Looking for fun things to do in Columbia, SC this weekend or month? Whether you’re planning a family outing or just need ideas to keep the kids entertained, Columbia is full of exciting, family-friendly events! From special children’s programs and festivals to live theatre and sports, we’ve rounded up the best local events happening this month, so you don’t miss a thing.
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Things to Do This Month: Columbia, SC
We are highlighting Cola’s best events throughout the month, so you can have the most fun each week. Be sure to check out our full event calendar for more fun around the Midlands!
Thank you to our sponsors. Sponsored events are marked as “featured.”
Fall Events You Don’t Want to Miss
September kicks off the month of fall festivals throughout the Midlands! It might be a little hot out still, but you’re definitely going to see the apple pie and pumpkin spice take over happening. Check out our list of fall events near Columbia, SC to look forward to!
Fall events you do not want to miss!
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Events This Weekend: September in Columbia, SC
Is the weekend here, and you are not quite sure what to do? Check out these excellent family-friendly events near Columbia, SC! This month features some interesting things, so get out and explore as we head into the fall season!
Events September 4 – 6, 2026
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 🆓 | September 4, 2026
9:30 am - 10:30 am |
Mommy n Me Rolll'n/Stroller Roll
at Finlay Park, Columbia SC |
September 4, 2026
6:00 pm |
Members' Night Out
at Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 4, 2026
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
Outdoor Movie Night - Moana 2
at Crooked Creek Park, Lexington SC |
| 🆓 | September 4, 2026
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
Outdoor Movie Night: Moana 2
at Crooked Creek Park, Lexington SC |
| 🆓 | September 5, 2026
9:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Home Depot In-Store Kids Workshops
|
| 🆓 | September 5, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Soda City Market
at Soda City Market, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 5, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Backyard Saturday - A Way With Wild Things
at Saluda Shoals Park, Columbia SC |
September 5, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 6, 2026
10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
First Sunday at the South Carolina State Museum
at South Carolina State Museum, Columbia SC |
Events September 11 – 13, 2026
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 🆓 | September 11, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale — Full Price Day
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
September 11, 2026
1:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
Foodees Fest
at Lifelong Learning Center, Batesburg SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 12, 2026
9:00 am - 11:00 am |
Accessibility Mornings- SC State Museum
at South Carolina State Museum, Columbia SC |
September 12, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Kids Markets at Sprout Style Swap
|
|
| 🆓 | September 12, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Soda City Market
at Soda City Market, Columbia SC |
September 12, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 12, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Hiking 101 - Girl Scouts Love State Parks
at Sesquicentennial State Park, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 12, 2026
10:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Lowe's Kids Workshop: Haunted House
at Lowe’s N.E. Columbia, Columbia SC |
September 12, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 12, 2026
11:00 am - 9:00 pm |
Foodees Fest
at Lifelong Learning Center, Batesburg SC |
|
September 12, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
JCPenney Kids Zone Workshop: Cabin Picture Frame
at Columbiana Mall, Columbia |
|
September 13, 2026
11:00 am - 7:00 pm |
Foodees Fest
at Lifelong Learning Center, Batesburg SC |
Events September 18 – 20, 2026
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 🆓 | September 18, 2026
9:00 am - 7:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale — 50% Off Day
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
September 18, 2026
7:30 pm |
Mike Super: Magic and Illusion - Three's A Charm
at Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical College, Irmo SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
2026 Midlands Fall Arts & Crafts Market
at South Carolina State Farmers Market, West Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Soda City Market
at Soda City Market, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale — 50% Off Day
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
September 19, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 19, 2026
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!
at Columbia Children’s Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 20, 2026
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
W. Gordon Belser Arboretum Monthly Open House - USC
at W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 20, 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Newberry Fire Department Kids Fun Day
at Newberry Recreation Complex, Newberry SC |
September 20, 2026
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!
at Columbia Children’s Theatre, Columbia SC |
Events September 25 – 27, 2026
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 🆓 | September 25, 2026
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm |
Irmo Okra Strut - Friday Opening Night
at Moore Park, Irmo SC |
| 🆓 | September 25, 2026
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
Opening Reception: From the Vault - Art from the Museum's Collection
at South Carolina State Museum, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 26, 2026
9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
Irmo Okra Strut Festival & Parade
at Moore Park, Irmo SC |
| 🆓 | September 26, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Soda City Market
at Soda City Market, Columbia SC |
September 26, 2026
10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Inaugural Blue Apple Battle: Free Family Game Day, Ages 9 to 14
at Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, Columbia SC |
|
September 26, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
| 🆓 | September 26, 2026
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm |
Palmetto Peanut Boil (19th Annual)
at 2900 Block of Devine Street, Columbia SC |
Plan Your Day!
