Aiken to celebrate Thanksgiving with Blessing of the Hounds, One Table, Bloodies and Bagels

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Nov. 22—Thanksgiving Day is a good time to be out and about in Aiken.

The Blessing of the Hounds, Bloodies and Bagels, and One Table all are scheduled for Thursday.

The events are open to the public and free to attend.

Memorial Gate in Hitchcock Woods will be site for the Blessing of the Hounds, which will start at 9 a.m.

The ceremony will kick off the formal foxhunting season for the Aiken Hounds, a group founded in 1914.

The Rev. George Alexander, rector of All Saints Anglican Church in Aiken, will officiate.

"The purpose of the blessing is to invoke the protection of the Almighty on hounds, horses, people and the sport," said Larry Byers, a joint master of foxhounds for the Aiken Hounds.

The other joint masters are Linda Knox McLean, Sarah Wildasin and Karl McMillan.

Blessing of the Hounds spectators will be able to enter Hitchcock Woods through the entrance located at 444 South Boundary Ave. S.W. even though all the work hasn't been completed on a City of Aiken project to address stormwater, drainage and erosion problems.

The Aiken Hounds' drag-style hunts are the oldest conducted in the nation.

A cloth saturated with fox scent is dragged across the Hitchcock Woods terrain to create a trail for the hounds to follow.

The 2022-2023 foxhunting season for the Aiken Hounds will continue until mid-March.

Bloodies and Bagels will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the grounds of the Aiken County Historical Museum at 433 Newberry St. S.W.

Complimentary food and beverages will be served. There will be bagels from Panera Bread, coffee from Dunkin' (formerly known as Dunkin' Donuts), hot cider and Bloody Marys.

Attendees also will be able to enjoy live music.

Mental Health America of Aiken County, the organizer of Bloodies and Bagels, will be accepting donations during the event.

One Table will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Salvation Army of Aiken's headquarters at 322 Gayle Ave.

A free turkey dinner will be served with side dishes, including mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. Desserts also will be available.

The Salvation Army and the One Table Committee are the organizers of One Table.