Events in Richland County today

A free concert on the Koger Center Plaza Stage spotlights the Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series, presented by the Koger Center. Headliner Making Movies guides listeners through a vivid, psychedelic blend that Rolling Stone has praised for mixing rumbero rhythms, airy organ textures, and gritty fuzz-rock energy. Founded by Panamanian artist Enrique Chi, the Latin Grammy-nominated quartet serves as the main outlet for his songwriting and cultural work. Their approach pairs electric guitars with the Mejorana, a traditional Panamanian guitar, and threads together cumbia, blues, salsa, soul, and rock and roll into a sound that is unmistakably their own. Over the years, the band has appeared as a Tiny Desk newcomer with A La Deriva, raised its voice for immigrant rights with the album I Am Another You which reached number 3 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Albums chart, and co-wrote No Te Calles with Rubén Blades, the first single from his Latin Grammy-nominated album. Opus & The Frequencies open the show. Known for electrifying live sets and a reputation as a must-see act in Columbia, they have moved from intimate rooms supporting local and regional tours to larger stages such as the St. Pats Festival in Five Points, Columbia Food and Wine Festival’s Concert on the Runway, Solfest Rollfest, and USC traditions like Tiger Burn and First Night Carolina, sharing bills with artists including Hippo Campus, Illiterate Light, The Blue Dogs, Flipturn, lighthearted, and Brook and The Bluff. Their sound draws on funk, indie rock, Latin grooves, and pop, and it thrives whether performed by a tight four-piece or an expansive ten-piece lineup.

Explore the theme of intuition at this Philosopher’s Ball conversation. The gathering takes place in the octagonal library building located outside the main building of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia and includes cleansing and clearing, announcements, and space setting to open the session.

The Koger Center for the Arts and the ColaJazz Foundation present a new Live in the Lobby Jazz season featuring guitarist Pasquale Grasso. This series unfolds in spaces throughout the Koger Center and is created for listeners who value exceptional jazz offerings in a unique setting. Grasso, born in Italy and now based in New York City, has forged a remarkable solo-guitar voice shaped by bebop pioneers such as Powell, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie, along with the classical guitar tradition. His digital EP series on Sony Masterworks spotlights that synthesis, bringing together midcentury jazz language and refined technique. Beyond recording, he teaches and performs widely around New York, including frequent solo sets at the Greenwich Village venue Mezzrow, where a steady residency helped sharpen his solo arranging. He has noted that the musicians he admires continually inspire new ideas, and that his style keeps evolving.

The Ms. Full-Figured USA South Carolina 2026 Pageant spotlights confidence, elegance, and women devoted to building a lasting legacy. The weekend begins with a Preliminary Night themed Rep Your University and concludes with Coronation Night for the crowning. Hosted by Allen University, the event carries the theme School Days, Crowned Nights, A Queen’s Legacy and brings together beauty, sisterhood, scholarship, and purpose.

The College of Charleston Cougars take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in a fall scrimmage at Segra Park, offering a first glimpse of both teams before the 2027 college baseball season. The Gamecocks compete under new head coach Kevin Schnall. Tickets are available for $15 plus fees in the seating bowl and $25 plus fees in the club section. A portion of each ticket benefits Camp Cole, supporting children, teens, and adults facing serious illnesses, disabilities, and complex life challenges.

Help future big brothers and sisters get ready for life with a new baby. This interactive, age-appropriate class welcomes children ages 3 to 10 and uses playful activities to build skills and confidence. Children will learn what newborns are like, how to help safely, what changes to expect at home, and how to talk about big feelings. It is designed for families expecting a baby soon and aims to help older siblings feel included, excited, and prepared for their important new role.

Explore Zen meditation in a guided session led by Associate Zen teacher Rev. Dr. Steven Meredith Hotetsu Garmon. The gathering focuses on learning and practice in a welcoming setting, and no previous meditation experience is required. Attend in person or participate online. Rev. Garmon is a former philosophy professor, a Buddhist practitioner since 2001, and a Unitarian Universalist minister since 2004, now retired. He founded and leads One Earth Zen, which offers authentic Zen practice with an ecospiritual orientation. Before One Earth Zen, he established and led practice groups including Border Zen Center in El Paso, Dancing Crane Zen Center in Gainesville, and Boundless Way Zen of Westchester in White Plains. The session encourages mindful exploration and fosters wisdom and compassion for our shared world.

Focused on readiness at home, this class helps students build everyday safety routines, recognize potential hazards before they occur, and handle situations such as power outages or severe weather. Participants are introduced to the Safe Sitter® First Aid Chart and practice a clear framework for evaluating and responding to injuries and illnesses.

This is the biggest fundraiser of the year, happening in Columbia and scheduled earlier than usual to offer an even wider selection. A live auction will feature 100 items, including blooming plants, seedlings, orchid artwork, and orchid supplies. There will also be games and giveaways, with no purchase necessary for a chance to take home orchids. For the first time, South Carolina Orchid Society members receive 10 percent off their total purchase, and anyone who renews or signs up for membership that day qualifies for the discount.

Explore Elmwood Park on a guided walking tour presented by Historic Columbia. Established in 1904 as a suburb, this neighborhood remains one of Columbia’s most intact historic areas, showcasing a range of architectural styles and stories of residents who once lived there. Over about 75 minutes, discover distinctive building forms and learn about notable figures connected to the community. The tour begins and ends at Palmetto Life Church. Capacity is limited to 20 participants, and there are no walk-up ticket options. Tickets are $5 for HC members, $10 for nonmembers, and free for youth 17 and under.

Capture the fun of the South Carolina State Fair with mini photo sessions. The price is $175 and it includes fair admission for up to two guests. Sessions generally yield five to ten images. This setup suits couples, engagement portraits, families, and other small groups.

Mast General Store is partnering with Merrell to support Food for Kids, turning shoe purchases into meals for children in need. With each pair of Merrell footwear bought at Mast General Store, Merrell will donate $15 to a children’s fund through a local food security organization. In Columbia, donations from this effort will benefit Harvest Hope, a food bank founded in 1981 that is recognized as South Carolina’s largest food security agency and serves communities across 20 counties. Shoppers can further help by rounding up purchases to the next whole dollar at checkout. No Kid Hungry reports that nearly 14 million children in the United States live in food insecure households, and in parts of Mast Store’s four state region, one in four children faces uncertainty about their next meal.

Treat yourself to cotton candy, funnel cakes, corndogs, and popcorn as country music fills the air.

CCBC hosts a monthly Farm to Table gathering for men at Fabel Farms. This free event features a shared meal and time for meaningful fellowship and genuine connection. It welcomes men connected to Cedar Creek, first-time visitors, and community members. Registration is available.

This women-in-art book club session centers on LaToya M. Hobbs: Carving Out Time by Rudy, Grothe, and Hobbs. The conversation focuses on the life and work of the painter and printmaker, and welcomes art lovers of every background, from seasoned historians to curious newcomers. This season highlights individual artists and has also featured Mary Gabriel's Ninth Street Women and Marilyn Chase's biography of Ruth Asawa, Everything She Touched. The discussion is led by Julie Hansard, a bookseller and Creative Director for All Good Books who earned a BA in Art with a minor in Art History from Winthrop University, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Art History Travel Fund Award. Selected titles are available from AGB at a 10 percent discount.

The All Booked Book Club hosts a conversation centered on Restore Me with author J. J. Seegar participating to answer questions and sign copies. Restore Me is available at a 10% discount from All Good Books. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.