Inside The Laundry | Take a peek inside the new, mixed-use event space in the BullStreet District that incorporates local history into its design.
Celebrate Earth Day in the Midlands | Find events where you can partake in sustainable activities and organizations that let you get involved with community efforts.
How has inflation impacted Columbia? | The Consumer Price Index released its March 2025 report for the South. See how costs have increased compared to last year and the areas where prices have gone down.
Events
Events
Saturday, April 19
Car Cruise-In + Cookout | 12-4 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, Cayce | Free entry | Whether you’re into hot rods or hot dogs, this event will have something for you — plus, there will be live music and beer on tap.
Open the Patio Party | 4 p.m. | Top Dawg Tavern | Free | Get outside and enjoy live music from Mark Handy + Dean Vandelay while sipping on margarita deals.
“The Shot Heard Round The World” | 4:30-8 p.m. | Old Mill Pond Trail, Lexington | Free | History comes to life at this commemorative, 250th American Revolution anniversary event with exhibits, lantern tours, activities, and tributes.
Arboretum Open House | Sunday, April 20-Thursday, July 10 | 1-4 p.m. | W. Gordon Belser Arboretum | Free | Walk through 10 SC biomes along a 1/3 mile trail and learn from faculty-led presentations.
USC Gamecocks vs. Kentucky Wildcats Softball | 6 p.m. | Carolina Softball Stadium At Beckham Field | $12 | Get to the stadium early for a pre-game Easter egg hunt before you cheer on the Gamecocks.
Tuesday, April 22
Conservation Conversation | 5-8 p.m. | Nickelodeon Theater | $5 | Celebrate Earth Day by talking with tribal leaders about the importance of nature trails in Indigenous culture.
Thursday, April 24
Palates and Pages | 6-8:30 p.m. | All Good Books | $40 | Savor stories and flavors of the South with “Notoriously Dapper” author Kelvin Davis and Mary Martha Greene —aka the Cheese Biscuit Queen.
UniverSoul Circus | Thursday, April 24-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Columbia Place Mall | $25+ | The circus is coming to town with a show that combines circus arts, theater, and music while celebrating cultural diversity.
Friday, April 25
“Way Them Fans @" | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $78+ | This all star concert features steppers performances by The TNT Steppas + DTS Steppas with a round up of musicians taking the stage.
Mascots are having a moment. According to a Digiday report, more and more companies are using mascots to stand out. That’s not news to us — Cocky always has a place in our hearts.
Seasonal
Tomorrow begins Taurus season — an earth sign associated with persistence and stubbornness. If this is your sign, find out which Columbia neighborhood is your perfect match. Don’t worry, we’ve also found a companion for every other zodiac sign.
Learn
The first-ever identified footprints of the ankylosaurid ankylosaur — a dino that lived ~100 million years ago — were recently confirmed and reported, revealing that two different types of ankylosauruses coexisted.Learn more about dinosaurs locally at the SC State Museum. (Discover Magazine)
Active
The 129th Boston Marathon will take off on Monday, April 21, but you don’t need to go to Massachusetts to lace up your running shoes. You can join one of Columbia’s walking or running clubs to find movement that’s more your speed and help prepare for a future race.
Number
$150,000. That’s the deposit required to make like Katy Perry and shoot across the sky on Blue Origin’s next launch into space. Want the adrenaline rush without the price tag? Try a local activity like Skydive Carolina.
Sports
Dive into the comments made at Hornets exit day and the players they should — and shouldn’t — try to draft. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
City Guide
City Guide
🎶 Live from Columbia
Thousands of people can enjoy each show at the Koger Center. | Photo by Koger Center for the Arts
Summer is right around the corner, and the stage is set for a season of live music. Some of the biggest artists stop in the Midlands while touring — Stevie Nicks announced a show this week — and these are the biggest live music venues you can visit in the area.
Description: Colonial Life Arena is a multi-purpose venue that serves as the home for Gamecocks Basketball and hosts other events like concerts + family shows.
Description: The Township Auditorium is a historic venue that’s been a part of Cola’s culture since 1930. It hosts a variety of events, including concerts, comedy shows, and theatrical performances.
Description: The Koger Center for the Arts is known for its acoustics, opera, and ballet productions. It serves as a cultural centerpiece for USC and the Cola community.
Over the past week, I’ve heard so many people talking about Coachella. As we head into the festival’s second weekend, I’m so happy I’m not camping in the desert to watch the show. I’d much rather follow the feeds on YouTube from the comfort of my couch — even better if I have a local beer in hand.
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