The holidays are a festive time of the year with musical productions, plays, light displays, historically themed programs and other events; however, there is one event taking place this weekend that is unlike any other.

Christmas in the Quarters focuses on the holidays from a very different perspective.

Held at Beech Island's Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, the Christmas in the Quarters program shows how slaves would have observed the holidays more than 150 years ago.

Green coffee beans were among the gifts enslaved Families received at Christmas. A demonstration of how they would have ground the beans will be part of the program.

Also, Kitty Wilson-Evans, an historical interpreter from Historic Brattonsville, will portray a slave named Kessie to provide visitors a greater insight into the program.

The authors of A Pictorial History of African Americans in Aiken County will be there to sign copies of the book, which benefit The Center for African American History, Art and Culture Aiken, S.C. Interactive presentations, games and tours of the historic slave quarters will also be a part of the program.

Christmas in the Quarters will be from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for ages 6 to 16 and free for children 5 years-old and younger. Call (803) 827-1473 for more information.

A Christmas Eve concert will help the United Methodist Children's Home.

The St. John United Methodist Church choir and orchestra will present a concert and Lessons and Carols beginning at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church at 736 Greene St.

The program is part of the Concerts with a Cause series which has raised more than $64,000 for charities since it began in 2003.

For more information, call (706) 724-9641