Hello, October. It’s officially the fourth quarter of 2019 – and with the year flying by so fast, there are plenty of events going on around Columbia to help keep us living in the moment this month. October brings the spooky sounds + sights of Halloween, the 150th state fair + so many other Fall staples. Check out our October PlanAhead below.

Famously Hot S.C. Pride Festival | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Main St. | Free | S.C. Pride kicks off with a night parade Friday night, followed by a full day of events Saturday. Don’t miss out on live performances, family-friendly fun + more.

150th South Carolina State Fair | Wednesday Oct. 9- Sunday, Oct. 20 | 12-10 p.m. | S.C. State Fairgrounds | $7+ | It’s time for ferris wheel rides, candy apples + deep-fried everything. The State Fair is celebrating its 150th year, so celebrate by winning stuffed animals + enjoying the live music and fun.

Boo at the Zoo | Friday Oct. 18- Wednesday Oct. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | $13 for general admission, $11 for members | Family fun at the zoo including trick-or-treating, a foam zone, dance party + more. Limited number of tickets, so purchase in advance.

Gala with a Bite: Hollywood Dracula | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 7-11 p.m. | 701 Whaley St. | $100 per ticket or $180 for two | October is spooky season, and that means Dracula is back. The Columbia Ballet is putting on a haunting gala, including live entertainment, heavy hors-d'oeuvres and silent/live auction. Costumes are encouraged, so buy your vampire teeth + black capes now.

Tuesday, October 1 - Sunday, October 6

Tuesday, October 1

ForKids

Scarecrows in the Garden Exhibit | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Robert Mills Gardens, 1616 Blanding St. | Free | Scarecrows made by families + businesses around Columbia will be on view at the Robert Mills House and Gardens throughout the month of October.

Dish

Epworth Food Truck Rodeo | 5-8 p.m. | 2900 Millwood Ave. | Free, donations appreciated | This event benefits the Epworth Children’s Home + features some of the best food trucks in Columbia.

TryThis

Pumpkin Planetarium Lighting | 7:30 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | Free

Wednesday, October 2

Workshop

Costume Design on a Budget | 6-8 p.m. | Indie Grits Labs, 1013 Duke Ave. | $125 or $95 for Nick members

Thursday, October 3

Show

Brian Justin Crum | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St. | $25-50
Girl Interrupted | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free

Film

Night of the Living Dead | 7:30-9:30 P.M. | The Nickelodeon Theatre | Free | The Nick is hosting a free outdoor movie, so bring a chair + enjoy the free popcorn.

Friday, October 4

Drink

The 2019 Great American Whiskey Fair | 5-9 p.m. | 701 Whaley | $75+ | Join the largest American whiskey celebration in the Southeast while you chat with distillery owners + choose from over 500 whiskeys, bourbons and ryes to sample.

Festival

Lourie Center Fall Festival | 9 a.m-1 p.m. | The Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle | Free
Famously Hot S.C. Pride Parade | 7-8:30 p.m. | Main St. | Free

Show

Rhythm on the River Fall Concert Series | 6-9 p.m. | West Columbia Riverwalk, 121 Alexander Rd. | Free

Saturday, October 5

Festival

Sofrito & Soul Family Festival | 11 a.m. | Decker Plaza, 2500 Decker Blvd. | Free | This family-friendly festival brings people in from all over the state with performers, vendors + activities.
Famously Hot SC Pride Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Main St. | Free

Drink

Haw River Wine Man at Rosewood | 4:00-6:00pm | $10 in store or $12 day of | Following the tasting attendees will receive 20% off a Power Bowl + their new favorite bottle of wine.
Oktoberfest 2019 | 12-10 p.m. | Columbia Craft Brewing, 520 Greene St. | Free to attend | Festbier will be flowing, the polka band will be rocking, and The Wurst Wagen will be slinging awesome eats.
Wizard Pub Crawl | 5 p.m.- 12 a.m. | Liberty Tap Room, 828 Gervais St. | $20-38
Science on Tap | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Hunter-Gatherer Hangar, 1402 Jim Hamilton Blvd. | Free to attend

Dish

Witch, Please! A Halloween Launch Party | 8 p.m-2 a.m. | Bone-In Barbeque, 2180 Boyce St. | Free to attend

Civic

S.C. for Ed State Caucus | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | USC School of Education, 820 Main St. | $15

TryThis

Columbia Garden Plant Exchange | 10 a.m. | Talbot’s, 4809 Forest Dr. | Free | Attendees are invited to bring plants they want to share + swap them for something desired.
Art Along the Trail | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Riverfront Park, 321 Laurel St. | Free

Sunday, October 6

Show

Divas on Main | 1-3 p.m. + 5-7 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | $10 or $15 at the door

Monday, October 7 - Sunday, October 13

Monday, October 7

TryThis

Legacy Writing | 1-1:50 p.m. | The Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle | $30 or $10-20 for members | The class will continue on Mondays and Wednesdays through Oct. 16.

