15 must-do summer events in Cola 📆
There’s more to do over the summer in Columbia than chillin’ by the pool, boating on Lake Murray + floating down the Congaree. (But we’re certainly not saying those are bad options when it’s ~100º outside.)

So when you’re ready to switch up your waterside routine, here are 15 must-do summer events in June, July + August. (You can start planning your weekend getaways to the beach *around* these Soda City events now.)

June

1️⃣ Lake Murray 4th of July Fireworks Show | June 30 | 9 p.m. | Lake Murray | Bring a blanket + the whole family and set up for one of the Midlands’ largest 4th of July fireworks shows. If you have a boat, fireworks are launched from Spence Island + Dreher Island State Park – so get as close as you can for the best view on the lake. Proceeds for the massive fireworks show come in part from A Taste of Lake Murray, sponsored by Lexington Medical Center, Nephron Pharmaceuticals + others.

2️⃣ 3rd Annual Shrimp & Grits Festival | June 9 | 6-10 p.m. | Columbia Conference Center | 169 Laurelhurst Ave. | $40 for adults, $25 for children | It’s a daunting question that every Soda Citizen has asked at some point: “Which place has the best shrimp and grits?” So on Saturday, June 9, Columbia restaurants will compete against each other for the official title of “Best Shrimp + Grits.” Foodies, you probably don’t want to miss this. Tickets include unlimited shrimp + grits samples from participants, music, dancing + more.

3️⃣ Memphis at Trustus Theatre | June 29-July 28 | 8 p.m. | Trustus Theatre | $25-35 | The 2010 Tony Award winner for Best Musical is coming to Trustus’ Thigpen Main Stage this summer. Set in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 1950s, this show tells the story of a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun who fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll and an electrifying black singer. I saw this show on Broadway with the original cast in NYC with my fellow high school theatre nerds, and I truly cannot see what my fav local theatre company is going to do with it.

4️⃣ Drift Jam | June 2 | 12 p.m. | Spence Island on Lake Murray | free | Put a floating stage with live bands on Lake Murray, and the party boats will anchor nearby. Atlanta-based folk rock band Drivin’ N Cryin’ will headline this year’s event. It gets wild. In the best way.

Photo by @thedeltasaints

5️⃣ Arts & Draughts | June 8 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $9 general admission, $5 for CMA members, free for volunteers | June’s edition of CMA’s quarterly series features live local music (by Don Merckle & The Blacksmiths, ZOE CHILD, GFATS and 2 Slices), D.I.Y. arts + crafts stations, food trucks and beer tastings from Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery. Hit Boyd Plaza ‘til you can’t bear the heat anymore, then head into the ice-cold museum. Ahhh.

Photo by @totaleclipsecae

July

1️⃣ Lexington County Peach Festival | July 4 | 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. | Gilbert Community Park | Rikard Cir., Gilbert | free | The Peach Festival has been held every year on July 3 or 4 for the past 60 years, kicking off in the morning with a “peach + patriotic” parade at 9:30 a.m. and closing out with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Other highlights include an antique car show, Revolutionary War reenactment, children’s rides + the festival’s legendary peach ice cream. But I’m there for the 🍑.

3️⃣ Columbia Fireflies vs. Greenville Drive: Independence Day Celebration | July 4 | 6:05 p.m. | Spirit Communications Park | $5-10 | What’s more ‘merica than baseball + beer? Celebrate our nation's 242nd birthday with a huge fireworks show + some good ‘ol fashioned baseball rivalry between the Fireflies + the Drive (throwback to this Twitter thread). Makes me want a hotdog real bad. 🎇Ⓟ

Photo by @streetsandeatsofsc

4️⃣ Columbia SC 63 Civil Rights Walking Tour | July 8 | 4-5 p.m. | starts on the State House grounds | free | What better time than Summer to bring the kids on a tour of Main St., focused on the history of the civil rights movement in Cola. Hands-on history + cultural education – you’re winning as a parent/babysitter.

5️⃣ Imagine Dragons: EVOLVE TOUR | July 7 | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $29+ | Cool down and rock on inside CLA with Imagine Dragons’ arena tour. Not an Imagine Dragons fan? That’s not really the point with these type large summer tours – just get cheap seats with your whole crew and save money for the tall boys.

August

1️⃣ Tasty Tomato Festival | August 11 | 1-7 p.m. | City Roots | $12 in advance, $15 at the gate | This is hands-down one of our team’s favorite annual festivals in Columbia. It inevitably rains almost every year (August in Columbia, y’all), but the delicious heirloom tomato sandwiches, Bloody Marys and ‘mater pies keep everyone dancing in the rain to the live music on two stages.

Photo by @alison_grossman

2️⃣ Jay-Z + Beyonce: On The Run II Tour | August 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Williams Brice Stadium | $54+ | It’s the once-in-a-lifetime concert at the Willy-Beyhive that everyone at work is going to be talking about the next morning. You might want to go ahead and get tickets if you haven’t already.

3️⃣ Main Street Latin Festival | August 25 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Main Street | free | The Latin Festival showcases the culture + vitality of Columbia’s Latin community with a daylong celebration of tradition Latin food, music, art and dancing. We’ll take another empanada, please.

4️⃣ Brew at the Zoo | August 3 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | tickets on sale June 1 | This is the one night of the year at the zoo where you won’t see a single crying toddler by the giraffes. Unlimited craft beer samples + lions, tigers + bears = the perfect summer night.

5️⃣ Soda City Comic Con | August 25 + 26 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | $15-25 for adults, $5 for kids | Self-proclaimed Soda City nerds, this weekend is for you. Each August, the Convention Center hosts two full days of comic + pop culture programming ft. celebrity guest stars, costume contests and prizes.

If I’m being honest, one of my favorite parts about summer in Columbia is taking a few OOO days to leave Columbia and escape the heat. I’m down for any quick or long getaway out of CAE.

In June my family is traveling to Athens + Santorini, Greece to celebrate my little sister’s graduation, and then my boyfriend Bryant and I are off to Paris for a few days. Send me your recs for all things to see + eat. I want to hear your awesome summer plans, too – reply to this email and make our team jealous.

–Beth

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