COLUMBIA, S.C. — Expect a little more hustling and bustling in and around downtown Columbia this weekend as students return to University of South Carolina, Allen University, Columbia College and Benedict College for the fall semester.
If you are one of the folks new to the area, a hearty welcome to you and we hope that this list of things to do this weekend will give you opportunities to get out and explore your new environs.
If you’re a longtime resident, we hope that you find something new to experience.
Check it out:
WEDNESDAY, August 14
Forest Acres Farmers Market, 2-6 p.m., 24 Forest Lake Place. Fresh meats and veggies from area farms, arts and crafts and food trucks.
WEDNESDAY through SUNDAY, August 15-18 and 22-25
Dandelion: An Original Musical, evening and matinee performances, Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St. Jane must decide to either follow her dream or stay at home and take care of her mother, who is struggling with mental illness and opioid addiction. Tickets available online and at Trustus box office.
So Long Roscoe, evening and matinee performances, Chapin Theatre Company, 830 Columbia Ave., Chapin. An original production, written by Chapin resident MonaLisa T. Botts captures South Texas sibling rivalry at its comedic height. Tickets available online.
THURSDAY, August 15
City Hall Selfie Day, all day. Show off your civic pride: Take a picture of yourself (and your friends) in front of a local government building. Use the hashtag #CityHallSelfie when posting to social media and tag City of Columbia in your post: @City of Columbia Government on Facebook, @cityofcolumbiascgov on Instagram, or @cityofcolumbia on X/Twitter. Check out the results at elgl.org/cityhallselfie
Third Thursday: Tech + Arts + You, 5-7 p.m. Boyd Innovation Center, 711 Saluda Ave. Come on down to Five Points for a night showcasing the best local musicians, artists, and tech startups in the area. Free.
Meeting Street Artisan Market, 4-8 p.m. Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia. Check out local artisans, crafters and bakers, grab a beverage from local breweries and food from local restaurants.
Book Club Night: It Ends With Us, 6-9:30 p.m. Nickelodeon Theater, 1607 Main St. Come watch a special screening of It Ends With Us, based on the Colleen Hoover bestseller, and stay for a talkback after the film with All Good Books.
Meet Artist in Residence Sean Rayford, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St. Sean Rayford has been a professional photographer/photojournalist for over the last 25 years, covering local and national news and weather stories, and has self-published three books of photography. Come see samples of his work and hear him talk about the creative process. Free.
FRIDAY, August 16
Tai Chi on the Plaza, 9-10 a.m., Boyd Plaza, Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. Take a breather in this drop-in session and learn a bit about movement and mediation to reduce stress and build energy, balance and joy. Free.
The Unpronounceable Patriot: Thaddeus Kosciuscko. Noon-1 p.m., Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St. The Richland Library partners with the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum’s Curator of Education, Joe Long, to present the story of the top Continental Army siege engineer who was a personal friend of Thomas Jefferson and managed the engineering aspects of the Revolutionary War’s Siege of Ninety-Six, here in South Carolina, and had a history-shaping career in Europe after the war. Free.
Lemonade & Popcorn Fundraiser, noon-2 p.m., City of Columbia Payment Center, 3000 Harden St. Support the Mayor's Campaign against Breast Cancer by purchasing popcorn and pink (or regular) lemonade. Popcorn will be $2, and lemonade will be $2-$3. Proceeds from this year's campaign will help fund an innovative 3-D mammography imaging unit for the Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge campus.
Friday Night Laser Lights, 6-10 p.m., South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St. Lasers choreographed to iconic music inside the museum’s 55-foot digital dome. $12 general public, $10 members. Cash bar and food trucks available.
Sportsarama, 6-10 p.m. Memorial Stadium, 1000 South Holly St., Columbia. High school football commences with this annual face off between eight area teams in four mini-games. Gates open at 6 with the following match-ups:
- Game 1: C.A. Johnson (home team) vs. W.J. Keenan – 6:30 p.m.
- Game 2: Eau Claire (home team) vs. Whitmire – 7:10 p.m.
- Game 3: Dreher (home team) vs. Columbia – 7:50 p.m.
- Awards Presentations at 8:30 p.m. – Mr. and Miss Sportsarama and the winners of the Band in the Stands awards will be announced.
- Game 4: A.C. Flora (home team) vs. Lower Richland – 8:50 p.m.
Tickets $8 per person for the night, available online and at the gate. Clear bag policy will be enforced.
