Festivals

• 35th Annual Harambee Festival | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, 1920 Two Notch Rd., Columbia | This event from Benedict College features headliners Keke Wyatt and Bishop Hezekiah Walker. Enjoy drum lines, gospel choirs, magician acts, dance performances, educational villages, free health screenings, and diverse dishes at this uplifting community event.

• Artista Vista | Congaree Vista District | Immerse yourself in Cola’s creativity with art gallery crawls, live music outside Blue Marlin, live art demonstrations at Lewis + Clark and One Eared Cow Glass, and an innovative Live Art Mart.
• Big Gamecock Weekend | Various locations | Celebrate all things Gamecocks with the Garnet and Black Spring Game, the Cocky Trot 5K, baseball games, and more. This year there will be a Junior Gamecock Club movie night at Williams-Brice Stadium. The free-to-attend Spring Game kicks off at 7 p.m.
• Kinetic Derby Day | Meeting Street and State Street, West Columbia | Experience the thrill of Kinetic Derby Day’s fifth annual event with a cartoon-themed twist. Watch as creatively crafted soapbox cars charge down Meeting Street. Dress up as your favorite cartoon character and enjoy a day of family fun.

Concerts

• John Mellencamp | The Township, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | The new tour will feature the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer performing songs from his latest album, “Orpheus Descending.”
• Amy Grant | The Koger Center, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Grant has been strumming her way through a thirty-plus-year career as a singer-songwriter, author, television host, and speaker.
• Upchurch Tune-In Tour | Historic Columbia Speedway | Upchurch (aka Upchurch the Redneck) is the hick-hop alter ego of comic, rapper, and musician Ryan Upchurch.

• Cinematic Lives: Meet Me in St. Louis | Monday, April 15 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | $12-$15 | Join The Nick and the Columbia Museum of Art for a two-part series exploring themes in the CMA exhibition Interior Lives: Modern American Spaces, 1890-1945.
• Columbia Canopy Project Community Celebration | Monday, April 15 | 6-7 p.m. | Hyatt Park, 950 Jackson Ave., Columbia | Free | The Columbia Canopy Project commemorates the leaders of historically marginalized communities

• George Clanton | Tuesday, April 16 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St., Columbia | $26 | The Los Angeles artist produces gleaming electro-pop.

• Opening Day - Weekly Farmers Market | Wednesday, April 17 | 4-7 p.m. | Blythewood Farmers Market, 171 Langford Rd., Blythewood | Free | Get farm fresh groceries, discover local artisans, listen to live music, and connect with the community at this weekly event.

• Lexington Jams, Jellies, and Soft Spreads Workshop | Thursday, April 18 | 5-9 p.m. | Lexington County Extension Office, 605 West Main St. #100, Lexington | $35 | Learn the basics of food preservation using local produce.

• Certified BBQ Judges Training class | Friday, April 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Newberry Firehouse Conference Center, 1227 McKibben St., Newberry | $60-$110 | The Southern BBQ Network (SBN) is a nonprofit organization is holding a certified judges training class.
• Gamecock Baseball vs. Arkansas Razorbacks | Friday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | Founders Park, 431 Williams St, Columbia | $20-$25 | Prepare to get loud as the No. 1 ranked Razorbacks come to town.

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• Peddler and Maker’s Market — a mall featuring antiques + vintage items — is now open at 1223 Franklin St. in the former Cottontown Brew Lab location. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 4, when the market will host an opening celebration, filled with live music and food trucks.

• 308. That’s the number of residential units planned for the Burnside Farms subdivision near Garners Ferry Road. According to The Post and Courier, there are plans to build an assisted living facility with health care offerings, and a farmer’s market nearby.

• Trustus Theatre revisits a classic as “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” by Terrence McNally returns to the stage. Featuring Jason Stokes and Marybeth Gorman Craig, the production runs through Saturday, April 20 at the Trustus Side Door.

• Local author and Columbia Fireflies Broadcast/Media Relations Manager, John Kocsis Jr., released a new book taking you behind the scenes with minor league baseball broadcasters. “Play-by-Play from the Minors” highlights stories of triumphs, challenges, unique promotions, and tales from industry veterans.

• SCETV’s “From the Sky” video series returns for its final season, showcasing everything from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden to the Carolina Cup through unique aerial views. This season explores 20 locations across the state offering viewers a new perspective on well-known landmarks.

• Who could challenge the Gamecock women’s basketball team next season? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Gamecocks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• Can you spot a scam? Cybercriminals and fraudsters are developing new ways to target and trick people into sharing their personal information or money. The experts at AllSouth are here to help with a list of common scams to steer clear of.*