Events & Activities
The Ackerman Legacy Foundation is pleased to announce the annual Inspire! Festival is coming your way March 4 – 16, 2025. We are sure that everyone will find something to explore during INSPIRE!
​
Schedule:
Tuesday, March 4
Sponsors Dinner – O’Donnell House - Learn More
​
Thursday – Sunday, March 6 – 9
Brighton Beach Memoirs – Sumter Little Theatre Learn More
​
Friday, March 7
Hey Bo and Chappell Court – music at Sumter Original Brewery Learn More
​
Sunday, March 9 at 4 pm
Composer Meira Warshauer with Shir Ami (Voice of My People) trio and the Sumter Civic Chorale – Temple Sinai Jewish History Center Learn More
Thursday – Sunday March 13 – 16
Brighton Beach Memoirs – Sumter Little Theatre Learn More
​
Friday - March 14
Opening of Pathfinders 2025 Senior ART Exhibition and , plus music by Heart and Soul Jazz Learn More
​
Everyday
Students Walk of Art - Art work from Students in our local schools on display in businesses downtown Learn More
​
​​
2025 Sponsors Dinner
This year’s sponsors’ dinner will be held at the O’Donnell House. We are adding some exciting new moments to the evening’s program. There will be a cocktail hour held on the lawn during which sponsors and their guests will be serenaded by a “wandering minstrel” playing a variety of tunes on the violin as he gently saunters among the crowd. Those in attendance will then enjoy gourmet dining as the culinary magic from the chefs at the O’Donnell House is placed before us. During dinner soothing music will be provided by a string quintet of students from the orchestra program at Sumter High School. After dinner we will enjoy a few heartfelt stories and songs presented by Curt Ackerman and friends. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Sumter Little Theatre
The show opens on Thursday, March 6th at 7:30pm. Please join us at 7pm for our
Opening Night Reception!
Our show runs Thursday-Sunday, March 6-16.
Tickets may be purchased on our website www.sumterlittletheatre.com.
Sumter Little Theatre is excited to bring Brighton Beach Memoirs to our stage! Directed by Heather Turner, Brighton Beach Memoirs is a semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon. It is the first play in Simon's Eugene Trilogy and follows the story of Eugene Jerome, a Polish-Jewish American teenager, played by Nathan Martin, as he experiences puberty, sexual awakening, and a search for identity in 1937 Brooklyn during the
Great Depression. The play focuses on the Jerome family, including Eugene's parents, Kate and Jack,
played by Deborah Robertson and Michael Keenan, his older brother Stanley, played by Austin McDuffie,
and Kate's sister Blanche, played by Christina Wright, and her two daughters, Nora, played by Elle Tuzel, and Laurie, played by Emma Raxter.
Friday March 7 - 7 pm at Sumter's Original Brewery
HeyBo and Chappell Court
​
HeyBo Features Clete Norris, guitar and vocals; Kyle Osteen, guitar; Will Fort, guitar; Evan Hunter, drums and vocals; Ben McIver, bass and Christi Mahon, violin and vocals. HeyBo has been playing music for 10 years, taking their diverse set list to establishments in Sumter, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Charlotte. Their music spans multiple decades and several different genres. From The Rolling Stones to The Doobie Brothers, Chris Stapleton, Marshall Tucker Band, Bad Company, Brooks & Dunn, The Black Crowes, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Always a crowd pleaser, HeyBo enjoys kicking it up a notch with songs that you might not hear from other musical acts.
​
Chappell Court is an acoustic trio made up of Andrew Kinney, Matthew McMillan and Hamilton Cox. The 3 musicians all grew up together in Sumter then went off to different colleges from the upstate to the low country. After graduation they all moved back to Sumter, became neighbors and formed a band. With all three members enjoying different types of music, it makes each show sure to be diverse from decades of country, rock and roll and more
​
Come enjoy great music and great brews!
HeyBo
Chappell Court
Temple Sinai Jewish History Center Sunday, March 9th at 4:00pm.
Please join award winning composer Meira Warshauer with the renowned Shir Ami (Voice of My People) trio and the Sumter Civic Chorale for an afternoon of inspiring music.
Shir Ami consists of mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway, violinist Ari Streisfeld, and (for this event) pianist Lynn Kompass, all faculty of USC School of Music.
Friday - March 14 Sumter Gallery of Art
Opening of Pathfinders
2025 Senior Art Exhibition and
Sumter Artists Guild Winners
plus music by Heart and Soul Jazz
Walk of Art Student Installations
The Walk of Art includes student installations in Downtown Sumter that are a vibrant celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community. Showcasing artwork from thousands of students across 20 schools, this inspiring display transforms the streets into a dynamic gallery, highlighting the artistic talents nurtured by 30 dedicated art teachers. By filling 25 storefront windows with student-created masterpieces, the installation not only brightens the downtown area but also underscores the importance of arts education in Sumter County. Representing the Sumter School District, Wilson Hall, and Liberty STEAM, these young artists bring fresh perspectives and imaginative expressions to the community, fostering local pride and appreciation for the arts. Walk of Art serves as a testament to the power of creativity in bringing people together and enriching the cultural fabric of Sumter.
