Bird show swoops into Aiken this fall.
Birds of a feather flock together to Aiken next weekend.
The Exotic Bird Show is coming to the Aiken Fairgrounds in September for the first time. In previous years, the shows have been held only in the spring, but organizer Don Price said this is the perfect opportunity to begin having two shows a year.
“We will have probably about 30 vendors. They are either bringing birds, toys or cages. Prices are usually about 40 percent cheaper than in pet stores,” Price said.
The public is invited to attend, buy or trade.
“We put on about eight shows a year, some in Atlanta and Chattanooga, and then we come to Aiken. Aiken is one of our better shows. We usually have a pretty good crowd,” he said.
Hundreds of birds will be at the show, everything from parakeets, macaws and finches to cockatiels and more.
Organizers expect the crowd of about 1,000 to be a mix of curious spectators and those who want to take home a bird or two.
Birds are not as popular of a pet as dogs or cats, but they do make good companions.
“People will start with a para -keet then they wind up getting a bigger bird like a macaw,” Price said.
The two-day show is planned for Sept. 26-27 at the fairgrounds, which is located at 1566 Columbia Highway N. between Aiken and I-20.
The show’s Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call (423) 240-8423.
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Columbia Kennel Club dog show continues
Hundreds of canines roam the Aiken Fairgrounds today as the Columbia Kennel Club 110th All-Breed Dog Show continues.
Today there are 599 dogs entered in the show with a two-day total of 613 dogs and 111 different breeds or varieties. The show gets under way today at 8 a.m. The show offers the opportunity for anyone interested to drop in and experience the excitement of attending a live dog show.
Vendors are set up throughout the fairgrounds with all things canine. There are four rings set up indoors for the smaller breeds and two rings outside for the larger breeds. This year is the first time the Columbia Kennel Club has held its show in Aiken.
“We love this site; we are so excited to get the fairgrounds,” said Katie Fleming, Columbia Kennel Club secretary and assistant show chair. “This is our first time in Aiken, and we want to make it permanent. We hold one show annually, and there just wasn’t a facility in Columbia to accommodate our needs. We fell in love with it here immediately. We want this to be our new home. There is plenty of room and lots of room to grow. We hope to build on it for next time.”
There is a full lineup of events scheduled for today starting in rings one, five and six at 8 a.m. with Manchester terriers (toy), American Staffordshire terriers, Chinese shar-pei, retrievers and schnauzers. Throughout the day, the dogs will compete for best in breed, best in show and best in group. The last competition of the day starts at 11 a.m.
“The public is welcome to come,” said Fleming.
The Columbia Kennel Club is open to newcomers and encourages public participation.
Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.
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Barbecue masters want you to try a taste.
During Masters week, Aiken will be home to a different kind of masters’ competition.
The Masters of BBQ Cook-Off and Spring Carnival which will be held at the Aiken Fairgrounds, will open its gates for family entertainment from April 8 through 11.
New additions to the third annual festival include the Memphis Barbecue Network and two new carnival rides. The barbecue cook-off still includes the backyard barbecue challenge along with a newly added Memphis competition where barbecue professionals from around the country will compete, and attendees get to sample the treats.
The four-day festival is packed with activities for all ages. The carnival rides open to the public on April 8 and 9 at 5 p.m. The first two days feature rides, carnival-style vendors and carnival foods such as sausages and funnel cakes, along with a special Memphis Barbecue circuit vendor.
On Friday evening, gates open at 5 p.m. with a Brew and Stew beginning at 7 p.m. During the Brew and Stew, competitors will show off their skills with stews, chili, jambalaya, cajun cuisine and more. Five dollars allows you to sample all the varieties as many times as you like. Attendees will vote for their favorite, and at the end of the evening, a People’s Choice award will be presented. The live music of LoCo will entertain adults in the beer garden while children ride the carnival rides. More Details.
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