COLUMBIA, S.C. — It's the third weekend in September! You know what that means?
Sure, the Gamecocks haven't lost hope -- yet. (Just kidding... but who are the Zips?) No, it's time for Columbia's Greek Festival, when everyone loads up on Greek goodies such as spanakopita and gyros! The festival starts Thursday and runs through Sunday, so load up on snacks such as calamari and dolmades and maybe a baklava brownie.
If you're not into feasting, there's culture -- plays and musical performances to choose from and a Gilbert & Sullivan sing-a-long to participate in. And, the area's first Oktoberfest celebrations begin. Prost!
WEDNESDAY, September 18
Soulful Sounds in Columbia, 7-9 p.m. Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby St. Settle in for an evening of music from Acute Inflections who cover everything from Billie Holiday to Erykah Badu. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, September 18 through December 31
Tim Turner: Songs of Celebration Exhibit; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. CityArt Gallery, 1224 Lincoln St. North Carolina artist Tim Turner returns with his large-scale canvases that “capture the joy in the simple things that bring pleasure.”
THURSDAY through SUNDAY, September 19-22
Columbia’s Greek Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Y’all should know the drill by now.. Greek food (a la carte, lunch and dinner meals), music, dancing, and self-guided tours of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
THURSDAY, September 19
2024 Townsend Lecture: David Beasley, 6-7:30 p.m. Karen J Williams Courtroom, Joseph F Rice School of Law, 1525 Senate St. Former SC governor, executive director of the UN World Food Programme and Nobel Peace Prize winner (for the WFP), talks about what it means to lead a state in the U.S. South
FRIDAY, September 20
Columbia Design League Park(ing) Day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Columbia Museum of Art, 1500 block of Main Street. Local designers take part in this global project where curbside parking spaces are temporarily repurposed, converting them into “safer, greener, more equitable public spaces.”
Food Truck Friday, 11a.m.-3 p.m., REI Co-Op parking lot, corner of Bull Street and Colonial Boulevard. This week features La Dolce Vita Pizza, La Sanmiguelense Neveria, Leafy Delight Eats & More, Tacos Oink Oink, and Toms Creek Mobile Market
FRIDAY through SUNDAY, September 20-22
Anything Goes, 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Town Theatre, 1012 Sumter St. The classic musical on the high seas hits the stage with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
If You Only Knew… Why I Struggle to Trust God, 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo. A gospel stage play follows Nikki, Taylor and Wendy as they navigate the complexities of faith, trust and personal struggles, while questioning their own trust in God.
Bierkeller Oktoberfest Weekend 1, 4-6 p.m. Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside, Suite 1009. Traditional German beer and food specials
FRIDAY, September 20
Nashville Songwriters in the Round, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St. An evening of music and storytelling to benefit Healthy Learners. Ticket includes unlimited food, beer, wine and signature cocktails.
Friday Night Laser Lights, 6:30-10 p.m. South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St. Laser show choreographed to the music of Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Phish. Cash bar with craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, food from Cheese and Thank You food truck
Therapalooza: Our Mission to $1 Million, 7:15-10:30 p.m. Goodman Building, South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Have an evening of fun and excitement as the Goodman Building is transformed into a Big Top tent with live circus entertainment, music, delicious food and an open bar. Live auction to benefit The Therapy Place.
SATURDAY, September 21
Dalefest 2024 Beer Festival + 5K Run, 10 a.m., The Dales Biergarten & Bottle Shoppe, 3150 Platt Springs Rd., West Columbia. 5K run to benefit National Multiple Sclerosis Society starts at 10 a.m., food truck on site plus cold beer and wine from The Dales. Runners aged 21 years and older receive one free draft beer with registration.
Little Red Riding Hood, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Columbia Marionette Theatre, 401 Laurel St. An irreverent take on the classic fairy tale – with puppets!
Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mann-Simons Site, 1403 Richland St. Take a deep dive into Black history in Columbia with a free tour of the Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House and enjoy the festival of music, featuring Sunshine Anderson, artists and crafters, food court and Kids Zone.
Pirate of Penzance Sing-A-Long, 7 p.m., Columbia Music Festival Association, 914 Pulaski St. Are you the very model of a modern Major-General? With information vegetable, animal, and mineral? Know the lyrics (or can at least read them) and want to join in a group sing-a-long? Here’s your chance. Join Columbia Operatic Laboratory (COLab) for an all-ages sing of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera
South Carolina vs Akron, 7:30 p.m., Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks (2-1) take on the Zips (1-2) from the Mid-American Conference. USC is trying to recover from last week's 33-36 loss against LSU and is a heavy favorite to win on Saturday. The W would be nice before heading into a bye week to get ready for Ole Miss on Oct. 5.
SUNDAY, September 22
Chaye Alexander presents Live on Boyd Plaza, 4-6 p.m. Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. Soul/jazz songstress Brittany Turnipseed is backed by Rod Foster & Company in a celebration of the women of jazz.
COMING UP
- Bierfests begin across the Midlands
- Irmo Okra Strut
- Palmetto Peanut Boil
