Kilts not required, but strongly suggested

15 must-do events in March 🗓

March is here – and per usual in Columbia, warmer weather = all of the events. We didn’t want you to have to base your social calendar on your coworker’s “interested” replies to Facebook events, so we’ve put together a list of 15 must-do events this month (and some honorable mentions – because yeah, there’s that much going on in March).

1. 36th Annual St. Pat’s in Five Points + Get to the Green Race | Saturday, March 17 | Five Points |$17 in pre-sale outlets; $20 advance online + $25 day of; $95 for Saluda’s VIP Experience | One of the largest green + Gaelic celebrations in the Southeast, St. Pat’s is a local + student favorite with 20+ bands, a huge parade, a silent disco + a foot race. We’re extra pumped about the lineup this year (ft. Judah and the Lion and SUSTO). Kick-off the day with the Get to the Green Race, 7:30-9:30 a.m – featuring a 15K, 10K, 5K, + a 1-Mile Family Fun Run. It will make you feel better about all the green beer you consume afterward. 🍀

2. Deckle Edge Literary Festival | Saturday, March 3 | 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Richland Library Main | Calling all Cola #BookWorms. Now in its third year, Deckle Edge celebrates literary S.C. with 25+ events like with author readings, book signings, writers’ workshops, panel presentations + more, with 70+ local authors + editors. Multi-award-winning author Terrance Hayes is the keynote speaker (7 p.m.). It’s basically paradise for lovers of words and Southern stories. See the full schedule. 📚

3. Soda City Suds Week | March 17-24 | A week dedicated entirely to Columbia’s local breweries and beer-focused businesses = an event we can get down with. The week-long event is in its fourth year + founded by local nonprofit Midlands Craft Beer Supporters. Each day of the week features different events, like Beer Education hosted by Lowes Foods’ Beer Den and a Food + Beer pairing hosted by Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Ale House. Check out the full schedule here. Maybe you’ll meet your new best happy hour friend. 🍻

4. Tartan Day South Highland Games + Celtic Festival “Main Event” | Saturday, March 24 | Historic Columbia Speedway | 2001 Charleston Hwy., Cayce | $15-20 | Sheep herding, pipe bands, swordplay, Scottish + Irish-American foods… Irish this festival happened more than once a year. There are several events leading up to Saturday, but the “Main Event” is key. Attire? Kilt not required, but highly recommended. 🇨🇮

5. 4th Annual Cream of the Crop Beer Festival | Saturday, March 24 | 12-5 p.m. | City Roots | $50 per person | We know, lots of beer events here – but it is beer season, after all. With a selection of 100 beers from the Carolinas, Georgia + Tennessee, this festival will cap Soda City Suds Week in the best way. The $50 admission fee includes a tasting glass, beer guide, all beer tastings + bites from food vendors. Meet you at the afterparty at Craft and Draft. 🍻

6. Run Hard Columbia Marathon | Saturday, March 3 | 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | S.C. State House | $80 to pre-register; $90 day of | This is Columbia’s longest-running race at 26.2 miles – starting + ending at the State House. All runners are automatically entered to win cash prizes up $250. Now I’m listening. 👟

7. Brunch So Hard | Sunday, March 11 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Stone River | 121 Alexander Rd., West Columbia | $40 or $25 for dry ticket | Thanks to Free Times, you can now spend an entire afternoon enjoying the best of Columbia’s brunch spots. Your ticket buys you all-you-can-eat small plates of dishes from 10+ local brunch restaurants, plus bottomless refills from the Bloody Mary + Mimosa bars. Do both. Who cares. It’s Sunday. There’s also live music, and Stone River has a nice patio overlooking the Congaree. 🥓 🥂

8. Red Carpet Awards Party | Saturday, March 4 | doors open 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m. | The Nickelodeon | 1607 Main St. | $40 for members; $50 general admission | Watch the Academy Awards in your fanciest get-up, with drinks + local food from spots like Tallulah, plus commentary (IRL instead of on Twitter) on the show by Larry Hembree + Patti O’Furniture (one of Cola’s most legit drag #kweens). 👗🎥 We love any good excuse to go to The Nick, and this is a special one.

