Wedding & Event Venue near McCormick, SC

EDGEFIELD, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A group of Buddhist monks spent their third day in South Carolina on Thursday, walking from Edgefield to Saluda, where they had lunch and planned to spend the night.

A crowd followed them to Edgefield on Wednesday, where the monks served the followers food and handed out friendship bracelets.

It was the 74th day of the monks’ peace walk to Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, hundreds gathered at the McCormick EMS headquarters to hear the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara spread his message.

“Everywhere we go now, the crowd is getting larger and larger. That shows us that everyone is joining this walk together with the monks,” Pannakara said.

The walk for peace has drawn crowds from across America on the monks’ journey from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C.

Tuesday brought that crowd to McCormick.

“What they’re doing here is bringing peace, love, and compassion. Everything that this town and the surrounding towns need,” said Ardreika Pratt, from McCormick, who came to walk with the monks.

Glenda Green, who also came to walk, called the journey remarkable. “Amazing. Astonishing. It takes a lot of dedication,” Green said.

Pannakara acknowledged that the journey has not been easy.

“Sometimes we step on nails, sometimes we step on screws and glass and things like that,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the monks continue their calling.

“Hopefully, everyone will practice to have love and kindness and compassion so that peace will bloom,” Pannakara said.

Some supporters offered gifts to show solidarity with the monks’ message.

“I share in their message and want to show that they’re not alone, that their message is heard,” said Doc Kahn, who came to walk.

Others provided support for the journey itself.

“Everybody doesn’t have the strength, everybody doesn’t have the passion, everybody doesn’t have that kind of dedication and commitment,” Pratt said.

Numerous people lined the streets again on Wednesday to see the monks, with some describing the experience as witnessing history. Many waited for hours to participate in the event.

“This is not the most beautiful place, but that’s what it’s about. It don’t have to be in the most beautiful place to experience peace. You know, this is peace right here. You know, and everybody feels it,” said Chrisanthia Hawkins and Daryl Chandler.

Diverse crowds gather

Susan DeBruhl noted the variety of participants drawn to the events.

“The variety of people who show up to these events because they are from all walks of life and from everywhere. I think that having the walk through a rural area is really eye-opening and enlightening for people who would not get to experience this otherwise,” DeBruhl said.

The monks spread their message through actions as well as words, with community members providing food and water to participants.

“For them to open their arms up to feed everybody, come on, hands down. Yeah. And it’s not only them, but it’s like people out here, you know, if somebody don’t have water, they’re saying, you know, you want something to drink, you know, or you want a snack. It’s people just coming together,” Hawkins and Chandler said.

Personal connections

Participants came for different reasons but many left with similar feelings. One attendee shared a personal motivation for joining.

“I almost lost my life because of a cell phone and I’m here to be a part of their history and to understand, what peace is about because humanity has shifted so much,” Hawkins and Chandler said.

Bhikkhu Pannakara, one of the Buddhist monks, explained the mission’s purpose.

“Peace is what the people, all kind of beings, are really in need right now, that’s asking and looking for every day. And we are Buddhist monks, we walk just to raise that awareness that peace has already been with us for so long. All we need to do is just pause and stop and look back within, and peace will begin from right there,” Pannakara said.

The monk said the community response has been meaningful.

“And that message, I think, has been heard. So that is why so many people come out to show love and support on this mission and walk together with us like that,” he said.

Pannakara said the walk through the CSRA will stay with him permanently.

“I think that it’s a lot of love that people support in us. And I think with all those emotions, that will be with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

South Carolina's small towns and villages have a knack for mixing natural beauty with the slow-and-easy life of a close-knit community. Places like McCormick. The once-thriving mining town, located along the state's Western border with Georgia, now offers a gateway to outdoor adventure. Think of it as a more condensed version of Greenwood, which offers the same small-town vibes and southern charm a half hour away.

Named after the inventor of the mechanical reaper, Cyrus McCormick, the town has evolved from its earlier, brief incarnation as a gold mining operation. McCormick bought the mine in 1871, setting up shop briefly until the mine closed in 1883 after all the deposits were extracted. The inventor and businessman eventually auctioned off the land, which became his namesake town.

