Have you been to your local Richland County Library recently? Are you looking for events and learning opportunities that your whole family can enjoy? Of course, the libraries have books, but what a lot of people don’t know is that the Richland County Libraries host tons of family-friendly, wholesome events all throughout the week. There are groups for teenagers, crafting events for adults, storytimes for toddlers, learning workshops, and much, much more!
Need more ideas on free things to do around Columbia? We’ve got you covered with more than 50 awesome free ideas!
Have you ever heard of Carolina Gymnastics? Whether you’re looking for a Parent and Me class for your tots, an awesome place to host your next birthday party, or a sport to introduce your older kids to, you should give Carolina Gymnastics a try! A local mom and Kidding Around Columbia writer has been taking her young daughter to gymnastics classes here for the past several months and has some great insight we think you will love!
Carolina Gymnastics: Parent and Me Classes
When my daughter began walking, and became more of a “toddler” than a baby, I knew I needed to find something for her to do on a regular basis. Not only to get us out of the house, but to challenge her, teach her new skills, and socialize with other tots her age.
After some searching, I came across the Parent and Me classes at Carolina Gymnastics and I knew I had to give them a try. It was comforting to know that Carolina Gymnastics has been in business since 1976 and was the very first privately owned gymnastics center in all of South Carolina.
Group Class Room
The class we are a part of usually starts out in the Group Class Area. Complete with a climbable castle replica, wall murals, slide, and small foam pit, this room is so cute and fun for small kiddos. Tiny gymnasts are also given the opportunity to free play in the “big gym” where they can jump on the trampoline, swing on the bars, walk across the beams, dance to the music, and so much more!
Independence to Explore at Their Own Pace
Each family can do one free trial class to be sure the classes are a good fit. About halfway through our trial run, it was safe to say that my daughter was HOOKED. The Parent and Me class is set up to give toddlers space and independence to explore and try things on their own time, but with tons of guidance from the coaches.
I really love that throughout the class I am able to participate with my daughter and learn how to safely teach her new skills such as forward rolls, cartwheel basics, bridges, and so much more. It is so cool to see her learn and achieve new skills even at such a young age! Now, at almost two years old, her favorite thing to do is swing on the bars and jump into the large foam pit.
More Classes at Carolina Gymnastics
There are so many flip-tastic classes at Carolina Gymnastics:
Parent and Me
Ages walking to 2 years old
Preschool Gymnastics
Ages 3 – 5 years old
Advanced Preschool Gymnastics
Ages 4 -5 years old
Girls & Boys Recreational Gymnastics
Ages 6 and up
Tumbling Classes
Ages 6 and up
Twist and Tumble at Your Next Birthday Party
Looking for a unique place to host your child’s next birthday party? Carolina Gymnastics could be a great fit! Parties include:
1.5 hour celebration
Age appropriate games
Invitations
Goody bags
Special t-shirt and medal for birthday child
Gym play
There are two different packages to choose from. You can either provide your own cake or have the gymnastics center provide one for you. Depending on the number of guests you have at your party and the package you choose, parties can cost anywhere from $220 to $310.
Are you searching for an indoor place to have fun with your family in Northeast Columbia, SC? Whether you’ve got toddlers, teenagers, or a mix of both, Flight Adventure Park Sandhill location is the perfect place for you! Here your kiddos can jump on trampolines and bounce houses, roller skate, play laser tag, and more! Below you will find all you need to know about Flight Adventure Park – from purchasing ticketto information on all the awesome attractions! If you are looking for ice skating instead of roller skating, check out Flight Adventure Park in Irmo! They offer many of the same activities, but not all, so be sure to check each location’s website when planning your trip if you have something specific in mind to do while there.
Are you wondering where you can find free movies for summer in Columbia, SC? Regal Movies, the Town of Blythewood, the Icehouse Amphitheater, and The Big Mo are hosting summer movie events that your whole family will love! Below we’ve got the details on where you can see movies for free or super budget-friendly this summer.
Let’s Go to the Summer Movies: Columbia, SC
It’s no secret that taking your family to the movies can be quite expensive – the tickets, popcorn, drinks, and candy all add up QUICK! Maybe you’ve even got a toddler or two that you’re just not sure are ready to make it through a whole movie in a crowded, evening theater, but taking them during the day or even to an outdoor venue might seem a little more manageable!
This summer we found great options to not only make going to the movies cheap but also fun and memorable for your whole tribe. Try these summer movies for kids and families this year and don’t break the bank to do it!
Have you ever been to Bowlero Bowling Alley in Cayce, SC? Bowlero provides a fantastic indoor, family-friendly activity to beat the rising temperatures of summer and the unpredictable rainstorms that come with it.
