As part of the review of the comprehensive plan and development ordinances, the City of Camden will host a planning workshop on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm in Liberty Hall at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center, 212 Broad Street. This will be an open-house style workshop where the public can stop in and talk with planning staff and consultants about development-related topics such as zoning, density, housing types, and subdivision design.
At 5:30 pm, City Council will begin their regular meeting, rescheduled from April 15, also at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center. This is due to an anticipated audience larger than what City Council Chambers at City Hall can accommodate. The meeting agenda will include a public comment session where residents can discuss concerns related to future residential growth and provide feedback on charettes presented during the previous meeting.
“We encourage participation in this public forum regarding the development moratorium the City has established,” said City Manager Matt DeWitt. “We will discuss paths forward and what the future of residential development could look like within the City limits of Camden.”
The City of Camden implemented a residential development moratorium on September 10, 2024. The purpose of the moratorium was to pause residential development so the City would have time to consider the effects of new development on existing infrastructure, city services, and the environment. The moratorium ordinance also directed staff to review the comprehensive plan and development ordinances to determine if additional amendments were needed, relating to new residential development. On March 18, 2025, City Council approved an extension of the moratorium until September 30, 2025.
The City of Camden joins other communities across the nation in a national initiative in commemorating the April 17th-18th ride of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and other alarm riders, to warn Massachusettes villages that the British were coming. “Two Lights for Tomorrow” is a multi-state collaboration that calls for everyone to display two lights in homes, businesses, public buildings, and other sites to raise awareness and draw attention to our working together as a nation to ensure a better tomorrow.
Camden City Council issued a proclamation on April 1, 2025 endorsing this national initiative and calls “on all citizens to unite in remembrance of our shared history, honoring the sacrifices made by those who fought for our independence and reminding ourselves of the values we hold dear today.”
The City of Camden encourages all citizens to take part in this symbolic display by displaying two lights for all to see from April 14 to April 21 and to reflect on how those lights, symbols of the two lanterns hung in Old North Church in Boston to tell Revere and Dawes that the British were traveling across the water, will shine out in the darkness and illustrate our ongoing journey as a nation.
The City of Camden invites qualified Information Technology Support service companies to submit a proposal and statement of qualifications for professional Information Technology (IT) managed services.
The qualified IT partner will provide ongoing software, hardware and network support Services, improve operational effectiveness, enhance quality of services, minimize support cost, and maximize return on investment in IT. Additionally, we would require assistance in procuring new hardware and software as well as vendor management. Following negotiations, the successful vendor will be asked to enter into a contract with the City of Camden.
The deadline for submission is 2:00 p.m., April 21, 2025. Proposals must be received at 1000 Lyttleton Street, Camden, South Carolina 29020 in a sealed envelope.
Family, friends and the community at large are invited to visit the African American Cultural Center of Camden, located at 517 York Street, as it hosts the winning student projects from the annual Heritage Tea program.
Each year, since 1987, the Arts Center of Kershaw County and its Multicultural Committee partner with the Kershaw County School District to encourage students in grades 3 through 8 to explore the history of prominent African American figures. And student submissions are hosted at the Arts Center of Kershaw County while the Multicutural Committee holds a blind judging of the submitted works. Without knowing students’ names or school, only grade, the Committee selects a first, second, and third place from each grade.
This year, the African American Cultural Center is excited and proud to host the winning projects, for family and friends of the students and members of the community to enjoy, through May 17, 2025. After which, projects will be returned to the students.
The African American Cultural Center is open Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 517 York Street. For more information, contact kspadacenta@camdensc.org or call 803-432-2421 x1153.
Join in the festivities for CAMDEN’S BICENTENNIAL LAFAYETTE WEEKEND (March 7-9, 2025), with planned events beginning the week leading up to the reenactment of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit to Camden. For details about local events taking place and for more information about the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 visit to America, please visit https://lafayette200.org.
So far, the following events have been planned for Camden:
March 2025: Lafayette Exhibit: Artifacts from Lafayette’s 1825 visit to South Carolina at the Camden Archives & Museum, 1314 Broad St, Camden. Free to the public.
March 2025: Silent art auction with a french flair, in honor of Lafayette’s visit, raising money for youth art scholorships. The auction is on-line for the month of March. Art is exhibited at Camden Art Shoppes Elevator Lobby Gallery, at 1011 Broad Street. See art and learn more here.
