9 a.m. | Get caffeinated ☕ | Pick up a latte from Drip or Blue Flour Bakery to get you up and running for the day. Park at a meter or pull into one of the conveniently-located garages for the day (both free on Saturdays). You’ll be here for a while. (Pro tip: Main Street’s friendly Yellow Shirts offer a complimentary shuttle service Monday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; just call 803-309-7758.)
10 a.m. | Art + Nostalgia 🍭 | Grab a to-go cup (eco-friendly, of course) for your coffee and stroll up Main to the recently-renovated Boyd Plaza at the Columbia Museum of Art. Enjoy the new outdoor seating or (if it’s unbearably hot) grab an admission ticket to see the new exhibits. And be sure to check out the CMA Gift Shop before you head out. Alt plan: Visit the Mast General Store on the next block for a trip down memory lane – they’ve got a selection of 500+ types of candy, including all your childhood favorites that are hard to find these days.
11 a.m. | Lunch 🍤 | Have a nice indoor lunch (that Cola heat, y’all) somewhere like Good Life Cafe (vegan), Crepes & Croissants (that avocado toast, tho), Midlands’ at Marriott (award-winning shrimp and grits), or have Saturday brunch at Bourbon (Biscuit of Champions FTW).
12:30 p.m. | Dessert + a movie 🍦 | We’re all adults here – so grab a treat after lunch from Ally & Eloise or a scoop from Sweet Cream, then head over to the Nickelodeon Theatre to catch a film at S.C.’s only nonprofit arthouse theatre. Alt plan: Hit up Richland Library on Assembly to check out a new book, see some local art in their gallery space or get a brownie from The Cafe.
3 p.m. | Views + photos of the State House 🏛 | At this point, you’re probably ready for a nap – but instead, hop on a Blue Bike and ride down toward the State House. Walk around the grounds and make sure to snap a photo – you’re in the Capital City, after all. Alt plan: If the temps are just too high, enjoy some AC while checking out the wares at local shops like Uptown on Main, Miss Cocky, The Shoppes on Main + Granger Owings.
4 p.m. | Wine down 🍷 | It’s about time you take a walk through the 100+ year-old Arcade Mall, where you’ll find art galleries, shops + more coffee – then head over to Lula Drake to wine down for the night. Or hit the rooftop at Hendrix for an app + nice views. It’s five o’clock somewhere.
6 p.m. | Music or sports? 🎷🎳 | Time for some entertainment… you’ve worked hard today. Check out the new live jazz spot, The Joint at 1710 Main; snag your spot in a wine + painting class at Grapes & Gallery; see if Tapp’s Art Center is having an event (maybe a local music show downstairs); try your hand at virtual golf at Topgolf Swing Suite; or get your bowling team back together at The Grand.
8 p.m. | Dinner time | There are too many options to name – try Hall’s Chophouse (fancy + new), Cantina 76 (casual Mexican bites), Hampton Street Vineyard (a white-tablecloth Cola classic) or stay where you are and eat by the bowling lane at The Grand.
11 p.m. | Stay here 📍 | You’ve had a wild Saturday. Check-in (+ check out for the day) to Hotel Trundle – the locally-owned, unicorn-themed boutique hotel… where you can wake up (to local coffee + treats) and start your day on Main St. all over again.
If you want more reminders about everything that’s happening on (and coming soon to) Main Street, follow Main Street Cola SC on Facebook + Instagram. Ⓟ
