<b>Carolina gold rice topic of history session</b>

The Historic Beaufort Foundation will present a Rice Culture Field Session on Saturday, Jan. 21.

Participants will hear the story of the re-introduction of Carolina gold rice from passionate duck hunters Dr. Richard Schulze Sr. and his son, who have accomplished this at their Turnbridge Plantation.

They will be joined by Glenn Roberts, renowned for sourcing and preserving historic ingredients available through Anson Mills.

After visiting the fields at Turnbridge, participants will adjourn to Delta Plantation for lunch.

Field sessions are limited to 20 participants. They should dress for the weather and will need to provide their own transportation.

The cost is $125 per person for members; $150 for nonmembers. Lunch is included in each session. For more information, call 843-379-3331 or email info@historicbeaufort.org.

<b>Mystery books on tap at </b><b>Lunch with Author series </b>

Lunch with the Author series, presented by the University of South Carolina Beaufort, will continue on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Moss Creek Clubhouse in Bluffton.

Author J.E. Thompson will speak about his mystery, “The Girl from Felony Bay” and the sequel “Disappearance At Hangman’s Bluff.”

Lunch will be served at noon. Tickets are $42.  Reservations are necessary and must be made by Sunday, Jan. 22. Reservations can be made online at www.USCBCenterForTheArts.com or by calling 843-521-4145.

<b>Festival series to feature </b><b>renowned musicians </b>

The USCB Festival Series will present soprano Hyunah Yu, pianist Anna Polonsky, violinist Erin Keefe and cellist Edward Arron at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.

For more information and tickets, visit www.uscb.edu/arts_cultural_events/festival_series.html.

<b>Library offers variety of children’s programs</b>

Following are some upcoming children’s programs at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St.

• Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?: Join the library for a couple of stories, a snowman craft and light snack. This is for ages 2-plus with adult caregiver. Registration is required. The event will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.

• Second Annual Chocolate Olympics: The Chocolate Olympics is making a comeback from last year. Join the games all involving chocolate. Eat, eat, and eat … and compete. This is for grades 6-12. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23.

• Do It Yourself Creation Station: Create and pick out items at creation stations. This is for ages 2-plus with an adult caregiver. The event will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30.

<b>Port Royal battle </b><b>lecture comes to library</b>

The Beaufort Branch Library will present a lecture on the Battle of Port Royal Sound at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24. The lecture is free, but advance registration is required. The library is at 311 Scott St. in Beaufort. This event is presented by the Beaufort History Museum. Visit www.beauforthistorymuseum.com.

<b>Retirement planning focus of library program</b>

Social Security and Retirement Income Planning will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St. Guests will learn how to take full advantage of Social Security benefits and prepare for retirement.

<b>Charles Street Gallery </b><b>to present Thompson art</b>

Karol Thompson’s new works in graphite and pastels will be presented at the Charles Street Gallery in Beaufort. There will be an opening reception from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, and the exhibit will run through Saturday, Feb. 18.

The Charles Street Gallery is an established source for Lowcountry and international art, presented within a carefully renovated house surrounded by a lush garden in the middle of Beaufort’s historic district at 914 Charles St. 29902. Call 843-521-9054 or visit thecharlesstreetgallery.com.

<b>Beaufort Theatre Co. </b><b>will hold auditions</b>

The University of South Carolina Center for the Arts and the Beaufort Theatre Company are holding auditions for “A Tribute to Broadway” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the USCB Center for the Arts.

The show will be a musical journey through some of Broadway’s classic musicals (“Singing in the Rain” and “South Pacific”) to recent hits like “Wicked,” “Newsies” and more.

“A Tribute to Broadway” is scheduled for March 11-13.

Auditions are for ages 17 and up. Those auditioning should wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to sign 16 bars from a Broadway musical. They will also need to provide sheet music or prerecorded music. Musical theater experience is preferable but not required.

For additional information, call the Center for the Arts at 843-521-4145 or Anna Wheeler at 803-394-6999.

<b>Chilly Bean Run </b><b>set for Feb. 4</b>

The 4th Annual Chilly Bean Run 5K and 10K and Chili Cookoff will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at Coosaw Point in Beaufort. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. To register, visit www.chillybeanrun.com.

<b>Red Dam Baptist </b><b>to host Snow Day </b>

Red Dam Baptist Church, at 488 Red Dam Road in Hardeeville, will host a Snow Day from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The event will include a 40-foot snow slide, music, marshmallow roasting, a crackling campfire, games, face painting, hot dogs, hot chocolate, lemonade, popcorn, snow cones, cookies, cupcakes, men's chili cook-off, ladies pie contest and more. The event is free and open to the public.

<b>New production </b><b>to open at The Shed</b>

Coastal Stage Productions is currently in rehearsals for “Sylvia,” which opens Friday, Feb. 10, at The Shed in Port Royal. The production cast and crew is comprised entirely of Beaufort and Jasper county volunteers. Coastal Stage Productions is a locally owned, traveling theater company based in Ridgeland. Tickets are available at www.sylviaportroyal.bpt.me

<b>Conversation Café </b><b>is getting underway</b>

Starting in February, the Beaufort County Library’s St. Helena Branch is the site of the latest opening in a nationwide movement of Conversation Cafés. This open group welcomes everyone to join in on respectful and friendly discussions of topics that matter.

The Café will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, and will continue to meet one evening per month at the library. Everyone is invited to attend this free event. No registration is necessary. The library is at 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road.