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Event Spotlight
The Lantern Parade will stroll through The Vista on Saturday evening. | Photo by Artista Vista
This weekend, Artista Vista will return to downtown with an art gallery crawl, live music, a parade, and more. Here are the need-to-know details for first-timers + veteran attendees alike:
If you’re participating in the free gallery crawl tomorrow, make sure to grab a passport at the visitors center on Lincoln Street for the chance to win prizes. Next, bookmark the crawl map.
Stop by on Saturday for free music between 5 and 7 p.m. + the Light and Lantern Parade starting at 8 p.m.
Live on Lincoln is the only ticketed event; purchase tickets for the unique dinner + performance experience on Sunday.
Finlay Park hosts the debut of Songbird 26, a two-day celebration of live music and outdoor performances in downtown Columbia. | Photos provided by City of Columbia; Old Crow Medicine Show taken by Ed Rode; Infamous Stringdusters taken by Daniel Milchev
A new music festival is soaring into downtown Columbia as Songbird 26 makes its debut May 30-31 at Finlay Park. Presented in part by the City of Columbia, the two-day event celebrates songwriting, string bands, and Americana sounds with 18 artists across two stages.
Headliners Old Crow Medicine Show and Sam Bush anchor a lineup blending national acts, regional favorites, and local talent.
Festival highlights include:
Two days of continuous live music
Main stage + Greenway stage programming
18 total performances across the weekend
Genres rooted in bluegrass, Americana, and folk
Friday kicks off early with a free Finlay Fridays concert featuring The Water Kickers, setting the tone for a full weekend of music in the park.
Saturday and Sunday bring performances from acts like The Infamous Stringdusters, Shadowgrass, Futurebirds, Susto String Band, The Blue Dogs, Sam Burchfield, and The Creekers, building toward nightly headlining sets.
Tickets are on sale now with general admission and VIP options. VIP includes premium viewing areas, access to The Nest lounge, shaded seating, food from Home Team BBQ, access to exclusive VIP bars, and a special festival memento.
West Columbia’s Carraway Park has officially reopened. The riverfront park was closed for a month to install shade sails — see them for yourself.
Biz
Farmers Market XChange has plans to open a new, grab-and-go market and cafe at 1237 Washington St. in May. The news comes after Farmers Market XChange announced it would be closing its Vista location earlier this month. (Post and Courier)
Announced
Fireworks with the Phil is set to return to Segra Park on Saturday, June 27. Tickets to the event, which includes live music by the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and a fireworks show, are on sale now.
Outdoors
The Finlay Park fountain and pickleball courts are expected to reopen this Saturday, April 18. The City of Columbia has been conducting maintenance on the park this week for routine preventive upkeep.
Community
The annual Rosewood Crawfish Festival returns Saturday, May 2, bringing Louisiana flavor to Columbia with thousands of pounds of fresh crawfish, live music, local vendors, and family-friendly fun — all at the SC State Fairgrounds. It’s a full day of Cajun cuisine, community, and celebration. Learn more + snag tickets.*
Arts
The Richland Library is accepting applications for its Artist-in-Residence program. Visual, performance, and media artists can apply for the fall 2026 and spring 2027 terms online.
Travel
Planning a summer camping trip? Hipcamp allows you to browse campsites by location, date, and even party size. It looks like Serenity on the Saluda in Honea Path has availability this weekend — and access to water.
Pro tip: Order the smallSUGAR breakfast with a pastry on the side. | Photo by @sarahemucha
Pack your laptop and prepare to get some work done at one of these local spots that offer the best of both worlds: fresh air and WiFi. The Hideout in WeCo | Covered: Yes
Locals can sit under umbrellas on the back patio or out front. Heads up: This breakfast and brunch spot closes at 1:30 p.m. every day, except on Saturdays, when it closes at 3:30 p.m.
Indah Coffee | Covered: Partially
Pop around the corner after grabbing an iced coffee to sit under several umbrellas.
Knowledge Perk | Covered: Yes
Patrons will find ample covered seating along the wrap-around porch, so you can enjoy outdoor seating in rain or shine.
smallSUGAR | Covered: Yes
smallSUGAR has a fully-covered patio just outside of its doors that makes for a perfectly shaded work location.
We’ve got more spots where you can work outside; you just might need a hotspot. Click the link below to peruse our list.
Pop quiz. What can you wear while 1) driving 2) drinking your morning coffee, or 3) reading this newsletter to look more awake and help under eyes glow? Under eye patches. Be an under eye patch influencer and work these into your morning routine:
👁️ These award-winning under eye patches employ collagen, snail mucin, and hyaluronic acid to get the job done — you should notice an immediate difference in puffiness.
👁️ Go for green tea under eye patches to get the energizing benefits of caffeine directly on your skin — you’ll get 30 in a pack.
👁️ One of the most popular brands is grace & stella. Try a variety pack to learn which key ingredient — whether retinol, caffeine, or firming peptides — makes the biggest difference to your skin.
I’m thrilled that it’s officially spring market season again. Last year, my husband used fresh blueberries from the market to create a homemade blueberry simple syrup, and I’m dreaming of recreating iced lattes with it.
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