Check out our Guide to Things to Do Near Columbia, SC
Fill up Your Weekend With These Things to Do Near Columbia, SC
- It’s still hot out, so check out these Indoor Things to Do!
- Take a day trip to Toccoa Falls in Georgia!
- Plan out your next date night that’s not boring!
- Visit Seven Oaks Park.
- Spend the day at the apple orchards near WNC.
- Explore Crooked Creek Park this summer!
- Enjoy one of these local 19 playgrounds and parks.
- Visit Swan Lake in Sumter, SC.
- Take a day trip!
- Take the little ones up to Playland of Aiken for indoor fun.
- Check out all the FREE programming at Richland County Library.
- Bring the kids for a stroller stroll at these local parks.
- Dine out at Columbia’s best restaurants!
- Here are 50+ FREE things to do around the area.
Theatre, Shows, and Sporting Events
Enjoy some live performances, from marionette shows to concerts, right here in Columbia, SC!
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
September 18, 2026
7:30 pm |
Mike Super: Magic and Illusion - Three's A Charm
at Harbison Theatre at Midland Technical College, Irmo SC |
|
September 19, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 19, 2026
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!
at Columbia Children’s Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 20, 2026
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Elephant & Piggie's We Are in a Play!
at Columbia Children’s Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 21, 2026
10:00 am - 11:00 am |
Marionette Monday: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
|
September 26, 2026
11:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Columbia Marionette Theatre presents: Winnie the Pooh
at Columbia Marionette Theatre, Columbia SC |
Free Things Happening This Month
- Soda City Farmers Market, Weekly
- Home Depot FREE Kids Workshop
| Date/Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 🆓 | September 17, 2026
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
East Bay Deli 25th Anniversary Celebration
at East Bay Deli, Cayce SC |
| 🆓 | September 18, 2026
9:00 am - 7:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale — 50% Off Day
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
2026 Midlands Fall Arts & Crafts Market
at South Carolina State Farmers Market, West Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Soda City Market
at Soda City Market, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 19, 2026
9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Sprout Style Swap Fall Sale — 50% Off Day
at Jamil Shrine Center, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 20, 2026
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
W. Gordon Belser Arboretum Monthly Open House - USC
at W. Gordon Belser Arboretum, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 20, 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
Newberry Fire Department Kids Fun Day
at Newberry Recreation Complex, Newberry SC |
| 🆓 | September 21, 2026
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm |
Build a Thon: Legos and More
at Richland Library Sandhills, Columbia SC |
| 🆓 | September 25, 2026
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm |
Irmo Okra Strut - Friday Opening Night
at Moore Park, Irmo SC |
| 🆓 | September 25, 2026
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm |
Opening Reception: From the Vault - Art from the Museum's Collection
at South Carolina State Museum, Columbia SC |
Cheap Fun is the BEST Fun!
There are lots of Free Things to Do Near Columbia, SC
Our Top Picks: Don’t Miss These Events This Month Near Columbia, SC
Our list is growing and full of options. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, try one of these top picks. These are the events chosen by the Kidding Around® team!
- Columbia Marionette Theatre presents Winnie the Pooh (Saturdays in September)
- Dinosaurs Around the World: The Great Outdoors (Sept 17, 2026)
- Foodees Fest (Sept 11, 2026)
- Admiral Radio – Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series (Sept 10, 2026)
- Outdoor Movie Night: Moana 2 (Sept 4, 2026 @ Crooked Creek Park)
- Backyard Saturday – A Way With Wild Things (Sept 5, 2026)
- Members’ Night Out (Sept 4, 2026 @ Riverbanks Zoo)
- Hiking 101 – Girl Scouts Love State Parks (Sept 12, 2026)
Catch a FREE event at the Richland Libraries. We love their free movies!
Travel Highlight
It’s September! And that means it’s time to play out your daytrip to WNC to pick apples, eat apple cider donuts, and maybe even shoot an apple canon or two. We also have a couple of orchards near York and Charlotte listed in case you want to head that way. Make a full day of it; it’s so much fun and memorable.
Don’t Miss These Things to Do This Month, Updated With Your Family In Mind!
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