The ‘ber months are officially here and September is ushering in the seasonal transition with a bang. The temps are beginning to cool, but the calendar is on fire with concerts, comedy, commemorations, cultural celebrations, one particularly packed bye weekend from Gamecock football and more. Here’s how you can make the most of each and every moment here in the Heart of SC.
Chapin Labor Day Festival Weekend | Aug. 31 – Sept. 2
Distract yourself from the fact that we’re saying goodbye to summer with a fun-filled weekend complete with a 5K, Latin Night, Boots on Beaufort country concert and a car show, all leading up to the main event on Monday – the parade and festival.
Saluda Shoals Fall Jazz Series at Saluda Shoals Park | Sept. 6, 13, 20 & 27
Friday nights this month are made mellow with the sounds of jazz floating through Saluda Shoals Park. Gather at the outdoor deck as Amos Hoffman, Mark Rapp Group, Les Flat Out Strangers and Reggie Sullivan and The Congaree Saints fill out the weekly lineup and perform various subgenres under the stars.
Meeting Street Music Fest at varying locations | Sept. 6 – 7
The popularity of last year’s inaugural event has spilled over across two nights and multiple stages this year. Bounce between the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, Savage Craft Ale Works and Chayz Lounge on Friday night, then congregate along Meeting Street on Saturday as bands take over three stages alongside food trucks, beer and wine stations, a dance floor, a pet zone and more. Cap it all off with an afterparty at WECO Bottle & Biergarten.
Martin Lawrence at Colonial Life Arena | Sept. 7
Hot off the release of the latest Bad Boys film, Martin Lawrence is flexing his funny bone with a national arena comedy tour for the first time since 2016. Come fill the seats at Colonial Life Arena for a night that’s sure to split your sides.
Picnic in the Park Concert Series at Gills Creek Memorial Park | Sept. 12
Gills Creek Memorial Park, which just opened in the Forest Acres neighborhood earlier this year, features a splash pad, fishing dock, green spaces, a weekly farmers market and an outdoor stage upon which the new Picnic in the Park concert series has been born. Kick off your weekend early with a Thursday date, friend or family night to take in the stunning new scenery while Whiskey Tango Revue takes the stage.
Tunnel 2 Towers at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | Sept. 13
Named in honor of Stephen Siller, who on 9/11 strapped 60 lbs. of gear to his back and ran on foot through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers, this 5K Run/Walk remembers the sacrifice made by him and countless other brave men and women in the line of duty on a day this country will never forget.
SC Horror: The Sequel at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | Sept. 14 – 15
If there’s one thing about the horror genre, it’s that there’s always an opening for a sequel. This year, enjoy all the cosplay, actor, director and author special guest appearances and on-site haunted attractions that sent shivers down your spine last year, plus new “Children of the Con” programming for the kids for a weekend that’s frightful fun for the whole family.
Columbia’s Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church | Sept. 19 – 22
Opa it up and immerse yourself in Greek culture through gyros, music, baklava, dancing, stuffed grape leaves, shopping, pita bread pizzas, church tours, spanakopita and so much more across four days. Oh wait, did we mention all of the amazing food? Because there’s also Greek broiled chicken, roasted potatoes, keftedes and yeah, we’re definitely going to need to come back for seconds, thirds and fourths.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture at Mann-Simons Site | Sept. 21
Now in its 46th year, the Jubilee programming is as spectacular as ever with choirs, fashion shows, Divine Nine step shows, DJs and musical performances, a Kids Zone with free books, animal visits from Riverbanks Zoo, robotics, etc. and artist demonstrations running the gamut from gourd art, doll making, STEM activities and historic reenactments to sweetgrass basket weaving, African drumming and archaeology. You’re not going to want to miss a single second of it.
50th Annual Irmo Okra Strut at Moore Park | Sept. 27 – 28
A new location isn’t the only big news surrounding this year’s Irmo Okra Strut, as 2024 marks “The Golden Strut: 50 Years of Struttin’.” That’s right, for half a century, the good people of Irmo have been shining a spotlight on this Southern crop staple with two days of concerts, vendors, a parade and more, growing it into one of the largest annual events in the region.
Harvest Festival at THE FARM 1780 | Sept. 28
Guaranteed to get you in the fall feels, the festival’s adorable list of available activities includes a u-pick pumpkin patch, a barnyard bounce house, pumpkin putt-putt and pumpkin tic-tac-toe. Enjoy tasty eats from the FARMstand, including pumpkin beignets, and peruse offerings from additional on-site vendors.
17th Annual Palmetto Peanut Boil at 2900 Devine Street | Sept. 28
As the official state snack, we take pride in our boiled peanuts, so to battle it out for the title of the best in SC is serious business. But getting to sample all the secret recipes and flavor variations the competing teams are bringing to the table sounds like a pretty decent win in our book, too.
Oktoberfests | Locations and dates vary
This traditional Bavarian celebration kicks off this month and its influence reaches from Germany all the way here to Columbia SC as many of our breweries, businesses and more join in on the fun. Oktoberfest is a marathon, not a sprint, so be prepared for all the festivities to come (and with some personal flair to boot) by crafting your very own ceramic stein with a Sip & Sculpt event at Savage Craft Ale Works. Then map out your plan for the weeks ahead with our rundown of all the bashes where you can get your Oktoberfest beer and brat fix here.