If you’re looking for a place to go bowling in Cayce, SC, Bowlero has budget-friendly weekday deals, an arcade, a sports bar, and several bowling lanes! We had a great time visiting Bowlero. Here’s everything you need to know!
Bowlero Provides a Great Bowling Experience
Conveniently located in Cayce, Bowlero gives a fresh take on bowling with its modern and trendy decor. They’ve got 24 bowling lanes, comfortable seating, huge TV’s, an arcade, and a sports bar.
My family and I recently made a visit to Bowlero on a Friday around 4 pm and we had the whole bowling alley to ourselves! I was a little nervous because of the young ages of my children, but both my daughter (1.5) and son (4) had an absolute blast.
Staff provided us with a bowling ramp to make it easy for them to join in on the fun. Along with the ramp, we also chose to have bumpers on our lane. Keep in mind that they aren’t automatic bumpers so if you choose this option, they will remain up for each player.
They also played fun, upbeat music that kept my kids occupied by dancing around while they waited their turns. The staff was very friendly and checked in on us about halfway through our game.
Pricing and Weekday Specials at Bowlero
A quick game of bowling would be the perfect indoor activity this summer! And good news is, Bowlero runs several money-saving weekday specials! A regular game of bowling will cost $5.99/person plus shoe rental fees. Weekday savings include:
Sunday Funday
$4.39/game and $3 for a $6 arcade card after 8 pm
Night Strike
$16.49 unlimited bowling on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 pm – close
Triple Play
$3.33/game on Tuesdays after 8 pm
Half-Priced Arcade Day
50% off the price of arcade games all day on Wednesdays
Lanes can be reserved online at Bowlero’s website in either 2 or 2.5-hour time slots. This is highly recommended during weekends.
Sports Bar at Bowlero
Bowlero also has a sports bar located near the lanes with large flat-screen TV’s. Along with a variety of adult beverages, you can also order food that will be delivered right to your lane as you bowl. They offer burgers, wings, nachos, pizza, sweet treats, and more.
Arcade Fun
The arcade at Bowlero features several different styles of games – racing, basketball, claw machines, and more. You will need to load an arcade card with credits before playing.
Have you heard about Kroger Chef Junior? This program offers a low-cost opportunity for kids to learn a new cooking skill in a mini-cooking class. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to spend a little quality time with Mom or Dad. Kroger Chef Junior is a program found at participating Kroger stores in South Carolina and Georiga, including both Columbia, SC and Atlanta, GA. We tried the Kroger Chef Junior in Columbia, SC and had a blast.
Each month is a different simple recipe, usually themed. For example, we went in May and did Fiesta Corn for Cinco de Mayo. It was very fun and something we look forward to doing again! So, here’s everything you need to know about Kroger Chef Junior from registration to what to expect at the class.
Kroger Chef Junior: Does Your Store Participate?
First off, go online to the Kroger Chef Junior Website and put in your zip code to find the locations close to you that offer Kroger Chef Junior. Currently in Columbia SC, two Kroger stores offer Kroger Chef Junior, and both are in northeast Columbia. One is off Two Notch Road just before Sandhills Mall – near the Target and Spring Valley High School – while the other is northwest on Robert’s Branch Parkway.
Once you select a location, you will need to register for the class.
Date and Time: Kroger Cooking Classes for Kids
As for when it is, classes are offered on select Saturdays between 9:00 am and 1:30 pm. As I said, there is one recipe class per month. That recipe is offered two weekends out of the month.
The slots to sign up for are 30 minutes, but it is pretty brief, closer to 15 minutes. Kids try the recipe one at a time, so it is not long to wait their turn or long to stay focused.
Cost for Kroger Chef Junior and What’s Included
The cost is $7 per kid, parents do not need to register. Included is:
a reusable apron they can put their name on
a single-use paper chef hat (adjustable),
a patch that can be ironed or sewn on (one for each recipe),
their own take-home durable plastic kitchen tool (this time measuring spoons),
pocket to keep recipes
and a recipe card of the day (good quality).
Age: Who is Kroger Chef Junior For?
There does not currently appear to be any age restrictions on the program. I took a four-year-old, and the instructor provided plenty of help. Older kids we saw also seemed to enjoy it. While you know your kid best, based on the setup, I’d say a three-year-old who is already helpful in the kitchen might be old enough and a ten or eleven-year-old with beginner interest in cooking might enjoy it, but mostly kindergarten to third graders are the target.
Also, there are enough spaces to book siblings or a playdate, but since kids work one at a time, I took one kid as a quick mommy and me experience (while I grabbed something from the store) as some special time where he got all my attention. If you’re looking for a way to do that, this is great.
The short one-on-one setup also works well for a beginner play date for kindergartners or others into parallel play with nuerodivergence, which is one reason we chose it.
