Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia

The City of West Columbia’s annual Kinetic Derby Day featuring iMAGINE STEam is this Saturday, April 22 from 10 am – 3 pm.

Start the day with the Kinetic Sculpture Parade at 10 am, and then watch the soap box derby with artistically-created derby and art cars racing side-by-side on Meeting Street and an added start ramp for the messy obstacles in the afternoon racing.

Road Closure Information

The temporary road closures are as follows:

Meeting Street from 9th to Leaphart Streets, from 7 am to 5:30 pm.

Meeting Street from Leaphart Street to Sunset Boulevard, from 7 am to 7 pm.

State Street from Sunset Boulevard to Spring Street, from 7 am to 7 pm.

Meeting Street from 9th Street to S. Witt Street will be open to local traffic only.

Center Street from Shuler to Center Street will be open to local traffic only.

Businesses: West Columbia Police Officers will allow patrons through the local traffic-only areas after providing the destination. Provide your customers with this information.

The Interactive Art Parking Lot, 425 Meeting Street, will be open to parking with the only entrance off of Center Street. All roads will be opened as they are cleared.

Pinwheel Information

Another way to show your community support for the event is to add a pinwheel to your mailbox, yard, or office. The pick-up locations are:

City Hall – Customer Service

Café Strudel

McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation

Pedego Electric Bikes

The Hideout in WeCo

Brickhouse Gourmet Coffee & Tea Co. D’s Wings

Moda Salon

State Street Trading Company

Whetzel’s Automotive

Schedule of Events

10 am – The Kinetic Sculpture Parade kicks off the day. This year’s parade is 80s themed. Throw on your 80s fashions.

10:30 – 11 am – Kids’ Zone opens and the chalk artists begin. Soapbox racing begins by 11 am.

12:30 pm – The track changes . . . new this year with obstacles and ramps. Start on the Whetzel’s Automotive push ramp, slide through First Community Bank’s green Jell-O Explosion, hit Savage Craft’s Foam Surprise, get soaked by PASCO’s Water Works, and end up in the COVID corn/grits.

While waiting on the track to change, there will be chalk artists creating on the corner of Meeting and State, the Meeting Street Artisan Market, shop in the local stores, eat in local restaurants and food trucks, or take a ride on Brookland’s Giant Slide on the corner of State and Meeting Streets. The city has partnered with iMAGINE STEam Festival to bring a hands-on STEam Festival to State Street. Make sure to check it out.

1 – 2 pm – The Obstacle Course brings on the fun. Participants will be able to test their builds and get dirty with the new obstacles, pedal-powered cars, and ramps. This is a single-car, timed event.

2:30 pm – Awards Ceremony on Savage Craft Ale Works’ Stage and stay for the after party.

Parking

  • Free Public Parking Garage – 310 Court Avenue
  • River District Baptist Church – 400 State Street
  • The Warehouse – 312 State Street
  • Interactive Art Park – 425 Meeting Street
  • Carraway Park – 212 Hudson Street
  • Capitol Square – 483 Sunset Boulevard

Festival sponsors and partners:

Sponsors

House of Raeford – Start Line

TNT Martial Arts & Fitness – Finish Line

Aflac – iMAGINE STEam Festival

Brookland SC – Fun Slide

Cayce’s Best After School & Summer Camp – Chalk Art

Dynamite Kids After School & Summer Camp – Kinetic Sculpture Parade

NAI Columbia – Cash Prize

The Sourcing Group – Mailer Marketing

First Community Bank – Jell-O Explosion Obstacle

PASCO – Palmetto Automatic Sprinkler Company – Water Works Obstacle

Savage Craft Ale Works – Foam Surprise Obstacle

The Carolina Law Group – Stage

The Graphics Source – Signs

Security Federal Bank – Pit Crew

Pedego Electric Bikes – West Columbia – Community Pride

Professional Printers – Printing

Whetzel’s Automotive – Push Ramp

Something Borrowed Wedding & Party Rentals – Tent

Thompson Funeral Homes – Community Pride Sponsor

Hood Construction – Community Pride Sponsor

Partners

Brookland United Methodist Church

Boys & Girls Club – Kids’ Zone

McAlister Smith Funeral & Cremation

River District Baptist Church

WXRY 99.3 FM – Columbia’s Independent Alternative

Giles Brothers Insurance

iMAGINE STEam

Faithful Marketing & Events