-BOOKS
The 13th Annual SC Book Festival will be February 27 - March 1 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. www.scbookfestival.org

Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center will offer a large selection of used books and art for sale February 22-23. All proceeds benefit the Jewish Cultural Arts. 787-2023.

-CHURCH/CHARITY
First Presbyterian Church continues with its Wednesdays @ First lunch services in Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion Street. Lunch is available 11:30 am - 12:15 pm, followed by a speaker and ending at 12:50 pm. Hot meal $6; soup and salad bar $5. Free parking. 799-9062.

Bethel AME Church will hold its Golden Legacy of Service February 22, 5 pm, at 819 Woodrow St. 479-4114.

-DANCE
The Greater Columbia Chapter of USA Dance will hold beginner ballroom dance lessons each Tuesday in February, 7 pm- 8 pm, at 200 Wayne Street. The cost is $3 per lesson or $10 for all four lessons if paid in advance. www.USAdance.us

-ENTERTAINMENT
Benedict College will host the 20th Anniversary Harambee Festival February 28, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, at 1600 Harden St. 705-4409.

The Columbia Oral Health Clinic will sponsor its 2nd Annual Bowl-A-Thon February 28, 1 pm - 3 pm, at Royal- Z Lanes. Tickets are $15 which includes bowling, bowling shoes, two slices of pizza, and one soft drink. 799-9457.

-FAMILY
Sesquicentennial State Park is offering owl prowls at 6:30 pm February 27. The program fee is $5 per adult, $3 for children 15 and under and seniors, which includes park admission. Pre-registration is required one day prior to the program. 788-2706.

Edenwood Swimming Pool is hosting a Polar Plunge February 21, 12:30 pm, followed by a Chili Cook Off at 1 pm, at the Edenwood Pool. $5 per person to take the plunge. Chili, hot drinks will be available for purchase. 791-1849.

-FUNDRAISER
Historic Columbia Foundation will host the Palladium Society's 11th Annual Chili Cook-Off February 28, 5 pm- 8 pm, at the Ellison Building on the State Fairgrounds. www.historiccolumbia.org

The Lower Richland Ruritan Club will hold a Country Fried Pork Steak Dinner February 21, 4 pm- 7 pm. Tickets are $7. 771-0219 or 776-5033.

Hand Educational Foundation will host a gala fundraiser February 21, 7 pm- 10 pm, at 701 Whaley St. Tickets are $25 per person. 343-2947.

Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church will hold its annual education fundraiser, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner February 24, at 6 pm. 776-5033.

The Epilepsy Foundation of South Carolina will celebrate its 3rd annual Mardi Gras Gala February 24, 7:30 - 10:30 pm, at the Embassy Suites in Columbia. www.epilepsysc.org

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina will host the Red, White & Black Tie Affair benefiting the American Red Cross of Central South Carolina March 13 at the South Carolina State Museum. 540-1225.

-MEETINGS
Grief and Loss support Group at Lutheran Hospice will meet every second Thursday of each month, 11:30 am- 12:30 pm, in the Conference Room at 1505 Blanding Street. Free and open to the public.

Palmetto Painters will hold its March meeting March 14, 10 am, at Green Hill Baptist Church. www.palmettopainters.com

The Garden Club Council of Greater Columbia will meet February 23, 10 am, at the Garden Council Building, 1605 Park Circle, Maxcy Gregg Park.

-MUSIC
The Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert February 22, 3:30 pm, at the Lexington Middle School New Theatre. The concert is free. Donations are accepted. 732-5115.

Columbia Harmonizers a male chorus/ensemble is seeking male singers. Meeting are held each Mondays, 7 pm, at Shandon United Methodist Church. 798-1538.

Arts at Shandon will present Phillip Bush, pianist February 20, 7:30 pm, in the Shandon Presbyterian Sanctuary. Free admission and open to the public, reception follows. Donations are gratefully accepted. 771-4408.

-SPORTS
The 6th Annual March for Meals 5K Run and Walk will be March 7, 7:30 am, at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. www.seniorresourcesinc.org

13th Annual SC Book Festival with a Run and Walk for Books will be February 21, at 8 am. There will be an 8K run and a 4K walk. www.strictlyrunning.com/gpscrlgnReg-9f.asp

-SPORTS
The YMCA, in association with Gateway Baptist Church, is beginning a new adult women's soccer program beginning February 28. 407-0179 x 20.

The 10th Annual CAPS (child and parent) Soccer Clinic will be February 21, 10 am - 3 pm, at the USC Indoor Fieldhouse on Whaley Street. 254-5996.

Columbia QuadSquad roller derby league will host Beware the Thighs of March bout against the Sintral Florida Derby Demons, March 1, 6:30 pm, at Jamil Temple. Admission to the event is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. www.columbiaquadsquad.com

Odyssey Golf Foundation Junior Golf Nine Hole Tournament will be March 14, 2 pm, at Linrick Golf Course. Ages 8-17. Deadline for registration is March 6. 783-7502.

-THEATER
L'alliance Française de Columbia will present Moliére's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme at Cardinal Newman High School Auditorium, 4701 Forest Drive, Friday, February 20, at 7 pm and Sunday, February 22, at 2 pm. Performed in French. Free and open to the public (but donations are welcome).

The University of South Carolina's Lab Theatre will stage the Columbia premiere of Kid Simple February 26 - March 1, at 8 pm. Tickets are $5 each and available only at the door of the theater on Wheat Street.

The University of South Carolina's Theatre South Carolina will stage Thornton Wilder's classic comedy, The Skin of Our Teeth, February 20 - March 1, 8 pm, at Drayton Hall. Tickets are $16 for the public, $14 for military personnel and University of South Carolina faculty and staff and senior citizens (age 60+) and $10 for students. 777-9353.

Auditions for Workshop Theatre's production of Moonlight and Magnolias will be February 21 at 2 pm. There are roles for three men and one woman. All who audition must come prepared to do cold readings. 799-4876.

-TRAINING/EDUCATION
BlueChoice® HealthPlan will offer seminars to educate women on women's health issues at its 8th Annual Women's Health Conference February 21, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. www.BlueChoiceSC.com

The University of South Carolina will offer College Goal Sunday, a financial aid workshop February 28, 10 am - 1 pm, at the Richland County Public Library on Assembly Street. 777-5127.

The Pipeline Group's Annual Government Liaison- Emergency Response Program will be February 25, 11:30 am, at 7510 Two Notch Road. www.pipelinegroup.com

University of South Carolina will hold a conference on the archaeological exploration of the post-emancipation lives of African Americans February 27- 28, 9 am - 5 pm, in the Daniel Mikel Management Center of the Moore School of Business. 777-5130.