Experience: What to Expect at Kroger Chef Junior
Right away, it was very easy to find the Chef Junior class. There were plenty of signs. It was located near an entrance as a display sort of off to the side near produce (and in the Two Notch Road location right by the Starbucks). A long-standing table, that would be wheelchair accessible, was decorated sort of like a picnic and held all the ingredients. The area had a lot of stimuli, so do be prepared for that.
My kid was thrilled with all the materials provided and could not wait to jump in and get started! The kids were allowed to forgo certain ingredients they didn’t like, and nothing particularly hazardous was used for this recipe, such as flames and sharp knives. It was very simple, but a big confidence builder and fun.
The recipe was definitely something he could make again at home, even on his own, which is a great skill. It also encouraged him to try something new. Although his experiment was not his favorite result, we do look forward to trying others.
This program and provided take-home materials set kids up to want to do more at home, after the class.
Afterward, as we did a little shopping, everyone in the store was very impressed with his chef’s ensemble, which made his day!
Main Takeaways from Kroger Chef Junior Experience:
One Simple Recipe a Month, two Saturdays to choose from
$7 a kid, register online
One Kid at a time, brief activity
Excellent materials
Very fun learning experience
Great for ages 4-8, first playdates, mommy/daddy and me outings
More Cheap Fun in Columbia
Looking for more free and cheap activities for kids in Columbia?
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what secrets it holds? If you’re a lover of all things space, then the Melton Observatory at the University of South Carolina is definitely worth a visit. This totally free, educational opportunity is located on USC’s Columbia campus, offering visitors a chance to explore the wonders of the universe in a unique and immersive way.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting this distinctive destination.
What is the Melton Observatory?
The Melton Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Columbia campus of the University of South Carolina. The observatory is named for the late Dr. William Davis Melton, who was the president of the University of South Carolina in the 1920’s. The observatory features a dome and a 16-inch Cassegrain telescope, which is used for viewing the stars, planets, and other objects in space.
What can you see at the Melton Observatory?
Visitors can use the telescope to view a wide range of objects, including planets like Jupiter and Saturn, as well as star clusters, and galaxies. The observatory also offers a livestream during the hours of their public viewing for free. The Melton Observatory livestream can be accessed on Monday nights from 9:00 pm until 11:00 pm.
I’ve also taken advantage of viewing their past livestreams, available on their website, and admired some of their previous videos of the moon, stars, and planets around us.
The recorded livestreams are a great options for families with young children who can’t quite stay up late enough for a visit to the observatory!
Visit the Melton Observatory for Free!
The Melton Observatory is located at 1429 Greene Street in Columbia and is open to the public on Monday nights from 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm on clear nights. During these public observing nights, visitors can use the telescope to view the night sky and learn more about the stars and planets. If you’re interested in visiting the observatory, be sure to check the Melton Observatory website for the most up-to-date schedule of events and to ensure the skies are clear for viewing.
Mom Review: Free, Educational and Recommended!
Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just looking for a unique and educational experience, the Melton Observatory at the University of South Carolina is definitely worth a visit. With its state-of-the-art telescope and knowledgeable staff, this observatory offers visitors the opportunity to explore the wonders of the universe and galaxies around us.
The observatory does welcome children, but particularly due to the expensive equipment, children must be supervised!
I can confidently recommend a visit to the Melton Observatory – it’s a unique and educational experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of our universe. And we love that USC brings this experience FREE to the public.
Our family of adventurous natural world explorers really appreciates all that they have to offer. So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure that combines nature, education, and beauty, add a trip to Melton Observatory at USC to your list and share your experience with us in the comments!
The SC State Museum is not only huge but so entertaining, educational, and fun. Here’s why you should consider a trip to Columbia, SC to explore it.
The South Carolina State Museum has been on my list as a homeschooling parent (actually, before that since my daughter was supposed to go as a third-grader and then the pandemic hit). I had heard it was cool but did not know the extent of exactly how amazing it would be. So I hauled my kids out there for a truly fun day trip. And if you’re a homeschooling parent, read all the way through for a special admission tip.
Have you ever heard of Glow Dragon in Elgin, SC? Glow Dragon is a one-stop shop for several family-friendly activities. They have indoor glow putt-putt, axe throwing, and even escape rooms! Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day or even just something new to do with the kids, Glow Dragon is a great option for you!
We visited Glow Dragon with kids, and we’re bringing you this mom review so you’ll know what to expect when you go!
One Stop Shop for Fun: Glow Dragon
Located just outside of Columbia, in Elgin, SC, you will find Glow Dragon. Here you can have all kinds of fun and stay for as long as you’d like! It is a great place for children of all ages with a wide variety of fun activities. It’s important to note that they are only open on Saturdays and Sundays!
