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 June. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Foodies
The Capital City Cocktail Competition | Sunday, June 8 | 3-6 p.m. | Expansive Main Street | $55 | Where cocktails meet competition with eight local mixologists, three rounds, and one unforgettable night.
Festivals
Outfest | Saturday, June 14 | 12-8 p.m. | 1100 Park St., Columbia | Free | Celebrate Pride Month with this famously hot block party.
Family
Lake Murray’s Independence Day Celebration | Saturday, June 28 | 8 p.m. | Dreher Island State Park, Prosperity | Tune in with your radio and watch the fireworks show launched from Spence and Dreher Islands.
Bibimbox Grand Opening Events | 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. | Bibimbox | Free | Bibimbox is officially launching its full menu, including Korean fried chicken, rice bowls, tteokbokki, and other Korean-inspired comfort foods.
EdVenture’s Kickoff to Summer | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | EdVenture | Free | Enjoy a fun-filled day packed with hands-on activities, giveaways, and more to welcome the sunny season.
Carolina Food Truck Festival | 12-9 p.m. | South Carolina State Fair | $15 | Browse the Carolina Food Truck Festival for a day filled with delicious eats from the best food trucks from around the Carolinas.
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Following an NCAA Super Regional appearance season, USC head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard was named the National Coach of the Year by D1Softball. This was Coach Woodward’s first year as head coach at USC. (Gamecocks Online)
State
SCDOT is seeking public opinions until Wednesday, June 18. It’s looking to make amendments to the 2024-2033 Statewide Improvement Program to include the 2025-2026 Pavement Improvement Program. View a map of the pavement improvement program + share your thoughts.
Edu
Today is 5.29. Reach your college savings goals with a Future Scholar. It offers three ways to invest in a direct 529 investment plan — an age-based option, a target-allocation option, or a single-fund option. Enroll + make a contribution.
Listen
Is Brandon Miller’s growth delayed or stalled? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
This summer, you can see 37 of groundbreaking artist Sam Gilliam’s most iconic prints right here in Columbia. And don’t forget, the CMA is offering free admission all summer long for SC residents.*
The Buy
A rechargeable handheld fan to keep you cool all summer long. With a battery life of up to 14 hours and three adjustable speeds, it’s our favorite hack to keep from overheating in warm weather.
I wanted to shout out an article Chloe Barlow wrote for the Post and Courier that I found fascinating. Did you know it takes $4,000 every week to feed just the koalas, Kirra + Milo, at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, making them the most costly animals to feed? They only dine on eucalyptus leaves, shipped overnight twice a week from Florida and Arizona. That’s some expensive taste. Thanks for the fun fact, Chloe. Read the full article here.
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