Water parks and splash pads

Pools

• Meeting Street Artisan Market - Summer Series | Thursday, June 27 | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | With plenty of free parking, mingle with the makers who are as unique as their creations.
• Richland County Neighborhood Block Party 2024 | Thursday, June 27 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Meadowlake Park, 600 Beckman Rd., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a neighborhood party with music, food, and games.
• Blue Zone Dinner | Thursday, June 27 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $125 | Experience the blend of the world’s longest-living communities with the vibrant flavors of local cuisine.

• Nashville Nights Featuring Gabe Lee | Friday, June 28 | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Nashville Nights is back this summer with Nashville singer/songwriters taking the Steel Hands Brewing stage.
• The Night Shift | Friday, June 28 | 6-9 p.m. | ReFind, 718 S. Edisto Ave., Columbia | Free | Browse this monthly night market hosted at the new Re•Find location in the Rosewood neighborhood, featuring local goods, antiques, food, and music.

• South East Rare Plant Market: The Big Plant Expo | Saturday, June 29-Sunday, June 30 | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $12-$25 | This event brings local, rare, and uncommon plant growers and sellers together for a unique plant market experience.

• Jelly Roll, with special guests Earnest, Shaboozy, and Allie Colleen, is coming to Colonial Life Arena on Friday, Nov. 22 on his Beautifully Broken tour. Tickets go on sale on Monday, July 1 at 10 a.m.

• Crave Artisan Market’s second location, where Primal Gourmet + Brickhouse Cafe used to be, is now open. The shop’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. Call or order online.

• The results for Columbia’s 9th Shrimp & Grits Fest are in. The winner of the Judge’s Choice + People’s Choice was Signature Catering, and the Best Creative Shrimp & Grits went to The Epicurean Table.

• Robin Waites is retiring as the Executive Director of Historic Columbia. She was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Henry McMaster, a Key to the City from Mayor Rickenmann, and was named the next Columbia City of Women honoree.

• Who doesn’t love a free concert? Returning after a seven-year hiatus, Five After Five is a free concert series in Five Points that takes place one Thursday a month. Enjoy live music on Thursday, July 18 from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Will Ickey Ekwonu reestablish himself as the Carolina Panthers franchise left tackle in 2024? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• We recently dished out another round of Doctors’ Orders, the series in which Midlands doctors share what they like to eat at local restaurants. Dine with us at Duke’s Pad Thai, where the food touches on all regions with an Asian flare.*

• Roll up to your next barbecue with a side dish that everyone will be talking about. This jalapeno mac and cheese with corn and tomato salad is a classic with a kick, featuring fresh and seasonal ingredients.*

• 107º today
• 110º on Friday
• 111º on Saturday

Tips for staying cool

If you want to get out of the house

• Try water-centric activities.
• Pick out a new book + attend a free event at Richland Library.
• Catch a $7 flick at The Nick while it’s hosting the Kids Summer Movie Series during June and July.
• Grab a local scoop of ice cream after dinner (and the sun goes down).