Unlimited Indoor Glow Putt-Putt
Yes, you read that right…UNLIMITED putt-putt at Glow Dragon! My family and I recently had the chance to check it out and my kids loved the glow-in-the-dark dragon theme. There were plenty of golf club sizes to choose from – from adult sizes all the way to small plastic ones for toddlers. The course is made up of 9 holes that get a bit more tricky along the way with fun, glowing obstacles, ramps, and more!
Also included in the mini golf price is access to the arcade! Here you will find tons of “old-school” arcade games like Pac-Man and NBA Jam as well as pool tables, foosball, and even basketball hoops.
Unlimited putt-putt prices are as follows:
$15/person; ages 2 and under free
SUNDAY FAMILY PASS: This pass is good for up to 8 people and will cost $65. Along with mini golf and the arcade, it will also include 1 scoop of ice cream for each family member!
They often run other deals that will be posted on their Facebook page, be sure to follow along
Glow Dragon Axe Throwing
Looking for a quaint and cozy place to give axe throwing a try? Glow Dragon would be perfect for you! They have just 3 lanes which gives you plenty of opportunity to learn the basics in a more quiet, laid back atmosphere. Each lane can hold up to 4 people, however children must be at least 10 years old to enjoy the fun.
It is HIGHLY recommended that you book your lane online in advance! The cost to book a lane is $20/person for 1 hour of throwing.
Escape Rooms at Glow Dragon
At Glow Dragon, you will also find two noteworthy escape rooms! The room themes do change from time to time so be on the lookout for one you might enjoy. The newest theme is “Operation Ransom” and is set to open very soon.
The escape rooms cost $25/person.
Plan Your Next Birthday Party a Glow Dragon: Elgin, Sc
Looking for a unique place to host your next birthday party? At Glow Dragon there are 2 party options to choose from:
Princess Victoria/Prince William Party Room
$300
Includes: 2-hour rental, up to 15 guests, private party room, unlimited mini golf, ice cream
Party Facility Rental
$450
Includes: 4-hour rental, up to 50 guests, unlimited mini golf, arcade rooms
Have you been thinking about a family trip to the Columbia Marionette Theater? Are you looking for something “new” to do with your kids? No matter what time of year it is or how old your children are, you will love it at the Marionette Theater! It is such a unique and wholesome opportunity for fun with puppets, bright colors, lights, music and smiles to be had by all. We’ve got all you need to know to make your trip to the next puppet show a terrific one!
The Columbia Marionette Theater is somewhere that I have wanted to go for a long time. When my family and I finally got the opportunity to go to a show, it did not disappoint and I left asking myself why we hadn’t gone sooner!
The building itself is so charming – painted to look like a castle and oh so welcoming. Neither of my kids, but especially my toddler, could get enough of the magic, and the whole way home he was asking when we could go again!
Marionette Theater in Columbia
It’s Showtime at Columbia’s Marionette Theater!
The Marionette Theater is a non-profit organization that specializes in puppetry. They host puppet shows every Saturday at 11 am and 3 pm and every third Monday of the month at 10 am. The Saturday shows last about 1 hour – the PERFECT length of time before littles start to get too wiggly!
The Monday shows are a bit more hands-on than the Saturday shows. At “Marionette Monday”, your kiddos not only get to see the production, but also learn more about the puppets and behind-the-scenes work, try out a puppet, see various puppet demonstrations, and more!
Tickets for the shows cannot be purchased in advance. Have no fear, though, there are 200 seats within the theater, and shows rarely sell out.
Tickets to Marionette Theater are $7 per person and children under 2 years old are free. Senior citizens and active duty military can purchase tickets for $6.
Seating Within the Theater
All seating at the theater is general admission. Because of this, we suggest arriving a few minutes early to secure a great spot! To be sure that kids have the best possible view of the show, the first 3 rows are reserved just for them. Our family sat in the 5th row and we had a great view the whole time. Even our 3-year-old decided to stay with us and never complained about not being able to see.
Take Home a Puppet of Your Own
The gift shop at the Marionette Theater is so charming and cute! With beautiful murals on the walls, puppets everywhere you look and the kindest staff, it will be hard to go home without a little souvenir. They have everything from large puppets to $1 finger puppets and everything in between.
Marionette Theater gift shop
Plan Your Next Birthday Party at the Marionette Theater
Around the perimeter of the stage and main seating, there are 4 rooms decorated in different themes: dinosaur, underwater, Wizard of Oz, and Medieval Castle. These are their birthday party rooms and can be rented for $75 plus $6 per child. Birthday parties are 2 hours long and come with a special prize for the birthday boy or girl, priority seating for attendees, and more.