🍓Pick ‘em

• Volunteer Week 2024 | Tuesday, April 23-Saturday, April 27 | Times vary | Columbia and Surrounding Areas | Free | Live United t-shirts will be provided for every volunteer for the United Way of the Midlands oppourtunities.
• Smoked Oyster Series | Tuesday, April 23, Tuesday, May 7, Tuesday, May 21 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $60 | Learn to appreciate oysters like a fine wine by discovering the nuance of flavor by the climate of origin, taste, texture, and salinity.
• Broadway in Columbia | Tuesday, April 23-Thursday, April 25 | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $22.50-$75 | Direct from Broadway, “Mean Girls” is the hilarious hit musical from book writer Tina Fey — it’s going to be so fetch.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Augusta GreenJackets | Tuesday, April 23 | 11:05 a.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | It’s WLTX Weather Day: Enjoy $2 Miller Lites, hot dogs, popcorn, and fountain sodas.*

• Nom Nom Namaste | Wednesday, April 24 | 12:30 p.m. | Good Life Cafe, 1216 Taylor St., Columbia | $10 | Guests will receive a complimentary small smoothie and a healthy bite to enjoy.

• Irmo Library Book Sale | Thursday, April 25-Saturday, April 27 | Times vary | Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | Free | Most books are priced from .50 cents to $2, and you can save even more by purchasing a bag to fill at a fixed price.

• The Night Shift at ReFind | Friday, April 26, Friday, May 31 | 6-9 p.m. | ReFind, 718 S. Edisto Ave., Columbia | Free | A monthly night market hosted at the new Re•Find location in the Rosewood neighborhood, featuring local goods, antiques, food, music, and more.
• Gamecocks Baseball vs. Kentucky Wildcats | Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Founders Park, 431 Williams St., Columbia | $15-$20 | Root root root for the home team as the Gamecocks take on the Wildcats.

• Festival of Gardens | Saturday, April 27-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Woodland Park, 6500 Olde Knight Pkwy., Columbia | $30-$40 | This garden event features 8-10 private gardens in the Hampton Ridge neighborhood.

• The seventh annual Columbia Food and Wine Festival begins tomorrow, April 24, and runs until Sunday, April 28, highlighting Columbia’s culinary scene. Attendees can enjoy 12 diverse events including an Asian Night Market, “Iconic Dishes of Columbia,” and the High Noon Food Truck Rodeo. (The Post and Courier)

• Richland County introduced a new online dashboard to improve transparency with its Strategic Plan which received a complete refresh in 2023. This platform shows progress on six key goals.

• Larry Hembree and Bryann Burgess have launched the Papa Tank Theatre for Inclusion offering arts opportunities for youth with all abilities to enjoy the arts. The program provides inclusive theater experiences and operates from the Washington Street United Methodist Church.

• Justin Timberlake has added a show at Colonial Life Arena to his “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour.” Set for Saturday, June 8, tickets go on sale Friday.

• Step back in time with a free guided tour at Congaree Creek, tracing 12,000 years of history. The tour begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Cayce Tennis Center. Explore the site of Fort Congaree and learn about the area’s early Native American activities.

• Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers shined in the Spring Game. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Gamecock Football with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

• In case you missed it, our latest edition of COLA Wellness in partnership with Prisma Health features: the benefits of getting sunlight, smoothie recipes to fuel your fitness goals, must-know facts about allergy season + more.*

• Grocery store (Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery, Harris Teeter, Lidl, Publix, and Lowes Foods)
• Restaurants (Boxcar Betty’s, PF Changs, White Duck Taco, Chipotle, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, True Food Kitchen, open air container bar, food hall)
• Arts and entertainment (Cultural center and entertainment venue, outdoor theater, Arts Center, Top Golf)
• Retail (Apple Store, boutique shops, department store, Pottery Barn)
• Fitness (outdoor gym, bungee and aerial yoga studio)