Enjoy an end-of-summer weekend full of live music, outdoor recreation, top-notch restaurants and attractions for all ages. Here’s your can’t-miss list for Labor Day Fun.
Where to go and what to do:
Kick off the long weekend by cooling down with a refreshing spritz. Stop by Columbia Museum of Art Thursday August 29 for the Spritz Mix Happy Hour from 4-7pm, where you can build your own spritzy beverage. Plus, the museum is open until 8am on Thursday evenings, so you can peruse the museums’ galleries into the evening.
Score tickets to see Hootie & the Blowfish at Colonial Life Arena on their Summer Camp with Trucks Tour. Get tickets while they last for Thursday or Friday night shows at 7pm.
If you’re seeking good old-fashioned family fun, look no further that the Chapin Labor Day Festival and Parade the which includes a 5K, an outdoor country music concert, a Latin Night, a Classic Car Show and a parade throughout the course of the long weekend.
This summer, every week is Shark Week at the South Carolina State Museum. Enjoy the museum’s four floors of science, history, art and technology and catch a screening of Shark: A 4D Experience in the 4D Theatre before the summer’s over.
Attention jazz lovers: Reggae Graves & Jazz Theory presents An Evening of Soulful Rhythms at Chayz Lounge.
Soda City Market on Main Street from 9am-1pm Saturday offers food trucks as well as local vendors selling everything from arts and crafts to fruits and flowers. And dogs are always welcome!
Cool down at Saluda Shoals Park and rent a tube or kayak for river adventures. If you have little ones in tow, enjoy Saluda Splash, a zero-depth splash pad and Leo’s Landing, an inclusive playground for children and adults of all abilities.
EdVenture Children’s Museum is a fun-filled spot for families to enjoy hands-on activies. Their two newest experiences include Draw Alive, an interactive coloring experience that brings your drawings to life with animation, and Musical Tesla Coil, an immersive exhibit where dancing electricity moves to the frequency of sound. Both are included with admission.
A Few Restaurants to Try:
Market on Main offers plenty of outdoor seating for bunch, lunch and dinner in a prime location on Main Street.
City Limits Barbecue is a 2024 James Beard semi-finalist serving up pulled pork, brisket, and a host of “soulful southern sides.” Arrive early to claim you place in line on Saturdays to enjoy the full menu, or on Sundays for lunch with hot dogs, chili and slaw.
The Gourmet Shop is famous for its chicken salad, pimento cheese, pasta salads and other lunch and brunch delights in the heart of the Five Points district.
Liberty on the Lake is situated on picturesque Lake Murray and is the perfect spot for fueling up after a day of fun on the water.