Hello Columbia! Welcome to this week’s list of fun things to do in the Columbia metro area!
Oktoberfest is back at Incarnation Lutheran Church Friday, Oct. 20 – Sunday, Oct. 22. During the 11th annual celebration, enjoy bites from an authentic German menu, treats from Oma’s Bakery, German beer on tap, live music, and more. Psst… admission is free.
Boo at the Zoo | Friday, Oct. 20 – Monday, Oct. 30 | 6 – 9 pm | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia | $17 for members; $20 for general public | The annual family-friendly Halloween event is back with magic shows, haunted carousel rides, trick-or-treating, and more — Protip: Buy in advance + save up to $5 per ticket.
Picnics in the Park with Forest Acres | $5 | Be sure to join Town Theatre for its fourth concert series ~ Picnics in the Park ~ Fridays, October 27 and November 3 starting at 5:45 PM. Each concert, lasting roughly one hour and concluding before the setting sun, will feature different performers in an evening of song providing the perfect backdrop for a family picnic.
Halloween at the Park | Crooked Creek Park in Chapin | Bring your little ghosts and goblins trick-or-treating on the outdoor trick-or-treat trail through the park from 6:30 – 7:30 pm followed by an outdoor movie showing of Casper at 7:30 pm. All Ages | $5/person advance; $7/person day of $20/max per family | Bring a blanket or chair for movie | Food trucks will have food for purchase from 6 – 8 pm.
The Foodees Food and Culture Festival Spooktacular at Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert from October 20 thru 22, times very. Be ready for the first ever Halloween-themed food festival in South Carolina history.
Last weekend of the SC State Fair! October 20 – 22 | SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive in Columbia. Get Tickets.
Starting your search for a new home? Here are this weeks’ new listings in the Columbia SC Metro!
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**Click on each event for more information and pricing and check with venue for any changes or cancellations**
Friday, October 20th
- Oktoberfest on Devine Street at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Columbia
- The Foodees Food and Culture Festival Spooktacular at Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert
- City of Columbia Food Truck Fridays at Town Theatre in Columbia
- Oktoberfest 2023 at Pine Press Business Image Solutions in Lexington
- Halloween Costume Swap at NoMa Warehouse in Columbia
- South Carolina Pride Get Lit Night Parade at Main Street in Columbia
- The Art of Conversation at Capital City Club Columbia in Columbia
- Movies on the Mount at Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church in West Columbia on Fridays until Nov. 10th
- Resurrection at Icehouse Amphitheater in Lexington
- UNDISCUSSED Relationship Conference at Little Legacy Building in Columbia
Saturday, October 21st
- Oktoberfest on Devine Street at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Columbia
- The Foodees Food and Culture Festival Spooktacular at Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert
- Kershaw County Farmers Market at 906 Broad Street in Camden
- 2023 Pumpkin Run at Northwest Family YMCA in Irmo
- 6th Annual Holiday Market at Lexington United Methodist Church in Lexington
- Public Fall Book Sale at Richland Library Operations Center in Columbia
- Children’s Business Fair at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia
- 3rd Annual Mimosas & Mammograms at 3907 Ensor Avenue in Columbia
- Colonial Forts Tour at 12,000 Year History Park – Timmerman Trail in Cayce
- Halloween Cupcake Decorating Class at Sweet GG’s Bakery in Columbia
- Camden Charity Polo Match in Camden
- 2023 Witch Walk & Bar Creep at 514 Rutledge Street in Camden
- Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show! at Cambria Downtown the Vista in Columbia on Oct. 21 + additional dates
- Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Festival on Main St. in Columbia
- Australia and New Zealand Wine Tasting at Hampton Street Vineyard in Columbia
- Trap Bingo At The Dough, “Where The Money Never Sleeps at 8605 Two Notch Road in Columbia
- EVERCLEAR at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro
- Stoi’s Design Co presents: Nacht der Mode at femme x Columbia in Columbia
- Free Movie in the Park at Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood
- Fight Like Girl; Round 14 at Segra Park Lounge
- International Observe the Moon Night at Saluda Shoals Park East in Chapin
- FALL-O-WEEN at Horse Sense Tack & Feed in Lexington
- Boozy Bonsai Workshop at PlantHouse in Columbia
- DIY Terrarium Building Reservations at PlantHouse in Columbia
- Metro City Slingers Family Reunion at 190 Pontiac Business Center Dr in Elgin
Sunday, October 22nd
- Oktoberfest on Devine Street at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Columbia
- The Foodees Food and Culture Festival Spooktacular at Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert
- Camden Horse & Hound Expo at Dale Thiel Show Ring in Camden
- Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea Party at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia
- The Table – Featuring Chef James Scott Jr. at O’Hara’s Bakery Cafe in Lexington
- Cocktail Classroom at Smoked in Columbia
Monday, October 23rd
- Mommy and Me Dance Class for Ages 0 – 3 at Ann Brodies Center for Dance Education in Columbia on Mondays
- Stargazing at the Melton Observatory at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Mondays
Tuesday, October 24th
- Trick or Treat with the Greeks at Greek Village Lincoln St., in Columbia
- Lexington Police Department Fall Festival at Icehouse Amphitheater in Lexington
- $25 Wine Tasting (Get REDy for the holidays) at J’s Corner Restaurant & Bar in Columbia
Wednesday, October 25th
- Blythewood Farmers Market at Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood on Wednesdays
- Late Start Wednesday Breakfast at Bakon Southern Eatery in Chapin on Wednesdays
- “Greatest Show on Dirt” Blowfish Jersey Auction at Lexington County Baseball Stadium in Lexington
- Happy Hour with AMA Columbia at Market On Main in Columbia
- Trunk or Treat at Robert Mills House & Gardens in Columbia
- The Guignard Brickworks Dinner – Presented by Magnus Development at 100 Granby Crossing in Cayce
- USC Fall Literary Festival: Drew Lanham at USC Hollings Library in Columbia
Thursday, October 26th
- Main Street Haunted Hop at Main Street in Columbia
- Business Networking Happy Hour at Bierkeller in Columbia
- BIA’s Sales and Marketing Council Chili Cook-Off at Floor & Decor in Columbia
- The Unumb Center Social at The Boyd Foundation Horticultural Center 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
- Late Start Wednesday Breakfast at Bakon at Bakon Southern Eatery in Chapin on Wednesdays
- The Market at Richland Library in Columbia on Wednesdays
- 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!
