Crowd photo from St. Pat’s Festival in 2019 | Photo provided by Five Points Association

Alright, Soda Citizens — the 41st St. Pat’s in Five Points is this weekend and is considered Columbia’s biggest event of the year with ~45,000 people participating.

We’re here to give you a full rundown of what to expect, when to expect it, pro tips, and why you should be leaping for leprechauns when the festival gates open at 10 a.m.

Green fountain St. Pat's Festival — The Five Points fountain is dyed green every year in celebration of the festival. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Festival highlights

Here’s the full schedule of events, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
See the lineup of musicians, including performance times + locations. Bonus: if you want to sing along with a few, or scout ‘em out beforehand, listen to this teaser playlist.
Don’t miss out on this pot of gold. Snag your $25 tickets here or purchase them for $30 at the gate.

What’s new?

Purchase Lucky Leprechaun VIP tickets. Located near the Postcard Mural in Five Points, it will include:

three drinks
climate-controlled restrooms
yard games
pub tables
light hors d’oeuvres
VIP stage viewing

VIP tickets start at $100.

St. Pat's Festival kid friendly — grab a Pot O’Gold Pass to receive a one-time re-entry pass into the festival. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Is this a kid-friendly event?

St. Pat’s is a family-friendly event with all children 12 and under attending for free. Families can enjoy the must-see St. Pat’s Parade (aka “The Musical Mile”) starting at 10 a.m. across the street from Dreher High School on Devine Street + finishing on Pendleton Street.

After the parade, take your littles to the Pot O’Gold Playland open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on the 800 block of Harden Street, which is included with your ticket. Your kiddos can enjoy carnival rides, magicians, inflatables + more.

Pro tip for parents or guardians — grab a Pot O’Gold Pass to receive a one-time re-entry pass into the festival.

Where can I park?

You will need to download the St. Pat’s Festival in Five Points app for all the parking and shuttle information, but the gist is that you can park for free at the SC State Fairgrounds’ RV lot (1200 Rosewood Dr.) and The Comet will run free shuttles every thirty minutes between 6 a.m.-8 p.m.

Click the link below for pro tips and more information on the annual festival.

MORE FESTIVAL TIPS HERE

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Wednesday, March 15

Ask the Gardener Happy Hour! | Wednesday, Mar. 15 | 4-6 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | Free | Join Randall, our resident gardener, for drink specials and free gardening discussion.

Thursday, March 16

DesignHER Women’s Panel | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 4-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | $10-$20 | Enjoy this Women’s History Month event spotlighting several female designers within the Midlands community.*
Yappy Hour Anniversary Celebration | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 5-8 p.m. | Modern Companion, 508B Lexington Ave., Chapin | Free | Celebrate Modern Companion’s second anniversary with photo ops, Polaroids, drinks, and your pet will get to leave their nose print on a board mural.
St. Patrick’s Oyster Roast | Thursday, Mar. 16 | 6-9 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $75+ | Enjoy an all-you-can-eat oyster roast with a supply of saltine crackers, cocktails sauce, fresh horseradish, lemon wedges, and hot sauces to top off the oysters.
College Night at the State Museum | Thursday, Mar. 16 | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $5+| Currently enrolled college students may enjoy ticket discounts, including planetarium shows.
Books & Brackets Basketball Challenge | Thursday, March 16 | United Way of the Midlands, Columbia | $10 | Play for good — enter Books & Brackets to support readers in Pre-K through 3rd grade through the Midlands Reading Consortium and the A’ja Wilson Foundation.*

Friday, March 17

City of Columbia Popcorn & Lemonade Sale | Friday, Mar. 17 | 12-2 p.m. | Payment/Customer Care Center, 3000 Harden St., Columbia | Price of purchase | The City of Columbia is hosting a fundraiser for the upcoming Heart Walk that will take place at Segra Park on Saturday, March 25.
Studio 54 Ballet - Columbia City Ballet | Friday, March 24 - Saturday, March 25 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Travel back to 1970’s New York City to what was considered the world’s most popular nightclub in this showcase by the Columbia City Ballet.*

Saturday, March 18

St. Pat’s in Five Points Columbia | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Five Points on Saluda Avenue, 747 Saluda Ave., Columbia | $25 | Whether you want to enjoy the parade, jam to live music, or get your kids in on the fun, there’s something for everyone at St. Pat’s in Five Points.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

ASKED

Prisma Health On Call: Ask the experts your men’s health questions 🙋‍♂️

Don’t be shy, guys — Prisma Health physicians are on call + ready to answer your questions. | Photo provided by Prisma Health

A recent study showed that more than 40% of men go to the doctor only when they think they have a serious medical condition — and more than half of the men surveyed said their health isn’t something they talk about. Here’s the thing: This isn’t just a one-time observation. Studies routinely show that men don’t always make their health a top priority.

