LAKE MURRAY COUNTRY EVENTS

JANUARY-DECEMBER

COLUMBIA FREE SUNDAYS. Free admission to the South Carolina State Museum the first Sunday of each month. Contact: South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. (803) 737-4921

JANUARY-FEBRUARY

COLUMBIA FREE FRIDAYS. Free admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden every Friday in the months of January and February. Contact: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, PO Box 1060, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 779-8717

JANUARY

COLUMBIA BOAT SHOW '99. See, even purchase, the latest in boats, personal watercraft, marine related equipment and interests at South Carolina's oldest and most exciting boat show. Contact: Miriam Atria, PO Box 1783, Irmo, South Carolina, 29063. Phone: (803) 781-2105 or toll free (800) 951-4008.

FEBRUARY

LAKE MURRAY CONGAREE POWER SQUADRON'S BOATING COURSE. Call David Bartles (803) 772-0394 or John Wilson (803) 791-4049 for more information.

MARCH

COLUMBIA PALMETTO SPORTSMAN CLASSIC. Fishing, hunting and outdoor equipment for show and sale by 250 exhibitors. Seminars on hunting, fishing and wildlife, and related exhibits held throughout this three day show. Contact: Larry Cartee, PO Box 167, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202. Phone: (803) 734-4008.

COLUMBIA ST PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL. The capital city turns green with a parade, children's entertainment and rides, arts and crafts, bands and lots of food and spirits. Contact: Alan Washington, PO Box 5144, Columbia, South Carolina 29250. Phone: (803) 256-4002.

COLUMBIA KIDS DAY COLUMBIA. A festival just for kids and their parents feature entertainment, food, fun and games at Finlay Park. Contact: Columbia Action Council, 722 Blanding Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 343-8750

IRMO SPRING THINGS CRAFT SHOW. Annual craft show with over sixty exhibitors featuring flowers of the season, home and gardening ornaments, designer clothing and much more. Contact: Marianne Zajac, Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission, 200 Leisure lane, Columbia, South Carolina 29210. Phone: (803) 772-3336.

APRIL

COLUMBIA SPRINGTIME AT THE FARM AT RIVERBANKS ZOO. Country music, dance and farm animals will be enjoyed by all. Demonstrations will be held throughout the day for goat milking, sheep shearing, and horseshoeing. Contact: Mary Leverette, PO Box 1060, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 779-8717.

COLUMBIA TASTE OF COLUMBIA. Enjoy a day of local restaurants and caterers serving their specialties and enjoy entertainment at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Contact: Mary Leverette, PO Box 1060, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 779-8717.

SALUDA SALUDA COUNTY TIMBER FESTIVAL. Parade, festival events and exposition relating to the timber industry and its related products. Contact: Saluda County Chamber of Commerce, Law Range, Saluda, South Carolina 29138. Phone: (864) 445-3055.

LAKE MURRAY LAKE MURRAY POKER RUN. A fundraiser card game where boaters visit 5 out of 11 designated marinas and landings on Lake Murray from 9am-3pm. Contact: The Lake Murray News, PO box 175, Irmo, South Carolina 29063. Phone: (803) 772-5584

COLUMBIA RIVERFEST/ RIVERRUN. Sponsored in conjunction with the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, this event along the Congaree River Features the Mayors 5K Road Race, riverwalk, arts, music and a great variety of food. Contact: Christine Porter, Epilepsy Association of the Midlands, 815 Elmwood Ave, Room 307, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 733-6210.

SALUDA NATIONAL TIMBER & WILDLIFE EXPO. Parade, festival events and exposition relating to the timber industry and its related products. Contact: Saluda County Chamber of Commerce, Law Range, Saluda, South Carolina Phone: (864) 445-3055.

NEWBERRY NEWBERRY COUNTY AGRIFEST. Newberry County's agriculture industry is honored with a parade, entertainment, arts and crafts, games, displays, street dance and more. Contact: Newberry Development Board, PO Box 396, Newberry, South Carolina 29108. Phone: (803) 276-4274.

