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.
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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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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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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Applications for the South Carolina State Fair’s Ride of Your Life Scholarship open Wednesday, which is awarded each year to 50 high school seniors in the state. According to the SC State Fair, the $6,000 scholarships are awarded at an annual rate of $1,500. Recipients are chosen based on academic and extracurricular achievement, communication skills, […]
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is set to open the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center on March 2. The multi-million dollar renovations were supported by The Boyd Foundation, to transform the heart of the zoo into a state-of-the-art animal care facility to provide guests with an engaging experience that places Riverbanks’ critical role in wildlife […]