
Jim
Aiken
is.
B
A
C
I
have
the
pleasure
working
with
Jenny
a
lot
on
things,
because
our
paths
cross
a
good
bet,
so
we
focus
primarily
on
promoting
our
downtown
businesses,
both
locally
and
to
visitors.
So
we
do
a
lot
of
marketing
with
our
accommodations
tax
to
bring
visitors
in
and
that's
kind
of
where
Jenny
and
I
work
together.
We
also
on
a
local
level.
C
Do
events
to
just
create
awareness,
for
you
know
our
downtown
and
we
did
the
farmers
market
in
the
alley
this
summer,
the
second
year,
so
we
partner
with
Jenny
on
that
and
we
just
have
so
much
to
show
case.
We
have
unique
shops,
great
accommodations
and
you
know
fine,
dining,
restaurants,
so
just
showcasing
that
and
letting
people
know
you
know
to
come
to
aiken
and
experience
what
we
have
downtown.
A
Of
the
two
of
you
and
the
role
that
you
get
to
to
play
and
highlighting
our
city
and
what
a
hugely
successful
program
that
y'all
have
done
with
the
the
farmers
market
in
the
summertime,
so
we're
so
excited
about
how
y'all
are
working
together
to
promote
I
can
during
the
holiday
season,
because
again
is
so
unique
just
in
itself.
But
during
the
holidays.
It's
such
a
special
time.
So
can
y'all
talk
about
how
you're
partnering
together
and
what
you're
doing
together
to
promote
Aiken.
Absolutely.
C
Just
we
got
together
and
you
know
we're
talking
about
the
holidays
and
realized.
It
was
so
much
more
of
a
package
when
we
work
together
to
put
the
events
that
go
on
not
only
downtown
but
throughout
the
city.
So
we
have,
you
know,
done
a
marketing
campaign
both
locally
and
regionally.
So
we
have
the
the
Aiken
is
magical
and
unwrap
the
magic
is
the
website
and
we
have
a
calendar
of
events.
That's
just
a
comprehensive.
You
know,
calendar
events
showcasing
all
of
the
things
you
can
do
throughout
the
holiday
season.
C
B
We,
like
avery,
said
it's
just
so
fun
to
get
to
work
together
and
really
with
this
campaign.
We
wanted
to
work
with
everything
that
already
is
going
on
and
and
make
there
be
one
place
where
people
can
find
that
information
and
and
get
to
it,
because
we
know
we're
only
as
strong
as
our
partners
and
we
have
great
partners
who
put
on
fabulous
events
and
and
do
great
things
already
so
we're
just
trying
to
supplement
that
and
add
add
to
it,
make
it
easier
for
people
to
find
a
couple
of
things.
B
We've
done
to
kind
of
supplement
that
is
we're
going
to
have
carolers
out
during
the
holiday
season,
just
around
downtown
on
the
weekends,
we're
also
working
with
a
carriage
driver,
who's
going
to
be
doing
carriage
rides
on
the
weekends
and
then
the
way
we've
really
promoted.
This
is
like
Avery
said
we
have
kind
of
a
broad
marketing
campaign,
utilizing
print
billboards
online,
ads
social
media,
ads
TV
that
goes
kind
of
from
Charleston
to
Charlotte,
to
Savannah,
to
Greenville,
as
well
as
here
locally
and
then
to
Augusta.
So
we're
really
trying
to
promote
it.
B
One
really
fun
thing:
we're
doing
is
a
Christmas
giveaway,
we're
doing
a
holiday
giveaway,
and
so
somebody
can
actually
win
a
trip
to
a
ken
and,
like
I
said,
we
have
wonderful
partners
and
so
part
of
that
in
that
trip
is
they'll.
Win
a
free
night
stay
at
the
carriage
house,
down
brunch
up
the
Wilcox
lunch
up,
Betsy's
on
the
corner
dinner
at
rose
hill
estates,
free
tickets,
to
the
historic
in
trolley
tour
and
a
few
other
things
that
will
just
be
added
some
Aiken.
C
B
A
A
Well
and
what
a
fabulous
thing
to
do
just
experienced
a
can
I
mean
we
know
how
unique
and
charming
it
is,
but
y'all
are
doing
some
really
great
things
to
promote
it
and
get
the
word
out.
So
everybody
can
understand
how
wonderful
we
are,
especially
during
the
holiday
times.
Well
Ginny,
as
we
sit
here
in
the
depot,
can
you
tell
us
how
you're
going
to
celebrate
the
holiday
season
here?
Yes,.
