events

Local Events

COLUMBIA FIREFLIES GAMES UNTIL AUGUST 29 | SEGRA PARK Let’s Glow! Head out to the ballpark this summer with your friends for an evening of Fireflies baseball, delicious new menu items, and a pint of River Rat Brewery’s Luminescent Lager. milb.com/columbia

DINOSAURS AROUND THE WORLD NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 31 RIVERBANKS ZOO & GARDEN Discover dinosaurs like never before as you travel back in time to the supercontinent of Pangea this summer. riverbanks.org/dinosaurs/

FIRST THURSDAY ON MAIN JUNE 6, JULY 4, AUGUST 1 MAIN STREET Enjoy extended shop hours, food & drink specials, live music, and more on the First Thursday of each month this summer. firstthursdayonmain.com

TWILIGHT IN THE GARDEN JUNE 14, JULY 19, & AUGUST 16 RIVERBANKS ZOO & GARDEN Spend an evening in the Botanical Gardens as you cool off at Waterfall Junction and, once sun sets, enjoy a movie in the garden. Featured movies this summer include Mary Poppins Returns, The Little Mermaid, and The Good Dinosaur. riverbanks.org/events

WEEKEND WITH THE PROS JUNE 14-15 | CAPTAIN’S CHOICE MARINE ON LAKE MURRAY Hit the water for the largest annual gathering of spectators and wakeboarders in SC this summer at Weekend With The Pros. The weekend includes lessons & riding exhibitions from pro-wakeboarders and a huge boat raft up. scroughriders.com

DADDY & ME 5K JUNE 15 | SPRINGDALE, SC Midlands Fatherhood Coalition is partnering with Serve & Connect and the Town of Springdale Police Department for this annual 5K that celebrates the important role of fathers in families. serveandconnect.net/daddy-me-5k/

SOUTHEASTERN PIANO FESTIVAL JUNE 16-23 UOFSC SCHOOL OF MUSIC Budding pianists, educators, and music aficionados from across the nation will come together this summer at the UofSC School of music for a festival featuring rigorous training, nightly concerts, and musical inspiration. sepf.music.sc.edu

ART & DRAUGHTS JUNE 21 COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART Art, drink & be happy after hours inside the newly renovated Columbia Museum of Art and outside on Boyd Plaza. columbiamuseum.org/events/artsdraughts- june

HEATHERS, THE MUSICAL JUNE 28 - JULY 27 TRUSTUS THEATRE Take a trip back to the 80s this summer with Trustus Theatre as they present Heather, The Musical on their Main Stage. Are you in, or are you out? trustus.org

FRIDAY NIGHT LASER LIGHTS JUNE 28, JULY 26 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM Sit back and enjoy unique musical and visual experiences in the State Museum’s 55 foot digital dome planetarium. The shows will be set to music from Dave Matthews, Led Zeppelin, Phish, and Pink Floyd. scmuseum.org/events

ANNUAL LAKE MURRAY 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION JUNE 29 | LAKE MURRAY By boat or by land, you won’t want to miss Lake Murray’s annual Independence Day Celebration! lakemurraycountry.com

PEACH FESTIVAL JULY 4 | GILBERT Celebrate the 4 th of July in style at this family-friendly festival that features live entertainment, fresh peach treats, the Peach Parade, and fireworks. lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com

SCIENCE ON TAP JULY 6 | HUNTER-GATHERER BREWERY AND ALE HOUSE Join the South Carolina State Museum and the Midlands Astronomy Club for an evening out at the brewery that includes an informal talk with museum astronomers and local experts as well as a telescope viewing of the moon. scmuseum.org/calendar

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: CORTEO JULY 10 - 14 COLONIAL LIFE ARENA Get carried away with life with Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo, a festive parade that entertains and the perfect accolade for an artist whose life was dedicated to revelry and making merry. cirquedusoleil.com/corteo

TASTY TOMATO FESTIVAL JULY 13 | CITY ROOTS If you love a fresh, vine-ripened tomato, you won’t want to miss this afternoon festival dedicated to all things tomato and featuring live music, local food and drink, and plenty of family fun. tastytomatofestival.com

SOUTHEAST CRAB FEST JULY 27 | SALUDA SHOALS PARK This festival brings the low country coastal heritage of cooking fresh seafood outdoors to Columbia with all you can eat fresh blue crabs, music, and a family friendly environment that everyone can enjoy. eventbrite.com/e/southeast-crab-feastcolumbia-sc-tickets-58529987769/amp

MIDLANDS WOMEN’S FAIR JULY 27 | COLA METROPOLITAN CONVENTION CENTER Featuring over 80 vendors that are focused on empowering, educating, and nurturing women, this free event includes a variety of activities that women of all ages can enjoy. eventbrite.com/e/midlands-womensfair-tickets-51538191117

BREW AT THE ZOO AUGUST 2 RIVERBANKS ZOO & GARDEN Stroll through the zoo, sample brews, and enjoy one-of-a-kind animal encounters at the coolest suds sippin’ safari in town. riverbanks.org/events/brew-at-the-zoo

DEVINE STREET SIDEWALK SALE AUGUST 2 - 4 | DEVINE STREET Your favorite local stores and boutiques will have great clothing, home decor, beauty products, and more on sale. devinestreetcolumbiasc.com

YOUNG ARTISTS FESTIVAL AUGUST 10 | 701 CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART Celebrating young artists ages 6 to 17, this festival is a gathering of summer art camps in Columbia that features performances from local arts organizations and craft stations where children can create new works of art. 701cca.org

MAIN STREET LATIN FESTIVAL AUGUST 14 | MAIN STREET Be immersed in the culture of Columbia’s Latin Community when this festival comes to Main Street. Experience Latin culture through food, art, dance, and music. mainstreetlatinfestivalsc.com

LABOR DAY 5 MILER SEPTEMBER 2 | DEVINE STREET Before heading out to the lake for a day on the water or your family cookout, kick off your Labor Day right with a 5 mile run through the heart of Shandon. strictlyrunning.com

LABOR DAY FESTIVAL & PARADE AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 2 Spend the long weekend celebrating Labor Day in Chapin with live music, a Classic Car Show, a Labor Day Parade, and a festival featuring over 100 vendors and a children’s play area. chapinsc.com