The Music Man: Columbia Children's Theatre

Thursday Aug. 4- Sunday Aug. 7, 2011

Direct from Broadway, this American classic is sweeping theaters nationwide! We'll have no "trouble" filling the house for this upbeat production featuring more than 100 young actors from across the Midlands. With all of your favorite songs from the Broadway show including Trouble, 76 Trombones, and Till There Was You, The Music Man Junior is a "feel good" event you won't want to miss! Visit Columbia Children's Theatre website. More than 100 Midlands children will march across the stage and into your hearts. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and children three years and older. Performances will be held at CCT’s theater upstairs above the food court at Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Dr. in Forest Acres. The production is sponsored by Modern Turf.

Purple Martin Sunset Dinner Cruises: Spirit of Lake Murray

Thursday August 4, 2011, Sunday August 7, 2011, Thursday August 11, 2011, Tuesday August 23, 2011

When the purple martins arrive at Bomb Island each evening at dusk, swirls of thousands of birds fill the sky before they settle into the trees to roost. It's an amazing sight, and one that attracts birders from around the country to see. A spectacle of nature right here in our own backyard. Treat yourself and your family to one of the Spirit of Lake Murray's "Purple Martin Sunset Dinner Cruises" this summer, and enjoy a 2 1/2 hour boat ride, a delicious meal and create a special memory! For information, visit the Spirit of Lake Murray website.

Go Shopping! Tax Free Weekend

Friday, August 5, 2011 12:01 am - Sunday, August 7, 2011 midnight

During this time, the 6% state sales and use tax, and any applicable local sales and use tax, will not be imposed on clothing, clothing accessories (e.g., hats, scarves, hosiery, and handbags), footwear, school supplies (e.g., pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators), computers, printers and printer supplies, computer software, and bath wash clothes, blankets, bed spreads, bed linens, sheet sets, comforter sets, bath towels, shower curtains, bath rugs and mats, pillows, and pillow cases. The sales tax holiday, however, does not apply to sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, wallets, watches, furniture, rental of clothing or footwear, items for use in a business, or items placed on layaway or similar deferred payment and delivery plans. Visit the SC Tax website for more info.

Arts & Draughts: Columbia Museum of Art

Friday August 5, 2011

§ The beer: Wailua Wheat, Firerock Pale Ale, Longboard Lager by Kona Brewing Company. Cash bar and tasting bar provided by The Whig.

§ The bands: New York Disco Villains, Tom Hall and the Plowboys, Buck Stanley and The Cream of the G.C.S.P.S.

§ The food: Bone-In Artisan Barbecue on Wheels, 2 Fat 2 Fly, Earth Fare

§ The art: Unique perspective tour through An Artist's Eye with conceptual artist Shigeharu Kobayashi

§ Other neat stuff: Downtown bike ride with Cycle Center and a scavenger hunt to win a KONA Bike, Video installations from UnSchool and USC Moving Image Research Collections, Live figure drawing session brought to you by Dr. Sketchy's Columbia, diy project - design and create your own postcard, send it to a stranger, and receive one yourself. Check out the super-cool Arts & Draughts web page!

Little Mountain Reunion

Friday August 5, 2011 - Saturday August 6, 2011

What started in 1882 as a reunion for Newberry College alumni, is now one of the best local festivals in the Midlands. An 8k Run (7am), a Saturday morning parade (10am), then live music (The Keith Dominick Band plays Friday evening. Saturday brings The Sugarloaf Mountain Boys, Rocky Yelton and the Hired Guns, Steamroller, Woody Windham and The Band of Oz to two stages) games and carnival rides, good food and a Talent Show! Crafters and vendors sell their wares. The Little Mountain Reunion Festival will be two days of action packed fun and excitement for the whole family. Don't miss out!!
Visit the Little Mountain Reunion website for details.

SC Mission 2011: Free Health Care for Uninsured: Carolina Coliseum

Friday August 5, 2011 & Saturday August 6, 2011

Are you or someone you know in need of medical, dental or vision care and just can't afford it? No insurance? Here is an event for you! The purpose of this two-day event is to provide health care services including medical, dental, and vision care to the uninsured, underserved and general population, while connecting people to ongoing healthcare and a medical home. The focus will be on those with pain and current health needs. The event will be very similar to an event that was held in Greenville last summer. Click here to link to the video from that event, SC Mission 2010.

Anyone suffering from medical ailments, dental problems or in need of vision exams is welcome to attend. Patients will be seen on a first come, first served basis and there are no guarantees that everyone who shows up will be seen. Medical professionals who are willing to volunteer their time and talents will be providing the services. More info here.

