February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s definitely not short on entertainment. From swoon-worthy Valentine’s Day events and an exciting new art exhibit to Broadway favorites and concerts galore, pack in all the sweetness the heart of SC has to offer this month before March comes roaring in. 

Fab Feb. Features

Catch Cupid dialing up the love in Columbia. Pregame V-Day with your girls at femme x COLUMBIA’s Galentine’s Day event or letting your little girl know she’ll always be your sweetheart at the Ties & Tiara’s Father Daughter Dance at Stone River. Then make a romantic night of it with your beau with Valentine’s Day Private Dining Event at M Grille, Cosmic Couples at femme x COLUMBIA or Romantic Valentine Session at State of the Art Gallery.

Head to Blue Moon Ballroom for the 9th Annual AfricStyle Fashion Show, which showcases designs from around the world and includes appearances from local personalities.

Gather at City Roots for the February Harvest Dinner, featuring four family-style, farm-to-table courses complete with wine pairings and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Indulge in some healing self-care and gain insight through various readings ranging from astrology and tarot to pet communication and more at the Spiritual Fusions Psychic Holistic Extravaganza at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Spring is just around the corner, so get your green thumb ready and hear from the Garden & Gun President and CEO along with a floral designer/author, watch floral demonstrations and enjoy refreshments at Flowers with Friends: Columbia Garden Club Symposium 2022 at Central Energy. 

Laissez les bon temps rouler once again as Mardi Gras is back, y’all! Bring your beads, join in the parade, cheers with some Abita and enjoy Cajun-Creole bites from Bourbon at the 12th Annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival at City Roots. And if you want to get in the Mardi Gras spirit a little early, then swing by Steel Hands Brewing to try their new King Cake Golden Ale releasing this month.

If you’ve ever been intrigued by the previous city within a city that is the BullStreet District, then you won’t want to miss this chance to learn all about the area’s past from Historic Columbia as they offer BullStreet District History Tours. 

And you can always count on planning ahead for reliable recurring events like First Thursday on Main, The NoMa Flea and Soda City Market.

Onstage Specials

Plays, performances and one night only events are plentiful this month. Just take all our money, Koger Center, because we plan to laugh ‘til we cry at Heather McMahan: The Farewell Tour, make some “Memories,” with a showing of Cats, explore Chinese cultural heritage at Shen Yun and work up an appetite in the audience of Alton Brown Live: Beyond the Eats. 

Check out the budding talent at UofSC by attending either the UofSC Dance Company Spring Concert at Drayton Hall Theatre or “These Shining Lives” by Melanie Marnich at Longstreet Theatre.

If adrenaline’s your thing, pack in the action at WWE RAW at Colonial Life Arena.

Fill up the seats at community theaters as Town Theatre puts on The Red Velvet Cake War, a fun-filled family frenzy, and Trustus Theatre produces tick, tick… BOOM! about the composer of RENT.

In Concert

Make way for all the musical acts coming to Columbia throughout the coming weeks! At Colonial Life Arena alone, you can see the No Limit Reunion Tour, Imagine Dragons, and Winter Jam: All Together Now Tour. 

Township Auditorium is preparing to welcome The Temptations and The Four Tops, as well as Widespread Panic, so get your tickets now. 

Finally, get orchestral with American Memories at Koger Center for the Arts or enjoy the good word through song with John Lakin and Friends Gospel Celebration at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. 

 Art & Inspiration

The Columbia Museum of Art’s momentum is unstoppable. Explore exhibits like 22 South Carolinians or their next big blockbuster, Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams. 

Pop in for some programming like Focal Points: Valentine Inspiration and FAAAC presents Topiary Workshop with Mike Gibson: Black Art Through Horticulture.