Lucky you. You just found COLAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events taking place throughout Columbia each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into February. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Festivals
Mardi Gras Columbia Festival | Saturday, Feb. 14 | 12-7 p.m. | City Roots Farm | $10 | “Laissez les bons temps rouler” this Valentine’s Day and enjoy a free parade through Rosewood followed by the ticketed festival, featuring a record-setting 19 local bands across 3 stages.
Theater and Talks
A Conversation with Kamala Harris | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $54+ | Join former Vice President Kamala Harris for a night of insights that inspired her New York Times bestselling book.
Orpheus | Thursday, Feb. 12-Saturday, Feb. 14 | Times vary | Drayton Hall Theatre | $15+ | Directed and co-choreographed by USC Associate Professor of Dance André Megerdichian with text drawn from an adaptation of the original Latin by USC History Professor Andrew Berns.
The Crucible | Thursday, Feb. 26-Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Trustus Theatre | $32+ | Widely considered a masterpiece, this timeless classic challenges American ideas of power, intolerance, and justice.
Opera at USC presents “Les Mamelles de Tirésias"| Friday, Feb. 27-Saturday, Feb. 28 | 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. | Drayton Hall Theatre | $10+ | A surreal romp in an upside-down world.
SoulHAUS Sessions w/ Preach Jacobs feat. Cecil J. Williams | 5-8 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts |
Concerts and Comedy
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo | Tuesday, Feb. 3 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | 70+ | Classic rock energy, big hooks, and everyone singing along to “Love Is a Battlefield.”
Sam Barber - The American Route Tour | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 7 p.m. | Township Auditorium | $47+ | Modern Americana with several up-and-coming songwriters opening the show.
Musical Feast | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $75+ | Hear musical performances in six unique venues throughout the Koger Center, featuring Jazz, Opera, Musical Theatre, Percussion, Chamber Music, and Singer-Songwriters
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead | Friday, February 13 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $72+ | High-energy Grateful Dead interpretations with extended jams and improvisation front and center.
Blackberry Smoke | Friday, Feb. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Township Auditorium | $54+ | The Atlanta-based Southern rock band led by Charlie Starr returns.
Chamber Crawl: Craft & Draft | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 7 p.m. | Craft And Draft Irmo, Irmo | Free | Pop into Irmo’s one-stop shop for craft beers and pints as a chamber ensemble entertains you.
USC Symphony Orchestra: Tchaikovsky & Lutoslawski | Tuesday, Feb. 10 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $8+ | Conductor Scott Weiss will lead a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m., Koger Center for the Arts Grand Tier.
The Gamecocks baseball players warming up in Founders Park. | Photo via Gamecocks Online
Sports
Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. Mississippi State University Bulldogs | Thursday, Feb. 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $10+
Gamecock Invitational Day | Thursday, Feb. 5-Sunday, Feb. 8 | Times vary | Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field | $16
Gamecocks Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri Tigers | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 1 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $15+
Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. University of Tennessee | Sunday, Feb. 8 | 3 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $10+
Gamecocks Baseball vs. Northern Kentucky University Norse Baseball| Friday, Feb 13-Sunday, Feb. 15 | 4 p.m. | Founders Park | $11+
Gamecocks Baseball vs. Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 4 p.m. | Founders Park | $8+
Gamecocks Baseball vs. Navy Midshipmen Baseball | 1 p.m. | Founders Park | $11+
Gamecocks Men’s Basketball vs. Mississippi State University Bulldogs | 1 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $15+
Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. Ole Miss Rebels Womens Basketball | 12 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $10+
Gamecocks Baseball vs. Air Force Academy Falcons Baseball | 4 p.m. | Founders Park | $8+
Gamecocks Men’s Basketball vs. Kentucky Wildcats | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $15+
Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. Mizzou Tigers | 8 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $10+
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Clemson Tigers Baseball | Saturday, Feb. 28 | Segra Park | $42+
Seasonal
Valentine’s on Main at Prohibition | Monday, Feb. 2-Sunday, Feb. 15 | Times vary | Prohibition | Free | Celebrate Valentine’s with speakeasy vibes with themed décor, food and cocktail specials.
5th Annual Cola Rosé Shower | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 3-7 p.m. | Williams-Brice Stadium | $80+ | Rooted in celebrating women’s strength, sisterhood, and health, this annual pink-powered experience blends fun, fashion, and philanthropy in a way that shines a light on critical but often overlooked aspects of women’s health.
Vintage Market Days in Columbia Presents -"Good Vibes” | Friday, Feb. 6-Sunday, Feb. 8 | Times vary | South Carolina State Fairgrounds | $10+ | Shop for original art, antique, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, and home décor.
Savage Craft 5 Year Anniversary Party | Saturday, Feb. 7 | 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works, West Columbia | Free | Celebrate seven years of brews and concerts.
Birdwatching in the Gardens | Thursday, February 12 | 8-9 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | Free | With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year, participants will learn how to identify birds by sight, sound, and behavior.
2026 Solomon-Tenenbaum Lecture: Jonathan Israel | 6-7:30 p.m. | University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law; Karen J. Williams Courtroom | Free
Food
Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours | 3-5:30 p.m. | First Responders Memorial | $50+ | Try this fun and delicious walking historical food tour of the Vista.