Richland Library’s Read Freely Fest runs Friday through Sunday; also on the list: craft beer, mac & cheese, comedy, and lots of live music
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Love books? Richland Library kicks off the weekend with a new book festival — Read Freely Fest. This three-day event features over 40 authors, book signings, book sales, storytelling, live musical performances, hands-on activities and community experiences.
All of the events at Richland Library Main are free to attend and cater to every level of readership, from kids who are just beginning to read, to adults who enjoy reading and want to meet authors and get involved in discussions on creativity, inspiration, and more.
Read Freely’s headlining authors include DéLana R. A. Dameron (Redwood Court), Patti Callahan Henry (Becoming Mrs. Lewis), Brendan Slocumb (The Violin Conspiracy), Abbott Kahler (Sin in the Second City), and Mike Curato (Flamer), among others.
It’s not all books, though. Read Freely will have indoor and outdoor activities for kids, yard games, and food trucks. Check it out. No library cards necessary.
Other activities this weekend include:
THURSDAY, March 27
Future of the Past, noon and 6 p.m., the Hopkins Adult Activity Center, 144 Hopkins Park, Hopkins. Give your thoughts on the sustaining of County artifacts at one of two upcoming meetings hosted by the County’s Conservation Commission and Ethos Preservation. Can’t make the meetings? Share your thoughts in an online survey at tinyurl.com/richlandpresplan
Taste of Lake Murray, 6 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 2100 Bush River Rd., Columbia. This event features live music from Band of Oz and The Reggie Sullivan Band, food from local chefs and your chance to vote for your favorite chef to join Team Lake Murray at the 2025 World Food Championships, and a silent auction. Proceeds go to fund Lake Murray’s Independence Day Celebration. $125 per person
Jazz Party, 7-10 p.m., Aristocrat, 1001 Washington St., Columbia. The Amos Hoffman Trio starts out the night then guest musicians are invited to sit in.
Media & Civil Rights History Symposium, featuring Michael Harriott. 6:30-8 p.m. Chappelle Auditorium, Allen University, 1530 Harden St. South Carolina native and acclaimed columnist and political commentator Michael Harriott, author of the New York Times bestseller “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America,” will be conversing with Damion Waymer Ph.D., director of the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications and Bobby Donaldson, Ph.D., executive director of the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History and Research. Free public event.
FRIDAY, March 28
We Them Ones Comedy Tour, 8 p.m., Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St. Hosted by Mike Epps, spend the evening with the side-splitting humor of Kountry Wayne, Karlous Miller, Lil Duval, Corey Holcomb, Mojo Brookzz, and Bubba Dub. Clear bag policy in effect, all concessions are cashless.
Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue, 7 p.m., Koger Center, 1051 Greene St. New production — for ages 18+ — finds Sophia out on bail after being busted by the DEA for running a drug ring at Shady Pines; Blanche and Rose created CreakN, a thriving sex app for seniors; and Dorothy is trying to hold it all together.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, March 28 & 29
7-9 p.m., Friday, Eau Claire High School, 4800 Monticello Rd., ages 12 and under get in free, ages 13+ donate what you can. An evening filled with mesmerizing performances of Native American and African dance, ballet, tap, hip hop, and more
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Columbia Music Festival Association, 914 Pulaski St, Columbia. Free dance day
FRIDAY through SUNDAY, March 28-30
Columbia PPA Challenger (pickleball), Cayce Pickleball Complex, 1500 Dunbar Rd., Cayce. Come out and see why this is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation. Amateur matches will be played alongside Championship Court where the best up and coming professionals in the world compete for the cash prizes and ranking points in the sport of pickleball. 304 players have registered for this event!
Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, noon-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. SC State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. Explore the latest in hunting and fishing, check out the DockDogs and Nature Nick, the 5,000-gallon fish tank, SCDNR’s Aquatic Education Pond, or get your deer antlers professionally scored. Tickets $12 per person, children age 12 and under get in free; senior citizens, military, vets and first responders get discount tickets at the gate. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
Read Freely Fest, Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia. Authors representing almost every genre – romance, history, fantasy, fiction, anime, and more. Buy a book or check the schedule online and bring a book from home to get the author’s signature. Indoor and outdoor, family-friendly activities. Free, no library card required. Food trucks will be on-site during the festival for attendees to purchase snacks. NOTE: Friday night kick-off party, Overdue, is 18+ only.
SATURDAY, March 29
2025 Midlands Heart Walk, 8 a.m., Segra Park, 1640 Freed St. Register to walk or support an existing team to raise funds for the American Heart Association.
