Black-eyed Susan

Carolina jessamine

Trumpet honeysuckle

Wild blue indigo

Wild red columbine

• Hands on Art | Friday, Aug. 18 | 10-11 a.m. | Richland Library Edgewood, Columbia | Free | Dress for a mess — children ages 3 to 5 are welcome to make their own art.
• The NoMa Flea | Friday, Aug. 18 | 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.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Friday, Aug. 18 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Ben Kudrna Bobblehead Giveaway pres. by SAFE Federal Credit Union (first 1000 fans)*

• Soda City Comic Con | Saturday, Aug. 19-Sunday, Aug. 20 | Times vary | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St., Columbia | $5-$40 | With over 150 artists, vendors, guests, and cosplayers, there’s something for every member of your family.
• Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Show | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Cambria Downtown the Vista, 1000 Lady St., Columbia | $59.99 | Get ready to tackle a hilarious and challenging crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Faith & Family Night feat ZOOperstars! // Post-game fireworks // Pre-Game Christian Concert feat Josh Wilson (4:30-5:30pm) pres by HIS Radio 92.1*

• Free Sundays | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 1-4 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | Free | On the third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Women in Sports Night // Sunday Funday (pre-game autographs & post-game kids run the bases)*

• Urban Tiki Grand Opening | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Urban Tiki-below The Grand on Main, 1621 Main St., Columbia | $45-$80 | It’s Tiki Time! Escape reality in downtown Columbia’s newest hidden Oasis.*

• Hiking with views for days — Burnsville has hundreds of miles of trails and is home to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. At the observation tower, hikers can see up to 85 miles away at an elevation of 6,684 ft.
• Cool excursions — From kayaking and tubing to fly fishing and waterfall hikes, Burnsville has an abundance of outdoor activities that offer fun ways to escape the heat. Rather be indoors? View the world’s skies inside Arthur Planetarium.
• Lots of local eats — Head downtown to refuel with coffee and whoopie pies from Appalachian Java and dig into barbecue at Pig & Grits.

• Join Turner & Moss Curated Goods for its grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sip champagne as you shop antiques, home goods, and gifts at this Five Points spot at 715 Saluda Ave.

• Lexington County commuters rejoice — there’s a new westbound ramp from Augusta Road onto I-20 in West Columbia. It’s all a part of SCDOT’s 10-year plan to improve roads and bridges. (WIS)

• Food Lion — a supermarket chain headquartered in Salisbury, NC — is open at 7830 Garners Ferry Rd. (near Southeast Park). From now until Sunday, Aug. 20, the first 100 customers through the door will receive a free giveaway. (Cola Daily)

• We recently let you know about the upcoming Cola Jazz Fest on Sept. 30 + Oct. 1 — but now we know the headliners. Please welcome Wycliffe Gordon & Friends, The Pete Neighbour Swingtet, Fred Wesley, the Houston Person Quartet, the Mitch Butler Quartet, and the Cottontown Soul Society. (The Post and Courier)

• Cola has the best beer, and we have the award to prove it. Columbia Craft Brewing Co. took home a gold award in the World Beer Cup. Try the winning Macroeconomics lager at 520 Greene St. (The State)

• The Barnacle has come to Soda City. If you have three or more citations that are older than 30 days and are valued at more than $100, you may see one of these yellow suckers stuck to your windshield. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

• Hot homes alert. Columbia nabbed the No. 10 spot in Redfin’s report on home value growth. Being in the nation’s top ten housing markets is good news for sellers — according to this report, home prices have risen by 7.1%. (WLTX)

• First Bank’s 2nd Annual Out of This World Educator Award nominations are now open through Tuesday, Sept. 3. Current + former Carolina educators who have served students of any age in traditional or non-traditional environments are eligible for the $5,000 grant. Start your nomination for a teacher, coach, or mentor.*

About the course

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