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U-pick strawberries in the Midlands
Grab a bucket and pick your strawberries at Cottle Farms. | Image via @daniswinda
Strawberries and stamps? Yep, berry season in the Midlands is more than just fresh fruit. It’s also a chance to explore SC’s growing agritourism scene.
From wagon rides through strawberry patches to hands-on farm festivals, many local farms offer more than just U-pick; they offer an experience. Did you know? The SC Agritourism Association even has a 2026 Passport Program that lets you collect stamps as you visit participating farms, with prizes like Certified SC items at the finish line.
🍓Pick ‘em
Clinton Sease Farm | 426 Olde Farm Rd., Lexington | Try the Strawberry Pick and Play option that includes a wagon ride to the strawberry patch, pick-your-own berries, a visit with the farm animals, playgrounds, and more.
Cottle Strawberry Farm | 9560 Garners Ferry Rd., Hopkins | Fresh. Sweet. Local. Cottle Strawberry Farm, a local family-run farm for over 50 years, offers U-Pick and is a great fit for group visits and family outings.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6+ | Experience the first pitch of the anniversary season against the Pelicans + watch the Carolina League South Division Championship banner reveal.*
Wednesday, April 8
Puppetpalooza | 10-10:30 a.m. | Richland Library Main Theater | Free
Meeting Street Music Festival 2026 | Friday, April 17-Saturday, April 18 | Times vary | 900-1200 blocks of Meeting Street, Columbia | Free | Enjoy 11 bands, great food, and a free two-day street festival in the River District, headlined by Sugar Ray.*
Artista Vista returns with music, art + a can’t-miss lineup
Presented by Vista Guild
Artista Vista brings together art, music, and community for a weekend long of creative energy. | Photos provided by Congaree Vista Guild
Spring in Columbia means one thing — Artista Vista is back, running April 17-19. This vibrant celebration features gallery crawls, live performances, and more, with Levitt AMP Columbia joining the lineup for added energy.
Artista Vista is the perfect way to explore Columbia’s creative scene, and attendees can extend the fun by supporting local performing arts at Live on Lincoln on Sunday, April 19, a not-to-miss evening of music and community.
Nearly 200 new homes could be coming near the Atlas and Bluff roads corridor. Developers are proposing 182 single-family homes on ~44 acres near the under-construction Station at Congaree Pointe, with the project set to go before the Columbia Planning Commission tomorrow, April 9. (The State)
Legacy
Renowned SC topiary artist Pearl Fryar has died at 86. The Bishopville artist created a nationally recognized garden featuring hundreds of living sculptures and inspired the 2006 documentary “A Man Named Pearl.” (Free Times)
Biz
A new food truck + workforce incubator is coming to The Meeting Place Church on Columbia Mall Boulevard. Ten local vendors will receive kitchen access, business training, and $1,000 grants to help more small food businesses launch and grow in northeast Columbia. (WLTX)
Watch
Plane spotting just got easier. Columbia Metropolitan Airport launched a live runway cam, giving aviation fans a real-time look at arrivals and departures. The 24-hour feed is available on CAE’s homepage and is the only one of its kind in South Carolina.
Family
It’s Children’s Museum Week in SC. Museums across the state — including EdVenture — will host special programs and activities through Saturday, April 11, highlighting hands-on learning and play for kids.
Transit
You may start hearing something new in COMET ads and at its downtown hub. The transit system is rolling out a custom “signature sound” called “On the Move,” created with SC saxophonist Dante Lewis to give its messaging a more recognizable, local feel.
Community
Ready to hit the streets of Columbia?Run the Cup weekend takes place Friday, April 10-Saturday, April 11, featuring the Adult Main Street Mile (6:15 p.m.) and Kids’ Main Street Mile (6:45 p.m.) on Friday, plus the Half-Marathon (7:30 a.m.) and 5K (7:45 a.m.) on Saturday. Learn more + register.*
As Columbia begins shaping its long-discussed riverfront along the Congaree, early feedback is starting to align. At the first public meeting last week, residents leaned toward preserving the site’s natural feel while adding access, trails, and amenities like river overlooks and gathering spaces.
Correction
In today’s published newsletter, we mischaracterized Congaree Riverkeeper’s position on the Congaree Riverfront District. The organization has long advocated for preserving the natural character of the riverfront, including protecting and restoring riparian buffers, wetlands, and floodplains, while providing public access.
A casual maxi skirt with a flattering high-rise design, ultra-soft material, and pockets. Slip it on for an afternoon running errands, dress it up for dinner with friends, and everything in between.
What to do with all of those fresh in-season strawberries you just picked? I was browsing the Richland Library archives, which contains loads of locally published cookbooks, and came across the “Wedding Strawberry Champagne Punch.” You can’t beat a good party punch, especially one with fresh berries. I think this one would have me coming back for seconds.
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