A view down Main Street from the state house steps. | Photo by COLAtoday
More than 800,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbia metro area’s $58 million economy, and 2024 was considered a transformative year. The Richland County Economic Development Office experienced slower growth than in 2023, but noted multiple local companies that will continue to grow.
Scout Motors | Automotive | Volkswagon entered the electric off-road vehicle arena under the Scout Motors nameplate and will build those cars at a new facility under construction in Blythewood. When completed, the new center will span 1.3 million sqft and create 4,000 new jobs.
Music in the Garden: Paisley Marie | 6-9 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | Free entry | Enjoy the nice weather, sip drinks, and listen to the local singer + songwriter perform.
St. Patty’s Celebration | Friday, March 14-Sunday, March 16 | Times vary | Steel Hands Brewing, Cayce | Free entry | Shamrock at this three-day celebration while you sip the brewery’s Irish stout, watch bands perform, enjoy food, and play games.
Shake Your Shamrock Paint + Sip | 9-11 p.m. | Eight Sixty Station, West Columbia | $45 | Make paintings for St. Patrick’s Day as you sip wine and mimosas while enjoying light bites.
Saturday, March 15
Soda City Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Free | Browse the downtown market to find local artisans, businesses, and food vendors.
USC Gamecocks vs. Georgia Bulldogs Softball | 3 p.m. | Carolina Softball Stadium At Beckham Field | $12 | Get your buns to the stadium for Dollar Dog Day and enjoy hot dogs as you cheer for USC.
Australian Wine Tasting | 3-5 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard | $33 | Enjoy six wines from down under as sommelier Jonathan Lopez leads this tasting experience accompanied by light snacks.
The Official Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl | 4-11:59 p.m. | Republic Biergarten | $25 | Paint the town green as you explore Columbia’s bars with two drinks included, food deals, and an invitation to an after party.
Sunday, March 16
A Wee Bit Celtic Artisan Market | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Flora & Fauna Marketplace, Lexington | Free | Don your kilt and festive attire as you browse local vendors + food trucks with Celtic music and photo opportunities.
Artisan and Plant Swap Market | 12-4 p.m. | Moore Park, Irmo | Free | Bring your seeds, bulbs, clippings, and transplants to trade while meeting other plant lovers.
Free Sunday | 1-4 p.m. | Robert Mills House & Gardens | Free | Dive into local history with a free tour of the house museum.
Planet Fitness is bulking up with new equipment. | Photo provided by Planet Fitness
Strength training is more than just lifting weights — it’s key to longevity, injury prevention, and overall well-being.
With more gym-goers prioritizing strength training, Planet Fitness is responding by adding new plate-loaded strength equipment to all Columbia-area locations. This upgrade allows members to target every major muscle group, boosting strength and power with controlled, effective movements.
Whether you’re looking to build muscle, enhance endurance, or support long-term health, these new additions offer the tools to reach your fitness goals.
Ready to step up your training and experience the benefits?
ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc. has stuck with Lexington County as the site of its first SC location. The adhesive manufacturer will open a 125,000-sqft facility at Saxe Gotha Industrial Park that anticipates creating 130 new jobs. Operations are expected to begin by July 2026.
Open
A new — but vintage — store made its debut on State Street in Cayce last weekend. Feathered Nest offers a curated selection of antiques, artisan pieces, and well-maintained furnishings. It’s open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (it closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday). (WestMetroNews)
Outdoors
The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District’s Seed Sanctuary Program is once again blooming for spring. Locals can get free seeds at the County Administration Building in Columbia + Richland Library Eastover or by mail on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the sanctuary’s offerings online.
Art
Stormwater Studios is inviting locals to flutter over to its Butterfly Release event on Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The free celebration coincides with Art Day and will feature displays, a tour of the Pollinator Garden, and a butterfly release at Kinsler Creek.
Watch
The NY Cat Film Festival + The NY Dog Film Festival are bringing heartwarming tails to the Nick on Saturday, April 12. The two screenings will feature collections of uplifting, family-friendly short films celebrating pets, and 10% of sales will be donated to Final Victory Animal Rescue.
Ranked
WalletHub agrees, St. Patrick’s Day in Columbia shamrocks. The city ranked No. 20 on its list of best cities to celebrate the holiday. Cola received strong scores for its weather, costs, and number of traditions — like the long-standing Five Points Parade.
Sports
After 65 games, where do the Hurricanes stand in the NHL rankings? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Hurricaneswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Put down the messy powders.HONA Athlete Gummies deliver clean, fast-absorbing performance support to help you go further. Get 50% off for a limited time.*
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City
⚾️ Swing by Segra Park
Segra Park will host the Mac and Cheese Festival in March. | Photo provided by Segra Park
Baseball season is right around the corner, and Segra Park has a packed roster — even before the Fireflies take bat. Preseason excitement kicks off next Tuesday, March 18. The ballpark will host a Palmetto State showdown when the Gamecocks face the Charleston Cougars.
If you’re waiting for the Columbia Fireflies, the team returns to their home base on Tuesday, April 8, for their home opener against the Charleston RiverDogs. The season runs through Sunday, Aug. 31, but if you need an extra incentive, check out the promotional schedule to catch fun themes and freebies.
Hungry for more? Guests can indulge in food-themed fun at festivals this year, including:
Mac & Cheese Festival — Saturday, March 22, with pasta-themed dishes, music, and park concessions available.
BBQ and Brews Festival — Saturday, May 24, featuring barbecue food trucks, an expanded beer list, and live entertainment.
The Buy
The Buy
These best-selling no-show socks. A staple for any sock drawer, this no-show variety pairs well with sneakers, Oxfords, and business shoes.
There’s a lot going on this weekend, but if you want to start it off on the right foot, you can join the City Manager’s Go Red Heart Walk this morning. It’s at 10:30 a.m., so even if you can’t join, it’s a good reminder to make some time for activities that support heart health.
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