Concerts

The Augusta-Richmond County Public Library System proudly presents the 65th Evenings in Appleby Garden Concert Series for 2019. This annual tradition is free and open to the public. Below is the full schedule:

The series will run for five consecutive Tuesdays beginning May 28, 2019. All concerts begin at 8 pm..

Tuesday, May 28       Bethany and the Southside Boys

Tuesday, June 4         The Definitions

Tuesday, June 11       Matthew Dickerson

Tuesday, June 18       Kevin Bowman

Tuesday, June 25       Jessye Norman School for the Arts

Concert Series Tips

Seating: Bring a chair or borrow one for a donation and relax and enjoy the sounds of the summer.

Parking: Free parking is available in the library parking lot, the Episcopal Day School parking lot, and on Johns Road (street parking).

Raining: The Concert Series is a rain or shine event. Check the forecast and come prepared!

Eating: Pack an evening picnic or purchase a barbecue dinner on site from Stewart’s Ribs ‘N’ Things on May 28 and June 4.

Competing: The always spirited Appleby Garden Party Competition is back for the third year, and the public is invited to bring their best portable lawn party décor and food set up to vie for the title of Appleby Garden Party Winner of the Week.

No smoking on library grounds, please!

History of the Appleby Library and the Concert Series

The Annie de Prairie Appleby Branch Library, which now houses over 35,000 books, was originally built as a private home around 1830 by Judge Benjamin Warren.  After the death of his wife, Mr Scott B. Appleby and his son, James Scott Appleby, gave the house to the City of Augusta and Richmond County to be used as a library that was first opened in 1954.

The Evenings in Appleby Garden Concert Series, originally known as “Music in the Garden,” began in 1954 as an evolution of a former library program, a listening series for classical music at the old library headquarters. According to the  Augusta Chronicle, due to concerns with the space and the recent donation by the Appleby family of the mansion that is now the Appleby Branch Library, “library officials approached the Augusta Music Club…, and the two groups worked out through cooperative effort a summer concert series to be held in the cool back garden of the Appleby branch.” The concert series has been held annually at no charge to attendees since then.

If you have enjoyed any of the Evenings at Appleby Gardens Concert Series, please consider being a sponsor at a level that is convenient for you. Your contribution will help this Augusta institution remain a fun and free event for attendees. Over a thousand guests attended the 2018 series, and we look forward to having even more people enjoying the tunes this year. Download the 2019 Appleby Gardens Concert Series Sponsorship Levels Form for more details and instructions.

Sponsors

Additional Questions?

Contact us at outreach@arcpls.org, 706-736-6244, or 706-821-2612.