Plus, a new grocery store and Gamecocks soar in popularity.
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🎶 Vinyl destination

A brick building with the word "Anderson's" over the door. There's a yellow Papa Jazz sign over the door and a placard outside with the store name and an illustrated vinyl record saying the store buys, sells, and trades record.
Expect to see lines outside this store on Record Store Day. | Photo via @chromakati
Drop the needle and let the record spin — Record Store Day 2025 (RSD) is Saturday, April 12, where independent music shops open early and offer limited edition vinyl. For collectors, it’s like Christmas Day and an opportunity to support their favorite artists and local shops, like these Midlands stores.

Papa Jazz Record Shoppe

Located in Five Points, this store has been prepping for RSD for months. Papa Jazz opened in 1980, making it Cola’s oldest music store. Pro tip: Expect lines before the doors open at 8 a.m. + the store will limit entry to 12 people at a time.

Music Gator

Doors open at 8 a.m. at Sumter’s independent record store and collectible RSD items will be available. If you remember Manifest Discs and Tapes in Cola, Music Gator has a similar selection of vinyl, CDs, stickers, posters + shirts.

Scratch N’ Spin

This West Columbia spot offers new + used vinyl records and much more. This year, the store will celebrate RSD with a mega sale and live music from local acts Hillmouse, Antifact + Dead Spring.
2 more shops
United Way of the Midlands

Events

Friday, April 11

Gimme Gimme Disco | 7 p.m. | The Senate | $20 | Hustle to this dance party with all of your favorite ABBA tunes and more disco tracks by artists like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer + Cher.

Noel Freidline: “It Don’t Mean a Thing” | 7-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $40+ | Celebrate a jazz icon at this show that got the swing to pay tribute to Duke Ellington.

Columbia Fireflies vs. Charleston RiverDogs | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $8+ | Celebrate the first weekend of the Fireflies’ 2025 season with a post-game drone show, presented by AMAROK.*

Saturday, April 12

CatVideoFest + DogVideoFest | Times vary | The Nick | $10 each | These two screenings explore the unique bonds between humans and pets through films that educate, entertain, and inspire.

Alley Golf in the Vista | 1-6 p.m. | Steel Hands Vista | $20 | Take a swing at three custom mini golf holes to win prizes — 100% of proceeds support art projects in the Vista.

Columbia Taco + Tequila Bar Crawl | 1-6 p.m. | The Vista | $25+ | Explore some of the Vista’s spiciest restaurants with food and drink deals and live music; tickets include four tacos.

Columbia Fireflies vs. Charleston RiverDogs | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $8+ | It’s Neon Night: Light up the night with the Fireflies and snag a free Rally Towel if you’re one of the first 1,000 fans in attendance.*

Sunday, April 13

Spring Fairy Flea Market | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Floral & Fauna, Lexington | Free | This magical market features artisans showing off their talents, photo ops, and food vendors.

Poetry Ball | 5-10 p.m. | Luxe Life | $20+ | Wintah Storm and Bugsy Calhoun host this night of poetry that also includes food, a cash bar, and an open mic.

Columbia Fireflies vs. Charleston RiverDogs | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $8+ | It’s Sunday Funday: Sundays are for family fun and post-game autographs. Kids can run the bases post-game.*
More weekend happenings
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Gibbes Museum of Art

Community

Dig into sustainable gardening at this free workshop

Presented by Richland County Stormwater
Yellow flowers outside
Learn how native plants and sustainable gardening techniques can benefit your home garden. | Photo via SC Native Plant Society
Looking to enhance your gardening skills? The Home Blue Thumb Landscapers Workshop, hosted by Richland County and Columbia Water, returns Saturday, April 26.

This free event covers:
  • Native plants
  • Sustainable gardening techniques
  • Pollinator-friendly plants
  • The benefits of compost and water harvesting
  • And more
Don’t miss your chance to elevate your garden game — space is limited, so be sure to register in advance.
Save your spot

News Notes

Development

Canadian manufacturer Techo-Bloc will build a $45 million facility at Saxe-Gotha Industrial Park in Cayce, with construction set to begin later this year. Techo-Bloc is known for producing outdoor landscaping materials, and the development is expected to create 46 new jobs in the community. (WLTX)

Sports

For the 11th consecutive season, the Gamecocks women’s basketball team ranked No. 1 in fan attendance. The team averaged 16,437 fans per home game, more than any other NCAA team. If you want to help keep up the streak, you can place a deposit for 2025-2026 season tickets.

