Hello Columbia! Welcome to this week’s list of fun things to do in the Columbia metro area!
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden – Wild Lights | Friday, Jan. 5 – Sunday, Jan. 14 | 5 – 9 pm | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia | $19.99 | Catch the Wild Lights exhibition before it closes until the next holiday season.
Columbia Home Building & Remodeling Expo | Friday, Jan. 12 – Sunday, Jan. 14 | Columbia Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St., Columbia | $3 | Professionals will be on-hand to share their valuable knowledge to bring your ideas to life or inspire you with new ones.
Cor De Lux , Aaron J. Burke, Bones Hamilton | Friday, Jan. 12 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St., Columbia | $10 | Aaron J. Burke’s new album “Young Pier Jumpers” was named one of the best of 2023.
Beethoven & Blue Jeans | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Guest pianist Andrew Armstrong joins the SC Phil to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5.
Starting your search for a new home? Here are this weeks’ new listings in the Columbia SC Metro!
Never Miss a Thing in the Columbia SC Metro! Sign up to receive our events newsletter in your inbox weekly!
**Click on each event for more information and pricing and check with venue for any changes or cancellations**
Friday, January 12th
- House Music MLK Wknd! House Music Culture Day at Red Rooster Sports Bar & Grill in Columbia
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia
- ICRC Presents The Little Mermaid Jr. at Harbison Theatre in Columbia
- THE SOUTHERN SOUL RODEO! Free Mechanical Bull rides All Night at LEGACY Caribbean Bar & Grill in Columbia
Saturday, January 13th
- Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show! at Cambria Downtown the Vista in Columbia check dates!
- House Music MLK Wknd! House Music Culture Day at Red Rooster Sports Bar & Grill in Columbia
- ICRC Presents The Little Mermaid Jr. at Harbison Theatre in Columbia
- Cars and Coffee Columbia at AMC Harbison 14 in Columbia
- RED LIGHT BRUNCH at 8301 Wilson Boulevard in Columbia
- Big Tree Hike at Congaree National Park in Hopkins
- Country Bar Crawl at 828 Gervais St. in Columbia
- MLK 5K Run and Walk | 9 am | Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 2300 Greene St. | $40 | Registration is open for this 5K run and walk in celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Sunday, January 14th
- House Music MLK Wknd! House Music Culture Day at Red Rooster Sports Bar & Grill in Columbia
- ICRC Presents The Little Mermaid Jr. at Harbison Theatre in Columbia
- Lake Murray Bridal Show at Columbia Convention Center in Columbia
Monday, January 15th
- Mommy and Me Dance Class for Ages 0 – 3 at Ann Brodies Center for Dance Education in Columbia on Mondays
- Stargazing at Melton Observatory on Monday nights from 8 -10 pm, weather permitting.
- Smoked Oyster Series at Smoked in Columbia
- It’s a KINGS Day at Craft Axe Throwing in Columbia
- USC Gamecock Women’s Basketball vs. Kentucky Wildcats Women’s Basketball at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
- Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Columbia Museum of Art from 12 to 5 pm Enjoy free admission with special programming, including FAAAC’s “A Storytelling Celebration” and line dancing on Boyd Plaza hosted by Franklin Jones
Tuesday, January 16th
- USC Gamecock Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia Bulldogs Men’s Basketball at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
Wednesday, January 17th
- Sip and Plant Workshop: Blending Soil at Gardener’s Outpost in Columbia
Thursday, January 18th
- Ask the Gardener Happy Hour: Soil prep for spring at Gardener’s Outpost in Columbia
- Columbia Connectors Roast & Toast at City Roots in Columbia
Recurring Events
- Richland Library – Calendar of Events
- Boku Kitchen + Saloon is hosting Titos Tuesday 4-11 pm, every Tuesday. Boku will have $5 Tito’s cocktails open to close on top of their awesome happy hour which includes $4 Sake Bombs, $5 appetizers, $6 wine and $7 cocktails from 4-7 pm
- Nemo/Vino Tuesday Nights! at SakiTumi Grill & Sushi Bar in Columbia on Tuesdays
- Smoked Oyster Series at Smoked in Columbia every other Tuesdays
- SakiTumi Grill & Sushi Bar is hosting Half-Price Select Sushi & Martini Wednesdays 5-10 pm, The sushi rolls and drinks rotate each week so you never get bored with the same selections!
- Boku Kitchen + Saloon is also hosting Whiskey Wednesday 4-11 pm, every Wednesday. Boku offers their large selection of whiskey 1/2 off. Any and every whiskey in-house!
- City of Columbia Food Truck Fridays at Town Theatre in Columbia on Fridays
- Soda City Market at Main Street in Columbia on Saturdays
Columbia Metro Arts | Crafts
- Morey Weinstein “The Art of Realism” Gallery Opening at City Art in Columbia, Calendar
- Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, check event dates
- Public Tour: Rendez-Vous at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Jan. 14
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Jan. 15
- Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Mirror, Mirror at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Jan. 17
- The Art of Influence: The Shining at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Jan. 17
Columbia Metro Live Music / Performance
- Bill’s Music Shop in West Columbia – Calendar of Events
- Tin Roof in Columbia – Calendar of Events
- New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia – Calendar of Events
- Chayz Lounge in Columbia – Calendar of Events
- Pearlz Oyster and Raw Bar Upstairz Lounge in Columbia – Calendar of Events
- Art Bar in Columbia – Calendar of Events
- Steel Hands Brewing in Cayce – Calendar of Events
- Mimsy’s Kitchen & Jazz Lounge – Calendar of Events
Friday, January 12th
- Friday Night Jazz at The Aristocrat in Columbia on Fridays. Enjoy live jazz, great drinks and food every Friday night! Show starts at 8 | Happy hour 4 – 7 pm.
- aloft Columbia Harbison Karaoke NIGHT at 217 Lanneau Ct in Columbia on Saturdays | 8 pm – 12 am | Food, drinks, music and games
- Dueling Pianos at The Venue in Columbia on Friday’s
- Manhandled at The Attic Lounge in West Columbia
Saturday, January 13th
- aloft Columbia Harbison Karaoke NIGHT at 217 Lanneau Court in Columbia on Saturdays
- METSTAR FASHION FESTIVAL at The Gala Event Center in Columbia
- Swansgate featuring Ted’s Shed at The Venue |1626 on Main in Columbia
- MLK Freedom Fest II at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
Sunday, January 14th
- Billie Eilish Drag Brunch at The Hideout in WeCo in Columbia
Monday, January 15th
- Morey Weinstein “The Art of Realism” Gallery Opening at City Art in Columbia, calendar
- SC Philharmonic presents Music on Main at Smoked in Columbia
Tuesday, January 16th
- Shen Yun at Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia
Wednesday, January 17th
- Shen Yun at Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia
Thursday, January 18th
- Feel the Music at 554 Meeting Street in West Columbia
- Exit, Pursued by a Bear at Trustus Theatre in Columbia on Jan. 18 – 27