• Artists and Autocrats | Thursday, June 22-Sunday, July 2 | 6-8 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts Gallery, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Free | This exhibition includes homages to modernists as well as depictions of autocrats and dictators.
• LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS | Thursday, June 22-Saturday, July 8 | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., Columbia | $27+ | Little Shop of Horrors is directed by Trustus’ Executive Director Jessica Francis Fichter, with the cast including company members Jonathan Monk, Brittany Hammock, and Katrina Garvin, featuring Hunter Boyle as Mr. Mushnik and Terrance Henderson as Audrey II.
• The NoMa Flea | Friday, June 23-Friday, Dec. 15 | 6-9 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | The market features several anchor vendors and at least 10 rotating, pop-up vendors each week.

• Pride Market | Saturday, June 24 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | Shop 20+ local vendors from the LBGTQ+ community and the full-time vendors at NoMa Warehouse.
• Spanish Wine Tasting | Saturday, June 24 | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St., Columbia | $33 | The tasting will be one-hour and guests will have the opportunity to purchase snacks during the event and wines tasted after the event.
• Annual Columbia’s Shrimp & Grits Fest | Saturday, June 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Seawell’s, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $25 | One restaurant will be named “Columbia’s Best Shrimp & Grits” by a panel of judges.

• COLUMBIA FASHION WEEK: BRUNCHWAY - FASHIONABLE NETWORKING EXPERIENCE | Sunday, June 25 | 11 a.m. | Main Street, 1122 Lady St., Columbia | $20 | Celebrate the end of a week of fashion by attending the COLAFW Brunchway.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Fredericksburg Nationals | Sunday, June 25 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Negro League Celebration Weekend // Sunday Funday (pre-game autographs & post-game kids run the bases)

• Thank you. COLAtoday was nominated for three categories in the annual Free Times Best of Columbia 2023 poll. Vote for us under the Local Media category for Best Local Website, Music/Entertainment, Best Local Website, News, and Best Local Instagram. Voting ends June 30 at 11:59 p.m.

• In case you missed it, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ 2024 SEC football opponents have been announced, with several notable changes to the schedule. Read about the upcoming season.

• During the month of July, COLAtoday will be celebrating our local beverage industry the best way we know how — through content. We want to engage with local businesses interested in participating in our Drink Up initiative. Seriously, if you can drink it, we want to cover it. See how you can get involved.

Act like a local

• Food: Capitalize on the proximity of some of the best oysters in the US at Rock and Rye Oysterhouse.
• Coffee: Get your morning started over at Makeworth Coffee Roasters with a lavender honey latte and an avocado toast.
• Outdoors: Take a hike in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Ptarmigan Ridge Trail that features incredible views from the very first step. The first ~one mile is a flat walk that’s navigable for any experience level before taking on bigger hills that more seasoned hikers or overnight backpackers will enjoy.

Where to stay

• Vrbo: Cozy Micro-Brewery Home, Sample some tasty beers made right on the property ($110 per night)
• Airbnb: Treehouse with waterfall, Become one with the forest ($300 per night)
• Splurge hotel: Hotel Bellwether, Waterfront stay with on-site restaurant (~$350 per night)

• Looking to relieve muscle soreness without dropping $150+ a month on a deep tissue massage? Enter: the RENPHO massage gun. It has 23,000+ five-star reviews and is on sale for a limited time.*

• Two words: free bowling. Sign up for Kids Bowl Free to connect with local bowling alleys where kids can receive two free games of bowling everyday this summer. Plus, grab a Family Pass + up to four adults can join in on the fun.*

• The perfect waterproof Bluetooth speaker does exist and it’s the JBL Flip 5. Bonus: It offers up to 12 hours of play + comes with a hardshell case.*