Happy Saturday, Cola. David here. I was driving down Sumter Street yesterday and noticed that the setup for Columbia’s Greek Festival is well underway, with the event kicking off Thursday, Sept. 19. If you’re like me and love to check the menu before heading to a restaurant, you might want to do the same for this year’s festival. Since different dishes are served each day, planning ahead can really help.
Top Stories
Oak Hills Golf Club set for Crystal Lagoons development | SC’s first Crystal Lagoons amenity is coming to the new Oak Hills community in north Columbia, which will feature 2,600 homes and is set to begin development in early 2025.
College GameDay returns to Columbia | ESPN’s “College GameDay” returns to Columbia for the first time in 10 years today, with live broadcasts and fan activities leading up to the Gamecocks vs. LSU 12 p.m. matchup.
Asked
Which historic American figure invited a young Robert Mills to his home to study architecture for two years?
A. George Washington
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Madison
D. Benjamin Franklin
Soda City Market | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Free | Find everything to satisfy your brain, body, and belly — made with love by local vendors.
Midlands Fall Arts & Crafts Market | Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15 | Times vary | South Carolina State Farmers Market, West Columbia | Free | Over 160 crafters and vendors from all over the Midlands will be showcasing their talents and creations.
SC Horror Convention | Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15 | Times vary | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | $13-$20 | Expect panels with horror icons like Felissa Rose and Dave Sheridan, a live haunt, and a cosplay contest.
Gamecock Football vs. LSU | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 12 p.m. | Williams-Brice Stadium | $130+ | Watch as the Gamecocks take on the LSU Tigers inside of Willy-B.
Gallery Opening | Saturday, Sept. 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, Irmo | Free | Join The Jasper Project and Columbia flag designer Nate Puza as they celebrate the opening of his exhibition in the gallery space at Harbison Theatre.
Free Sundays at Robert Mills House | Sunday, Sept. 15 | 1-4 p.m. | Robert Mills House | Free | The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
Live Outside | Sunday, Sept. 15 | 5-7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | Relax with a free outdoor concert on Sunday evenings from 5-7 p.m.
Plan Ahead
Columbia’s 37th Annual Greek Festival | Thursday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 22 | Times vary | Columbia | Free | The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral welcomes visitors and offers their hospitality for the annual Greek Festival.
Chaye Alexander Presents Live At Boyd Plaza | Sunday, Sept. 22 | 4-6 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Enjoy sultry soul + jazz songstress Brittany Turnipseed, backed by Rod Foster and Company as they celebrate the timeless music of the female jazz icons.
The Town of Lexington will held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Old Mill Pond Trail on yesterday. The 1.15-mile paved loop offers scenic views of the Lexington Mill Pond, with various bridges, outlooks, and seating areas to enjoy nature.
Festival
Historic Columbia will host the 46th Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. The free outdoor festival features musicians, artisans, dancers, and storytellers that celebrate SC’s Black history and culture on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site.
Community
The new soccer fields at Owens Field Park are now open as part of a $1.8 million revitalization project. The upgrades include a new irrigation system + walking path and additional improvements, like new restrooms and disc golf updates, are planned. (The Post and Courier)
Watch
The USC women’s basketball team visited the White House where they were honored by President Joe Biden for their 2024 National Championship. This is the first time the Gamecocks have been to the White House for a championship win. (WLTX)
Listen
Cade Klubnik: from doubts to top 10 QB in the nation. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Clemson Tigers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
City Guide
🍂Here’s how fall will feel
Rainy days are coming: Columbia’s 2024 fall weather forecast
Leaves on the ground in front of the South Carolina State House. | Photo by COLAtoday
We know the question on your mind, Columbians — when’s it going to get cool? Thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, we know what temperatures and precipitation trends to expect in our city for September, October, and November. While exact fall weather conditions typically can’t be predicted more than a week in advance, here’s a seasonal outlook to help you prepare for what fall will bring.
Reminder: The first day of fall is on Sunday, Sept. 22.
🌡️ Temperature
Think warm. This fall, Cola has a 40-50% chance of temperatures being higher than normal, which is higher than last year’s prediction of 33-40%.
🌨️ Precipitation
Precipitation trends are expected to lean above average through December. Usually, Cola averages 3.94 inches of rain in September, 2.89 inches in October, 2.88 inches in November, and 3.38 in December.
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