Happy Halloween, Cola. We’re just creeping it real with you – the 31st is less than a week away – and that means Columbia’s ready to celebrate. The parties start tonight, and look un-boo-lievably fun. We’re talking trick or treating, costume contests for your pets + even some haunting virtual reality.
Whether you are here for the boos or the kid-friendly activities, here’s your guide to Halloween in Soda City:
🍬 For Kids
○ Trunk or Treat | Friday, Oct. 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Providence Presbyterian Church, 1112 Hummingbird Dr.
○ Kids Halloween Party | Friday, Oct. 25 | 6-9 p.m. | My House Restaurant, 7205 Two Notch Rd. | Games, music, food + fun.
○ Midlands Madness Fall Festival | Friday, Oct. 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 900 Pine Ridge Dr. | Trick or treating, bounce houses, a hay ride + face painting. Kids in costume get one free hot dog.
○ Godwin Motors Trunk or Treat | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Godwin Motors, 4032 W Beltline Blvd. | Crafts, food, treats + more.
○ Historic Columbia Trunk or Treat | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding St. | Prizes for best costumes and best decorated trunk.
○ Fun for Kids Halloween | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 5-8 p.m. | Skyline Club, 100 Lee St. | Face painting, bounce house, free candy + more.
○ Trick or Treat in Five Points | Thursday, Oct. 31 | Five Points neighborhood | 5-7:30 p.m. | Along with neighborhood-wide trick or treating, retailers/restaurants will offer sales, specials, and promotions all day.
○ Halloween Hoopla | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 4-8 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum | $5 ; free for children
○ Not-so-Spooky Halloween Stroll | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 3-5 p.m. | Richland Library + Main Street | Dress your family in their costumes + head downtown to celebrate Halloween with a trick-or-treat stroll through the library and to participating organizations in the Main Street District.
○ Trunk or Treat With The Beat | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 6-8 p.m. | Sheriff’s Department, 2500 Decker Blvd. | Free | Free kid print IDs, prizes, food + trick-or-treating from trunks of decorated police officers trunks.
🎃 For Families
○ Spooktacular Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Treasure Island Marketplace, 2702 Emmanuel Church Rd. | Trick or treating, pumpkin painting, food + a Halloween costume contest for all ages.
○ Hocus Pocus | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 5:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 1300 College St. | $10+ | Trick-or-treating starts at 5:30 p.m., and the movie will begin at 6:30 p.m.
○ Halloween Run | Saturday, Oct. 26 | 7:30 a.m. | Strictly Running, 2515 Devine St. | $10+ | 5K, adult mile + kids fun run. Best dressed and pumpkin pie eating contest.
○ Howl-O-Ween At Sesqui | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 2-4p.m. | Sesquicentennial State Park, 9564 Two Notch Rd. | $5 to enter the park | Photo booth and more fun opportunities for your pup. Registration takes place between 2-2:45 p.m. Costume contest begins at 3 p.m. with a parade of dogs.
○ Howler-ween Party | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 6-8 p.m. | PETSinc, 300 Orchard Dr. | Free | Pumpkin painting, trick or treating + a costume contest for pets, kids + adults.
👻 For Adults
○ Bluetile’s 18th Anniversary Halloween Party | Friday, Oct. 25 | 7-11 p.m. | Bluetile Skateshop, 621 Harden St. | $5 | Costumes are not required, but there will be prizes for best costumes. Open bar.
○ Villa*Nova Halloween Bash | Friday, Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. | The Senate | $12 | No masks or face coverings that can’t be easily removed.
○ Growl at the Moon | Friday, Oct. 25 | 7-10 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | $35 or $28 for members | Haunted virtual reality experiences, a laser show + more.
○ Scream Queens! A Halloween Drag Brunch | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Bone-In Barbeque | $5
○ Yappy Hour Howl-O-Ween | Tuesday, Oct. 29 | 4-6 p.m. | Jake’s on Devine | $5 for contest entry | Costume Categories include: best overall, best legs, best dog/human combo + more.
○ Bash at the Boneyard | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | Bone-In Barbeque | Free | Soda City Cirque fire dancers, trapeze artists, bobbing for apple whiskey + more, along with a costume contest.
○ Spooky, Scary! Storytelling & Costume Party | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 8-11:30 p.m. | The War Mouth | Free | Two prizes at this event: Best Story and Best Costume.
○ Rocky Horror on the Big Screen | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 9 p.m.-12 a.m. | Flying Saucer | Free | Sip on themed cocktails in your best Rocky Horror costumes. Rocky Horror Picture Show begins on the big Screen at 9 p.m.
○ Halloween Party! | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 7-11 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing | Free | Dogs and humans are welcome to enter the costume contest.
○ 5th Annual Yappy Hour Pet Costume Contest | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 4 p.m. | $5 to enter contest | Costume categories include best overall, best Legs, best dog/human combo + more.
