Forget graduation, save these dates 🗓

Happy May. So let’s just pretend that I’m not graduating in two weeks. 😅 May is “Sleep Better Month,” “National Revise Your Work Schedule Month” + “National Moving Month” (how fitting, because, you know… I have to go be an adult now). Since I’m in full denial of leaving the city of dreams for good, I’ll be taking advantage of some of Cola’s May festivals, benefits + games before I make my first move.

Get out your iPhone calendar + start bookmarking with me.

1️⃣ Midlands Gives | Tuesday, May 1 | 12 a.m.-11:59 p.m. | online with HQ at South Carolina State Museum | donate | The annual, 24-hour online giving event – which only requires a minimum donation of $20 – is supporting charitable giving to 372 charities across 11 counties this year. Since beginning in 2014, the event has raised $5.5+ million for nonprofits throughout the region. This is the best day of the year to get your philanthropy on.

2️⃣ 2018 Governor’s Cup Road Race | May 18-19 | Main St. | $25-80 | register | The annual Governor’s Cup Road Race, sponsored by Lexington Medical Center, is back for its 46th year. Regardless of your ability (or inability) to run a 5K, this race features a Main Street Mile, Kid’s Mile Fun Run, 5K Run/Walk + a Half Marathon. And to celebrate those gains, Tin Roof is hosting a party for all, with (1) free draft beer + discounted brunch. See the full schedule. 🏃

3️⃣Vista Queen Pageant | Friday, May 25 | 6 p.m. | Trustus Theatre | 520 Lady St. | $50-100 | A drag queen pageant for a good cause. The theme of this year’s annual Trustus fundraiser, All Hail The Queen, will feature five contestants (including Bone-In Barbeque’s Chef Scott Hall) looking to snag the grand prize of bragging rights + a tiara. Meet the contestants here + start voting ($1 = 1 vote).

4️⃣ Fireflies in Congaree National Park | rough date range: May 21-June 4 | 8-10 p.m. | Congaree National Park | free | This is a national phenomenon that only happens in a few places across the world – including Cola’s backyard. The fireflies’ blinking syncs up and it’s pretty incredible to see. Check out our guide on how to do your trip right.

5️⃣ Drink Pink Rose Festival | Sunday, May 20 | 12-3 p.m. | City Roots | 1005 Airport Blvd. | $55 | Summer is on the rise, and with it are glasses upon glasses of pink wine. An afternoon dedicated to the beautiful pink drink obviously calls for a festival – and that’s exactly what F2T Productions + City Roots are giving us. Featured in Southern Living’s list of how to Expand Your Palate in Cola this year, the festival will include 100+ rose wines to choose from, live jazz bands + food pairings. The whole team will be there, of course. 🥂

6️⃣Gamecocks Curing Kids Cancer Dinner | Thursday, May 3 | 6-9 p.m. | The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium | $100 | Experience what it’s like to be among some of UofSC’s best coaches, all while enjoying a cocktail hour, three-course meal, silent auction + more – all of which benefit kids with cancer. And did we mention that Marcus Lattimore + Dawn Staley will be there? (Side note: Abigail Pait, PR Manager at Curing Kids Cancer, is a former teammate of mine, so I’ll definitely plan on making an appearance.)

7️⃣ Rosewood Crawfish Festival | Saturday, May 12 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | Rosewood Dr. | $10 | Crawfish are food, not friends. This year’s Crawfish Festival is back, and with it comes 15+ live music performances (Hello, SUSTO. But, if anyone else matters, see the full lineup), plus the Crawdaddy Dash 5K + enough crawfish to feed your entire family (10,000 lbs to be exact). If crawfish isn’t enough, 20+ food vendors will also be there to feed your hangry stomachs. 🦐

8️⃣Columbia Fireflies: Star Wars night | Friday, May 4 | 7:05 p.m. | Spirit Communications Park | $5-10 | Besides cheering on your Cola Fireflies in their game against the Lakewood BlueClaws, the rest of the night will be dedicated to a crowd favorite: Star Wars. A.k.a. wear your best Luke or Leia outfit. In honor of “May the 4th be with you,” fireworks will be launched after the game + ticket sales will benefit Raise Funds and Awareness for Hydrocephalus. 🖖🎇

9️⃣Evening for Educators | Wednesday, May 9 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | free to register | A night set to honor S.C.’s educators with art, wine + snacks. Attendees will get a sneak peek at the museum’s plans to reinstall the permanent collection, plus info on new tour scripts + lesson plan materials that focus on the arts. 🍎

🔟 The Book of Mormon | May 15-20 | Koger Center for the Arts | $40-65 | “The Best Musical of This Century,” with a Tony Award winning cast will be in Cola for five nights. (This will definitely be on my list of graduation gifts… hint, hint, Mom + Dad.)

11 Hop to Trot Festival | Saturday, May 19 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Columbia Craft Brewing Company | 520 Greene St. | free admission | Grab your fanciest floppy hat, because it’s Kentucky Derby time. Enjoy live music, food trucks + beer at Columbia Craft for a festival that might be as fun as actually going to the derby. 🏇👒

12 INFERNO Music Festival & Conference | Saturday, May 26 | 12-8 p.m. | 918 Gervais St. | $5-2,500 | The Inferno Music Festival and Conference says it will be the newest cultural music fest to come to Cola – and will ft. music from new indie artists, food, VIP bottle service, vendors + a panel discussion. We’re intrigued. 🎶

These May must-do’s are giving me a few excuses to stay in town a few weeks longer (🙌). And that’s not even all of it: A few more events we have our eye on include Bowl the Brewer: River Rat Tap Takeover, Bierkeller at the Riverfront + Vintage Market Days Columbia Metro.

Switch it up + make time to try something new this month – you’ll never know what will end up becoming a new tradition.

–Lauren

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