What happens when several organizations get together to plan a community event? It’s bigger and better. That’s what a group representing the Fairfield County Arts Council, Museum, Chamber of Commerce, art gallery owners, and Town of Winnsboro Downtown Development Department thinks. And the SC Arts Commission has jumped into the mix to help provide some of the needed funds to make this happen.

All that’s left to add to the mix is a welcoming attendance by the citizens of our town and communities.

Here is a schedule for the First Fridays of the next three months:

On Feb. 6, 2009, the theme is “Arts and Hearts” and all presentations will take place in the one hundred South block of Congress St. and the town gazebo park.

Begin your Valentines celebration in downtown Winnsboro early, with dinner and roses at Enzo’s and Hoots restaurants.

A gallery showing of local African American artists’ works, including Darwin Murphy’s paintings, Marilyn Murphy’s photography, and Herman Thompson’s folk-art lawn sculpture.

Pine Tree Players present Fairfield’s Got Talent at the PTP Theater at 8 PM.

Heart-Smart checks and Screenings in the Red Tree Gallery or Maudie Douglass’s next door shop (old book store building).

A free children’s’ workshop making handmade valentine cards.

A free Scherenschnitte (German paper cutting) workshop for ages 16 and up taught by a local artist.

A romantic professional musical performanceat Red Tree.

In addition, the Fairfield County Museum and Friends of the Mueum are presenting Saturday hand quilting and hardanger lace making lessons by local artisans.

Dates are Feb. 7, 14, 21, and 28: at the Fairfield County Museum. Call 635-1030 to register before January 30. There is a fee of $50 for the month’s workshops.

Opening on Feb. 14 is an exhibit of the needlework of Mrs. Lily Fox, a native of Switzerland, now living in Winnsboro. Call the museum for more details (635-9811).

On Mar. 6, 2009: Winnsboro will celebrate in Celtic style the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day observances.

A street Dance with Swing Dance Lessons taught by the Big Apple with DJ Papa Charlie from 7 – 9 PM.

Vendors and Merchants will be available for refreshments.

Special traditional entrée offerings will be at Enzos and Hoots.

Performing Artist: John “Trailer Park” Jackson at Red Tree Gallery.

Celtic fiddler Virginia Penninger performing at the Museum (231 S. Congress).

A Hootenanny gathering afterwards featuring local musicians The Jackson Creek Irish, Johnson Family quartet, Bagpiper Bill Pooler of Pennsylvania, and others.

This coordinates with the Scots-Irish descendants of the McCreight family’s plans for a work weekend on their family cemetery and the Museum’s backyard McCreight log barn (volunteers welcome). There will be a Kissing of the Blarney Stone ceremony.

April 3, 2009: Art Under the Stars

Art show for world renowned super- realist airbrush artist Dru Blair at the Red Tree Gallery.

Fairfield County Student art show—Spring: New Beginnings .

Open Mic at Red Tree 145—poetry readings.

Performing artists: Fairfield County Dance students teach.