B
Absolutely
well,
we
just
this
past
weekend
had
our
Polar
Express
event,
and
so
that
was
two
nights
got
to
have
over
120
kids
out
on
our
brand-new
deck,
who
got
to
watch
The,
Polar
Express
and
get
a
bell
to
take
home
and
and
really
experience
the
magic
that
comes
with
that,
so
that
was
so
fun
throughout
this
season.
The
depot
is
decorated
for
Christmas
and
we
continued
our
trolley
rides
and,
and
our
wonderful
volunteers
are
here
letting
people
know
what's
going
on
throughout
the
holiday
season.
B
One
other
event
we
have
coming
up
is
Santa
at
the
depot,
which
is
December
nineteenth,
and
for
that
we'll
have
Santa
Claus
and
mrs.
Claus
here,
and
so
we
invite
the
public
to
come.
Look
around
experience
the
depot
and
tell
Santa
what
they
want
and
that's
a
great
event.
We'll
have
live
music.
We
have
live
music
every
Saturday
here,
so
we'll
have
some
live.
Christmas
music
that
day
will
have
crafts
for
the
kids
and
it's
just
a
really
fun
atmosphere.
B
One
other
thing
we're
doing
this
year
is
incorporating
the
Elf
on
the
Shelf
so
upstairs
in
the
train
museum.
We
have
the
dioramas
that
depict
the
different
towns
along
the
railway
and
so
will
be
hiding
mr.
jingles,
our
elf,
every
week,
he'll
be
in
a
new
location,
and
so
when
somebody
comes
to
the
train
museum,
if
they
find
him,
where
he's
hiding,
they
can
come
down
and
get
a
prize
and
they
can
come
every
week
because
he'll
be
in
a
new
location
every
week.
A
C
Downtown
is
decorated
as
we
speak,
so
it's
starting
to
feel
a
lot
like
Christmas
in
downtown.
A
lot
of
the
stores,
have,
you
know
already
gotten
into
the
spirit
and
have
their
windows
decorated.
So
we
do
have
a
window
decorating
contest
downtown.
So
on
night
of
a
thousand
lights,
December
10th
will
announce
our
winner
or
winners,
because
we
do
first,
second
and
third,
so
so
people
are
already
getting
into
the
spirit
of
that
will
have
the
tree
lighting
coming
up
soon,
which
I'm
sure
we'll
talk
more
about.
C
A
C
Do
saturday
after
thanksgiving,
we
have
shop
small,
which
is
you
know,
an
opportunity
just
after
Black
Friday
to
come
downtown
and
shop
with
the
local,
local
folks
and
the
small
businesses?
And
you
know
you
can
make
a
day
of
it
and
have
lunch
or
dinner
and
just
enjoy
what
we
have
to
offer
downtown
shore
and.
C
It's
going
to
be
December
10,
it
is
December
10th,
and
that
is
when
we
line
in
downtown
with
luminaries
and
we'll
have
Santa
at
the
event.
Maybe
a
couple
of
elves
running
around
downtown.
So
it's
an
exciting
night.
We
have
carolers
and
hot
chocolate
and
cookies
and
all
the
stores
stay
open
until
eight
and
they
typically
have
you
know
refreshments
and
we
have
hundreds
of
people
downtown.
So
it's
just
a
good
way
to
kind
of
kick
off
the
holiday
season.
Sure
and.
A
C
That
was
just
kind
of
one
piece
of
what
we
wanted
to
do
during
the
holidays
was
just
keep
that
feeling
you
know
alive
throughout
the
season.
So
it's
mainly
local
folks,
there's
a
lot
of
folks
that
do
choral
groups,
or
you
know,
or
just
that
are
individuals
that
play
music.
That
also
you
know
seeing
Christmas
music,
so
we'll
have
those
Friday
night
and
Saturday
during
the
day
into
the
evening.
So
those
folks
will
be
performing
I'm
typically,
probably
over
at
the
city.
B
B
A
lot
of
a
lot
of
church
groups
will
be
involved
along
with
the
you
know:
choral
groups
taken
singers,
who
we've
gotten
to
use
a
lot
of
they're,
actually
artwork
from
their
Christmas
book
in
our
ad
campaign,
which
has
been
really
fun.
But
if
anybody
is
still
interested
once
to
Carol,
they
can
reach
out
to
Avery
and
I,
and
we
can
find
a
slot
forms.
A
C
A
B
We
are
doing
to
special
weeks
where
we're
doing
christmas,
crafts
at
the
market,
and
so
that's
December,
twelfth
and
December
nineteenth
during
the
regular
hours,
which
is
eight
to
twelve,
and
so
we're
going
to
just
really
have
a
great
craft
show,
as
well
as
the
produce
and
the
meats
and
cheeses
and
everything.