LEXINGTON LEXINGTON EASTER EXTRAVAGANZA. Egg races, egg hunts, a parade, and entertainment at Virginia Hylton Park. Contact: Terri Holzheimer, Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission, 363 South Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina. Phone: (803) 359-0964

COLUMBIA MIDLANDS PLANT & FLOWER SHOW. Produced by the Department of Agriculture and held at the Columbia State Farmers Market, this four-day event will feature exhibitors from across the state. The public can purchase all types of flowers, plants, garden supplies, outdoor furniture and specialty items. Contact: Dick Felder, Department of Agriculture, PO Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211. Phone: (803) 734-2210.

MAY

COLUMBIA MAYFEST.Held in Columbia's Finlay Park, Mayfest is a three-day outdoor festival with a wide variety of entertainment, special events, arts, crafts, and food. Contact: Columbia Action Council, 722 Blanding Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 343-8750.

LAKE MURRAY TOUR OF HOMES. Lake Murray residents open up their homes and gardens for tours by pontoon boats leaving from a designated marina. Contact: The Lake Murray Association, PO Box 495, Ballentine, South Carolina 29002. Phone: (803) 749-3888.

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE SOUTH CAROLINA POULTRY FESTIVAL. A salute to the poultry industry featuring parade, a street dance, contests, exhibits, entertainment, arts, and crafts. Contact: Brent Shealy, PO Box 349, Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina 29006. Phone: (803) 532-4339.

COLUMBIA NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION WEEK. A week of activities dedicated to the awareness of historic preservation in the Greater Columbia area. Walking tours, lectures and other programs including Historic Homes Tour of Lower Richland County. Contact: Historic Columbia Foundation, 1601 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina. Phone: (803) 252-7742.

COLUMBIA WACHOVIA MAIN STREET JAZZ. Four days of mainstream jazz featuring the world' s greatest jazz artists. Telecast by SC ETV and World Net, this is a premier jazz event in America. Contact: Veron S. Melonas, Jazz Foundation, 1736 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 765-2325.

JUNE-AUGUST

COLUMBIA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES. Live entertainment comes to Finlay Park every Saturday evening. Performances begin at 7pm and are free to the public. Contact: Columbia Action Council, 722 Blanding Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 343-8750.

JUNE-OCTOBER

WEST COLUMBIA MAJOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS. Teams from all across the United States will compete in the USSSA Youth Nit, Kaki Hancock Youth Fast-pitch, 12 & 16 Youth World Series, USSSA Men's B Mid-Atlantic, USSSA Mixed Nit, and many other tournaments at the Pine Grove Sports Complex in West Columbia. Contact: Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission, 563 South Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina 29072. Phone: (803) 359-4048.

JUNE

WHITMIRE PARTY IN THE PINES. Nestled in the shade of Sumter National Forest, Whitmire hosts one of SC's most unique festivals featuring a beauty pageant, road race, parade, arts and crafts, food, carnival rides and street dance. Contact: Sandra Spencer, Whitmire Jaycees, PO Box 173, Whitmire, South Carolina 29178. Phone: (803) 694-2257.

JULY

LAKE MURRAY JULY 4TH CELEBRATION. It's always a Saturday event when Lake Murray shows its patriotic spirit as over 100 boats of all types decorated in red, white and blue, parade around the lake. A spectacular fireworks display from two locations ends the evening. Contact: Lake Murray Tourism and Recreation, PO Box 1783, Irmo, South Carolina 29063. Phone: (803) 781-5940 or (800) 951-4008.

GILBERT LEXINGTON COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL. Parade, entertainment, arts and crafts, beauty contest, food, peaches, fireworks display and much more. Contact: Raymond Boozer, PO Box 124, Gilbert, South Carolina 29054. Phone: (803) 892-2473 or 892-5207.

COLUMBIA CAROLINA CELEBRATION OF LIBERTY. Patriotic pageantry on the steps of the SC State House featuring the Columbia Community Band, the Governor's All Star Brass Band, and the First Baptist Church Choir. Contact: Steve Phillips, First Baptist Church, 1360 Hampton Street, Columbia, South Carolina. Phone: (803) 256-4251.

