A masked luchador hypes up the crowd at Segra Park’s Taco & Margarita Festival. | Photo via Columbia Fireflies
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into September. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site | Free | The annual celebration features live music, artist demonstrations, and marketplace vendors selling a variety of wares, products, and art.
Palmetto Peanut Boil | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 12-6 p.m. | 2900 Block of Devine Street | Free | Come celebrate the state snack and try all varieties of peanuts.
Columbia’s 38th Annual Greek Festival | Thursday, Sept. 18-Friday, Sept. 19 | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral | Free | Celebrate Greek culture with authentic food, live music, traditional dancing, vendors, and cathedral tours.
The Palmetto Party | Thursday, Sept. 25 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $85 | This event features some of the best chefs from across the state.
Speed Networking at Venture X | 8:30-10 a.m. | 1901 Main St., Columbia | Free | Get ready to make fast connections and expand your network.
Meeting Street Artisan Market | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, West Columbia | Free | The market includes vendors selling original art, crafts, foods, and produce. Columbia Fireflies vs. Hickory Crawdads | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $8+ | It’s Budweiser Thirsty Thursday: Enjoy $3 Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and soft drinks at the ballpark.*
Friday, Aug. 29
Fun Friday | 7-9 p.m. | Crooked Creek Park, Chapin | Free | $10 | Eat pizza and play basketball, 9 square in the air, Just Dance, and freeze tag.
Jerry Cantrell - I Want Blood Tour | 7 p.m. | The Senate | $69 | The Alice In Chains guitarist brings his solo tour for one heavy night in the Vista.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Soda City Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Free | Browse this lively downtown market to find local artisans, businesses, and food vendors — rain or shine.
Dr. Ali McGhee presenting on the Enneagram at PechaKucha Night Asheville. | Photo by Jake Frankel
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Vibez Coffee will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow with 50% off drinks after 12 p.m. The new Columbia riverfront shop serves espresso drinks, honey matcha lattes, and small-batch roasted beans, and plans to host open mic + painting nights. (The Post and Courier)
Civic
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann’s third annual Town Hall Tour runs Monday, Sept. 8–Wednesday, Sept. 10. Sessions include Districts 1 + 2 at Earlewood Park on Monday, Districts 3 + 4 at Woodland Park on Tuesday, and a business community breakfast with the Columbia Chamber at Segra Park on Wednesday.
Edu
USC will add more than 1,000 new student beds with a 900-bed residence hall at Sumter and Blossom streets and a 190-bed Honors College expansion. The $185 million project will close Sumter Street during construction and replace McBryde Hall, which is set for demolition next spring. (The State)
Announced
Free Times is returning to newsstands on Wednesday, Sept. 3 as a standalone weekly paper focused on the local arts and entertainment scene. The relaunch will bring back favorites like “Rant & Rave” plus new features, and all print + digital content will be free with registration.
Holiday
Chapin’s annual Labor Day Celebration runs Saturday, Aug. 30–Monday, Sept. 1. Events include the Fidelis 5K on Saturday, the Boots on Beaufort concert Sunday at 6 p.m., and Monday’s 9:30 a.m. parade followed by a downtown festival with food trucks, vendors, live music, and a classic car show. (The Irmo News)
Active
Richland County Recreation Commission has opened new pickleball courts at the Denny Terrace Gym. The project is part of ongoing efforts to expand recreational opportunities across the county. (WACH)
Seasonal
PSA: Last chance to explore the Meeting Street Artisan Market, happening today, Aug. 28. Stop by the Interactive Art Park from 4-8 p.m. to shop one-of-a-kind finds — from handmade goods and original art to fresh bakes and locally crafted jewelry. Plan your visit.*
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Finance
The institutional firms that backed Uber and Venmo also invested in Pacaso, whose co-ownership tech revolutionizes the $1.3 trillion vacation home market. Pacaso has earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO. Invest for $2.90/share before the opportunity ends Sept. 18.†‡*
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Graphic by 6AM City
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When I strolled Main Street at Soda City Market last Saturday, I wasn’t planning on buying a plant — but the Terracotta pop-up at 1441 Main St. changed that. The shop has filled the building’s lobby and will be open through Saturday, Aug. 30. Stop in while you can.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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