COLUMBIA, S.C. — Need something to do this weekend? While the Columbia Food and Wine Festival has sold-out events on Saturday and Sunday, there are still plenty of activities -- food-related and otherwise -- to keep you busy this weekend and next.
Here's a sampling of events in the area through Sunday, May 6.
Saturday and Sunday, April 27 & 28
South Carolina Orchid Show & Sale, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, 1605 Park Circle. Free admission and free parking. The event features plants from Marble Branch Farms, Seagrove Orchids and Carter & Holmes Orchids.
Columbia Green's Festival of Gardens, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, features a tour of 8 to 10 private gardens in the Hampton Ridge neighborhood, off Garners Ferry and Old Woodlands roads. Registration is at Woodlands Park, 6500 Olde Knight Parkway. Tickets are available online for $30 for Columbia Green members, $40 for non-members or at the event for an additional $10.
Leanne Morgan: Just Getting Started tour, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday, Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. This adult comedy show features all new material.
Saturday, April 27
Hollow Creek Distillery tour and tasting, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 112 Rocky Ridge Rd., Leesville. Sample award-winning High Cotton and William Alan bourbons, Low Water vodka and White Hot Cinnamon whiskey. No reservations needed
Richland Library Friends and Foundation Spring Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Richland Library Operations Center, 130 Lancewood Rd., Columbia. With more than 30,000 gently used items, paperback books start at $1 and hardbacks at $2.
Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 6940 Lower Richland Blvd., Hopkins. The parade starts at 11 a.m., and then enjoy live music, arts & crafts, games, carnival rides, sweet potato dishes, and more.
Columbia Taco & Tequila Crawl, noon to 6 p.m., at various locations in Columbia's Vista District. Buy a ticket and then eat free signature tacos and enjoy discounted prices on drinks as you make your way through the following participating locations: Vista Union, Crafty Crab, Grill Marks, Liberty Taproom, Pearlz, Boku, Republic, and Tin Roof -- bars subject to change, check opening times online.
Contra Dance at Bill's Music Shop & Pickin' Parlor, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., 710 Meeting St., West Columbia. No experience or partner is necessary to learn how to dance or enjoy live music. Beginners can learn how starting at 6:30 p.m.; the first dance is at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, and kids 12 and under dance for free with a supervising parent. Dress comfortably and wear clean, soft-soled, non-marking shoes.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Augusta GreenJackets, 6:05 p.m. at Segra Park, 1640 Freed St. Game Two of a three-game series features post-game fireworks by Adluh Flour
Sunday, April 28
Irmo International Festival, noon to 5 p.m., Irmo Community Park, 7507 Eastview Dr. Enjoy the parade, car show, national presentations, live music, crafts and food.
Hops & Shops: Spring Market, noon to 4 p.m., New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St. There is something wild for everyone: crystals, oddities, jewelry, vintage, taxidermy, cottage core decor, and more.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Augusta GreenJackets, 5:05 p.m. at Segra Park, 1640 Freed St. Game Three of a three-game series features pre-game autographs and a concert by Jeremy Rosado and post-game Kids Run the Bases. Gates open at 3 p.m. for the pre-game fun.
Tuesday, April 30
Unforgettable: Celebrating Legendary Photographer Cecil Williams, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. Orangeburg-based Cecil Williams photographed many of the important events in the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina. Williams will be on hand along with Claudia Smith Brinson, author of Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams, for a reception, conversation and book signing. Excerpts from SCETV's documentary The World of Cecil will be shown. The event is free, but registration is required due to limited space.
Thursday, May 2
First Thursday on Main, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Businesses from the 1200 to 1700 blocks of Main Street Columbia stay open later, and there's usually live music and food vendors at Boyd Plaza in front of Columbia Museum of Art
Pete Davidson: Prehab Tour at The Senate, 7 p.m., The Senate, 1022 Senate St. Comedian, creator, producer, writer and actor recently released Pete Davidson: Turbo Fonzarelli special on Netflix. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Senate has a clear bag policy and is a cashless venue.
Saturday, May 4
Rosewood Crawfish Festival, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., State Fairgrounds in Columbia. Celebrate the mudbug with Columbia's largest crawfish boil, live music and fun for the entire family. Remember to wear not-your-best attire because crawfish seasoning can stain! Tickets are available online, $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, and kids 12 and under enter free. You can also pre-order two-and-a-half pounds of prepared crawfish for $25, grab a group of friends and reserve a table for 8 (three sittings: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., or 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.) for an extra $295 (includes enough crawfish for eight and a bucket of beer, paper towels, hot sauce and hand washing station).
Sunday, May 5
VegFest 2024 will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd., Columbia. Attendees will learn about the vegan lifestyle and enjoy live music, food trucks, and a family fun zone. Tickets are $10 per person, or you can select other levels: $15 includes a swag bag of coupons and samples, $25 VIP gets you in 30 minutes early plus an upgraded goody bag, or $35 VIP PLUS gets an early entry, reusable bag, and Unapologetically Vegan t-shirt.
Big Nosh, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tree of Life Synagogue, 6719 N Trenholm Rd. Free to get in, then buy your favorite kosher foods -- brisket, latkes, stuffed cabbage, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, kugel and more.
Melrose Heights Art in the Yard, a 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. self-guided tour at 1601 Richland St. in Columbia, showcases local artists and artisans in yards throughout the Melrose Heights neighborhood. Food trucks and live music.
