Aiken’s Makin’ celebrates 49 years of artists and crafters showcase

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF)- A beloved annual event happening in Aiken this weekend, the 49th annual Aiken’s Makin.’ For decades, the event has given a platform to artists and crafters from around the country.

Aiken’s Makin’ brings tens of thousands of people to downtown Aiken. They come as vendors and as attendees who want to have some good old fashioned fun.

“I always used to come down for Aiken’s Makin’ because September is my birthday month, and I always would love to come down and support local people in their stuff that they make,” explained Amanda Hendren, Owner of “Rockin H Wood Design.”

Aiken’s Makin’ is a juried art show, meaning the nearly 250 vendors are chosen by judges who don’t know who the artists are.

Co-chair of the event, John McMichael, said it has changed a lot over the nearly half a century since the first one.

“It’s grown. It’s— I always like tell people it started off very small. There were a lot of card tables out. It was almost like a church bazaar kind of a thing where the community would come together and sell different homemade products and goodies and things like that. But it’s grown into quite an event now.”

Aiken’s Makin’ has a major economic impact on the city.

“I usually interview a couple of merchants, local merchants, and they tell me that, you know, their sales are usually up anywhere from 18 to 25%. So that’s a pretty good increase, I think,” said McMichael. “We’ll have a lot of repeat– that’ll come back because they got a sneak preview of what’s downtown and can spend more time doing it.”

Hendren told NewsChannel 6 that she grew up attending the event and this is her 5th year as a vendor at Aiken’s Makin’.

“It means a lot to our family. We’re just a small family of five. And we put our heart and our soul into every piece. We want every piece to be custom. So that’s where we kind of drive and push and want to stand out,” Hendren said.

Both Hendren and McMichael have favorite vendors they look forward to every year.

“I Kind of –these ladies that spent so much time with these sweet, sweet grass, I think is what they call it. That’s quite a craft,” sai McMichael, referring to the hand woven baskets made by the Gullah Geechee people.

“The gyros. Always got to get me a lemonade. My son loves to get a corn dog,” laughed Hendren.

Aiken’s Makin’ is free to attend. It’s located along Park Avenue from Chesterfield to Union Streets.

The event starts Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photojournalist: Reggie Mckie.