That’s why in this month’s installment of Prisma Health On Call we’re connecting readers with Prisma Health physicians who are here on call and ready to answer your men’s health questions. Think:

❓ What preventive screenings do men need (and why are they important)?
❓ How can you prevent common sports injuries?
❓ How much stress is too much stress?
❓ What else can men do to protect their health?

Hint: Fellas, here’s your (anonymous) opportunity to be proactive about your health.

Submit your questions and we’ll share the physicians’ answers in a few weeks.*

ASK THE EXPERTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

62º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain ☀️

Number

$33 million. That’s the amount Hounen Solar, a global solar panel manufacturer, will invest in Orangeburg County to establish its first US operating center. The investment is expected to bring ~200 jobs to the Midlands. 💰 (Central SC)

Concert

R&B Diva Powerhouse Fest, headlined by Super Group Xscape, is coming to Colonial Life Arena on May 12. The concert will serve as a special tribute to mothers in our area. More surprise guests are to be announced but you can go ahead and snag tickets this Friday at 10 a.m. 🎟️

Civic

Want to know more about investments in the maintenance of our water systems, get updates about Rapid Shelter Columbia, and more? Watch this 45-minute video of the latest City Council Meeting, or watch the recap video here.

Show

If you’re in need of a good laugh, four comedy shows are coming to Township Auditorium. Druski is coming April 4, Kountry Wayne is performing May 19, Bill Maher is coming August 20, and Steve Martin & Martin Short will stop by October 14. Plan ahead and purchase tickets here.

Cause

Curing Kids Cancer — a nonprofit organization that raises money for cancer research + supports families with children battling cancer — is hosting the Run With All Your Heart 5k on Saturday, April 22 at Segra Park. Find more information and register here. Tickets start at $20. 👟

Plan Ahead

The Richland Library Market — a local, producer-only market held weekly on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April through October — is looking for vendors. All vendors are local growers, creators, makers, and builders. Click here if you’re interested in joining this season’s lineup.

DYK

Did you know our online store Six & Main features Sourhouse, a company that creates simple tools for sourdough bakers to care for their starters? The Goldie by Sourhouse + Cooling Puck is one of the most popular items. Let’s start baking. 🍞

Travel

Looking for a vibrant place with scenic outdoors and an expansive culinary scene? Explore Greenville where eclectic dining, outdoor adventures + natural beauty awaits. Check out travel inspo so you can start planning your trip.*

Health

Whether you want to lose weight, reduce your medicines, or just feel better, adopting a healthier lifestyle is always a good idea. Here are five practical tips to live healthier — at home or at work. Hint: Tip No. 1 might surprise you. *

Wellness

AG1 by Athletic Greens is so much more than “greens.” With one scoop, AG1 empowers the gut for whole-body health. (And, ICYMI, we can’t achieve a healthier everything else without a healthy gut.) Try it and receive a free one year supply of vitamin D and 5 free travel packs.*

Watch

It’s time for biscuits with the boss. Season three of “Ted Lasso” premieres today only on Apple TV+, which means AFC Richmond is hitting the pitch and Jason Sudeikis will surely have some feel-good life advice for us. Bonus: Get your first week free when you sign up to stream. 📺 *

Finance

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement — and its free tool can match you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help you work towards a more comfortable retirement. Try it out for yourself.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

TRAVEL

Stress less with TSA PreCheck ✅

Cut down your travel time with TSA PreCheck. | Photo via Pexels

Planning a spring getaway? Don’t forget to add TSA PreCheck enrollment to your pre-vacay to-do list.

The government program provides an expedited security lane at 200+ airports for travelers that pass a security screening — which includes a short application and a 10-minute in-person enrollment appointment — and are given a Known Traveler Number. Bonus: The screening is good for five years and costs $78.

The main benefit of enrolling? Save time when traveling. Recent data found that 96% of TSA PreCheck passengers spent less than five minutes at airport security checkpoints.

To apply, find out if you are eligible, then fill out an application and schedule an appointment at a nearby enrollment center. Most people will know if their application has been approved within three to five days.

Psst — don’t forget to read our airport guide before heading to CAE, and grab these airport essentials: a memory foam travel pillow, this smart luggage carry-on set, and an AirFly wireless headphones transmitter.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: Reader Ellie B. has recently noticed lots of purple flowers blooming all over the city and she wants to know if they are wisteria. Let’s help her out. Does anyone know about wisteria and the native flowers in our area? Tell us about them here.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See USC’s women’s basketball’s potential path to the Natty, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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