Aiken's “Legacy of Lights” Festival of Trees Wants Your Business or Group: Apply by Nov. 2

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Neighbors, here's a question worth sitting with on the porch this week: who lit the way for you? Maybe it was a teacher, a grandmother, a church that kept its doors open, or a corner shop that never turned you away. In Aiken, South Carolina, the City is inviting local businesses and organizations to answer that question with a decorated Christmas tree.

The 2026 Festival of Trees at the Center for African American History, Art & Culture (CAAHAC) carries the theme “A Legacy of Lights.” Applications are open now, and the deadline is Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, about a week away. Here's what to know before you apply, or before you plan a December visit.

What's Happening Around the Village

On Oct. 5, the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department announced that applications are open for this year's Festival of Trees. The festival takes place at CAAHAC, 120 York St. NE, Aiken, SC 29801, in Aiken County. You can read the city's full announcement here.

This year's theme, “A Legacy of Lights,” encourages participants to decorate a tree in honor of a person, place, or thing that has illuminated the path for others. According to the city, participants are invited to “bring their creativity and personal stories to life through their tree displays.”

Local businesses and organizations can apply by emailing their completed application to aabney@cityofaikensc.gov or by turning it in person at CAAHAC. The city has posted the 2026 application form and the festival guidelines online, so read both before you start planning your tree.

Once the trees are up, the whole community gets to enjoy them. A tree lighting ceremony opens the festival on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, at 4 p.m. The trees stay on display through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, with viewing hours Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tree in the People's Choice Award during the festival, and first-, second-, and third-place winners will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2026. One detail the announcement didn't spell out is visitor admission, so if you're planning a family outing, check the city's pages on social media (@AikenParksRec and @VisitAikenSC) or call ahead before you go.

Why It Matters

Holiday decorations are lovely, but this festival asks for something deeper. A tree honoring a person, place, or thing turns a display into a story, and stories are how neighbors get to know one another.

For a small business or nonprofit, it's also a quiet, creative way to show up in the community. Instead of buying an ad, a shop, salon, church, club, or youth group can say, in lights and ornaments, “This is who shaped us.” The city says winning entries will be featured on social media and in a press release after the event, which means a little extra local visibility for the folks who put in the effort.

It also brings fresh footsteps to a center dedicated to African American history, art, and culture. If you read our recent coverage of Unity Weekend in Aiken, you may remember CAAHAC hosting the Sankofa exhibit. Now it gets to glow for the holidays too.

How This Impacts Our Community

Local businesses and organizations get a creative stage to tell their story and be seen by neighbors, customers, and supporters throughout the season.

Families and kids get a December outing built around looking, voting, and talking about the people who lit their own paths. It's a gentle way to teach gratitude and appreciation of local heritage.

Longtime residents and neighbors get a meaningful way to honor someone, whether that's a mentor, a loved one, a landmark, or a tradition that shaped Aiken.

Downtown holiday traditions line up nicely, too. The City's 38th Annual Downtown Tree Lighting is set for Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Newberry Street Festival Center. The city says it's free and open to the public, with a Friday, Dec. 4 rain date. Details are here.

How You Can Get Involved

Apply to decorate a tree. If you lead a business, church group, club, school group, or nonprofit, download the application and send it in by Monday, Nov. 2.
Choose your honoree. Talk with your team about the person, place, or thing that lit your path. The best trees will have a real story behind them.
Read the guidelines first. The city's guidelines are posted online, so review them before you buy supplies.
Ask questions early. The city lists Ambria Abney at CAAHAC as the contact for more information, and the application can be emailed to aabney@cityofaikensc.gov.
Visit and vote. Stop by Wednesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and cast your People's Choice vote.
Share the word. Pass this along to your chamber, congregation, PTA, or business group. Someone in your circle may have a story just waiting for a tree.

Around the Village Calendar

Mon., Nov. 2, 2026: Festival of Trees application deadline (email or in person at CAAHAC, 120 York St. NE, Aiken, SC).
Wed., Dec. 2, 2026, 4 p.m.: Festival of Trees tree lighting ceremony at CAAHAC.
Dec. 2, 2026 – Jan. 2, 2027: Festival of Trees on display, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with People's Choice voting.
Thu., Dec. 3, 2026, 6–7:30 p.m.: 38th Annual Downtown Tree Lighting, Newberry Street Festival Center (rain date Fri., Dec. 4). Questions: 803-642-7600, press 3.
Tue., Dec. 29, 2026: First-, second-, and third-place winners announced.

Sophie's Suggestions

If this story has you thinking about trees and the people who inspire us, two items from our shop fit the spirit. Both are currently in stock.

Merry Christmas Birdy Tree Growing Kit | Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift: a holiday gift your neighbor, teacher, or coworker can plant and watch grow. Per the product page, tree planting is fulfilled through ForestNation, with the number of additional trees depending on the option you select.
Sympathy Dove Tree Growing Kit | Memorial & Remembrance Gift: a gentle way to honor someone who has passed, which pairs well with a “Legacy of Lights” kind of tribute.

Around the Village Takeaway

When we take the time to name the people who lit our way, the whole village glows a little brighter.

Want more neighborly news? Browse the latest in Around The Village and come back soon. We're always glad to see you on the porch.