Today, the town of 2,600 rests within a cocoon of natural beauty. Its bucolic streets, overflowing with greenery, form an appropriate bridge to its equally-green surroundings. Forest occupies 63,000 acres of the surrounding territory, with three state parks and the 70,000-acre expanse of Lake Thurmond, all within the McCormick's orbit.

See the downtown and green spaces, then mine for gold

Before rushing off to the area's outdoor adventures, check out the town itself. McCormick's downtown offers a worthwhile collection of stores, bookshops, and antique dealers, with the odd historic building tossed in for good measure. Storeys at the Red Rooster offers an assorted mix of standard antique shop wares, like furniture, mixed with unique finds, like in-store displays for long-forgotten goods. Stick around downtown to find the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK), a de facto artist's colony located on Main Street that is the town's cultural heart. Some of the guild's goods are available for sale in its gift shop. Then, enrich your visit by leaving the town's borders and taking in its surroundings.

Hickory Knob State Resort Park, just 20 minutes away, is the crown jewel and must-visit. It mixes modern green space luxuries with rustic charm to create a Swiss Army knife-style space that doubles as a resort. Its golf course will let you take your 18-hole prescription, if the urge hits. If you need an outlet, head over to the axe-throwing range. This all comes alongside the usual mix of trails, lakeside relaxation, and fun on the water you'd expect from a state park. Consider it a worthwhile competitor to Calhoun Falls State Park, another of South Carolina's underrated lakeside getaways that's only 30 minutes away. While the above-ground area is gorgeous, there's something to see below the surface as well.

McCormick's Heritage Gold Mine Park brings visitors back to the town's heyday as a mining hub. Tours of the mine's remnants include the original mining infrastructure, from dewatering pipes to vertical shafts and pits. Visitors can pan for gold and screen for gemstones. Should you strike it rich, you can keep your find.

The ins and outs of visiting McCormick

You'll need a car to get around McCormick's outdoor offerings, as well as to simply get there. The closest major transit hub, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is an eye-watering two-hour, 45-minute drive away. Those flying in should try to pull off the logistical judo needed to land at Augusta Regional Airport, which is 48 miles out of town. Be sure to stop by Martinez, a charming Georgia suburb that offers diverse shops and southern flair.

Such a small town rarely offers many accommodations. McCormick has one within the town itself, the $63-per-night Bar-Mel Inn. There are flashier alternatives outside of town, though. You can get a dose of natural beauty and rustic charm, as well as comfy digs, at Hickory Knob State Park's historic cabin, the Guillebeau House (just note there's a minimum two-night stay policy). The log cabin is the area's last French Huguenot-built house, built in 1770 and still functioning today, costing $179 per night. It offers all modern conveniences plus the rustic charm and appeal of a remotely-located hideaway. Those looking for a bit of a wilder outing can book a campsite at Baker Creek State Park, just 12 minutes outside of town. The park's 50 campsites are within distance of Lake Thurmond, offering a perfect place for a bit of respite.

There's technically no wrong time to visit McCormick. But there is a right time. Spring offers the best weather. If you want to see the town truly bumping, visit during McCormick's recently-revitalized annual Gold Rush festival in September, which includes a parade, vendors, and entertainment.

LEXINGTON, S.C. —

The Buddhist Monks are making their way through South Carolina as part of their Walk for Peace.

The monks started their 2,300-mile journey in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26 and are traveling through 10 states en route to Washington, D.C.

The monks arrived in South Carolina on Tuesday evening and are expected in Lexington on Friday.

On Friday morning, the monks posted this message on Facebook:

"We have just started our walk from Leesville, South Carolina, heading through Gilbert to Lexington. The journey continues through South Carolina, one step at a time. We warmly welcome everyone to visit us at our stops!"

Here is the schedule for Friday as of Friday morning;

Along the route, the monks are being met by hundreds of supporters along the road, holding signs, flowers, and praying for the group.