That's
already
there
we're
going
to
have
a
lot
of
extra
vendors
who
will
be
selling
things
that
you
can
buy
for
wonderful
gifts.
You
know
gifts,
you
won't
find
anywhere
else.
One
of
the
kind
of
thing.
A
B
We
have,
you
know
a
lot
of
woodworkers,
we
have
soaps
and
candles
and
blankets.
You
know
we
really
have
a
great
great
group
of
vendors
who
are
going
to
be
there,
and
that
will
also
be
you
know:
a
festive
environment
with
life,
music
and
and
people
having
you
know,
hot
drinks.
We
always
have
hot
coffee
there
in
the
mornings
and
that
sort
of
thing
that.
C
Think
one
thing
that
we're
excited
about
is
the
downtown
tree
lighting.
It's
a
little
bit
different
this
year,
it's
going
to
be
on
newbury
street
and
it's
typically
been
on
lawrence
in
the
past.
So
we'll
have
two
trees
down
town
this
year
and
and
at
the
event
one
thing
I'm
excited
about
is
we're
going
to
have
the
opportunity
to
roast
s'mores,
so
I
think
the
kids
and
adults
will
enjoy
that
as
well.
So.
A
C
A
And
when
does
that
start,
that's
at
five
o'clock,
five
o'clock
and
so
I'm
sure
that
there
will
be
some
special
appearances
that
evening
to
kick
off
the
holiday
season,
so
that'll
be
great
and
s'mores
what
a
what
a
fun
festive
addition
to
to
that
event
down
tightly
so
well,
let's
talk
just
for
a
minute.
I
want
to
know
from
your
perspective.
What
from
each
of
you,
what
what's
your
favorite
thing
about
the
holidays,
downtown
I.
C
Really
enjoy
just
the
the
festive
atmosphere
and
how
the
community
really
comes
together
during
the
holidays.
With
all
of
these
events
that
we've
laid
out
and
it
kind
of
starts
with
one
table
at
Thanksgiving,
you
know-
and
everyone
comes
together
and
that
just
that
spirit
of
the
community
I
think
we
feel
throughout
the
holiday
season
at
different
events
and
different
things
and.
B
I'll,
just
echo
that
I
think
you
know
going
back
to
it,
starting
with
Thanksgiving
and
one
table
which
is
so
neat
one
other
thing
I
always
love
telling
people
that
akin
does
is
the
blessing
of
the
hounds.
You
know
what
a
different
unique
tradition.
You
know
that
only
a
Ken
does
and
so
to
really
kick
it
off
with
blessing
of
the
helms
in
one
table
and
then
flow
right
into
the
Christmas
season
and
I.
B
Just
love
that
you
know
the
shops
and
the
restaurants
really
grab
hold
of
this
time
of
year
and
and
the
hotels
is
well
and
make
it
their
own
and
I.
I
love
night
of
a
thousand
lights
where,
where
it's
nothing,
you
know
nothing
crazy,
but
it's
just
that
atmosphere
with
with
every
shop
owner.
You
know
taking
the
chance
to
show
off
what
they
have
and
to
welcome
you
and
and
to
have
everybody
out
just
milling
around
and
I.
B
C
A
B
We
are
really
trying
to
tell
people
stories
and
we're
using
tripadvisor
and
things
like
that
to
to
hear
from
people
who
have
come
to
akin
to
find
out
what
made
a
canned
so
special
for
them.
And
that
way
you
know
we
can
share
their
stories
and,
and
those
stories
really
have
merit,
because
it's
people
who
have
chosen
to
come
and
visit
and
we
can
really
learn
a
lot
from
what
our
visitors
have
to
say.
Well,.
A
And
what
are
they
saying,
I'm
curious
as
to
because
Aiken
is
such
a
and
you
go
different
places,
and
you
tell
somebody
that
you're
from
making
and
they're,
like
oh
I've,
heard
such
wonderful
things
and
we're
like
this
very
hidden
little
jewel
that
everybody
wants
to
find
so
I
am
curious,
I
mean
we
know
how
much
we
love
a.
But
what
are
what
are
you
hearing
from
from
the
visitors
who
have
been
yeah.
B
A
B
Do
and
we're
so
lucky
with
the
tour
guides
that
we
have,
because
they
love
Aiken
and
and
when
that's
the
case,
it
just
spreads.
You
know
and
passion
you
know
spreads
from
one
person
to
the
other,
and
so
even
you
know,
when
we
have
a
lot
of
most
people
who
are
on
that
tour.
