Appreciation: Soirée a Worthy Festival for Anderson
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
It’s always good to see the streets of downtown Anderson full. Those of us who grew up here can remember when the holidays brought packed sidewalks for shopping and at Christmas parade time.
But those numbers pale in comparison to the throngs that were on hand for the annual Anderson Soirée this weekend.
The Soirée Committee and the City of Anderson continue to tinker with making the festival and continue to make changes that improve the event each year. In recent years the committee added tables and chairs for those buying food from local restaurants (who were brought into the conversation and planning) and other vendors.
The decision to again bring a headline musical act to kick off the festival again filled the streets and even side streets for blocks, and the finale concert Saturday night packed out Carolina Wren Park. Multiple music stages throughout the festival could be enjoyed as those in attendance walked the blocks leading up to and surround Main Street.
The children’s area again featured bubble artists, balloons, games, and learning and art activities under tents manned by the Anderson County Library. On the large green space behind the historic courthouse, Elephant Pen Park, children could be seen running, laughing, dancing children most of the day.
The artists I talked to, including more than a few in Anderson for the first time, said the Soirée was going to be one of their favorite annual events in the years ahead.
Anderson City Council is to be commended for continuing to provide the upgrades needed downtown to produce a successful festival. Add the support of Anderson County and other sponsors who provided funding and other resources for 2025 Soirée to life, and the result was a community event of which we can all be proud.
Special thanks go out to the often-unheralded work of the Soiree Committee: Chair, Caroline Gaddis; Vice Chair. Lauren Lindsay; Visual Arts, Erin Spainhour & Britton Rodgers; Performing Arts, Van James; Culinary Arts, Nick Taaffe & Francesca Milford; Kids Kingdom, Kelly Boerner; Volunteer Coordinator, Liz Brock; Site Logistics, Donnie Whelchel; Secretary, Sara Wright; City Liaison, Brittney Gamble; County Liaison, Seth Riddley; and District 5 Liaison, Brooke Cole.
