Events & Festivals

Celebrate the Town

Going to an event or festival is the best way to get to know Central SC in an exciting and immersive way. From music, food, and beer festivals to galas, horse races, tournaments, concerts, and cultural and holiday celebrations, our year-round events appeal to all walks of life.

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Festivals in Central SC

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holiday-themed festivals

St. Pat’s in Five Points is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day festivals in the Southeast

St. Pat’s in Five Points
chef creates a meal outdoors

Festivals for Foodies

Make sure to come hungry to our various food festivals, featuring cuisine from the best dining in Central SC, as well as exciting themes that get the community involved. Love to share a cold one with friends? Check out the World Beer Festival with more than 100 craft breweries showcasing their signature beers. For a more competition-based festival, enter or visit the Healthy Chili Cook off where amateur cooks faceoff for healthy chili recipes. Central SC is also dedicated to showcasing different cultures, like at the Columbia Food and Wine Festival, where you can enjoy live entertainment, food, wine, beer, and interactive demonstrations hosted in Five Points to celebrate Columbia’s signature flavors.

 

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A group of musicians perform at the West Columbia and Cayce Art Festival in the Central SC Region

Dance the Night Away

Central SC has year-round music festivals offering all different types of genres. The Carolina Downhome Blues Festival is a week-long celebration of blues with performances by US and international legendary blues artists. With perfect weather comes opportunities for outdoor events. The Summer Concert Series is a free outdoor concert that begins in June and runs through August on Saturdays at Finlay Park. Looking for events the whole family can enjoy? Enjoy paddling and live music with fun activities for the whole family at the River Rocks Music Festival in Richland County.

 

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Art on State 2023, photo courtesy City of West Columbia

Art Festivals for Everyone

Our communities have a dedication to the arts, with beautiful festivals that showcase local talent for you to discover. The Ag + Art Tour is a self-guided tour of farms in participating counties, which also includes local artisans and farmer’s markets. Artista Vista is the Midlands’ most celebrated gallery crawl. The three-day event features local galleries with exhibitions, cocktails and appetizers, and entertainment. Arts & Draughts is the Columbia Museum of Art’s quarterly block party. Enjoy beer tastings from The Whig, live musical performances, D.I.Y. art projects, a variety of food vendors, and more. Can’t get enough? For a weekly experience, enjoy First Thursdays on Main to discover new artists and grab a bite to eat.

 

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Featured News & Stories

June 4, 2023

Downtown Columbia’s Main Street experiences revival with business expansions, new ventures

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Main Street in downtown Columbia is undergoing a significant transformation as several businesses expand and establish themselves, bringing renewed energy to the area. Close to a dozen businesses in the Columbia area are expanding, and setting up shop on Main Street downtown. Columbia resident Ted Strother said he spent his Sunday out walking through […]

May 19, 2023

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ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Two engineers for the price of one. That’s the benefit of a new academic major at South Carolina State University. The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Transportation (STEM-T) has launched a degree program in mechatronics engineering, a discipline that merges mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. “Now industries are looking for engineering […]

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