9. Lake Carolina Oyster Roast 2018 | Sunday, March 11 | 4-7 p.m. | The Lake House at Lake Carolina | 1090 Ballard Dr. | $42.63 | Lake Carolina’s 14th annual Oyster Roast is a family-friendly classic of Spring events. You can buy an “All You Can Eat Pass” for $40. This year’s roast will benefit Children’s Charities of the Midlands, a local nonprofit benefitting S.C. youth. 🍴

10. Arts & Draughts March 2018 | Friday, March 23 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | 1515 Main St. | $9 for members; $5 for members | Everyone’s favorite post-work-Friday-night-quarterly-event is back. 👏 There’ll be beer from The Whig, Cottontown Brew Lab, Bierkeller + Conquest Brewing; food from Curiosity Coffee Bar, Realmexico, The Wurst Wagen + The Belgian Waffle Truck; live music by Dear Blanca, Pony League + others; plus interactive art + scavenger hunts. Volunteers get in free. Hint hint. 🎨🍺

11. 5th Annual Midlands Kids Fest & Summer Camp Fair hosted by Sunshine Family Expos | Saturday, March 3 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Jamil Temple | 206 Jamil Rd. | free | Here’s your chance to get a head start on planning summer trips + camps for your kids this summer. There are also kids activity zones, photo booths + face painting, so you can wear them out and have a relaxing evening. Oh, and there will be massages for the parents… need we say more? Register here. ☀

12. 7th Annual Columbia South Carolina Blues Fest | Friday, March 2 | doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. | Township Auditorium | $43+ | This year’s Blues Festival – some say more like a Southern soul festival – will feature Sir Charles Jones, Lebrado, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Pokey Bear + Calvin Richardson. 🎷

13. River Rat Brewery 4 Year Anniversary Party | Saturday, March 10 | 12-6 p.m. | River Rat Brewery | 1231 Shop Rd. | River Rat is bringing back several limited-release beers + cool collabs (like with GVL’s Birds Fly South) on its list of 35+ beers available for its 4th anniversary party. Plus, the new rooftop should be open by then. Enough said. 🍺

14. Story Slam: #WhatSheSaid Project | Thursday, March 1 | 7-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | doors 6 p.m.; story slam 7 p.m. | free with admission ($2.50+) | As part of the First Thursday on Main at CMA + the #WhatSheSaid Project, Story Slam – a forum for sharing and discovery with a format based on The Moth – returns to Cola for its third season. Recommended for mature audiences, members of Story Slam will act out conversations regarding women’s access to public health, barriers to accessing care + reproductive health – and even encourage you to join in. Know what to expect ahead of time by learning what a Story Slam is.

15. Praise Dog! Training “Paint Your Pet” Party! | Sunday, March 25 | 3-6 p.m. | Studio Cellar Columbia | 912 Lady St. | Calling all dog lovers: Studio Cellar is home to wine + painting every night of the week – but this time, it’s a dog party. Because who doesn’t want a self-painted picture of their dog on their wall? Spend the afternoon painting your pup with help from the experts. (No artistic abilities required – yeah, I’m talkin’ about me.) They’ll also provide free snacks + water bowl for humans (i.e. cash bar). To reserve your spot, email phyllis@praiseyourdogtraining.com. 🎨 🐶

I wasn’t joking about those two honorable mentions:

🤖 iMAGINE STEM Festival Midlands | Saturday, March 3 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Spirit Communications Park (home of the Columbia Fireflies) | free | Looking to get your kid away from the screen this weekend? Introduce them to robot building + coding (for fun) at iMAGINE STEM. One of the STEM subjects could become their new favorite – thumbs up for good grades. 💯

🎤 Charlie Wilson | Friday, March 9 | 8 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $52+ | R&B icon Charlie Wilson is bringing his In It To Win It tour to Cola. (His In It To Win It album hit #1 on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart + Host Gospel Songs chart.) Keith Sweat will join him.

As my senior year continues to fly by, I’m excited to continue my yearly tradition of attending the Five Points St. Pat’s Festival with friends. I’m also looking forward to the endless food-related events that Cola never seems to lack. And living on Main St. for the last three years has truly made my love for Cola + its arts/music scene to grow even more.

Also at the top of my list? Soda City Suds Week + Columbia Museum of Art’s Arts & Draughts. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Remember to keep us in the loop of what you’re up to this month by using the #COLAtoday hashtag, and stay safe + have fun this St. Patty’s Day. 🍀
–Lauren

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