COLUMBIA, S.C. — Looking for something unique to do this weekend? How about take in a rodeo, play pickleball, learn about fireflies, or a take a peaceful walk through a downtown nature habitat.
Check out this list of things to do this weekend in and around the Columbia area:
THURSDAY through SATURDAY, July 18-20
South Congaree Championship Rodeo, 395 Oak Street, West Columbia. Gates open at 5 p.m., rodeo starts around 7:30 p.m. each night. Check out the bull riders, ropers and wranglers. Tickets available online or at the gate, $18 per adult/per night, $14 per youth/per night, children age 5 and younger get in free.
THURSDAY, July 18
Five Points After Five: NOLA to COLA – Mark Rapp & Soda City Brass Band, 6-9 p.m. Five Points Fountain, intersection of Greene and Harden streets. The popular free evening concert series returns after a seven-year hiatus! Grab some food from a local restaurant and settle in at the Fountain
Candelight Concerts: A Tribute to Taylor Swift, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Junction 800, 800 Gervais St. Live concert featuring the music of Taylor Swift under the gentle glow of candlelight. Tickets sold in advance only, not available at the door.
Spritz Mix Happy Hour, 4-7 p.m. Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. Build-your-own-spritz bar is the perfect way to chill out after a hot summer’s day. Admission is free; cash bar features beer, wine and spritzes.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, July 19-20
Saluda Young Farmer Summer Tractor Pull, 140 Public Safety Dr., Saluda. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Bring a chair and a cooler ($5 per cooler) and enjoy the tricked-out tractors and trucks. Burgers, BBQ and more are available for sale. Tickets sold at the ticket booth, no charge for parking or visits to the pit to see the vehicles and meet the drivers. All proceeds benefit Saluda Young Farmer Scholarships
FRIDAY through SUNDAY, July 19-21
American Pickleball Tour, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Register to play or come out and cheer on the players during this family-friendly event. Not only are there prizes for the pickleball winners, but there are best-dressed prizes and other fun games to play. All levels can register to play – from beginner to experienced, singles and doubles, age brackets from 14 to 60+.
Wild Summer Nights Online Auction, starts 8 a.m. Friday, ends 8 p.m. Sunday. Sign up to bid on vacation rentals, outdoor adventures, and unique gifts. Proceeds support South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s mission to conserve and restore wildlife and habitat through education and advocacy.
FRIDAY, July 19
Tai Chi on Boyd Plaza, 7-8 a.m. Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St. Mats and chairs provided for this gentle yoga class, a perfect way to jumpstart your morning. Ages 13 and up, no unaccompanied minors.
Art & Rec Connect, 10 a.m.-noon, Richland County Tennis Center, 7500 Parklane Rd. Register for free outdoor arts events for your children
Lunch and Learn: All About Fireflies, noon, Congaree National Park Harry Hampton Visitor Center. Bring your lunch and come and learn everything there is to know about fireflies and what you can do to help protect them.
SATURDAY, July 20
Kershaw County Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, 906 Broad St., Camden. Fresh-from-the-farm produce, arts and crafts, and more
Soda City Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Main Street Columbia. Check out the makers and food vendors along three blocks of Main Street
The Market at Icehouse, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Icehouse Amphitheatre Pavilion, 107 West Main St., Lexington. Local farmers' produce and local artisan market.
SUNDAY, July 21
Purple Martin Cruise, 7-9:30 p.m., Spirit of Lake Murray, 216 Shadowood Dr., Irmo. Take a 2.5 hour cruise around Bomb Island at Lake Murray to watch thousands of birds return to the island to roost for the night. Food and drink available for purchase on the boat. Adults $59; children 10 & under, $50
Arboretum Open House, 1-4 p.m. W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, 4080 Bloomwood Rd., Columbia. Visit the botanic garden horseshoe, pollinator display gardens, and walk through 10 biomes of South Carolina along a 1/3 mile trail near downtown Columbia. No pets, no restroom facilities. Note that pathways are natural and pass through hilly terrain, dress accordingly. Admission is always free. Can’t make it Sunday? The arboretum is open to visitors Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon, and Thursdays 4-6 p.m.
COMING UP:
Free Literary & Expressive Arts Camp for Youth, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Historic Harriet Barber House, 116 Barberville Loop, Hopkins. SC Humanities and South East Rural and Community Outreach (SERCO) sponsor a series of free workshops for ages 6-15 to explore and foster diverse forms of artistic expression. July 20, July 27, August 10, August 27. Contact Veronica Primus, veronicaprimus@gmail.com or call 803-719-1871
