<h2>City of Beaufort and USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts team up for outdoor holiday display</h2>
<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>

The City of Beaufort and USC Beaufort’s Center for the Arts have teamed up for an educational holiday display featuring traditions from a variety of cultures.

“Celebrate the Season” opened this week and will be in front of the Center for the Arts on Carteret Street for visitors to explore through Sunday, Dec. 13.

The idea came about after the city had to cancel several of its major holiday events, including its annual Christmas parade, due to the coronavirus.

As the center’s director Bonnie Hargrove explained, both she and Rhonda Carey, the city’s events and tour operations coordinator, wanted to do something that would still celebrate the season yet be safe for residents and visitors alike.

Modeled after similar displays at other schools and universities, “Celebrate the Season” explores how different cultures and faiths celebrate this special time of year.

“The more we learn about each other, the more we learn how much we are alike,” Hargrove said.

Community members, students and faith groups helped create the display which highlights the food, music, gift giving and expressions of faith of different cultures.

Hargrove said they hope to bring back the display next year with even more traditions added.

“It’s a good start and it’s an enthusiastic start, so we can only get better,” she said.

Visitors are invited to explore the display, at 805 Carteret Street, from dusk to dawn through Dec. 13. The exhibit is free and family-friendly.


<em>Photo by Mindy Lucas</em>