The Boardr Series: Skateboard Contest, 8 a.m., Rawls Creek Park, 1113 Friarsgate Blvd, Irmo. Sponsored by Bluetile Skateshop, practice starts at 8 a.m., street contest starts at 10 a.m., bowl contest starts at 1:30 p.m.. Free event, open to all skateboarders.
The Carolina Cup, gates open at 9 a.m., first race is 1:30 p.m., Springdale Race Course, 200 Knights Hill Rd., Camden. Ladies and gentlemen, bring out your best hats and seersucker suit for the 90th running of The Cup. It’s “see and be seen” at this social rite of spring and, if you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a race or two.
Art in the Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Memorial Park, 417 W Hampton Ave., Sumter. Student art displays, vendors from around the state, food trucks, live music, and free children’s book giveaway.
Plie on the Plaza, 9 am.-1 p.m., Boyd Plaza, 1515 Main St., Columbia. Join the Joffrey Ballet company during Soda City for free 15-20 minute movement classes.
Revolutionary War Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, 301 Gervais St. Learn more about the American Revolution and South Carolina’s part in establishing independence from the British Empire. Reenactors, weapons from the period, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon.
Columbia Expo Fitness and Wellness Show, noon-5 p.m., Jamil Shrine Temple, 206 Jamil Rd., Columbia. A day of health, exercise and fun with the latest trends in fitness.
Bitter Root: Next Movement signing event, 11 a.m.-noon, Scratch N’Spin. 513 12th St., West Columbia. Meet and greet with Bitter Root comic creators Chuck Brown and Sanford Greene. Both have worked with MARVEL, DC & IMAGE comics and are Eisner Award winners. Find out what’s next for the Bitter Root characters in a signed copy of Next Movement #1.
South Carolina Pimento Cheese Festival, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St. Andrews Rd. Columbia. Free admission, $5 parking per car at gate. What’s more Southern than pimento cheese? Purchase a $5 tasting ticket pack and receive 6 tasting tickets for samples of pimento cheese from local restaurants and caterers. Tastings from noon-2 p.m. or until samples run out.
Crafted in Carolina: A Celebration of South Carolina’s Brewers and Artisans, 2-5 p.m. (1-5 p.m. VIP entry) Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia. Enjoy tastings of over 150 beers from South Carolina breweries, live music and Artisan Market featuring a wide variety of arts and crafts from around the state. Tickets: $45/general admission, $60 VIP (early entry), Market & Music Access, $10/age 5 and older. Children under 5 years old get in free.
Beethoven & Blue Jeans, 7:30 p.m., Koger Center. Grab your favorite pair of jeans and settle in for an evening of great music. Saturday’s program features Fang Man’s Noir: a concise, musical drama performed in a spicy harmonic language; Noah Kim, winner of the 2023 Arthur Fraser Competition, performs Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2; the finale is Beethoven’s epic Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” a revolutionary work that changed the course of music history.
Warren Eiders: The Relapse Tour, 8 p.m. Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia. The Grand Ole Opry describes Warren Eiders as “hailing from Hershey, Pennsylvania, the 22-year-old singer/songwriter delivers outlaw sermons in a gravelly, world-weary voice that bely his young age.” The Relapse Tour features Tyler Braden. Clear bag policy in place.
SUNDAY, March 30
Big Nosh 2025: Jewish Food Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Tree of Life Congregation, 6719 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia. Learn about Jewish traditions and practices and sample some seder staples.
Family Time with the Phil, 3-4:30 p.m., Koger Center. This free family-friendly event invites audiences to sing, dance, and enjoy the symphony without the expected barriers of a live performance. Get hands-on in the instrument “petting zoo” and with some off-duty service pups.
SUNDAY & MONDAY, March 30 & 31
Bill Morrison @ The Nick, Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main St., Columbia. Academy Award nominated filmmaker Bill Morrison will be in Columbia for a series of events exploring Morrison’s groundbreaking work with archival footage. Morrison first discovered University of South Carolina’s Moving Image Research Collection (MIRC) about 25 years ago. The filmmaker played a key role in the development of the Orphan Film Symposium, that had its beginnings at USC. Here’s the lineup:
MONDAY, March 31
Tasting Notes, 6:30 p.m. South Carolina State Museum. 301 Gervais St., Columbia. Over 80 wines and food from over 15 local restaurants available for sampling, live music, cigar room, and silent auction with proceeds to support SC Philharmonic. Tickets: $125/person, $200/couple
COMING UP
APRIL 5: Joffrey Ballet in Concert with Betsy Blackmon Dance Company & USC Symphony Orchestra, 6:30 p.m., Koger Center. The special one-night-only concert will feature a brand-new work by Joffrey choreographer Nicolas Blanc, as well as a selection of works from the company’s revered repertory performed by Joffrey dancers and the Betsy Blackmon Dance Company with accompaniment by the USC Symphony Orchestra.