Erskine College celebrates America 250
Erskine College is pleased to launch an extended celebration of America’s 250th anniversary to last throughout the 2026-27 school year. The public is invited to participate in an array of community events, including a movie screening, musical tributes, historical presentations, and a gallery display featuring local history.
Festivities will begin Tuesday, September 1, at 6:30 p.m. with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the porch of the Watkins Student Center on Erskine’s campus.
On September 17, the college, in partnership with Abbeville 250, will host a screening of Angel Studio’s Young Washington. Set during the French and Indian War, this exciting new film portrays American hero George Washington during his formative years before the Revolution. This family-friendly event is free and will be held outdoors on the Erskine Mall at 7:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
The celebration continues in Sumter County at Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, a congregation with strong historical ties to the American Revolution. This free event, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, at 3:00 p.m., will feature patriotic music performed by the Erskine Choraleers and members of the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, alongside historical readings and presentations. After the program, participants are invited to enjoy light refreshments and family-friendly activities outside. This event is presented in partnership with Sumter 250, the Sumter Museum, the Charter Institute at Erskine, and Salem Black River Presbyterian Church.
Erskine’s yearly signature event, the Garnet & Gold Forum, will continue the America 250 emphasis on October 23. The evening will feature a semiformal dinner in Erskine’s Bowie Arts Center, where a themed art exhibit entitled Our Firm Foundation will be on display. Following the dinner, a program will be held in Erskine’s historic Memorial Hall. The Erskine Choraleers, under the direction of Dr. Keith Timms, will present a selection of patriot music, interwoven with readings and presentations by noted historian and author Rod Gragg. Tickets may be purchased for the dinner/program package or for the program only at erskine.edu/garnetandgoldforum/. The event is sponsored by Sonrise Farms and the Charter Institute at Erskine.
South Carolina and the Upstate region are rich in Revolutionary War history, and Erskine is honored to explore this heritage in its historical gallery in the Bowie Arts Center. A new display, featuring stories from local history, is set to open at the Garnet & Gold Forum on October 23 and will remain open and free to the public during the Bowie Arts Center’s regular hours.
Erskine’s tribute to America 250 will continue in the spring semester. The college looks forward to celebrating with community members from across the state and region.
More information can be found at erskine.edu/events/
