Whether you like barbecue, festivals, music, plays, sculpture, or would like to take an art classes, the Mauldin Cultural Center is the place for you!
Whether you want to watch a play or be in one, eat some barbecue or show off your own special recipe, watch some music or play your own – whether you want to participate, learn, spectate, or a little of each, it all happens at the Mauldin Cultural Center, at 101 East Butler Road – right in downtown Mauldin!
The schedule for this year has a lot more in store for us than ever before. Pick up a copy of the Mauldin Cultural Center September 2020 – August 2021 program brochure at the Cultural Center, and see what all the excitement is all about.
The Cultural Center’s three most well-known events are the annual BBQ Cook-off in September, the Beachin’ Fridays outdoor beach band concerts from May through July, and the musicals performed in the wonderfully renovated auditorium inside the Center itself. But those star attractions are joined by a host of new presentations for 2021.
The Cultural Center Team
The Mauldin Cultural Center’s all-star team is great at bringing all these events off smoothly.
Leading that team is the Cultural Center Director, Keira Heider.
Jeannie Harmon is the Marketing Coordinator, and is responsible for advertising, as well as website support and social media.
Ally Stein is the Events Coordinator, responsible for event logistics and coordination, execution and smooth operation, contacting bands, securing talent, managing volunteers, food trucks and vendors, etc.
Tim St. Clair manages theater productions. Initially focused on Youth Theater, his responsibilities now include two new theater companies: the Mauldin Theater Company, and Shakespeare plays, with guest director Drew Kenyon.
Upcoming Theater Productions
The Youth Theater’s upcoming production of “Matilda Jr.” will play this April. May will bring the Mauldin Theater Company’s first production, the musical “Freaky Friday”. Also, on May 21-23 will be the first Shakespeare production, “Twelfth Night”, full of humorous twists and turns.
Theater productions usually play to sell-out audiences. The word is quickly spreading far and wide about the quality and excitement of the Cultural Center’s theater productions, and not just locally. Visitors travel from as far away as Virginia to see performances at the Mauldin Cultural Center.
Get your tickets early to assure your family has seats for every show!
Beachin’ Fridays Summer Concerts – and More
Beachin’ Fridays, with their weekly performances of beach-music bands, are back again for 2021, from May through July! So is the Farmers Market, in June and July.
They will be joined by a two days festival of “Pizza, Blues, and Jazz” – and Arts Market – on April 30th and May 1st! Don’t miss either day; the bands and food will be one-day only events.
BBQ Cook-Off
Speaking of food, Mauldin’s 10th annual BBQ Cook-of will be back on September 18-19. Get there early; there is only so much BBQ to go around, and it is all good. Vendors know they have to sign up fast to get one of the coveted spots for the BBQ. The BBQ Cook-off is a much-anticipated event for everyone.
The Art Trail
Each year, a new piece of sculpture is added to the Art Trail. This year’s unveiling will be in June; it is another event not to be missed. The various sculptures placed to date have been really poignant focal points on the Cultural Center grounds.
The Cultural Center’s New Lobby
Work will be started on a new lobby and outdoor plaza adjoining the theater. The lobby will include a complete box office, plush seating, a bar, and new lavatories. The changes will help to attract more visitors for Cultural Center events.
Other Organizations, Events, and Classes at the Cultural Center
Other organizations make the Cultural Center their home as well.
The Art Haven offers instruction in pottery, drawing, painting, and water color, as well as home-school Arts Education classes. They also offer a venue for special events, including birthdays, and wine and painting parties.
Interested in music or theater? Voice lessons are available at the Cultural Center from Cindy Overfield. Tim St. Clair also offers voice lessons, as well as theater classes, and Brandon Dyke offers guitar lessons.
The Piedmont Woodcarvers Club supports the interests of woodcarvers, sculptors and whittlers. They also offer soap-carving lessons for youngsters and adults, as well as lessons in woodcarving.
The Mauldin Chamber of Commerce supports the Mauldin business community. The Chamber also sponsors the Trains, Trains, and More Trains event each September, which draws more than 6,000 “kids” of all ages.
The Mauldin Cultural Center: What’s the point?
Why does the Mauldin Cultural Center exist? What makes it worth the city spending the money to make it what it is, and what it will become?
Arts are important for everyone. Although some may argue that, art is an important part of human activity. The Cultural Center helps bring a wide spectrum of Arts for all Mauldin residents to enjoy.
But there is also a definite monetary value to the Cultural Center: those visiting from outside Mauldin spend money at Mauldin businesses – a lot of money: many millions of dollars. Because of the Cultural Center, more Mauldin businesses can provide more and better-paying jobs for Mauldin residents, while serving the interests of those visitors.
But there is an even more crucial factor: businesses which are looking for locations to relocate or expand look for cities that contain facilities like the Mauldin Cultural Center. Those businesses will often express the same sentiment: “If you want us to invest in Mauldin, then you must invest in Mauldin.” The Cultural Center answers that requirement. It improves economic opportunities for every Mauldin resident.
The Mauldin Cultural Center the Place to Be
This spring, the historic log cabin on the Cultural Center grounds will be the place to go for some really good ice cream – just one more great reason to be a frequent visitor to the Mauldin Cultural Center! ■
