07.04.2024

Today’s Forecast

98º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. | Sunset 8:38 p.m.
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Tour de Soda City Market

Soda City Market celebrates local culture and global flavors

Soda City 2024-8936.jpg — Vang Flowers offers bouquets that brighten any room.
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Photo by COLAtoday

Every Saturday morning — from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — ~150 vendors and ~5,000 visitors line four blocks of the Capital City’s Main Street, rain or shine. With each visit, you’ll see dozens of dogs on leashes, families with strollers, and hear the sounds of performers ringing through the streets.

Let’s take a look at some of your favorite Soda City Market vendors that you shared with us.

Ethnic food

Prepare your taste buds for a culinary journey around the globe. From sweet Mediterranean Syrian pastries by Taste of Levant to pulled chicken and Gouda cheese in a warm cornmeal dough from Venezuela in One Bite, Soda City celebrates global flavors.

Flowers and ceramics

Nothing brightens a home or someone’s day like a bouquet of flowers. Vang Flowers offers a vibrant array of options and Kyle Smith Pottery has you covered on a ceramic to put them in.

Soda City 2024-9001.jpg — You’ll find whatever fruits are ripe and in season like the summer peaches seen here.
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Photo by COLAtoday

Grocery essentials

Bring your tote and load it up with fresh baked bread, local greens, and seasonal fruits and veggies straight from the farm from vendors like Glorious Greens, Gruber Farm, and Toms Creek Family Farms. Don’t forget to grab a loaf from LoveYouLoaves, a home-based sourdough micro-bakery with loaves that range from garlic herb focaccia to a miso sesame.

Upcycled clothing

Start your Saturday morning by shopping for your evening outfit. Hammered Daisy joined the market less than a year ago and has become a go-to spot for vintage and re-worked tees. Old Skool Outfitter will move from the market to the Vista later this year, with plans to open their first Cola store on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Soda City Market is a microcosm of Columbia — a melting pot of cultures, a hub of local creativity, and a welcoming community experience that’s worth adding into your weekend routine.

Events

Thursday, July 4

Lexington County Peach Festival | Thursday, July 4 | 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | Gilbert Community Park, 110 Rikard Circle, Gilbert | Free | Indulge in homemade peach treats, live music, local vendors, a car show, and a day-long celebration of the queen of all fruits, the peach.
Salute from the Shore | Thursday, July 4 | 1 p.m. | McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Hopkins | Free | Celebrate Independence Day as vintage military aircraft fly over beaches in the Carolinas; a civilian group of vintage planes called Warbirds will follow.
Irmo’s Inclusive Independence Day Celebration | Thursday, July 4 | 7-10 p.m. | Irmo Community Park, 7507 Eastview Dr., Irmo | Free | Eat hot dogs, groove to music, and watch a laser light show instead of fireworks when it gets dark.
Fireworks with the Phil | Thursday, July 4 | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $10-$25 | The Columbia Fireflies and SC Philharmonic Orchestra lead this patriotic celebration that includes fireworks + a rendition of the “1812" overture.

Friday, July 5

Fright Night Laser Lights | Friday, July 5 | 6-10 p.m. | SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $10 | Enjoy special shows featuring lasers choreographed to iconic music inside the museum’s 55-ft digital dome.

More fun this way

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Closing

Eggroll Station, a West Columbia staple for 34 years known for its “Go Cocks Go E*Rolls” sign, faces an uncertain future. After the building’s sale last December, co-owner Sherry Chen says the restaurant has 18 months to vacate and may open a food truck.

Tech

SC NEXUS, a tech hub led by the SC Department of Commerce, received $45 million through the EDA Tech Hubs program to scale up critical technologies and create jobs. The funding supports projects like a battery manufacturing pilot line at USC and technical colleges. (WLTX)

Cause

The City of Columbia is collaborating with Sistercare for the second annual toiletry drive going on now through Saturday, Oct. 5. Donations — including facial wipes, deodorant, hand soap, towels, masks, feminine hygiene products, body wash, and diapers — can be dropped off at designated locations.

Try This

The SC State Museum’s “First Sunday” returns this weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy $1 general admission and 4-D movies and planetarium shows for $5. Explore South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history, science, and technology.

State

Before you head out in your golf cart, do you know the rules of the road? Our friends at CHStoday broke down SC’s laws for golf carts + low-speed vehicles.

Today Is

Independence Day. America has been celebrating this day for 248 years since the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. Round up the kids, friends, or just yourself and head to one of these celebrations.

Sports

Here’s how Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC impacts the Gamecocks. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of Gamecock Football with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Outdoors

💦 Cannnnnonballlllll

10+ pools, water parks, and splash pools in Columbia

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Orangeburg County YMCA is well worth the drive. | Photo by: @columbiaymca

Are you feeling the heat, Soda City? We’ve got the solution: splash pools, water parks, and outdoor pools. Beat the heat with 10+ local water parks, pools, and splash pools in Columbia.

Water parks and splash pads

Saluda Splash Pad, 5605 Bush River Rd.
The Saluda Splash Pad + the Melvin Splash Pad, located at 370 A Eptings Camp Rd. in Chapin, are both zero-depth water spray grounds for children. Pro tip: The Splash Pass ($55/15-visits) is valid at both Melvin + Saluda Splash Pads.

Pools

Eastover Park Pool, 1031 Main St., Eastover
Located ~35 min. from downtown Columbia, Eastover features an accessible pool located next to the recreation center.

St. Andrews Park Pool, 920 Beatty Rd.
Adjacent to the recreation center is a new pool facility open six days a week.

Trenholm Park Pool, 3900 Covenant Rd.
This 10.7-acre swimming pool and a newly renovated pool house.

Water you waiting on

The Buy

The Buy 7.04.24 (Affiliate)

Reusable grocery cooler bags. If you’ve been rocking the same tired grocery bags for a while now (guilty), investing in some sturdy, insulated bags makes transporting groceries comfortable and more convenient.

The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

When it comes to my nostalgic Cola meal, I have to say it’s Eggroll Station. When I was in college and it was cash only, I would eat there often. I’d always get the veggie fried rice and a veggie egg roll, but before I could order Sherry would yell “veggie egg roll” back to the kitchen. It always made my day.

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