Three-day event features plants, pumpkins, garden décor and local produce The South Carolina State Farmers Market will host its annual Fall Plant and Flower Festival October 9-11, offering visitors a variety of seasonal plants, flowers, pumpkins and garden-related items. One of the market’s largest annual events, the festival welcomed moreContinue Reading

Saluda Shoals Park event offers family-friendly Halloween fun Families are invited to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes for the Trick-or-Treat Trail Saturday, October 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Saluda Shoals Park East. The trail will follow the path around Leo’s Landing Inclusive Playground, which will remainContinue Reading

By Ken Gasque Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo Nick Kessler, General Manager at Gamecock Sports Properties (Learfield), addressed Rotary Club of Lake Murray/Irmo regarding the shifting economic landscape of college athletics, specifically focusing on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the SEC ecosystem. The Business of College Sports Kessler detailedContinue Reading

Sessions help families prepare for Special Education Parent Advisory Council School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties hosted a two-part, in-person Parent Leadership Training September 19-20 to help families become more involved in supporting students receiving special education services. The training was led by Family Connection of South CarolinaContinue Reading

350 volunteers help clean up waterways in Richland and Lexington counties Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) coordinated its annual Lake Sweep/River Sweep on September 19, bringing together 350 volunteers to remove litter and debris from Lake Murray and surrounding waterways. The cleanup involved more than 30 event partners, including DominionContinue Reading

Pictured are Optimist Club President David Kafitz and Dr. Campbell, who received a copy of the Optimist Creed. By Rick Abercrombie Dr. Joel Campbell, representing USC’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law, spoke September 18 to the Optimist Club of St. Andrews-Irmo. Dr. Campbell manages USC’s Family and Small BusinessContinue Reading

Performance of ‘Gypsy: A Musical Fable’ to benefit community projects The St. Andrews Woman’s Club (SAWC) will host a fundraiser Thursday, October 15, at Columbia’s Town Theatre featuring a performance of Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the curtain rising at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25Continue Reading

Families invited to learn about gifted magnet pathway School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties will host an Escolares Pathway Information Night Thursday, October 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Irmo Middle School. The event will give families an opportunity to learn about the Escolares Pathway and meetContinue Reading

By Sarah Ostergaard Next week, families and stakeholders in LR5 will have another opportunity to take a closer look at how our schools are performing. South Carolina’s annual School Report Cards are scheduled for public release on October 15. The reports are available online through the state’s School Report CardsContinue Reading

Maria Yturria becomes one of only three Richland County Sheriff’s Department leaders to graduate from the elite six-month course By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Deputy Chief Maria Yturria recently graduated from the FBI’s “uniquely” intensive six-month National Executive Institute – designed specifically for executive-level lawContinue Reading

Columbia native Frankiee Veney will bring his award-winning short film BLOODED home for a screening at the South Carolina Black Film Festival October 10 at the South Carolina State Museum. Film screenings begin at 3:30 p.m. Veney is the founder of Nine Ninth, a creative collective that develops culturally groundedContinue Reading

After a 12-year absence, the Italian Festival returns to Columbia October 10 at Finlay Park. The free festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 2-2:30 p.m. on the park’s main stage. Festival Lead Organizer Tripp Roche, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and RichlandContinue Reading

Saluda Shoals Park East will host a Boo-vie in the Park this Friday, October 9, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. The drive-in movie event will feature the Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus. Guests can enjoy the movie from the comfort of their vehicles or bring chairs and watch under the stars. The eventContinue Reading

Discount admission and ride tickets are now on sale for the 2026 South Carolina State Fair, returning to Columbia October 15-25. Fairgoers who purchase admission and ride vouchers in advance through October 14 can save up to 50% at participating Circle K locations or online at SCStateFair.org. “Fair season willContinue Reading