• Soda City Market | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Free | Find everything to satisfy your brain, body, and belly — all made with love by local vendors.
• Jubiläumsbier | Saturday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 18 | Times vary | Bierkeller | Price of purchase | Celebrate Bierkeller’s one-year anniversary all weekend with live music and vendors.
• Garnet and Black Bash | Saturday, Aug. 17 | 5-10 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing | Free | Kickoff football season with a beer release, vendors, special guests, and a cookout featuring a tailgate-inspired menu.
• Free Sundays| Sunday, Aug. 18 | 1-4 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site | Free | On the third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
• Cocktail Classroom | Sunday, Aug. 18 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Smoked | $65 | Master shaking vs. stirring, elevate ice’s role, and embrace mixology essentials.

• Soda City Comic Convention 2024 | Saturday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Aug. 25 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | $5-$300 | Come see some of the best in comics, toys, cosplay, gaming, and graphic artists.
• Main Street Latin Festival | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Columbia | Free | The Main Street District will be filled with the sounds of salsa, merengue, reggaetón and grupero music, with folkloric dancers, and Latin foods.
• Gamecock Football vs. Old Dominion Monarchs | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 4:15 p.m. | Williams-Brice Stadium | $50-$105 | Watch the Gamecocks kick off their 2024-25 season.

• US Brick — founded as Carolina Ceramics in Columbia in 1939 + currently headquartered in Charleston — is expanding its Richland County operations. The $5.5 million investment will create 33 new jobs.

• Soda City FC, Columbia’s semi-professional soccer team, are the UPSL National Champions after defeating Inland Empire FC 3-2 on Sunday. The win secured the team a spot in the 2025 Open Cup.

• Surcheros — a fast, casual fresh Mexican restaurant — is coming soon to Forest Acres. The new location is the first of four planned for Columbia over the next few years. The opening timeline could be as soon as November. Read more food news. (The State)

• Melrose Park in Columbia is set for a significant upgrade this fall, including a new playground and splash pad. Approved by the City Council on August 6, the project aims to create a modern, inclusive space for all. (The Post and Courier)

• At COLAtoday, we love that we get to make the whole city of Columbia our office. If you’re looking for your next dream job, check out our guide to top employers and industries, or explore more places to work.

• It takes a village, as they say. As proud Columbians, we’re inspired by the contributions of our most tenured community members. Please join us in celebrating the legacies of those who have recently died. (The State)

• What to look for in the Panthers joint practice with the Jets. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

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