Columbia came alive from August 20 through 26 with a rich lineup blending art, music, food, and pop culture across the city.
Wednesday, August 20
SoulHAUS Sessions kicked off at the Koger Center featuring DJ Preach Jacobs in conversation with poet Nikky Finney, setting a reflective tone for the week’s cultural events.
Thursday, August 21
- SC Biennial Exhibition Part I opened at 701 Center for Contemporary Art, spotlighting South Carolina’s emerging artists.
- Trivia night paired with Blue Chair Bay rum tasting at Art Bar brought a playful, social vibe downtown.
Friday, August 22
- Bingo Loco energized The Senate with wild style bingo rounds.
- The local rock scene rocked New Brookland Tavern late into the night.
- Harvesting Heritage event at SC State Museum invited attendees to explore cultural roots.
Weekend Highlights: August 23–24
- Soda City Comic Convention transformed Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center with 150+ vendors and celebrity guests Randy Quaid and Jon Heder, drawing massive crowds of fans and collectors.
- Main Street Latin Festival lit up downtown with vibrant Latin music, art, and food — all for free. The festival was a sensory feast celebrating Latin culture and community.
- The fusion show Bluegrass Meets Broadway at Harbison Theatre added live music magic Saturday evening.
- Elmwood Park offered historical walking tours Sunday afternoon, connecting attendees to Columbia’s past.
- Comedy fans laughed along with Jon Reep’s Saturday night set at Newberry Opera House.
This week’s lineup embodied the eclectic spirit of Columbia’s festival scene—from serious art talks to raucous bingo and everything in between, culminating in the city’s iconic Comic Con and a pulsating Latin cultural celebration.
Citywide events tapped into diverse crowds, proving that Columbia’s cultural pulse is vibrant and thriving.
Source: To-Do List: Bingo, Comic Con and Main Street Latin Festival in Columbia