Tuesday, October 8

Wednesday, October 9

TryThis

150th South Carolina State Fair | 12-10 p.m. | S.C. State Fairgrounds | $7+
Food Network Viewing Party | 8:30-10 p.m. | The Twist, 9300 Two Notch Rd. | Free | The owner of Twist, Ken Walker, will be on Guy’s Grocery Games, and the restaurant is hosting a viewing party with free apps

Thursday, October 10

Show

Song Bird Cafe | 6:30 p.m. | Pastides Alumni Center, | $100 | This event raises funds for Sistercare, and features Grammy Award winners like Kristian Bush, Wyatt Durrette + more.
Filmore | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free

Friday, October 11

ForKids

Overnight in Oz | 5 p.m. | S.C. State Museum | $35 or $28 for members | Sleep in the museum’s Oz exhibit, go on a ghost tour of the museum + enjoy special planetarium screenings.

AllWeekend

Oktoberfest Columbia | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Incarnation Lutheran, 3005 Devine St. | Free to attend

Festival

Lexington County Professional Firefighters’ Fall Fest | 6:30-10 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 W Main St., Lexington | Free

Show

Harlem 100 | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St. | $25-50

Cause

Mayor’s Isabel Law Breakfast | 6-9 a.m. | Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St. | $10 | Mayor Steve Benjamin will be hosting a breakfast to raise funds + awareness for breast cancer.

Saturday, October 12

Show

Visiones y Música | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $16-50

Cause

2019 Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, 5K + 10K | 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | Prisma Health, 1600 Marion St. | $35-$75
Fire Prevention Parade | 11 a.m. | David and Gabriel St. | Free | There will be a block party at the end of the parade route with food, games + more.

Sunday, October 13

Watercooler

Gamecock W Soccer vs. Vanderbilt | 2:30 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths

Full Moon Bike Ride | 8-9:30 p.m. | Aloft Columbia, 823 Lady St. | Free

TryThis

Self-Care Sunday | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Enjoy mindful movement and yoga sessions every half hour + an open air market with food + beverages available.

Monday, October 14 - Sunday, October 20

Monday, October 14

Tuesday, October 15

28th Annual Anita Hill Celebration | 5:30-8 p.m. | Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St. | Free

Wednesday, October 16

Arts

Getting to Know Van Gogh with Steven Naifeh | 6-8 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $10-15 or Free for children under 6

Film

The High Life | 7-9 p.m. | The Nickelodeon Theatre | $11

TryThis

Shag on Main | 8-11 p.m. | The Joint, 1710 Main St. | Free

Talk

When Justice Prevails Lecture | 6-8 p.m. | USC School of Law | Free

Thursday, October 17

Show

Fantasia w/Robin Thicke, Tank, & The Bonfyre | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $54-$114
Tim Montana | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free

TryThis

Barktoberfest | 4-7 p.m. | Bottles Beverage, 4410 Fort Jackson Blvd. | Free to attend | Join in at Bottles Beverage for beer tasting, pet adoption + a supply drive benefiting PETSinc.

Cause

Chili for Charity | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Blair Cato Pickren Casterline, LLC, 700 Huger St. | $15 at the door

Friday, October 18

Watercooler

Gamecock W Soccer vs. Tennessee | 7 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths

Show

Parker’s Back Swing Dance Night | 8-11 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | Free to attend
Bruch Chamber Orchestra | 7:30 PM | Darla Moore School of Business | Free

Saturday, October 19

Show

Cola Town Bike Collective Fall Concert | 6-9 p.m. | Cola Town Bike Collective, 711 Elmwood Ave. | $10
Pipe Organ Discovery Day | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1512 Blanding St. | Free
Vampyr! The Opera | 7:30 p.m. | Irmo High School, 6671 St. Andrews Rd. | $10

Active

Football Saturday Yoga | 10:00am | Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr. | Free | Join The Rooted Community on Rosewood Market’s patio.

Community

Fall Blast | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Woodley's Garden Center, 2840 Dreher Shoals Rd. | Free to attend | Events include a seminar on Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden, a raffle drawing, scavenger hunt + food.

Sunday, October 20

Dish

Shuck n’ Shag featuring The Root Doctors | 5:30-9 p.m. | Seibels House + Gardens, 1601 Richland St. | $35

TryThis

Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation Semi-Annual Car/Truck Show | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Carolina Ale House, 277 Columbiana Dr. | Free

Monday, October 21 - Sunday, October 27

Monday, October 21

Show

Campfire Stories Improv Show | 7 p.m. | Richland Library, Main | Free

Tuesday, October 22

Cause

2019 Women’s Night Out | 5-9 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 1101 Lincoln St. | $40

Festival

Lexington Police Department Fall Festival | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Lexington Police Department, 111 Maiden Ln. | $5 or Free for children under 5

Community

Let’s Talk Race | 6:30-8 p.m. | Richland Library, Main | Free | Addressing the topic of racism, these conversations hope to encourage local residents to take part in this difficult and sometimes emotional dialogue.

