Al fresco dining at the 2024 Columbia Food & Wine Kickoff Dinner. | Photo by Forrest Clonts | Forrest Clonts
The Columbia Food & Wine Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through Sunday, April 27 — and while some popular dinners are sold out, there’s still plenty on the menu for Midlands food lovers.
Here are some highlights you can still snag tickets to:
Knead to Know: Breadmaking 101 | Wednesday, April 23 | The Proof | $100 | Get your hands floury with a guided breadmaking session.
Soul of the South: A Gullah Experience | Friday, April 25 | The Farm 1780 | $125 | Celebrate Gullah culture with this outdoor dinner featuring traditional dishes, storytelling, and the rich culinary history of the Lowcountry.
ColaFEST! | Saturday, April 26 | Runway 728 | $50 | This food and music mash-up features local bands Opus and the Frequencies + Marshall Brown, top chefs, and brews from Bierkeller Brewing, Columbia Craft, Steel Hands, Savage Craft, and more.
BubbleQ | Saturday, April 26 | City Roots | $125 | Champagne + barbecue = yes, please. Pair smoked favorites with bubbly under the stars.
Arboretum Open House | 1-4 p.m. | W. Gordon Belser Arboretum | Free | Walk through 10 SC biomes along a 1/3 mile trail and lead from faculty-led presentations.
Conservation Conversation | 5-8 p.m. | Nickelodeon Theatre | $5 | Celebrate Earth Day by talking with tribal leaders about the importance of nature trails in Indigenous culture.
Wednesday, April 23
Collaborative Kitchen | 6-8 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard | $125 | A French-inspired multi-course dinner with wine pairings from Alsace’s renowned Trimbach Winery.
Comedy + Beer | 7-9 p.m. | Old Mill Brewpub, Lexington | $15 | Laugh along with rising comedians from the Southeast and get there early to order pre-show food.
Thursday, April 24
Birdwatching in the Gardens | 8-9 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | Free | Spot feathered friends and learn birding tips on a guided walk through the gardens with local birder John Tjaarda.
Sunset Sessions on Boyd Plaza | 4-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Grab a bite and enjoy live, outdoor music — this week features The Millhands + food for purchase from Tacos Oink Oink.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the 8.5‑mile Saluda Shoals Riverwalk is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 at Saluda Shoals Park’s Upper Boat Landing. The paved trail will follow the Lower Saluda River and will link Irmo, Lexington, and Columbia once finished. (Cola Daily)
Opening
Cola Stacks is celebrating its grand opening Saturday, April 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Devine Street. Early shoppers can score up to 30% off, with treats, mocktails, and cookies from Doodle and Dough on hand.
Outdoors
A 2,700-year-old astronomical phenomenon will light up our skies tonight and tomorrow. Here’s how you can view the Lyrid meteor shower, which is known for producing bright fireballs. (WIS)
Eat
Cafe de Thyme, a new Thai cafe from Bangkok, is now open downtown on Sumter Street. Expect house-made pastries, coffee, Thai teas, and matcha lattes. City Editor David stopped in and tried the Thai Pinky Milk and a chocolate muffin.
Theater
Columbia Children’s Theatre brings “Pete the Cat” to Harbison Theatre on Saturday, May 3 with shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Expect music, mischief, and life lessons as Pete and Jimmy roll through a groovy adventure to Paris.
Mansion Monday
This 47-acre legacy estate in Elgin — dubbed “The Hideaway” — just hit the market. Featuring three ponds, a saltwater pool, private trails, and a gourmet kitchen, this luxury retreat offers privacy and scenic living just minutes from I-20.
Sports
Clemson’s longtime strength coach is retiring after the 2025 season. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Clemson Tigers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Community
Richland County and Columbia Water invite residents to the Home Blue Thumb Landscapers Workshop on Saturday, April 26. This free event covers native plants, composting, and water harvesting. Space is limited, so register in advance.*
From the diaper days to golden years of good health, your primary care physician is your partner in health. Discover the importance of primary care to see how they’ve got your back (and heart, and everything in between).*
Drink
Raise a glass for a great cause at Steel Hands Brewing’s Cayce taproom, Tuesday, April 22-Sunday, April 27. In honor of Officer Drew Barr, Steel Hands Brewing will donate $1 for every pint of Steel Paws Wheat Ale poured to support SC law enforcement + K9 programs. Learn more.*
A pair of versatile men’s pants that offer a stylish, yet relaxed fit. Whether it’s for work, on the golf course, or a date night, these straight fit pants are crafted with premium, four-way stretch fabric for a refined look that doesn’t sacrifice comfort.
Thank you to Columbia Opportunity Resource for inviting me to host a table at its biannual Table for Six dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening of conversation with Brittany, Gay, Dana, Jennifer, and Virneta. We stayed so late we were nearly the last to leave — and in the process discovered that Dana and Gay are cousins whose family roots stretch back centuries in the Midlands.
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