What would you say if we told you you could:

🛶 kayak

💦 tube

🥁 listen to live music

🏓 play cornhole

🎥 watch The Sandlot

… all for free?

Plus:

🍻 drink beer

🍍 eat snacks

🤸‍ and keep the kids occupied with games + bounce-houses?

You’d probably say, “That sounds like a must-do, GVLtoday.” And you’d be right.

Brookland Beach Bash is a 1-day, free riverside festival next Saturday, July 7 (12-10:30 p.m.) held along the Riverwalk at the convergence of the Broad, Saluda + Congaree Rivers in West Columbia that pairs outdoor river adventure (free kayaking and tubing) with beach-themed activities (volleyball, cornhole, frisbee, Spikeball, Kan Jam), and throws in live entertainment (three S.C. bands + an outdoor movie).

Plus 7 regional craft beers on tap, 7+ local food trucks and family-friendly trampolines + inflatables to keep the kids busy while you do all of the above. Plus, you can park for free.

It’s like the best beach party you’ve ever been to, without sand in your pants. And it's a chill, alternative weekend travel getaway that gives you a little something different than the same old same beach + mountains (or rivers).

This is the first year Columbia-based nonprofit Soda City Friends is throwing the bash, and already, 2.5K people are interested in the event on Facebook.

What to try:

🛶 Kayaking | DYK? Columbia is one of only two cities in the U.S. with class 3 rapids running right through the middle of the city. Try kayaking or tubing (fo’ free) with the pros from Palmetto Outdoor Center.

🍹 Homemade Capri Sun | an award-winning mixologist will be making nostalgic (non-alcoholic) drinks inspired by childhood summers

🏐 Spikeball | think: if volleyball and foursquare had a baby

🌊 Making friends with a mermaid | ...because there will be a real, live mermaid in the river

🧀 New food | like a locally-brewed Kombucha from Lil Duck or pepperoni grilled cheese from Kinda Cheezy

Who to listen to:

🎵 Prettier Than Matt | 2-3 p.m. | bluegrass-y folk duo

🎵 Boo Hag | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | vibey voodoo rock

🎵 Kings For A Day | 5-6 p.m. | cool covers

What to bring:

👙 Whatever you’d take/wear to the beach – like water-friendly clothes/bathingsuits, sunscreen + a beach towel (or buy one there) for drying off + spreading out on the lawn for movie time

❄ A koozie or reusable water bottle/canteen for ya beer

🌴 Your Eno hammock to hang from the trees on the Riverwalk overlooking the river

Where to stay:

🏨 Holiday Inn + Quality Inn in West Columbia are just up the street – or try Columbia’s brand new boutique hotel, Hotel Trundle

🏡 Airbnb (we found 45+ options within a 15-min drive to the event)

This content was created in partnership with Soda City.

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