Are
our
visitors
a
lot
of
times
it's
people
who
live
here
who
have
their
parents
entail
and
I?
Have
you
know
out-of-town,
guests
and
and
the
locals
are
just
as
enthralled.
You.
C
A
A
C
C
Just
like
this
morning,
we
were,
you
know
discussing
the
feel
of
walking
down
there
now
with
there's
no
construction
going
on,
so
that
project
has
wrapped
up
for
phase
one,
and
luckily
they've
got
a
lot
more
done
than
they
have
planned.
So
phase
two
will
go
much
more
quickly,
so
that's
exciting
and
there.
C
With
any
large
construction
project,
of
course
there
was,
you
know,
impact
to
the
businesses
but
I
think
in
the
end
it
will
be,
it
will
serve
everyone
well,
and
it
will
be
an
area
where
we
can
have.
You
know
more
festivals
and
events,
so
in
the
farmers
market
in
the
alley,
I
will
have
a
different
feel
this
year.
So
you
know
it's
just
really
exciting
and
then
phase
two
they'll
be
working.
You
know
from
be
lane
to
newbury
street
and
get
that
done
and
we'll
have
a
new
festival
area.
Yes,.
B
More
we
work
together,
the
more
were
able
to
do
absolutely
we're
going
to
be
able
to
do
more
events.
You
know
Avery
and
I
are
always
brainstorming,
we're
always
talking
about
what
to
do
next
and
where
to
go
and
I
how
to
make
a
can
better
and
I
do
think.
This
is
a
very
exciting
time
for
our
city.
I
think
so
many
people
are
excited
and
ready
for
new
things
and.
C
I
would
just
echo
that
exact
is
exactly
what
I
was
going
to
say
is:
our
partnership
is
not
just
for
the
holidays,
it's
throughout
the
year
and
new
events,
and
anybody
that
has
ideas
that
they
want
to
share
with
us.
We're
always
open
to
that,
and
one
thing
I
would
encourage,
is
just
that
not
only
during
the
holidays,
but
throughout
the
year
that
folks
shop
locally
and
support
our
small
businesses
downtown
and-
and
that
will
you
know,
generate
the
economic
vitality
that
our
downtown
needs
to
continue
to
grow.
What.
A
I
think
both
of
you
have
touched
on
something
that
it
Aiken
does
really
well,
and
that
is
the
collaboration
and
the
partnership
and
in
pulling
together
resources
from
various
places
so
that
we
can
make
the
most
of
the
uniqueness
that
we
do
have
and
Avery
and
they're
working
with
the
downtown
businesses
is
so
key
to
the
economic
vitality
that
you
mentioned
and
Ginny
with
with
the
partnerships
that
you
have
formed.
Do
you
all
want
to
touch
on?
A
Maybe
some
of
the
the
partners
that
you
have
pull
that
have
pulled
in
with
y'all
for
I
know,
you've
mentioned
the
carriage
house
and
betsy's.
You
know
with
the
wonderful
holiday
package
that
you
have
going,
but
it
takes
a
lot
of
people
to
do
everything
that's
going
on
and
if
y'all
mentioned
the
the
churches
and
the
choral
society
with
the
carolers
downtown.
So
everybody
I
think
feels
that
the
wanting
to
be
a
part
of
this
community
and
getting
involved
with
what
you're
doing
so.
C
Absolutely
I
think
when
we
started
this,
you
know
we
kind
of
started
with
going
around
to
you,
know
the
carriage
house
and
wilcox
and
rose
hill
and
talking
to
those
folks
and
saying
you
know
what
are
you
offering
for
the
holidays?
How
do
we,
you
know
reach
out
to
folks
that
want
to
come
here
for
the
holidays
and
really
come
together
in
a
collaborative
effort
right.
B
C
A
B
Some
other
partnerships
that
are
going
on
Avery
and
I
were
both
a
part
of
this
group
that
meets
in
the
collaboration
room
above
material
things
on
Park
Street.
We
met
this
past
Tuesday
and
that's
that's
a
group
of
people,
a
lot
of
art,
artists
and,
and
people
like
that
who
really
want
to
come
together
to
promote
Aiken
together
as
well,
and
so
that's
an
exciting
new.
You
know
new
thing.
That's
going
on
I.
B
C
C
A
A
Thank
you
both
so
much
for
being
here
today
and
sharing
what
is
going
to
go
on
during
the
holidays,
we're
very
excited,
and
we
hope
that
everybody
will
participate
in
some
of
the
exciting
activities
that
we
do
have
going
on
around
downtown
and
in
downtown
during
the
holiday
season.
So
we
thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us
and
we'll
see
you
next
time
for
Aiken
this
week.