Events in Columbia, SC: Don’t Miss a Thing

Create the coolest hero or wackiest villain you can imagine as a cardboard costume you can actually wear. All supplies are provided — just bring your imagination!

Try a special daytime edition of telescope observing! Using a solar filter, you’ll observe the sun’s corona, sunspots, and more. The program will be canceled in case of inclement weather.

Join the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for a full day of inclusivity! This day is designed to provide a welcoming and enjoyable experience for all guests, including those with sensory sensitivities.

How do different animals survive in their habitats? Investigate animal adaptations with Rosemary from Richland County 4-H — there may even be some live examples!

Grab a microphone and let the lyrics flow. Sing along with kids’ favorite songs.

Enjoy the fun of the fall season with pumpkin painting. Wear paint-friendly clothes.
📍 Location: Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC
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🧒 Ages: Elementary

Homeschool families, this afternoon is for you. October’s lineup includes the 4D Theater film Animal Kingdom (2 to 2:30 pm), a Planetarium show on The Solar System, and the hands-on STEAM program Matter Matters (both 2:30 to 3:30 pm). Explore the museum and connect with other homeschoolers; registration for programs opens September 18.

Love pumpkin carving but hate the mess? Bring a pumpkin of any size, use our tools and supplies to carve or decorate, and leave the cleanup to us.

Love it or not, candy corn takes center stage with games, activities and sweet treats to enjoy while you play. (grades K–5)

EdVenture Columbia invites families to enjoy the museum in a sensory-friendly environment, with reduced lighting, limited crowd size, educational programming, and resources for parents. Admission is free with advance registration.

Step into the Creepy Crawly Pathway, where Halloween fun slithers, scurries, and sneaks around every corner! Follow the spooky-lit trail through the park and stop at each decorated station to collect candy and surprises from our community partners. Along the way, watch out for glowing spiders, fluttering bats, and friendly costumed characters who make the pathway come alive with Halloween spirit. Bring your best costumes, your candy buckets, and a little bit of courage — the Creepy Crawly Pathway is full of sweet (and slightly spooky) fun for the whole family!

This beautiful autumn, spark your child’s independence at the Kids Markets at Northwest Family YMCA Family Pumpkin Run and Fall Festival. They’ll operate their own mini business, sell their creations, keep the profits, and gain real skills in a fun, supportive setting. Watch them glow with pride and entrepreneurial spirit. Sign up for this golden opportunity!

Northwest Family YMCA

1501 Kennerly Rd

Irmo, South Carolina 29063

Come enjoy Soda City, a weekly farmers market that is open rain or shine! The Soda City Market features over 150 vendors each week, with items including produce, maker’s goods, food, and so much more!

Open every Saturday from 9 am – 1 pm

*Note: some holidays may interfere with market hours. Check the Soda City Farmers Market Facebook for updates.

Check out our extensive list of Farmer’s Markets Near Columbia, SC  for more weekend shopping throughout the year!

Take a self-guided tour through a variety of self-regulatory tools in a low-stimulation auditorium with gentle lighting. Calming materials like fidgets and noise-reducing headphones are available, and staff trained in accommodations are on hand for support.

The Columbia Marionette Theatre presents Winnie the Pooh, a puppet show about the beloved bear who loves having stories told about him. Performances at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Come one, come all, to Aiken State Park’s Sandhills Spooktacular Fall Festival! Enjoy carnival games and trunk-or-treating from noon to 4pm, plus s’mores and hayrides from 3-4pm, with food trucks onsite for seasonal treats. Free after park admission.

Join in watching Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and create a sculpture of the iconic scene in which Victor recites his wedding vows and places his wedding ring on Emily’s skeletal hand. (2005, PG, 77 min.).
📍 Location: Richland Library Edgewood, 2101 Oak Street, Columbia, SC 29204
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🧒 Ages: Teens 12-18

Celebrate the season with multicultural stories, crafts, piñatas, STEAM and activity stations and open play. Partnered with Lexington County School District One Family Center.

Lexington BMX is hosting their Fall Festival at the Lexington BMX Track – a fun-filled evening with music, food trucks, vendors and craft booths, bounce house and kids zone, BMX track riding, games, and a trunk or treat! Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Lexington BMX Track (Red Bank Arena), 1159 Nazareth Road, Lexington, SC 29073
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🧒 Ages: All ages

Visit the W. Gordon Belser Arboretum during its Monthly Open House on the 3rd Sunday of every month from 1–4 PM. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.

This 10-acre nature preserve features diverse native plant communities across multiple habitats, peaceful walking paths, a botanical garden, a waterfall, and unique outdoor exhibits, offering a quiet, educational escape into nature right in Columbia.

The Columbia Marionette Theatre presents a special Marionette Monday performance of Winnie the Pooh, a puppet show about the beloved bear.

Go bananas for a family-friendly concert with the BenAnna Band! This high-energy children’s duo, with backgrounds in early childhood education and music therapy, will have everyone from the smallest to the tallest dancing and singing along.

Get hands-on building towers, robots, creatures, and more. Who can build it tallest? Who can build it strongest? Build freely and find out!