Monday, March 3 – Saturday, March 8th, 3pm: “Where’s Lafayette? A Historical Scavenger Hunt for Families” – Pick up the passport & instructions from the Kershaw County Library, 1304 Broad St. starting Saturday, March 1st. Sponsored by the Hobkirk Hill Chapter, NSDAR.
Tuesday, March 4th 12pm-1:30pm: “Lunch & Learn: Lafayette and the Rights of Man” – Bill Davies will help take us through this remarkable man’s life and his time spent in South Carolina. Bring your lunch! Revolutionary War Visitor Center, 212 Broad St, Camden. Reservations recommended. Free to the public.
Friday, March 7th & Saturday, March 8th: “Revolutionary Art Sale” at Artists Attic, 930 Broad Street. Meet local artists, see the work they do, and find that special something to take back home.
Thursday, March 6th 6:30pm: Regency Dance Lessons McCaa’s Tavern, Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. Free to the public.
Friday, March 7th 10am-4pm: “Run to the Waxhaws” Battle Site Tour with Box Lunch. Departs from Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. $75 pp. *ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED*
Friday, March 7th 5:00pm: McCaa’s Tavern Yard Supper featuring Half-Crown Bakehouse’s Provisions Plate. Live music and cannon firing at dusk. McCaa’s Tavern, Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. $15 per plate. Cash Bar. Admission free to the public.
Saturday, March 8th, 10am: Lafayette Arrival Ceremony Lafayette arrives in an open carriage. Speeches from 1825 recreated. Mayor Vincent Sheheen will read the Lafayette Day Proclamation. Kershaw-Cornwallis House, Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. Free to the public.
Saturday, March 8th, 10:30am: Parade through Downtown Camden, Broad Street to DeKalb Street to end at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 502 East DeKalb Street. Everyone is welcome to join in! Estimated Distance = 1 mile. Free to the public. Saturday, March 8th, 11:00am: Laying of the Cornerstone for General DeKalb’s Monument. Lafayette and the Freemasons will reenact the ceremony from 1825 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 502 East DeKalb. Free to the public.
Saturday, March 8th, 12pm-2pm: French Wine Brunch at Broad & Vine, 1025 Broad Street. Join Neelie Edwards of ALEPH Wines as you sample 6 amazing French wines and enjoy a 5 course brunch. $50 per person, reservations required. Call 803-714-7898.
Saturday, March 8th, 12pm-4pm: Living History Open House at Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. Living history demonstrations. Lunch will be available for purchase from Half-Crown Bakehouse. Historic Camden. $10 pp.
Saturday, March 8th, 1pm-3pm: Book Talk and Q&A Children’s Authors Jenny Cote and Libby McNamee and Lafayette, himself! Liberty Hall. Revolutionary War Visitor Center, 212 Broad Street. Free to the public.
Saturday, March 8th, 5pm-7pm: 1825 Dinner at McCaa’s Tavern cooked by Chefs Justin Cherry & Hugh China. Includes wine, port, and nonalcoholic drinks. McCaa’s Tavern, Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. $100 pp. *ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED*
Saturday, March 8th, 7pm-9pm: 1825 Soirée at the Robert Mills Courthouse, 607 Broad Street. Live music, English Country Dancing with Mr. Steplively as the dance caller, cash bar, and refreshments served. Robert Mills Courthouse. $50 pp. *ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED*
Sunday, March 9th, 9:30am: Regency-style Breakfast at McCaa’s Tavern cooked by Chef Justin Cherry. During breakfast, we’ll give a talk on the Camden Burials Project. McCaa’s Tavern, Historic Camden Foundation, 222 Broad Street. Tickets are $20 pp. *ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED*
The City of Camden Accommodations Tax Grant Committee is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2025-26.
Accommodations tax grants are available to nonprofit organizations in and near Camden, in order to support their advertising and promotion of events, assets or other tourism related projects. The purpose of accommodations tax grants is fund marketing efforts that attract populations outside of a 50-mile radius to visit Camden.
Accommodations Tax funding is a reimbursement program, and eligible events, projects and activities must take place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. Formal applications must be submitted before any requests will be considered. Events must attract regional, state, or national audiences.
Accommodations tax grant applications and the accommodations tax grant handbook are available for download here.
Applications must be received at Camden City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025.