SATURDAY, August 17
Lake Wateree Veterans Bike & Boat Benefit Ride, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VFW Post 8346, 74 Veterans Dr., Ridgeway. Register to take part in the motorcycle or boat ride that features multiple stops along the route from Ridgeway to Beavers Den Bar & Grille. Boats put in at Clearwater Cover Marina, bikers start at the VFW Post. Pre-register for free t-shirt (while supplies last).
Community Yard Sale/Local Farmers Market, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Locklair’s Farm Supply, 109 State Pond Rd., Gaston. Find a treasure, check out the fresh produce, eggs, honey, fresh-baked bread and more.
Kershaw County Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, 906 Broad St., Camden. Farm fresh vegetables, produce and meats, arts and crafts, and food trucks.
Soda City Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Main Street, Columbia. Check out the arts and crafts, food trucks and more at this year-round Saturday market.
SC Native American Art Gathering and Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St. CMA welcomes Native American artists sharing their talent and stories in a pop-up market featuring woodworking, jewelry, indigenous foods, and more. Take a tour of (Un)Settled: The Landscape in American Art with Catawba citizen Alex Osborn at 11 a.m.
House Music at State House, 3-10 p.m. South Carolina State House, 1100 Gervais St. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, your cowbells, maracas, tambourines or small drums and join DJ Kelly Kel in making some back-to-school noise. A Columbia House Music Project. Free.
Columbia Taco & Margarita Festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Segra Park, 1640 Freed St. Food trucks, margaritas, LIVE pro wrestling and more! Everyone aged 6 and older needs a ticket to get in, $10 in advance, $20 at gate. VIP options available for $40 and $79 per person.
Garnet & Black Bash, 5-10 p.m. Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce. Welcome back, Gamecock fans! Show off your best garnet & black and enjoy a tailgate-themed menu, live music, vendors and the Columbia Gamecocks Chapter of the Alumni Association.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, August 17 & 18
Ageless SC pop-up in Five Points, noon-8 p.m., 736 Harden St. Shop rare streetwear, vintage finds, sneakers, and Ageless SC Classic merchandise.
SE Punk Flea Market, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Jamil Shrine Temple. If you are a fan of weirdo art, vinyl records, vintage clothes or possibly a collector of strange and unusual things, this event is for you!
How to Fall Down, 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St. Columbia Repertory Dance Company presents three new works by artistic director and resident choreographer Stephanie Wilkins, plus two audience favorites from June’s The Same Palm concert. Tickets available online and at the box office.
SUNDAY, August 18
Auditions for children’s roles in South Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker. Columbia Conservatory of Dance, 1545 Main St. Try out now for a spot in the December 2024 performances. Early sign-up audition fee $20; day-of fee, $25. See South Carolina Ballet website for details relating to audition times, dress code and rehearsal/performance dates.
Congaree Vista Walking Tour, 1-2:30 p.m. Meet at First Responder Monument, 1101 Lincoln St. for a walking tour with Historic Columbia guides. $5 for HC members, $10, for non-members, free for ages 17 and under. Must pre-register before noon Friday, August 16.
Black Pride Week, August 18-25. Celebrate the culture with a week of events featuring:
- Sunday: Pride Brunch at The Big Apple, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 1000 Hampton St.
- Friday, August 23: Welcome Reception, 7 p.m.-midnight, The Big Apple. Free food, free entry, free parking, with Kam and sounds by Aiko Finesse
- Saturday, August 24: Cultural Arts & Wellness Festival, doors open at noon, Junction 800, 800 Gervais St. Live entertainment, music, food, giveaways, health screenings, HIV testing and PrEP Clinic
- Saturday, August 24: White Party, 8 p.m., The Big Apple, with Jeames Patrick and special guests Carlos Dwayne and Moca Mula
COMING UP
Main Street Latin Festival, Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25, 1300 block of Main Street, Columbia. Featuring live music, dancing, art and food in a family-friendly environment
Soda City Comic Con, Saturday & Sunday, August 24 & 25, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St. Come dressed to impress, meet the artists and featured guests.
FOOTBALL SEASON BEGINS
- South Carolina Gamecocks take on Old Dominion, August 31, 4:15 p.m., Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia
- Clemson Tigers play Georgia Bulldogs, August 31, noon, Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
- Allen University Yellowjackets vs Clark Atlanta University Panthers, September 7, 2 p.m., Panther Stadium, Atlanta