The original route through South Carolina had the group walking through part of Abbeville, Laurens, and possibly Union counties. On Jan. 2, the route changed to take a path through Columbia before heading north to North Carolina.

If you would like to follow their path, click on this map or check out the map below:

To track them live, click here or check out the map below:

The group has amassed a huge audience on social media, with more than 874,000 followers on Facebook. Aloka, who is named after a Sanskrit word meaning enlightenment, has its own hashtag, #AlokathePeaceDog, and Facebook page, with more than 500,000 followers.

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that evolved from the teachings of Gautama Buddha, a prince turned teacher who is believed to have lived in northern India and attained enlightenment between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C. The religion spread to other parts of Asia after his death and came to the West in the 20th century. The Buddha taught that the path to end suffering and become liberated from the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation includes the practice of non-violence, mental discipline through meditation, and showing compassion for all beings.

While Buddhism has branched into a number of sects over the centuries, its rich tradition of peace activism continues. Its social teaching was pioneered by figures like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, who have applied core principles of compassion and non-violence to political, environmental and social justice as well as peace-building efforts around the world.

The Walk for Peace has navigated through Georgia for just over a week, and will soon be crossing into South Carolina. But the monks have a bit more of the Peach State to pass through, and that will include a stop not far from the Augusta area.

What is the Walk for Peace?

A group of Buddhist monks have been traveling literally by foot across multiple states as a way of promoting peace, loving kindness, and compassion to all people. This walk has generated a ton of good will and support, with many fans posting pictures and videos online or even bringing them gifts.

How long is the Walk for Peace?

The walk is 120 days, about 2,300 miles.

Where is the Walk for Peace today?

The monks started their walk Monday morning from a farm in Lexington to a lunch stop in Tignall at 1255 Mallorysville Rd. It's over an hour north-west of the Augusta area. As of publication, the monks have not confirmed where they will be stopping for the night.

Is the Walk for Peace coming to Augusta?

While the monks won't be coming directly to Augusta, they will be within driving distance. Their eventual stop in Columbia, SC is just over hour away, and when they get to Lincolnton (which should be within the next 24 hours) it will be just under an hour away.

The monks will likely cross the Savannah River Bridge into McCormick, SC on Tuesday evening or Wednesday. They expect to be in Columbia by Jan. 10, according to their Facebook.

Where did the Walk for Peace start?

The walk started on Oct. 26 in Fort Worth, TX.

Where does the Walk for Peace end?

The walk will end in Washington, D.C. near the end of February.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at.

From LaGrange and Decatur to Watkinsville and Lexington, the Walk for Peace has seen its fair share of Georgia. But the viral peace initiative will soon be leaving the Peach State and starting their trek across South Carolina. Here's what we know:

What is the Walk for Peace?

A group of Buddhist monks have been traveling literally by foot across multiple states as a way of promoting peace, loving kindness, and compassion to all people. This walk has generated a ton of good will and support, with many fans posting pictures and videos online or even bringing them gifts.

How long is the Walk for Peace?

The walk is 120 days, about 2,300 miles.

Where is the Walk for Peace today?

The monks started their walk Monday morning from a farm in Lexington to a lunch stop in Tignall at 1255 Mallorysville Rd. It's over an hour north-west of the Augusta area. As of publication, the monks have not confirmed where they will be stopping for the night.

When will the Walk for Peace come to South Carolina?

Recently, the Walk for Peace route changed with the monks redirecting from a path in north South Carolina to Columbia, SC. Based on the overview route, the monks will likely be in the Lincolnton area by Tuesday heading towards the Savannah River Bridge that crosses from Lincolnton into McCormick, SC.

Barring adverse weather or other obstacles, this would put the monks crossing the Georgia-South Carolina border as early as Tuesday evening, possibly Wednesday morning depending on where they decide to stop for the night.

Where did the Walk for Peace start?

The walk started on Oct. 26 in Fort Worth, TX.

Where does the Walk for Peace end?

The walk will end in Washington, D.C. near the end of February.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at.