FORT JACKSON TORCHLIGHT TATTOO. Bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy this patriotic ceremony, band concert, and fireworks display at 9pm on Hilton Field every July 4. Phone: (803) 751-7511.

AUGUST

COLUMBIA LITTLE MOUNTAIN REUNION. South Carolina's oldest folk festival features a road race, parade, arts and crafts, traditional "speakings", class and family reunions, barbecue, street dance, car show and children' s rides. Contact: Jane Jayroe, PO Box 176, Little Mountain, South Carolina 29075. Phone: (803) 945-7841.

PELION PELION PEANUT PARTY. Peanuts in every fashion, road race, bicycle race, beauty pageants, parade, arts, crafts, carnival and free entertainment. Contact: James L. King, 105 Patricia Avenue, Pelion, South Carolina 29123. Phone: (803) 894-3613.

SALUDA SALUDA COUNTY TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL. This popular annual sporting event features competitions among amateur and professional drivers of the southeast. Contact: Pat Rodgers, 409 N. Main Street, Saluda, South Carolina 29138. Phone: (864) 445-2104.

SALUDA SALUDA PULL-IT FESTIVAL. Parade and festival featuring arts, crafts, food, kiddie rides, entertainment and street dance. Contact: Mary Parkman, Saluda County Historical Society, Law Range, Saluda, South Carolina 29138. Phone: (864) 445-8550.

WARD CLINTON WARD FALL FESTIVAL. The town of Ward in Saluda County will have a parade, arts, crafts, children's games and lots of country music and entertainment. Contact: Town Hall, Rt. 1, Box 233, Ward, South Carolina 29166. Phone: (803) 685-5832.

SEPTEMBER

CHAPIN CHAPIN LABOR DAY FESTIVAL. Parade, beauty pageants, arts, crafts, carnival rides, live entertainment and kiddie rides to celebrate Labor Day. Contact: Town of Chapin, PO Box 183, Chapin, South Carolina 29036. Phone: (803) 345-2444 or 345-1100.

COLUMBIA AUTUMNFEST. This three-day Southern arts festival features free quality entertainment, along with performing and visual arts. Contact: Columbia Action Council, 722 Blanding Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 343-8750

LEXINGTON LEXINGTON FUN FEST. Street dance, arts and crafts, family entertainment and other activities. Contact: Lexington Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 44, Lexington, South Carolina 29071. Phone: (803) 359-6113.

COLUMBIA JUBILEE: FESTIVAL OF HERITAGE. A celebration of African-American culture with arts, crafts, storytelling, entertainment, and exhibits at the Mann-Simons Cottage. Contact: Historic Columbia Foundation, 1601 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. (803) 252-7742.

LAKE MURRAY CONGAREE POWER SQUADRON'S BOATING COURSE. Call David Bartles at (803) 772-0394 or John Wilson at (803) 252-6758.

COLUMBIA GREEK FESTIVAL WEEKEND. Enjoy live entertainment while sampling homemade Greek cuisine at this outdoors-festival event. Contact: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, corner of Sumter & Calhoun Streets, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 252-6758.

PINE RIDGE/S. CONGAREE CONGAREE WESTERN WEEKEND. Cowboys, rodeos, street dances, live country music, carnival, parade, and barbecue cookoff. Contact: H.R. Williams, 1433 Pine Street, West Columbia, South Carolina 29172. Phone: (803) 755-2512.

OCTOBER

COLUMBIA OKTOBERFEST. This two-day event celebrates German Heritage with German crafters, German entertainers, and German food on the grounds of the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Contact: Historic Columbia Foundation, 1601 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 252-7742.

RIDGE SPRING RIDGE PROING HARVEST FESTIVAL. All day festival featuring parade, shag contest, food, kiddie rides, entertainment arts, and crafts. Contact: Florence Householder, Town Hall, Ridge Spring, South Carolina 29129. Phone: (803) 685-5511.

IRMO OKRA STRUT. Family oriented arts and crafts festival featuring live bands and entertainment, food, parade, street dance, and "DamRun" road race. Contact: Jim Twitty, Town of Irmo, PO Box 406, Irmo, South Carolina 28063. Phone: (803) 781-7050.

COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR. Midway rides, agricultural, home and art displays, live concerts nightly, food and special attractions. Contact: Gary Goodman, South Carolina State Fair, PO Box 393, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 799-3387.

NEWBERRY MAIN EVENT FESTIVAL. Arts and crafts festival featuring children's activities, carnival rides, live entertainment and food. Contact: Newberry Downtown Development, 1201 McKibben Street, Newberr5y, South Carolina 29108. Phone: (803) 276-7101.

GASTON GASTON COLLARD FESTIVAL. Granny pageant, crafts, parade, carnival, entertainment and collards, of course! Contact: Jennifer Poole, Gaston Town Hall, Carlisle Street, Gaston South Carolina 29053. Phone: (803) 796-7725.

CAYCE CONGAREE FESTIVAL. River events, arts and crafts, children's activities, entertainment and road race. Contact: Barbara Gins, City of Cayce, PO Box 2004, Cayce, South Carolina 29171. Phone: (803) 796-9020.

NOVEMBER

BATESBURG LEESVILLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. Local and regional artists show seasonal handcrafts for purchase. Contact: Batesburg Leesville Leisure Center, 227 Highland, Batesburg, South Carolina 29006. Phone: (803) 532-3810.

COLUMBIA GOVERNOR'S CAROLIGHTING. Choirs, bands, bellringers and the official lighting of the state tree inaugurate the Christmas season. Contact: Mich Watson, PO Box 1442, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 775-1102.

COLUMBIA VISTA LIGHTS CELEBRATION. Take a candlelight tour through Congaree 'vista merchant's shops where you can enjoy refreshments and live musical entertainment. Contact: Congaree Vista Guild, PO Box 8854, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 254-5994.

SALUDA SALUDA COUNTY FARM-CITY WEEK. A week of events featuring rural and urban food and entertainment. Contact: Clemson Extension service, 201 East Church Street, Saluda, South Carolina 29138. Phone: (864) 445-8117.

COLUMBIA VETERAN'S DAY PARADE This parade gives Columbians the opportunity to honor veterans as they march up Main Street from Laurel Street to the State House. Contact: Columbia Action Council , 722 Blanding Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 343-8750.

DECEMBER

LEXINGTON CHRISTMAS SAMPLER. Local and regional artists show seasonal handcrafts for purchase. Contact: Terri Holzheimer, Lexington County Recreation and Aging commission, 563 South Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina 29072. Phone: (803) 359-4048.

COLUMBIA CAROLINA CARILLON CHRISTMAS PARADE. Christmas season in the capital city is welcomed with bands, floats, community groups, beauty queens, and of course, Santa Claus. Contact: Katherine Campbell, PO Box 2045, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. (803) 779-8203.

COLUMBIA LIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT RIVERBANKS ZOO. Over 200,000 lights transform the zoo into a winter wonderland from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Contact: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, PO Box 1060, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. Phone: (803) 779-8717.

LEXINGTON CHRISTMAS PARADE. Christmas season is welcomed in the town of Lexington with this afternoon parade featuring bands, floats, beauty queens and more. Contact: Calvin Geddings, 456 Windy Road, Gilbert, South Carolina 29054. Phone: (803) 359-2504.

CAYCE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS. Decorations, costumes, displays and other Yuletide traditions from the 1700's all together at the Cayce Historical Museum. Contact: Cayce Historical Museum, 1800 Twelfth Street, Cayce, South Carolina 29033. Phone: (803) 796-9020.

COLUMBIA CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOURS. Evening tours of historic homes and mansions in Columbia. Contact: Historic Columbia Foundation, 1601 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 252-1770.

COLUMBIA FIRST NIGHT COLUMBIA. New Year's Eve alcohol-free family celebration in downtown Columbia featuring live bands and entertainment, food, special children's events, and fireworks displays. Contact: First Night Coordinator, 1213 Lady Street, Suite 202, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. Phone: (803) 799-3115.

COLUMBIA "THE NUTCRACKER". A Christmas Tradition – the Columbia City Ballet presents several performances at the Koger Center of the Arts in Columbia. Contact: 777-5112

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