Hotbed Hotel: Chapin Community Theatre

Friday August 5, 2011 - Sunday August 13, 2011

Terri and Brian Cody are trying to sell their one star (and often one guest) hotel in the Florida Keys. A prospective buyer is about to arrive from New York. They decide to have the staff masquerade as paying guests to convince the him that the establishment is busy and prosperous. Unfortunately, the staff consists of a bibulous maintenance man and a curvaceous but somewhat vacant young maid. Add the eccentric retired British Army Major who resides at the hotel, a wealthy Arab Sheik (who looks suspiciously like the Major), a nymphomaniac dubbed The Barracuda during her annual stays, the prospective buyer's girlfriend and, unexpectedly, his wife, and you have a laugh a minute merry go round that leaves audiences screaming with delight.

To be performed at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College in Irmo.

More info at the Chapin Community Theatre website. 803 240 8544

Summer Celebration of Water: Riverfront Park

Saturday August 6, 2011

The City of Columbia, Lexington County and Richland County are excited to announce the second annual Summer Celebration of Water Festival! Our stormwater teams will host this free family friendly event at Riverfront Park in Columbia on August 6, 2011! Our festival will educate guests about the importance of clean water in our everyday lives. Last year’s inaugural Summer Celebration of Water brought hundreds of families to play in the water; this year we plan to count participants in the thousands! We encourage guests to dress to get wet; kids can slide on our inflatable water slide, everyone can try canoes, kayaks and tubes and explore interactive water exhibits.
Visit Summer Celebration website.

Brew at the Zoo: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

Saturday August 6, 2011

Ever wander through the Zoo on a hot summer day and wish for a "cold one"? Here's your chance. This popular event allows visitors to stroll through the Zoo, admire the animals and sample a wide variety of imports, domestics and micros. Enjoy
listening to live music with John Wesley Satterfield and His Damn Fine Band. Food available for purchase. sorry kids, no one under 21 admitted. Info at the zoo's website.

Take a Train Ride: South Carolina Railroad Museum

Every Saturday Through August 27, 2011

The South Carolina Railroad museum is now open for our 2011 Summer Operating Season (Saturdays only) from 9am-4pm. Please see information below on specific train trip hours. Located at 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180, we feature an hour long train ride with 5 miles operating track, a gift shop featuring unique railroad items, a Gallery with historic pictures and artifacts, a walk though display train, plenty of rolling stock and more! Parking is free and in front of the museum, with picnic tables and benches for guests to bring a lunch or purchase snacks and drinks from our gift shop. Accessible to persons with disabilities, we offer wheelchair ramps, handicap accessible restrooms, a train loading platform, and our friendly volunteers.

Summer Operating Season-Saturdays only: June 4 through August 27 and September 3 and 17. The museum and ticket office are open Saturdays only from 9:00am to 4:30pm, with train trips departing at 10:00am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Visit the SC Railroad Museum website.

Outdoor Concerts

On Friday, August 5, Black Bottom Biscuits, rock, country and bluegrass, will entertain at the Village at Sandhill Town Center ; come enjoy the final series concert in Newberry's Memorial Park on Friday evening at 7pm. Golden Steel will perform.

Additional Events, Upcoming Events, News and Special Offers!

Save the Date! 30th Annual SC Pelion Peanut Party

Thursday August 11, Friday August 12 and Saturday August 13, 2011

Join the folks in Pelion as they celebrate 30 years of partyin' with the peanut and 100 years of great small town living in the Town of Pelion! The weekend kicks off Thursday night with an outdoor dance in the Smoak House Restaurant parking lot, featuring the Al G's Roadhouse Band (7pm - 11pm). Festivities escalate on Friday for the 5 pm Blessing of the Pots (wherein the peanuts shall be boiled!), carnival rides, concessions, craft booths, a Peanutty cooking contest (get your entries to them by noon), and a 7pm show by Ten Toes Up - a Pawleys Island band with a sound combining funk, jazz and calypso. Saturday it's an all day affair starting with a library book sale, the official Peanut Party Parade, amusement rides, crafters, live entertainment, but most of all - lovely, delicious, fantasmagorical BOILED PEANUTS!! Visit the Pelion Peanut Party website for more info.

World Premiere! Swing '39 Opens Next Weekend! Trustus Theatre

Aug 12, 20011 - Aug 20, 2011

A New Play By: Alessandro King | Directed By: Chad Henderson
Dreams die hard in Alessandro King's bright new drama of East Harlem at the height of the Swing Era. Adventurous Maggie DiNapoli wants out of the neighborhood, and Benny Goodman could show her that escape, but will she go? Plunge into the intoxicating world of 1930's New York in this timeless examination of the haves and have-nots. A world-premiere. Visit Trustus website.

