JOYE IN AIKEN FESTIVAL VENUES
Joye Cottage
Joye in Aiken’s namesake and the home of its co-founders (Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Steven Naifeh and the late Gregory White Smith), Joye Cottage is a fabulous Gilded Age mansion that was once the center of a social circle that included America’s most prominent families. The 60-room “cottage” hosted performances by some of the world’s greatest artists, attended by some of the nation’s wealthiest arts patrons. Today it hosts artists participating in the Festival and Outreach Program, and the ballroom serves as a venue for special donor and volunteer events.
St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church
125 Pendleton Street SW
The history of St. Thaddeus is closely tied to that of Aiken itself, since land for the church was reserved in plans developed for the town in the 1830’s. The church was founded in 1842 and the original building, located in the heart of downtown, is still the basis of the present church. Its historic sanctuary serves as the venue for organ concerts by Juilliard’s Paul Jacobs, as well as for Joye in Aiken chamber concerts.
Capacity: 300
Second Baptist Church
1151 York Street NE, Aiken
For over a century Second Baptist has been an integral part of the African-American community of Aiken and the surrounding areas. The original church building dates to 1920. Today the thriving congregation meets in an impressive new facility that boasts a state-of-the-art, 600-seat sanctuary. In 2022, the church served as the welcoming home for a concert by brilliant Joye in Aiken pianist Mathis Picard.
Capacity: 600
The Willcox
100 Colleton Avenue, Aiken
Established in 1899, this grande dame has played host to such illustrious guests as FDR, Winston Churchill, Harold Vanderbilt and Elizabeth Arden. Once an international center of high society, it was the setting for lavish entertainment in the 20’s and 30’s. Today the hotel (named one of the world’s best by readers of Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines) continues that tradition of excellence by serving as the venue for the Joye of Jazz mini-jazz festival, as well as Joye’s after-hours jazz and chamber concerts. Its iconic lobby and intimate smaller spaces allow for maximum interaction with the artists.
Capacity: 130
Aiken Center for the Arts
122 Laurens Street SW, Aiken
Located in the heart of Aiken’s historic downtown, these beautiful gallery spaces are surrounded by exquisite displays of works by Aiken's local and visiting artists. The ACA is host to many favorite community events such as the Joye in Aiken Swing Dance Party, as well as to Joye’s piano master classes.
Capacity (Main Floor Gallery): 220
The Etherredge Center
471 University Parkway, Aiken
Located on the campus of U of SC Aiken, the Etherredge Center for the Fine and Performing Arts is home to a wide variety of arts organizations throughout the CSRA, and serves as a prime performing space for Joye in Aiken. The proscenium stage and auditorium feature a unique, angled layout that assures that every seat is “the best seat in the house.” The Festival Finale is held at the Etherredge Center, as are many other Joye performances and outreach events.
Capacity: 687
First Presbyterian Church
224 Barnwell Avenue, Aiken
First organized in 1853, this church is almost as old as Aiken itself – but now boasts a much more modern building. The non-traditional design of the sanctuary and the exceptional acoustics lend themselves well to Joye in Aiken’s annual offerings in the Sanctuary Concert Series (often featuring students from Juilliard’s Vocal and Historical Performance departments).
Capacity: 300
St. John’s United Methodist Church
104 Newberry Street NW, Aiken
The fountain at the entrance of St. John’s, located just off Aiken’s main shopping district, is both symbolic of the church and emblematic of the charm of the city’s downtown. The sanctuary comfortably accommodates presentations as diverse as opera by Juilliard, the chamber music of the St. Lawrence String Quartet, and the jazz-infused A Fiddler’s Tale by Wynton Marsalis.
Capacity: 700
The Green Boundary Club
780 Whiskey Road, Aiken
The Green Boundary Club is located in a beautiful Winter Colony mansion built in 1927. Established as a supper club for Winter Colony residents (whose cooks typically had Thursday nights off), it is still one of Aiken’s most distinguished fine dining venues. The Club also boasts delightful accommodations, a newly renovated patio, and an extensive croquet lawn. It has served as the location for many Joye in Aiken events including performances by Juilliard vocal students, cabaret star Jennifer Sheehan, piano duo Anderson & Roe, and crossover ensemble Time for Three.
Constantine House
3406 Richland Ave W., Aiken
Built in 1935, this gracious mansion was described in the local newspaper that year as “one of the show places of Aiken.” It has had many notable residents since and is the future residence of the Chancellor of U of SC Aiken. Its gorgeous gardens and terrace will be the site of “Cocktails at the Constantine” donor events, featuring Joye in Aiken artists such as Time for Three.
CROSSWAYS
Distinctly southern and an integral part of Aiken’s history, Crossways was built in 1815, well before the Winter Colony put the city on the map.Considered to be the oldest house in Aiken, it is also one of the most exquisite, with original features, five acres of gardens and grounds, and a spectacularly renovated interior.Crossways is now a private home and is rarely open to the public, but in 2021 it will serve as the venue for a Joye in Aiken donor event, by the gracious permission of the owners.
