Today’s Forecast

78º Partly cloudy | 2% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:56 a.m. | Sunset 7:54 p.m.

🎶 Wide open spaces

28 parks in the Midlands of South Carolina

Leo’s Landing is an inclusive play space at Saluda Shoals, designed for all ages and abilities. | Photo via Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission

Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Columbia features 20+ parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.

Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the Soda City’s best:

Congaree National Park Trails — The Boardwalk Loop Trail at Congaree National Park is wheelchair accessible. | Photo by @hdcarolina

Nature parks

Dreher Island State Park, 3677 State Park Rd., Prosperity
Dreher Island State Park is located on Lake Murray and offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, and camping. The park also features hiking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.

Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park, 312 Laurel St.
The Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park offer a beautiful area to walk along the river beneath the hanging Spanish moss. There are even built-in exercise stations at the beginning to supplement your cardio workout.

Family parks

Gibson Pond Park, 241 Gibson Rd., Lexington
This 50-acre park has walking trails, a pond, and large covered picnic shelters available to rent.

Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd.
The 400-acre park offers hiking trails, hammocks with a free library, river access, picnic areas, and Leo’s Landing Inclusive Playground.

Dog parks

Page Ellington Dog Park, BullStreet District
Enjoy the 1.75-acre dog park that is fenced-in and open to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Music Festivals like SolFest RollFest take place at the ampitheater in Earlewood Park. | Photo by COLAtoday

Sports park

Earlewood Park, 1113 Parkside Dr.
Earlewood is popular for its disc golf course, tennis courts, basketball court, and three baseball fields. There is also a playground and is home to the office of Columbia Parks and Rec.

Owens Field Park, 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd.
Located near Owens Field Airport, Owens Field Park includes a disc golf course, skate park, dog park, and several baseball + soccer fields.

Discover 13 more parks

Asked

What is your favorite park activity to do in our city?

Walking my dog
Spending time with the kiddos
Having a picnic
Jogging or working out

Let us know

Events

Thursday, April 13

Loading Dock Live! | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | Free | Don’t miss The Tams performing a free concert at the loading dock area directly behind the Township Auditorium.
Meeting Street Artisan Market: Night Edition | Thursday, Apr. 13, Thursday, May. 11 | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every second Thursday, from 4-8 p.m.

Friday, April 14

Big Gamecock Weekend | Friday, Apr. 14-Sunday, Apr. 16 | 12 a.m. | Columbia, SC, 1125 George Rogers Blvd., Columbia | Free | Cola’s going garnet this weekend as Gamecock enthusiasts gather for the annual Big Gamecock Weekend.
Artista Vista | Friday, Apr. 14-Sunday, Apr. 16 | Times vary | The Historic Vista District, 1200 Lincoln St., Columbia | Free | Don’t miss this weekend-long celebration of arts and culture in the heart of South Carolina’s capital city.
Annie | Friday, Apr. 14-Saturday, Apr. 15 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Make sure to wear your smile so you’re fully dressed to go see Annie at the Koger Center for the Arts.

Saturday, April 15

12,000 Year History Park - Colonial Forts Tour | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 1 p.m. | Cayce Tennis Center, 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, Cayce | This 2-mile free history tour is about 2 hours long and sponsored by the City of Cayce.
SC Philharmonic: Titans & Outlaws | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $20-$55 | Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to the 2022-23 Masterworks Series: State of Mind — Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Copland’s Billy the Kid explode into the Koger Center during this performance.
West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market | Saturday, April 15 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting Street, West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every Saturday.*

Calendar events here

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Wellness

🌱 Spring into health this year

Athletic Greens replaces multiple supplements with one packet. | Photo by Athletic Greens

Spring cleaning? Here’s a storage solution: Replace nine supplement bottles with one product.

AG1 by Athletic Greens contains 75 vitamins, minerals and whole-food sourced nutrients, replacing nine other products like your probiotic, multivitamin, daily supplement and more. Hint: It’s the best thing you could do to improve your gut health.

Bonus: Receive a free one year supply of vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase.*

Snag some AG1 this spring

News Notes

Opening

Knowledge Perk, the new coffee shop opening the recently renovated W.B. Smith Whaley house at the corner of Pickens and Gervais Street, will open on Monday, April 17. The first 100 customers through the door will get gift cards and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.

Sports

South Carolina’s women’s basketball team accepted an invitation to play against Notre Dame in Paris to launch the 2023-24 NCAA basketball season. This will be the first time a regular season game has been played in France. (Gamecocks Online)

Concert

Gospel singer Yolanda Adams will be at Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, June 18, supporting the South Carolina Juneteenth Freedom Fest Foundation. The weekend of Juneteenth celebration also includes Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, Jekalyn Carr, and South Carolina’s own Kelontae Gavin. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

Community

The Doolittle Raiders Remembrance Project is hosting the 81st Commemoration of The Doolittle Raid on Sunday, April 23 from 1-5 p.m. The free family event on the Columbia Army Air Base a will have a Dootlittle presentation along with live music from the 1940s + period dancers.

Arts

The Historic Melrose Art in the Yard (AIY) returns on Sunday, April 16, from 1-5 p.m., featuring artists and artisans selling original works throughout the neighborhood. The event also features food trucks and live entertainment and is free to the public.

Cause

The Cayce Beautification Foundation is hosting its annual Adult Spelling Bee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 16 at Steel Hands Brewing. All proceeds from the event support the Cayce Beautification Foundation’s mission to beautify and improve Cayce.

Eat

Did you know that one cup of blueberries provides 24% of a person’s recommended daily allowance of vitamin C? This tasty snack can also improve your skin and even your short-term memory — here’s how.*

Biz

New developments in Cola

New and coming-soon businesses to Columbia

Drone image of the Richland Mall site | Photo provided by the City of Forest Acres

Every time we look around, it seems like something new is popping up in Cola. Whether you’re looking for your next go-to brunch destination or a new public park to stretch your legs, we’re rounding up a few things coming soon to the Soda City.

Dining

The Green at Devine District, 2700 Block of Devine St. | Opening this summer | Sully’s Steamers + Ally and Eloise are set to open this summer at the new retail space on Devine Street.

Recreation

Capital City Cornhole, 1223 Franklin St. | Opening this spring | A climate-controlled indoor cornhole facility in the former Cottontown Brew Lab will have league play, tournament play, a pro shop, and refreshments.

Residential

The Standard, 1401 Assembly St. | Opening this fall | The Standard at Columbia is a USC off-campus housing community catering to the student lifestyle.

The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

One of my favorite outdoor spots is the Richland County Tennis Center at 7500 Parklane Rd. Some of the best courts in the area and the staff is always extremely helpful with rental equipment and are often out giving coaching lessons. Check out the Richland County Recreation site for more park locations and amenities.

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