Meeting Santa In Aiken – Local Shopping And Night Of 1000 Lights

A night of 1000 lights in downtown Aiken on Thursday was so much fun.  This yearly event is put on by the Aiken Downtown Development Association.  It's a night to come out and do some local shopping in Aiken.

The reason it's called a night of 100o lights is because they light up downtown.  They line the streets with luminary Paper Bags with a tea light inside.  The downtown businesses stay open for holiday shopping.

I got some one-on-one time with Santa and Mrs. Claus last night  I was a little worried about what Santa was gonna say about me this year.  He smiled after he checked his list and said I moved up this year.  Last year I was on the naughty list, this year, I made it to the OK List.!  I'll take that Santa!

Now don't be surprised if you are shopping in downtown Aiken and run into Santa and Mrs. Claus don't be shocked.  They spend a lot of time here.  Enjoy some of the sites and fun from A Night Of 1000 Lights.

Here we go again, you know we love to eat.  Aiken County, you are loved, especially when it comes to the great food!  Recently on TikTok, I found a man who lives here in the area named Caleb Phillips.  He loves food too and he has made his way to many different restaurants in Aiken Country and the CSRA.

So many people think TikTok is just a place to kill time and make crazy videos, and it is. But you are about to witness some great places to eat in Aiken County that you may have never been to before.  There are several on this list, that I can guarantee you will be worth the drive from as far as Thomson or Lincolnton to eat.  One is The Blue Top, but we will get into that in just a few.

I'm proud to call Aiken County home. I live in Graniteville, just off Bettis Academy Road, so for me it's faster to get to a lot of these hidden gems in Aiken County than it is to drive to Augusta.  We have so many great places!

We could on and on about all the great places to eat in Aiken County because we have so many great locations.  The next time you are looking to head out for breakfast, lunch or dinner, think about more of these mom and pop locations that are local and that you've never been to.  You will find your new go-to place.  Please don't mistake this for being a knock-on chain restaurants or fast food places, because it is not.  No one loves Chick-fil-A, Diablo's, and Wendy's more than me, but we have so many great local places to try.

You can not start a food review for Aiken County without the Blue Top.  There really are no words that I can use to make you get in your car and drive to Graniteville.  I just don't have them, But I promise you, once you do, you won't need words, You'll just go on the regular.  This place is heaven in Aiken County.

What's Cookin' is a two in one place to visit.  You can sit down and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also choose from a big variety of casseroles, salads, soups and desserts to take home for those nights you don't feel like cookin'

Now you know it's good when you start out singing, "Thank You, Jesus."  This place is now on my list of places I want to try in Aiken County.

He ain't wrong ya'll.  The best chicken fingers you'll find anywhere in the WORLD. Yes, the world.  When all the crazy about the new chicken sandwich was happening everywhere else, they just sat back and said watch this.  The same thing we've done forever.  This is a road trip must.

Other than Plum Pudding, I'm adding these two locations of my tour of Aiken.  The yardbird and the sauces look out of this world.  Look out, I'm coming for you

While watching Caleb's tour of great places to eat, I found this.  I will be making a order here soon.  This is an online order and pick up at their home in Graniteville.