Show

S.C. Philharmonic Untuxed | 6-7:30 p.m. | Lula Drake, 1635 Main St. | $25

Wednesday, October 23

Show

Alison Krauss | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $47.50-123

TryThis

Holiday Cooking Class | 6-8 p.m. | Good Life Cafe, 1614 Main St. | $10

Civic

Transportation and Community Planning Presentation | 5:30-7 p.m. | County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton St. | Free | The NIP team and guest speakers will give information on the COMET bus system and other County community planning projects and initiatives.

Thursday, October 24

Watercooler

Gamecock W Soccer vs. Ole Miss | 7 p.m. | Stone Stadium, 1313 Heyward St. | $5 or $3 for youths

Cause

World Polio Day Outing | Segra Park | Free | There will be beer tastings by Columbia Craft and River Rat, ballpark food + carnival games with prizes.

TryThis

Diwali Kick-off Party | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free
English Custom of Tea Presentation | 2 p.m. | Still Hopes Retirement Center, 1 Still Hopes Dr. “ $35

Dish

Gala with a Bite | 7-11 p.m. | 701 Whaley St. | $100 per ticket or $180 for two | The evening includes live entertainment, heavy-hors-d'oeuvres and silent/live auction. Costume encouraged.
Oyster Roast + Low Country Boil | 6-9 p.m. | The Grand on Main, 1621 Main St. | $50

Show

76 and Sunny | 4-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St. | Free

Civic

Community Planning and Development Expo | 5:30-7 p.m. | County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton St. | Free | The NIP team will discuss the program and various divisions of the Community Planning and Development Department.

Friday, October 25

Celebrate

A Free Times Halloween | 7:30-11 p.m. | 1208 Washington St. | $35
Bluetile's 18th Anniversary Halloween Party | 7-11 p.m. | Bluetile Skateshop, 621 Harden St. | $5 at the door

ForKids

Trunk or Treat | 5:30-7 p.m. | Providence Presbyterian Church, 1112 Hummingbird Dr. | Free

Show

J. Anthony Brown and Friends | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St. | $35-75
Villa*Nova Halloween Bash | 7 p.m. | The Senate, 1002 Senate St. | $12

Civic

All Politics are Local: What’s Important to Women in Government and Business | 3:45 p.m. | Pastides Alumni Center, 900 Senate St. | Free | Mayor Steve Benjamin, Verizon + more will be hosting a panel discussion on civic engagement, diversity and inclusion in the workplace + how to engage and empower the next generation of women leaders.

Saturday, October 26

TryThis

Paint Night | 8-10 p.m. | 1626 Main St. | Free to attend
Fall Flea Market Flip Sale | 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Ivy House, 10511 Two Notch Rd. | Free
Urban Sketchers October | 12 p.m.-2 p.m. | Jam Room Music Festival, Main + Hampton St. | Free
Five Points Chili Cook-Off | 7 a.m.-6 p.m. | 2107 Greene St. | $25-$130 to enter the contest, $1 donations for chili samples

Festival

2019 SC Korean Festival | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | 1412 Richland St. | Free to attend
Spooktacular Fall Festival | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Treasure Island Marketplace, 2702 Emmanuel Church Rd. | Free to attend
Jam Room Music Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Intersection of Main + Hampton St. | Free

Dish

Cousins Maine at Cottontown Brew Lab | 5-9 p.m. | Cottontown Brew Lab, 1223 Franklin St. | Free to attend
Biscuits and Bluegrass Brunch | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Hunter-Gatherer at the Hangar, | $35 or Free for children 12 + under

Show

Sam Pacetti | 6:30 p.m. | TOL Coffeehouse, 6719 N Trenholm Dr. | $18

Sale

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Richland Library Operations Center, 130 Lancewood Rd. | Free

Active

Bikes and Beers | 9 a.m. | Doko Meadows Park, 100 Alvina Hagood Cir. | $50-60 | Start with a 15-30 mile bike ride + end with free beer tastings, live music + food trucks.

Civic

Memorial for Colonel Jack Van Loan | 1:45 p.m. | Five Points Centennial Plaza, 555 Santee Ave. | Free

Sunday, October 27

Show

EarleJam Concert | 11 a.m. | Earlewood Park, 1113 Recreation Dr. | Free | In addition to the concert, there will be food trucks, local breweries + a disc golf tournament.

Monday, October 28 - Thursday, October 31

Monday, October 28

Tuesday, October 29

ForKids

Historic Columbia Trunk or Treat | 5:30-7 p.m. | Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding St. | Free
Godwin Motors Trunk of Treat | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Godwin Motors, 4032 W Beltline Blvd. | Free

Cause

Light the Night | 5:30 p.m. | S.C. State House | Free | This one-mile walk raises funds + awareness for leukemia.

Film

Hocus Pocus | 5:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 1300 College St. | $10-15

Wednesday, October 30

Arts

Quilted Impressions | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St. | Free | The exhibit will be on through Nov. 16.

Thursday, October 31

Celebrate

Halloween Hoopla | 4-8 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum | $5 + Free for children
Spooktacular Halloween Party | 5:30-9 p.m. | Dutch Square Mall, 421 Bush River Rd. | Free