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📚 Meet the authors
You’ll have the chance to buy a book on site from All Good Books and get it signed by the author. | Photo by Read Freely Fest
Bookmark the last weekend in March, Read Freely Fest returns to Richland Library Main Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29 with an even bigger lineup in its second year. The free festival features nationally recognized authors, writers with local connections, and an Indie Author Alley.
Ashley Poston, who grew up in Lexington, is a New York Times bestselling romance author known for titles like “The Dead Romantics” and “The Seven Year Slip.”
James Clyburn will discuss his memoir, offering insight shaped by decades of political and civil rights leadership.
Jennifer Hope Choi, author of “The Wanderer’s Curse,” has written about her connection to Richland Library’s Wheatley branch, making this appearance a full circle experience.
Lynn Cahoon is the author of more than 30 cozy mysteries, including the “Tourist Trap” series set in a California beach town.
Finlay Park comes alive with diverse music genres that promise to enliven your evenings. | Photos courtesy of the City of Columbia, with select images captured by Crush Rush
Columbia’s premiere, downtown park is turning up the vibes every Friday with Finlay Fridays at Finlay Park, a free concert series from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. running through the end of October.
From soulful jazz to funky grooves, indie jams, and hip-hop beats, there’s something for every music lover — and yes, food trucks and cold beverages are on deck.
Coming up at Finlay Fridays:
Feb. 20 | Reggie Sullivan | Smooth jazz, soul, blues, and pop
Feb. 27 | Jon Rooks Band | Neo-soul, R&B, and funky pop vibes
March 6 | Opus & The Frequencies | Funk, indie rock, and pop jams
March 13: Slim Pickens | A mix of funk, rock, Americana, and indie
March 20 | Jazz in the Park with ColaJazz | Jazz, soul, blues, and pop
March 27 | DemBoyzGood | Hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae rhythms
Grab your friends, your appetite, and your dancing shoes — Finlay Fridays is the place to be.
Ruckers, a new dive bar, is set to open in the coming months on Meeting Street in West Columbia. Owner Shay Winslow told the Free Times that the bar will charge a $10 annual membership and plans to offer live music, classic bar food, and a neighborhood-focused atmosphere.
Opening
Steinway & Sons is returning to Devine Street with a new Steinway Piano Gallery in the former Rice Music House location on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The boutique will feature Steinway-designed pianos, including Steinway & Sons, Boston, Essex, and Spirio.
Number
500 — that’s the number of career wins Dawn Staley has recorded at South Carolina following the Gamecocks’ 79-72 win over No. 6 LSU. The milestone comes ahead of Sunday, Feb. 22, when ESPN’s College GameDay visits Columbia for the matchup against Ole Miss.
Traffic
A $15 million infrastructure project is underway in West Columbia’s Mill Village along Alexander Road. Crews are replacing water lines, upgrading storm drainage, resurfacing roads, and implementing a parking plan. Intermittent closures begin next week, and the project is expected to take 15 months to complete. (WLTX)
Arts
South Carolina Ballet will celebrate its 65th anniversary with Sapphire Ballet and the Sapphire Gala on Saturday, March 7 at the Koger Center for the Arts. The milestone performance highlights the company’s evolution from Columbia City Ballet to its current statewide presence.
Holiday
The start of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. Observe and learn more from the Islamic Center of Columbia.
Environment
A 2.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Lake Murray Friday evening, marking South Carolina’s ninth tremor of the year. The quake near Irmo follows a recent cluster of seismic activity in the Lowcountry and near Elgin. (The State)
Cause
Richland Library received a $40,000 grant from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan Corporation, to fund 31 adult scholarships in its Career Online High School program. Since launching in 2018, the free diploma program has graduated 152 Richland County residents and offers training in 10 high-demand career fields.
Play
🎲 Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in future.
Health
Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. With a science-backed program that combines personalized coaching with habit-building tools, Noom is ditching restrictive diets for nourishing meals that lead to real results. Start a free trial.*
Category
History
Revisiting 1776 at T Coop
The Hollings Library is accessible through the main level of Thomas Cooper Library. | Photo via USC
Columbia is home to handwritten Revolutionary War documents and this year they’re on display.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, USC Libraries is celebrating with “Echoes of Independence: 250 Years of Revolution and Memorialization,” a yearlong exhibit inside Hollings Library at Thomas Cooper Library.
On display are Brig. Gen. Francis Marion’s handwritten muster roll, colonial-era maps and letters, and some of the nation’s earliest published histories. K–12 students from around the state will visit on field trips this year, and the public is invited to experience the exhibit the same way.
The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 2027, offering a timely way to learn more about the nation’s 250th anniversary and South Carolina’s role in it.
The Buy
Sometimes the simplest solutions make the biggest difference. These four products tackle everyday headaches — each for under $30.
👜 Tired of your purse tipping over or disappearing on the car floor? These car purse hooks keep your bags within reach.
🚽 Late-night bathroom runs will no longer feel like an obstacle course thanks to this toilet bowl night light.
🧅 Swap baking soda for this fridge deodorizer that works for up to 10 years, so you can set it once and forget it.
🚗 Designed to reduce strain, this vehicle assist handle provides sturdy support to help you get in + out of your car with ease and stability.
Well, hot dog, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is stopping by City Hall in West Columbia on Thursday, March 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll have the chance to snag a photo with the iconic mobile frank, grab a hot dog, and play yard games.
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