Holiday

Chag sameach. Passover (or Pesach) begins at sundown tomorrow, Saturday, April 12, and goes through Sunday, April 20. Check the Chabad of SC’s calendar for services and ways to observe.

Coming Soon

NC-based grocer Food Lion is preparing to stock shelves at a new location on Two Notch Road in Elgin. The store will be one of the retailers at the upcoming Pontiac Towne Center. While its opening date hasn’t been announced, other spaces are available to lease in September. (The State)

Announced

A cool spot named “Mo’s Dairy Bar” announced it will take over the former Zesto in Forest Acres. Mo’s posted a sign on the restaurant’s door, though details like the opening date and menu have not been announced. The space has not been operational since Zesto left in December 2024. (The Post and Courier)

Real Estate

Offices are moving in to Columbia. The city’s office vacancy rate was 12.21% in the first quarter of 2025 — down 1.96 percentage points from last year. The success has been partially attributed to renovated spaces and buildings receiving updates. (The Post and Courier)

Award

Do you know people, places, events, or services in Columbia that deserve recognition? Nominations are open for the Free Times Best of Columbia awards through Wednesday, April 30, featuring a wide range of categories. You’ll be able to vote for the finalists starting Tuesday, May 27. (Free Times)

Plan Ahead

A flower bar is getting ready to bloom at Night Shift. Fern Flower Studios will host the floral pop-up on Friday, April 25, 6-9 p.m., where you can spring for pre-made flower arrangements, pizza from La Dolce Vita Pizza, and beer + wine from The Hoot.

Listen

Shemar Stewart, Will Johnson, and Terrance Ferguson would be polarizing draft picks for the Panthers, but are they worth the risk? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Health

Whether you’re living with diabetes or just looking to learn more, Prisma Health’s Diabetes Self-Management Program offers valuable tips you can start using today. Learn more + get started.*

Finance

Ready for a new ride? AllSouth Federal Credit Union recently dropped auto loan rates — making now a smart time to hit the gas on your next car. Cruise over to their site to check out the low rates + apply.*
6AM City SSAP

Outdoors

🪻 What’s growing on with wisteria?

Wisteria
Wisteria can be easy to spot because it resembles hanging grapes. | Photo by COLAtoday team
If you’ve seen pops of purple in Soda City, you’ll know that wisteria is in bloom. The varieties you see in Columbia are usually Wisteria floribunda or Wisteria sinensis — plants native to Japan and China that were believed to be introduced to SC in the late 1800s.

These vines are both beautiful and invasive. Generally, the stunning blooms only last a few weeks, but the vines also produce thick roots that can kill other plants, particularly ones native to SC. Over time, the root growth can damage garden structures, roads, or sidewalks.

There is a wisteria — Wisteria frutescens — that’s native to SC. You can find it at nurseries, and it’s less aggressive. It produces smaller flowers and is a host plant for native moths and butterflies.

If you want to learn more about native plants, COLAtoday readers have recommended the SC Native Plant Society for its vast knowledge. The Midlands Chapter is hosting a native plant sale tomorrow, April 12.

The Buy

A set of nice thank you cards. This budget-friendly 36-pack combines elegant minimalism with gold foil accents on high-quality paper. Keep it on hand for expressing gratitude at a moment’s notice.
More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Mike NCT Blue
I grew up in the 1990s when CDs were all the rage. Everyone I knew had a copy of Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View,” but I don’t even have a CD player anymore. For Record Store Day, maybe I should relive the 1990s and show my Columbia pride by purchasing the album on vinyl.
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The Buy

A men’s sun protective shirt. The lightweight, long sleeve design is great for fishing, camping, and hiking and blocks 98% of UVA/UVB rays.
More worth The Buy

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