Appreciation: Celebrate Anderson, a Great Community Celebration

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

There are few sights more emblematic of a community’s heart than a public venue filled with people of every age, dancing with joyful abandon. This weekend, featuring perfect weather, as Anderson County marked the end of summer with its annual “Celebrate Anderson.” The event was not merely a concert but a vivid display of civic vitality. By all accounts, the 26th edition of the “county’s gift to citizens” was a remarkable success, a testament to a community that is not only growing in size but also in its cultural ambition.

For years, the event’s musical lineup leaned heavily on country music. This year’s choice of the legendary R&B and funk group Kool & the Gang paid off handsomely. The crowd of more than 11,000 that packed the William A. Floyd Amphitheater was not only a record but a clear message that Anderson is ready for something different. It was an intergenerational gathering, a mosaic of senior citizens, young children, and everyone in between, all of whom found a reason to move to the same beat. One can hope this sends a clear message for future Labor Day celebrations.

The success of the weekend was a symphony of public-private collaboration. A free event, a rarity in an era where community gatherings are often monetized. This was made possible by the continued support of local businesses such as Michelin and Arthrex. As Rusty Burns, the Anderson County Administrator, noted, this 26-year tradition is something families can count on.

Behind the public celebration was the tireless effort of county employees and volunteers. The county’s Civic Center Manager, Adreinne Cole, who orchestrated the event, continued to contribute to the event remotely, navigating a last-minute COVID diagnosis that sidelined her from her first “Celebrate Anderson” in its history.

Burns himself, along with County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn, was seen handing out water. Their commitment was emblematic of a larger civic pride.

This event was also an engine for goodwill. The weekend’s “Jeep Extravaganza” raised funds for the Area 14 Anderson County Special Olympics, while the annual “Hot Air Affair,” featuring food, vendors and tethered hot air balloon rides, brought over a hundred vendors and a steady stream of visitors to support the Cancer Association of Anderson.

As Kool & the Gang concluded their performance, a fireworks display illuminated the night sky, the perfect coda to the weekend, a moment that underscored the power of a shared experience. In a time of division and political noise, events such as “Celebrate Anderson” serve as a reminder that a community’s strength is measured not just in its economic output, but in its ability to come together, across generations and backgrounds, to celebrate what it means to belong.