Soda City Market vendors go all out for each season. | Photo by COLAtoday
Whether you’re stuffing the turkey or decking the halls, these local holiday markets are showcasing the best of Columbia’s vendors, makers, and artists.
Tinsel Toast | Friday, Nov. 21 | 6-9 p.m. | Re•Find | Browse vintage finds with live music from Kimberly Walsh, Richard Hurteau, food from Chef Hector, and drinks from The Hoot.
Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt | Weekends from Nov. 29 through Dec. 21 | 12-8 p.m. | Bierkeller Columbia | Sip Glühwein or hot chocolate, browse artisan vendors, and enjoy festive riverfront vibes each weekend.
Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market | Thursday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 7 | SC State Fairgrounds | One of the Midlands’ biggest holiday markets features more than 160 vendors, Santa photos, and special ticketed events.
Midlands Clay Arts Society Holiday Sale | Thursday, Dec. 4-Saturday, Dec. 6 | Stormwater Studios | Meet local artists and shop handcrafted pottery and ceramics.
Meeting Street Holiday Artisan Market | Saturdays from Dec.6 through Dec. 20 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, West Columbia | Find handmade gifts, local art, and food trucks at this outdoor market just across the river.
The dish first appeared on her family’s table when her grandchildren, were just six and four, visiting their mountain home for the holidays. Hoping to serve something they’d love, Barbara reached out to an old friend from her church in Cullowhee, NC, for a beloved fruit-and-oatmeal recipe once served at youth group brunches. The original was lost, but another version soon became a Carter family classic.
Now, her grandson is a sophomore at Clemson, and every Thanksgiving still includes that same casserole — even the year they had to pass it to him over his apartment porch during COVID.
We’re telling you, you won’t have any leftovers with this future favorite.
USC has plans to transform the South Main Street area near the Horseshoe into a mixed-use hub with student housing, retail, and potentially a hotel by 2034. Recent land purchases include the former Hunter-Gatherer Brewery site + Cool Beans coffee shop. (The State)
Legacy
Susan Fair Boyd, a lifelong Columbia civic leader and philanthropist, died on November 8 at 92. Known for her work with the Boyd Foundation, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, and numerous cultural institutions, she helped create Boyd Plaza and Boyd Island.
Eat
Mashburn Construction has started renovations for the future home of No Name Deli at Laurel and Sumter Streets. The project will preserve historic details and add outdoor seating, expanded parking, and quicker to-go service. The move keeps the deli just blocks from its longtime Elmwood spot, which is set for redevelopment. (WLTX)
Community
Columbia’s skateboard community helped welcome Newberry’s first skate park, which officially opened Sunday after years of grassroots advocacy. Built in just a month by 5th Pocket Skateparks, the $270,000 project serves all skill levels and is part of Newberry’s penny tax initiative. (WLTX)
Outdoors
The 26th annual Millrace and Iceman Challenge returns to the Saluda Riverwalk on Saturday, Jan. 3. Racers of all levels will tackle whitewater events, including the beginner Straight Shooter, the technical Millrace Massacre, and the chilling 1.5-mile Iceman Championship.
Civic
Columbia’s Solid Waste Division will place leaf collection containers across the city Friday, Nov. 21 through Friday, Nov. 28. Residents can drop off bagged leaves only at Hyatt, TS Martin, Woodland, Rosewood, and Hampton parks.
Community
Do you have a favorite restaurant? What about a pet-friendly spot? We want you to use your voice + passion for local biz and vote for COLAtoday’s Best. Voting ends Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Try This
Coffee bar crawl, anyone? Use our guide to Cola’s coffee shops to track down the best seasonal sips in the Capital City. If you love using our guides to explore the city, consider supporting us directly — think of it like buying us a coffee.
Finance
Investing in exotic and classic vehicles delivers results — a Lamborghini Countach sale just generated a 14% net return for MCQ Markets investors. Diversify for $20 a share.*
Event Spotlight
Boyd Plaza comes alive with music, art, and crowds during Arts & Draughts at the CMA. | Photo by Columbia Museum of Art
Boyd Plaza will turn into a full-on fall block party when Arts & Draughts returns to the Columbia Museum of Art on Friday, Nov. 21 from 6 to 10 p.m. Patti O’Furniture will host the evening that also features comedy from Phil Carter and Jenn Snyder, plus live sets from Shows, Rodfly and the Clouds, DJ Wandergirl, and DJ Lady Marauder.
Step inside to explore “Keith Haring: Radiant Vision,” join in on hands-on art activities, and catch live screenprinting from Bluetile Print Studio. Outside, grab a beer from Weco Bottle and Biergarten’s curated selection, tacos from La Cochinita, and take in the downtown vibes.
The Buy
Benefit’s top-rated brow pen that’s on sale for a limited time. We love that it draws on three superfine lines in one stroke, resulting in fuller-looking brows in seconds. Bonus: Get $10 off your order of at least $20 with code HSN2025 by Sunday, Nov. 30.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Look who I ran into at Finlay Park on Friday night. Mason and I agreed that the park is an amazing and wonderful (re)addition to our community. I spent all day Saturday and Sunday at the park, and it was a joy unlike any other to see so many familiar, smiling faces there. My favorite part was seeing so many friends with their families all gathered together in one place for the first time.
}})