- Blythewood Farmers Market at Doko Meadows Park in Blythewood on Wednesdays
- 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!
- The NoMa Flea at NoMa Warehouse in Columbia on Fridays
- Soda City Market at Main Street in Columbia on Saturdays
- Meeting Street Artisan Market at Interactive Art Park in Columbia on Saturdays
- The Market at Icehouse at Icehouse Amphitheater in Columbia on Saturdays
- All-Star Soda City Drag Brunch at The Venue |1626 on Main in Columbia on Saturdays
- Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show at Cambria Downtown the Vista in Columbia on Saturdays
Columbia Metro Arts | Crafts
- Hand Building Basics at Columbia Art Center on Tuesdays
- Beginning Wheel Throwing Tuesday at Columbia Art Center in Columbia on Tuesdays
- Creative Wheel Throwing at Columbia Art Center in Columbia on Tuesdays
- Advanced Slab Building at Columbia Art Center in Columbia on Wednesdays
- After School Art at the Columbia Art Center in Columbia for ages 5 – 11 on Thursdays
- After School Art at the Columbia Art Center in Columbia for ages 10 – 14 on Thursdays
- Stroller Tour: Rendez-Vous at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Oct. 21
- Focal Points Tour: The Queer Eight at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Oct. 21
- Drag Bingo at Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia on Oct. 26
- Koger Center Presents: American Patchwork Quartet at Darla Moore School of Business – Johnson Hall in Columbia on Oct. 26
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
Friday, October 20th
- 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.
- Live Music Saturdays at Mimsy’s Kitchen in Columbia on Saturdays | 7 – 10 pm
- aloft Columbia Harbison Karaoke NIGHT at 217 Lanneau Ct in Columbia on Saturdays | 8 pm – 12 am | Food, drinks, music and games
- Binge Karaoke Night at 1130 Kinley Rd in Irmo on Saturdays | 7 pm – 10 pm | Food, Drinks, Music and Games. | $5.00 entry includes unlimited song play.
- Natalac Players Ball at My House Restaurant and Bar in Columbia
- MSSV, Brandy & The Butcher, Thousand Dollar Movie at New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia
- Stilt Girl at Chapin Theatre in Chapin on Oct. 20 + additional dates
- COLORS Worldwide Presents: R&B ONLY LIVE at Tin Roof in Columbia
- BKFC 52 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
- Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Tone! Just Me and You Tour 2023 at The Township Auditorium in Columbia
- SWEENEY TODD at Trustus Theatre in Columbia on Oct. 20 + additional dates
- Live Music with Third Floor (solo) at Gardener’s Outpost in Columbia
- 4 Piece No Biscuit at The Comedy House in Columbia
Saturday, October 21st
- Spring Concert Series at Carolina Adventure World in Winnsboro on Saturdays
- aloft Columbia Harbison Karaoke NIGHT at 217 Lanneau Court in Columbia on Saturdays
- Live Music Saturdays at Mimsy’s Kitchen in Columbia on Saturdays
- Sax, Keys & Brunch – Corey Stone at Mimsy’s Kitchen in Columbia on Saturdays
- 3rd Saturdays at Mimsy’s Kitchen & Catering in Columbia
- The Capital City Blues Festival at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia
- BLUES HOMECOMING AFTERPARTY at The Comedy House in Columbia
- Letters Home: A Look Behind the Battle Line at Harbison Theatre in Columbia
- HA-HA Harvest Comedy Show at The Aristocrat in Columbia
- Stephen Marley – Old Soul Unplugged 2023 at The Senate in Columbia
- Heilung at The Township Auditorium in Columbia on
- Nacht der Mode “Night Of Fashion” Pt.3 at Femme X Columbia
Sunday, October 22nd
- Neo Soul Sundays at Lava Love Lounge In Columbia
- Sunset Sundayz at My House Restaurant and Bar in Columbia
- Promise Land Band at The Venue |1626 on Main in Columbia
- Discos and Fro’s at The Gwynn Event Center in Columbia
- The Thorn at Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia
Monday, October 23rd
- SIN Karaoke Night at Tin Roof in Columbia on Mondays
- Mommy and Me Dance Class for Ages 0 – 3 at Ann Brodies Center for Dance Education in Columbia
- Jokes at The Joint at 1710 Main St in Columbia on Mondays
- Stilt Girl at Chapin Theatre in Chapin on Oct. 23 + additional dates
Tuesday, October 24th
- TACOS, TEQUILA, & TUNES- MUSIC BINGO at Tin Roof in Columbia on Tuesdays
Wednesday, October 25th
- Comedy + Beer at Old Mill Brewpub at Old Mill Brewpub in Lexington
- Girls Night Out the Show at The Fishermen’s Wharf & Tavern in Leesville
- DAZR at Jake’s on Devine in Columbia
Thursday, October 26th
- Loading Dock Live – Terence Young at The Township Auditorium
- EMO NIGHT at New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia
- SWEENEY TODD at Trustus Theatre in Columbia on Oct. 26th + additional dates
- Nahi Grūv at The Venue |1626 on Main in Columbia
