A masked luchador hypes up the crowd at Segra Park’s Taco & Margarita Festival. | Photo via Columbia Fireflies
Lucky you. You just found COLAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events taking place throughout Columbia each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into April. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Festivals
Drink Pink Rosé Festival | Sunday, May 18 | 12-4:30 p.m. | Hampton Preston Mansion | $45+ | Celebrate wine, eat, drink, play, and dance the day away at this yearly festival.
Learn
Tour of Tea: Every Sip Tells a Story | Wednesday, May 7 | 4-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Head to Boyd Plaza for a community event celebrating the rich traditions of AAPI cultures through an exploration of the history, flavors, and cultural significance of tea.
Shows
Jerry Seinfeld | Friday, May 16 | 7 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $82+ | Watch the legendary comedian on his latest stand-up tour.
Forest Acres Farmers Market | Wednesday, April 30, Wednesday, May 7 | 2-6 p.m. | Gills Creek Memorial Park | Free | Browse local farmers and artisans bringing fruit, produce, eggs, meats, honey, dog treats, and more.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Hickory Crawdads | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia | $8-$19 | It’s White Claw Wednesday: Enjoy a game at the ballpark with $5 12oz White Claws — the perfect combo.*
Thursday, May 1
First Thursday on Main Celebrates Carribean Festival | 5 p.m. | Main Street District | Free | Stroll along the vibrant 1400 block of Main Street and discover handcrafted treasures, live music, drinks, yoga, and more.
Friday, May 2
15th Annual Blythewood Championship Spring Rodeo | 5:30-10 p.m. | Blythewood Stadium, Blythewood | $12 | Watch two nights of the nation’s best cowgirls and cowboys compete in eight exciting events.
Mission Lexington’s Rockin’ with a Mission Concert | 6-9 p.m. | Lexington Icehouse Amphitheater, Lexington | $15 | Grab your favorite Hawaiian shirt for an unforgettable evening with the premier Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Captain Mike & the Shipwrecked.
Gamecocks Baseball vs. Florida Gators | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Founders Park | $23+ | Root for the home team as the Gamecocks host the Florida Gators at home.
Saturday, May 3
Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month Storytime | 10-11 a.m. | Richland Library Cooper | Free | Settle in for special stories, songs, and a craft to honor Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month.
Pickin’ & Piggin’ BBQ Cookoff | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia | $5+ | Taste barbecue from over 15 top-notch barbecue cookers, each competing to bring locals the best flavors of the grill.
Rosewood Crawfish Festival | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | SC State Fairgrounds | $12 | Get ready to indulge in the flavors of Louisiana right here in Columbia, SC — complete with live music, arts and crafts, and family-friendly fun.*
Friday, May 9
Artisphere presented by Prisma Health | Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11 | Hours vary | Main Street, Greenville, SC | Free | Enjoy a weekend in Greenville, SC, filled with live music, demos, street performers, hands-on workshops, local eats, and art from 140 vendors.*
This blockbuster exhibition, created by the Walt Disney Archives, showcases 70 costumes worn by stars like Bette Davis, Glenn Close, and Angelina Jolie, bringing to life beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent, Mary Poppins, Jack Sparrow, and many more.
Beyond the artistry of attire, “Heroes & Villians” explores how costumes evolve from concept to reality through quotes + detailed written accounts from award-winning Hollywood designers. Visitors can dive into the details in “Cinderella’s Workshop,” a gallery examining how several designers applied their unique style to different interpretations of the fairytale heroine.
This exhibition is on view from Saturday, May 3 through Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. Pro tip: Museum members get to see it first.
The Publix Supermarket at Spears Creek set a date for the grand opening. The green grocer will welcome customers beginning today at 7 a.m. The newPublix will be 46,791 sqft and employ ~140 associates.
Coming Soon
Ikie Lu Record Club, a new wine/cocktail bar, bookstore, restaurant, and listening room featuring mostly champagnes + cocktails, is coming soon to 601 N. Lucas St. in West Columbia. The anticipated opening of the Japanese jazz kissas-inspired space is sometime in late May. (The State)
Sports
Four Gamecock women’s basketball players — Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Maddy McDaniel — will compete in this year’s 2025 USA Basketball 3X Nationals to be played this weekend in Mesa, Arizona. View the game schedules and team lists.
Techo-Bloc, a landscaping products supplier, is investing $45 million to establish its first SC operation in Lexington County and will be located on Dixiana Road in Cayce. The investment will create 46 new jobs.
Listen
Locked On is grading the Carolina Panthers’ 2025 Draft Class. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Travel
Mapping out your summer travel plans? Perfect timing: Snag this travel credit card’s rare, limited-time welcome bonus to fuel your adventures — whether it’s luxuriating at a resort that could be seen in “The White Lotus,” or city-hopping to visit friends + fam.*
Stat
23%. That’s how much higher the average salary is for jobs tied to SC Ports. With $87 billion in economic impact, SC Ports supports 1 in 9 jobs across the state — opening doors to high-paying careers for South Carolinians. See how SC Ports is driving our state’s success.*
Pro Tip
Subscribe to 1440’s free newsletter to get unbiased global news delivered straight to your inbox every day. The concise, five-minute read covers topics of culture, business, sports, politics + more.*
Biz
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Category
Coming Soon
Meet me at Tapp’s
There is available retail space inside the Tapp’s Building, within the central business district. | Photo provided by Trinity Partners
The historic Tapp’s building, located on Main Street since the early 1900s, will be transformed into a 24/7 gym + retail stores. The main level will be anchored by The Shoppes at Tapps, an 11,000 sqft retail space that aims to offer a sophisticated environment for high-end retailers.
Icon will occupy approximately 3,000 sqft of the floor is set to open in July and offer additional space for other retailers who can lease the space for $4 per sqft per month, with 10% of sales to support staffing + operational expenses. Parking spaces for shoppers will be located directly across the street, and additional parking is available nearby in the Cannon Garage.
The basement level of the building will soon house a 24/7 gym, outfitted with brand-new machines, group fitness areas, studio space with independent HVAC systems, and more. Gym memberships start at $25 per month, with a $25 registration fee.
The Buy
The viral beauty essential you’re most eager to try out:
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🪮 With over 22,000 reviews, K18 hair mask is a trending favorite for a reason — the patented biotech treatment reverses hair damage in four minutes
🌊 Looking for a luxury moisturizer? Tatcha The Water Cream melts into skin with a refreshing water-burst of silky hydration.
👀 Clinique High Impact Mascara was recently named one of the 65 best beauty products of 2025 by Vogue — try burgundy shade Black Honey.
🌈 A TikTok favorite, Tarte colored clay undereye corrector uses color science to neutralize dark undereye circles.
I grew up watching the evening news every night with my family while we made dinner, and Andrea Mock was always such a positive and reassuring face. The long-time News19 WLTX anchor announced she is leaving her position to focus on being a mom. She shared a heartfelt message on her social media page, writing, “Also, take care of JR for me” as her closing line. Locals poured out congratulations in the comments. I echo their congratulations and wish her the best of luck.
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