ANDERSON — The sixth biennial Anderson International Festival (AIF) gets underway Jan. 8 and when it finishes Feb. 28, it will have celebrated all things Italian under the banner “Ciao, Italia!”
The festival will feature programs presented by many area organizations that highlight the arts, history, and culture of the nation while celebrating its ties to Anderson County.
Opening the festival’s calendar with a reception the evening of Jan. 8 is an exhibit at the Anderson Arts Center. The next night features the screening of the film “Roman Holiday,” starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn, at a wine and cheese reception at the Electric City Playhouse.
The first weekend closes at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 with the opening of “Museo de Italia” at the Belton Area Museum.
Since its beginning in 2006, a highlight of the festival has been the Anderson County Museum’s Winter Night Gala. This year the Jan. 22 event will open the museum’s exhibit, “Preaching to God’s Creatures: The Franciscans of Anderson County.”
The Belton Arts Center opens its “Celebrate L’Italia” exhibit on Jan. 16.
By the festival’s closing date, there will have been a full schedule of film screenings, book discussions and lectures, opera, programs for children and teens, and more in Anderson and around the county.
Visit the AIF website at www.andersoninternationalfestival.com for a schedule of events and contact information.