• Countdown to Kindergarten | Friday, Aug. 4 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St., Columbia | Free | EdVenture’s free Countdown to Kindergarten event, hosted by First Steps, features activities to calm nerves, generate excitement, and prepare young students and their families for their next chapter.
• Nashville Nights Concert Series | Friday, Aug. 4 | 6 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Nashville Nights feature talented singer/songwriters traveling from Nashville, TN for special live music performances on stage.
• Summer Sidewalk Sale and Tax-Free Weekend | Friday, Aug. 4 | The Devine Street District | Free | Enjoy half off and BOGO specials on SC’s Tax-free weekend.

• U-Pick Zinnia Flowers | Saturday, Aug. 5-Sunday, Aug. 6 | 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hollow Creek Tree Farm, 228 Windmill Rd., Gilbert | $0-$18 | Walk the pond area or take a mini-hike around the whole 36-acre farm.
• Hope Walk 5K | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 8-10 a.m. | Riverfront Park, 312 Laurel St., Columbia | Free | This event focuses on building awareness around the donation disparities and needs in South Carolina within multicultural communities.
• The Market at Icehouse | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main St., Lexington | Free | Enjoy a farmer/grower and local artisan market that promotes, supports, and encourages local production, while educating citizens on the benefits of eating fresh produce.
• Lexington County Blowfish Last Regular Season Home Game | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 7 p.m. | Lexington County Baseball Stadium, 474 Ball Park Rd., Lexington | $5 | Stick around for post-game fireworks.
• Hot Summer’s Night 5K | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Strictly Running, 2515 Devine St., Columbia | $40 | The coolest time to on run the pavement in Columbia is when the sun is going down.

• Purple Heart Day Observation Ceremony | Sunday, Aug. 6 | 5-7 p.m. | Town of Blythewood, 171 Langford Rd., Blythewood | Free | This event is a tribute to service members who have received the Purple Heart.
• Arrows in Action, Honey Revenge, Finish Ticket | Sunday, Aug. 6 | 6:30-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $20-$70 | Groove along with a swirling blend of angular indie-rock, ‘80s electric sheen, and saccharine alt-pop.
• Disney’s “The Descendants” | Sunday, Aug. 6 | Times vary | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | $15-$18 | This is the last day to see Descendants the Musical.

• If none of these events are hitting the mark, why not plan a date night? Check out these 25+ options we’ve rounded up for you to try around Columbia.

• If you’ve been following us, you may have noticed we write a bunch of guides — whether it’s a roundup of dog-friendly businesses or recommendations for brunch. Now, all those guides are on one convenient webpage — completely free and 100% local.

• Get a peek into how we feel about August being the last month without college football.

Why go?

• Explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art, filled with contemporary, American, and East Asian art, plus run up the famous Rocky steps outside + pose with the Rocky statue.
• Head to Reading Terminal Market for lunch — it’s a classic for a reason and is perfect for a group with different tastes or dietary restrictions.

Act like a local:

• Food: Must-try local specialties include water ice, cheesesteaks, and if you’re really trying to act like a local, a late-night Wawa run. Bonus: Splurge on the most upscale cheesesteak known to man with Barclay Prime’s $140 Wagyu ribeye cheesesteak.
• Sports: Wave hi to Gritty, a beloved orange monster and the Philadelphia Flyers mascot, at a hockey game.

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: Center City/Rittenhouse Square apartment with a walk score of 100 (~$201/night)
• Splurge hotel: Lokal Hotel, a boutique hotel in Old City (~$323/night)

• Ditch the hangover without having to ditch your favorite cocktail with Ritual Zero Proof’s award-winning non-alcoholic spirits. Bonus: Get free shipping on two or more bottles.

• Never overpay for flights again when you sign up for a free Going account. You’ll get emails when flights are amazingly cheap — like a $155 roundtrip to Hawaii.

• Parking your car on sunny streets while running errands around town? This No. 1 bestselling sunshade keeps your car’s interior cool and minimizes rays.