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🗓️ March your calendar
Pro tip: grab a beer and get to a stage early to have the best seat in the house for when your favorite headliner performs. | Photo provided by St. Pat’s in Five Points
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into March. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Art is shown on porches and in yards throughout the neighborhood. | Photo by COLAtoday team
Festivals
Cottontown Art Crawl | Saturday, March 7 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Cottontown neighborhood | Free | Stroll through the downtown neighborhood and explore artists selling art from porches and yards.
44th Annual St. Pat’s in Five Points | Saturday, March 14 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Five Points | $30+ | All roads lead to Five Points for the annual bash headlined by Grace Potter, Switchfoot, The Creekers, and Congress the Band.
Read Freely Fest | Friday, March 27-Sunday, March 29 | Times vary | Richland Library Main | Free | Kickoff the weekend of author talks and bookish fun with the “Overdue” after-hours event on Friday night.
Guests explore touch tanks and dive shows at the South Carolina Aquarium, where coastal views and animal encounters make every moment memorable. | Photo provided by South Carolina Aquarium
From sea stars to sharks, there’s something for every ocean lover. Whether it’s a family outing or a laid-back coastal day, this spring break experience offers engaging moments for guests of all ages.
3.0 — that’s the magnitude of the earthquake that had social media in the Midlands buzzing yesterday. The quake was centered in the Lake Murray area near the dam in Irmo, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Open
This sounds udderly delicious. Holy Cow Creamery has opened two area locations, one on Columbia Avenue in Lexington and the other on Clemson Road. The new shop serves Hershey’s Ice Cream by the scoop, plus oversized milkshakes and sundaes, and features a free toppings bar. (Free Times)
Festival
St. Pat’s in Five Points’ official kick-off event has been postponed due to anticipated inclement weather and will now take place on Monday, March 2, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Five Points Fountain. The free event will include the ceremonial fountain dyeing, Irish music and dance, and family-friendly activities.
Announced
Country artist Koe Wetzel is bringing “The Night Champion World Tour” to Colonial Life Arena on Friday, Sept. 18, joined by Bayker Blankenship and Wyatt Flores. The presale starts Thursday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with tickets going on sale Friday, March 13, at 10 a.m. Pro tip: the presale password is “TIMEGOES.”
Family
Richland Library is adding Riverbanks Zoo and Garden guest passes to its Library of Things during National Library Lovers Month. Each pass covers daytime admission for two adults and up to four children and includes a free round-trip ride on The COMET’s Route 84.
Civic
Richland County will spend up to $400,000 to help rehabilitate vacant homes in partnership with the Columbia Housing Authority. Leaders say the effort aims to expand affordable homeownership while reducing blight across the county. (WLTX)
Concert
Experience an unforgettable evening at Koger Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 16, with Rising Stars, a showcase of exceptional young talent. From powerful performances to inspiring artistry, this event celebrates the next generation of performers. Learn more + snag tickets.*
Beauty
See fewer grays on your hair and beard with a simple spray designed specifically for men: Particle Anti-Gray Serum. It’s effective without dye, coloring, or harsh chemicals. Save 20% off and get free shipping with discount code CITY20.*
Category
Arts
A hometown spotlight at CMA
The work was previously exhibited at Marta Herford Museum in Germany in 2024. | Photo via Columbia Museum of Art
A spring exhibition is bringing a Columbia-born artist back home.
The Columbia Museum of Art will present Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil, from Saturday, March 21 through Sunday, June 28. The exhibition brings together more than 30 works across painting, video, and large-scale installations assembled from industrial materials and discarded household objects — including new pieces debuting here.
McMillian’s work often reflects on the American South, with themes of land, identity, class, and history. His work has been shown at major museums across the country, and he currently serves as a professor of art at UCLA.
Opening day on Saturday, March 21 includes a 9 a.m. member preview and a 2 p.m. conversation between McMillian and Senior Curator Michael Neumeister. Registration is encouraged.
The Buy
It’s almost March — yay. But also, what should you wear? Here’s one complete outfit that can carry you through the sometimes chilly, sometimes temperate days of late winter, all under $150 while sales last:
“What are hippos?” That’s what a contestant answered on Jeopardy to the clue “In late spring, Congaree National Park in South Carolina is famous for its nightly display of synchronized these.” Again, no contestants got the answer correct. In these parts, we’re excited for Fireflies baseball season and hoping we win the lottery to see them in our National Park.
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