Save the Date! Southeastern Toy Soldier Show: SC State Museum

Saturday August 13, 2011

Exquisitely detailed military miniature figures or the little plastic G.I. Joes from your childhood, they’re all here at the Southeastern Toy Soldier Show. See, buy, or trade toy soldiers or other military miniatures from various periods of history and enjoy special museum programs presented during the day. From old to new, metal to plastic, an array of toy soldiers and military collectibles can be bought, traded, or admired at the South Carolina State Museum’s Southeastern Toy Soldier Show.
More than 30 exhibitors. Reenactors will recreate Civil War and World War II British soldiers, plus Roman legionnaires. In addition, military vehicles from the World War II and Vietnam eras will be shown. SC State Museum website for information.

Mommy and Me: Our Hands Together

Every Other Monday Morning: July and August, 2011

Help your child discover the fun and sense of accomplishment that comes with creating art! Kids will paint a ceramic based upon a story read in class, $8. Call 803-749-0011 or email sheri@ourhandstogether.com to register. Classes require pre-registration. Visit the Our Hands Together website for class schedule and details.

Save the Date; 4th Annual Art With a Heart

August 18, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.

Wind down your Thursday evening with tremendous artwork as well as dessert from The Melting Pot, drinks and live entertainment by the USC Cocktails acapella group, Miss Kelly McLachlan and Her Post Timey String Band, and Day Clean. 701 Whaley will host this annual benefit art show which features the work of 25 well-known local artists. All art will be offered for sale and a portion of all proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia’s cornerstone programs- the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room. Tickets are $15 each or $25 per couple. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 803-254-0118 or at our website or at the door the night of the show. Also, check out our website for a list of participating artists.

Coming Soon! 17th Annual Home Improvement Show: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Friday August 19, 2011 - Sunday August 21, 2011

Whether you're just thinking about remodeling your home, or if you're in the middle of a project and looking for the latest in home improvement technology, you'll enjoy a one-stop shopping and learning experience with this show. Exhibitors will present in-depth seminars about remodeling your kitchen and bath and on a variety of home improvement products and services throughout the weekend. In addition to the many exhibitors, the show will have some Special Features throughout the weekend. Central SC Habitat For Humanity will once again present the Habitat For Humanity ReStore where attendees can find great bargains on a wide array of home improvement items. The ReStore will be held throughout the show. Attendees will also have the chance to win door prizes from exhibitors with drawings held every 20 minutes of the show. Prizes are donated from exhibitors in the show and include $25 cash, gift baskets, home décor items, tools and much more. Visit the Home Improvement Show website.

Save the Dates - My Gym Open House

Saturday August 20, 2011 (Lexington) and Sunday August 21, 2011 (Northeast)

Never been to My Gym? Our Fall Open House is a great time for the kids to see the facility, play and have fun. Open gym time, character appearances, raffle prizes, games, puppets, refreshments and more! Meet the friendly My Gym staff and learn about our gymnastics & fitness classes, birthday parties, Mother's Morning Out and enjoy fantastic enrollment specials going on all day - over $200 in savings towards My Gym programs! Open to all ages. For more information you can find us on the web - Lexington: or Northeast Columbia: , or find us on facebook

Save the Date: Open House at The Little Gym

Lexington Gym - Sat, August 27th 1:00-4:30pm Columbia Gym - Sun, August 28th
2:00-6:00 pm

Since 1976, The Little Gym has fostered experiential learning through physical programs that provide opportunities for kids to explore their own potential and to better understand and enjoy the world around them. Since the beginning, we have emphasized Serious Fun through a progressive curriculum, in which each success builds off the last. All of our programs are divided into themed, multi-week Learning Units that lead to a natural progression of skills throughout our Core Season, into our Summer Session and from one year to the next. The coordination and confidence that enable your baby to first crawl across the mat, lay the foundation to master a somersault at age three, try a handspring at age six, and assert leadership skills both in the gym and throughout the community. Our open houses help parents to assess our facilities, our instructors and our programs. Please stop by one of our gyms during Open House and we'll show you around! The Little Gym website.

Create A Backyard Escape: Graceland Portable Buildings

Remember back when you were a kid and how much fun you had in your very own treehouse, or refrigerator box or tent? It was your own little escape, wasn't it? Create a grown-up space for quality alone-time right in your own backyard with a high-quality, Menonnite constructed, Graceland Portable Building! A wide variety of attractive shapes and sizes is available and are built and open for your inspection on Two Notch Road at I-77! And with this Weekday Therapy offer, you can save $75 on any new building! Print coupon here.