With a big, new, fancy building and several renovated branches throughout Anderson County, it’s sometimes hard to tell that the Anderson Count Library System is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

But when the festivities get started this Saturday and continue throughout the month, this celebration will be hard to ignore.

The Anderson County Library System celebrates 50 years this Sunday with an all-day event starting at 3 p.m. at the main branch in Anderson. A classic car show, ice cream social and children’s activities are just a few of the fun activities planned for an afternoon of revelry among friends and supporters.

“We have been thinking about how we can celebrate this milestone for a while,” said Marybeth Evans, community services coordinator for the Anderson County Library. “We decided to go with something big and that involves the entire county.”

All the library branches will celebrate this milestone with live entertainment and games, as well as refreshments for anyone who attends. These individual events throughout October will be centered around the historical displays created by each branch staff.

On Sunday, however, it’s the big event with ice cream for all, games from the ’50s like hula hoops, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and hopscotch and more.

“The car show is the big attraction and will only be at the main branch,” Evans said.

The system was established in 1958 and followed with branches in Williamston, Pelzer and Pendleton in 1960 and 1961. In the ’70s, Piedmont and Iva branches were added with Powdersville coming in the early ’80s and the Westside Community Center branch in the late ’90s. Those branches will host their own celebrations into the first week of November after the main branch party.

The event will take place at the Main Library, 300 N. McDuffie St. in Anderson at 3 p.m. Sunday. It will culminate with the planting of a river birch tree on the library grounds courtesy of the Anderson Garden Club.

For more information, call Evans at 864.260.4500 ext. 107.