Local Green Christmas Party at Kava Connection
Not all Christmas parties are created equal. Some are family gatherings that celebrate traditions passed down for generations. Others are simply the annual opportunity to revisit that awkward conversation with the cousin or uncle that has haunted you since last year’s Christmas party. Running against the grain (or perhaps combining the best ingredients) is the Local Green Christmas Party, going down on December 11.
It begins with the Local Green Family Band, which is more of a musical collective than an actual band. The band members are basically “all of the musicians in my Rolodex” says Upstate musician John Durham, a group 35-50 strong, all with their own bands or musical endeavors, who contribute to Local Green performances based on timing and availability, ensuring that no Local Green show features the same lineup or setlist twice.
The mere existence of the Local Green Family Band illustrates the Upstate’s tight knit music community, and it makes sense that they would celebrate together for an evening of holiday merriment. The Local Green Christmas Party is much more than that, however, and their Christmas Party will serve as a fundraiser for the most noble of missions.
Durham credits the direction of their giving to the drummer in his regular band, Ryan “Dr. Luv Beatz” McCarthy. “He’s such a gentle soul and has always had an interest in permaculture and sustainable farming that has really rubbed off on all of us,” says Durham. As a result, the band has a natural soft spot for Project Host— the Upstate non-profit that uses its own on-site garden to support a soup kitchen, their Feeding Hungry Children Project, and a culinary school designed to serve the unemployed and underemployed members of the community striving to make better lives for themselves. Local Green’s Christmas Party will feature raffl es, a silent auction and donation bins that will all go to benefi t the good work being done at Project Host.
While there is no official performance planned, it is hard to imagine a group of professional musicians without someone getting the itch to play a song or two. To that end, Durham expects to have a small setup on stage allowing anyone to sing or play an old Christmas favorite or two. Additionally, a number of local artisans will feature their wares in a general store type presentation where guests can purchase anything from local art to organic treats and, of course, the recordings of the many talented musicians in attendance. All of this will go down at Greenville’s Kava Connection, the only place in the Upstate to fi nd this very unique tea-like beverage native to the South Pacifi c islands. Durham and his bandmates have known Kava Connection’s Gabriel Coggins since he was peddling his beverages at festivals years ago and is excited to support this venture at every opportunity. This is what a holiday party should be about: a group of likeminded folks who band together to celebrate the season, support local businesses and artisans, invite the community to join them, and do it all for the benefi t of an amazing charitable organization. Kudos to the Local Green family.
Local Green Christmas Party
December 11
Kava Connection
http://www.facebook.com/events/1627692957520634
Other Great Events…
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s Sustainable Agriculture Conferencee
November 4-6
Durham, NC
www.carolinafarmstewards.org/sac
Tryon Beer Fest
November 5
Tryon Depot Plaza,
Tryon, NC
www.tryonbeerfest.wordpress.com
Zoo Tunes: An Evening with Bruce Hornsby
November 10
Greenville Zoo
www.greenvillezoofoundation.org
Native American Celebration
November 19
Hagood Mill, Pickens
www.visitpickenscounty.com
Roper Mountain Holiday Lights
November 25-December 30
Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville
www.ropermountain.org
Turkey Leftovers Party
November 26
Bird Fly South Ale Project, Greenville
www.bfsbeer.com
A Dickens of a Christmas
November 29
Main Street, Spartanburg
www.cityofspartanburg.org
Christmas in Old Pendleton
December 3
Downtown Pendleton
www.pendletonhistoricfoundation.org
Movie In The Park Featuring Arthur Christmas
December 6
Carolina Wren Park, Anderson
www.downtownandersonsc.com
The Nutcracker
December 9-11
The Peace Center, Greenville
www.peacecenter.org
Melody Garden Christmas Carols
December 10
Botanical Garden Amphitheatre, Clemson
www.clemson.edu/public/scbg/events
Ed Harrison Memorial Celtic Christmas
December 17
Hagood Mill, Pickens
www.visitpickenscounty.org
