Road races

• Born in the USA four miler | Thursday, July 4 | $15-$45 | Run four miles on the Fourth of July. For fun, come ready to race in red, white, and blue — there will be a $100 prize for the best dressed.
• 803 Day 5K | Saturday, Aug. 3 | $30-$55 | Run on a day that celebrates our local area code.
• Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk | Friday, Sept. 13 | $10-$35 | Created after 9/11, this annual run + walk supports the nation’s first responders, military heroes, and their families.
• Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon + 5K | Saturday, Oct. 12 | $10-$60 | The Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon + 5K has a goal to raise $500,000 this year for Prisma Health’s Breast Center.
• Lexington’s Run Hard Half Marathon | Saturday, Nov. 9 | $25-$45 | Choose between running a 5K, a 10K, or a half marathon.

Other ways to get steps in

• The Mark Rapp Funktet Presents Motown Meets Jazz | Thursday, May 30 | 7-9 p.m. | Chayz Lounge, 607 Meeting St., West Columbia | $30 | Enjoy an evening filled with your favorite Motown and popular tunes infused with elements of jazz.

• The Night Shift at ReFind | Friday, May 31-Friday, Sept. 27 | 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.
• The Metropolitan Family Dance - “A Night To Remember” | Friday, May 31 | 7-11 p.m. | The Gala Event Center, 1801 Bush River Rd., Columbia | $10-$50 | Admission price includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, a 360 booth, and a selfie booth.

• Drift Jam - Flotilla Music Festival on Lake Murray | Saturday, June 1 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Lake Murray | Free | The world’s largest floating music festival takes place just off Spence Island.
• OUTfest: A Famously Hot Block Party! | Saturday, June 1 | 12-8 p.m. | Park Street, 1200 block of Park St., Columbia | Free | Mingle with over 30 vendors, grab drinks, enjoy the OUTfest Pageant, and more.
• Soda City Market | Saturday, May 4-Saturday, Nov. 30 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street, 1300-1600 Main St., Columbia | Free | Find everything to satisfy your brain, body, and belly — and made with love by local vendors.

• SC Philharmonic presents Chamber Crawl | Sunday, June 2 | 2 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | $20 | Chamber Crawl brings chamber ensembles to your favorite neighborhood watering holes.

• Pre-qualification and pre-approval are not the same thing.
• A pre-approval does not guarantee you will qualify for a home loan.
• A lower-than-perfect credit score doesn’t have to deter you from your home ownership goals.

• Beginning Friday, SCDOT will detour traffic from I-126 westbound to I-26 eastbound until Monday, June 3. Traffic will shift from the existing flyover ramp onto the new, permanent ramp, recently completed in Phase I of the Carolina Crossroads project.

• $500,000 — that’s the amount the City of Columbia is allocating for new signs featuring the city’s new logo. Each sign will cost ~$70,000, with several proposed locations including Elmwood Avenue, Bull + Harden streets, and more. (The State)

• Cola’s housing market is cooling from the COVID-19 boom, with sales slowing + homes staying on the market longer, however, prices are still rising. Median Midlands home prices are currently ~$264,000. (The Post and Courier)

• Expect delays on I-20 in Kershaw County due to a multiyear SCDOT bridge project over Wateree River. This four-phase project, lasting until September 2027, involves building + widening bridges. (WLTX)

• No. 91 — that’s Cola’s ranking on US News’ “Best Places to Live in the US in 2024-2025" list, featuring 150 major cities. To make the list, each city had to have good value, a strong job market, and a high quality of life. (US News)

• Could LaNorris Sellers break a longstanding freshman record? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecocks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• Did you know? Petting a dog can lower your blood pressure + release endorphins that have a comforting and calming effect. Now that’s cute. Meet eight local therapy pet pooches.*

• Blueberries make a bright addition to spring dishes, like this award-winning roasted blueberry and gorgonzola grilled cheese. Bonus: They’re in season and this recipe can be ready in just 20 minutes.*

• After receiving the lottery-funded LIFE Scholarship, a Clemson student was able to focus on her studies, immerse herself in extracurricular activities + organizations, and secure an internship at the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Meet six more recent recipients.*

• Looking for a way to stay on top of the world’s latest business news? Meet The Daily Upside, a free, no-BS newsletter from Wall Street insiders delivering actionable insights on the latest market news. Skip the clickbait and stay informed alongside 1,000,000+ fellow readers. Try it for free.*

• The naming and lighting of the firefly on Eddie’s finger
• Beach balls
• Crafts (think: firefly headbands)
• Music
• Refreshments
• Giveaways
• And more