•ART
Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult classes, kids classes, kids camps, and art class groups. artstudiocola.com.
•DANCE
Palmetto Scottish Country Dance (for all ages) is held every Monday, 6–7:45 p.m., Eastminster Presbyterian Community Life Center. 803-309-0495.
Adult Ballet classes are held Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Columbia Music Festival Association, 914 Pulaski Street. Ages 12 and up are welcome. 803-216-1953.
The Betsy Blackmon Dance Program at USC will present its fall semester Student Choreography Showcase, December 2–5 in Drayton Hall Theatre. Showtime is 7 p.m. nightly. Admission is $15 for students, $20 for USC faculty/ staff, military, and seniors 60+, and $22 for the public. Tickets may be purchased online at sc.universitytickets.com or at the door. Drayton Hall Theatre is located at 1214 College Street.
•HOLIDAYS
The 24th Annual Midlands Clay Arts Holiday Sale will be held December 4-6 at Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton Street. Hours: Thursday, December 4, 11 a.m.–8p.m.; Friday, December 5, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. www.midlandsclay.com.
Richland Library will hold its Holiday Market in the lobby and café area of Richland Library Sandhills and the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2I2) building Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Lugoff Fire-Rescue (LF-R) will host two upcoming holiday events to provide children and adults a chance to see Santa—LF-R Santa Land will be hosted at LF-R headquarters, 892 Hwy, 1 South, Lugoff, Saturday December 6, 6–8 p.m.; and Santa Patrol, an annual community favorite, LFR apparatus will bring Santa around to the Lugoff Fire District neighborhoods on the following nights—Monday, December 15, 6–8 p.m.; Tuesday, December 16, 6–8 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 6–8 p.m.; and Friday, December 19, 6–8 p.m. A detailed neighborhood schedule may be found on the LF-R Facebook page.
The 3rd Annual SC Gingerbread House Competition, hosted by Davis Architecture at AIA Columbia (1530 Main Street, Columbia), invites families, artists, bakers, schools, and professionals to showcase their creativity while supporting an important cause. This free, family-friendly event raises funds for Home Works of America, helping provide critical home repairs for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable neighbors across South Carolina. Event schedule: Thursday, December 4, 6–9 p.m.—kickoff during First Thursday on Main with live music by Richard Hurteau & first public viewing and voting; Friday, December 5, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.—public viewing and People’s Choice voting; Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m.– 1 p.m.—viewing during Soda City Market with a festive visit from Santa. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567747617888
•MEETINGS/CLUBS
Spring Valley Rotary Club meets every Thursday, 1–2 p.m., Grand Hall of Northeast Presbyterian Church, 601 Polo Road in Northeast Columbia. To learn more about membership, contact Brian Dunphy at 803-920-4751.
Forest Acres Rotary Club meets the first four Wednesdays of the month, 1–2 p.m., St. Michaels of All Angels, 6408 Bridgewood Road off Trenholm Road. sandyo@sc.rr.com.
Rotary Club of Columbia East meets Tuesdays at noon at Seawell’s Restaurant near the State Fair Grounds. almjjmjlm@aol.com.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) group meets every fourth Wednesday, 2–4 p.m., Richland County Library, 7490 Parklane Road. For 803-782-2587 or 803-807-3436.
Rotary Club of Five Points meets Fridays, 1–2 p.m. For weekly meeting location and speaker, see fivepointsrotary.com.
Lower Richland Ruritan Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Lower Richland Club House, Rabbit Run, Hopkins.
The Busby Street Community Center hosts the Aces Bridge Club every Monday, 10 a.m., 1735 Busby Street. 803-476-0933.
The Golden K Kiwanis Club of Columbia meets every Wednesday, 9:30–10:45 a.m., Lourie Center, 1650 Park Circle. andrewchase@bellsouth.net.
The Rotary Club of Columbia meets every Monday, 12:30– 1:30 p.m. at Dupre’s, 316 Senate Street, Room 300. annewalker@aws1962.org
Ikebana International Chapter 282 meets the third Wednesday of each month, September through May, 9:30 a.m., Garden Club Council Building, 1605 Park Circle. 803-799-7368.
Midlands Coin Club meets the second Thursday of every month. www.MidlandsCoinClub.com
The Greater Irmo Lions Club meets the fourth Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m., Zorba’s Restaurant, Irmo. To learn about membership, contact Henry Gibson at 803-920-5896.
Two Notch Toastmasters (TNT-the dynamite club!) meets every first and third Friday mornings, 7–8:15 a.m., Lizards Thicket, 10170 Two Notch Road.
The Media Club of Columbia meets the third Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m., Woman’s Club of Cayce, 701 Oakland Avenue, Cayce. www.facebook.com/MediaClubofColumbia.
Palmetto Shell Club meets the second Sunday of each month, 2 p.m., Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane. 1276@gmail.com.
The Rotary Club of St. Andrews–Columbia meets every Tuesday 1-2 p.m., Lizard’s Thicket, 7569 St. Andrews Road, Irmo. Bingo hosted by the St. Andrews Rotary Club–Columbia, 6 p.m., Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Lane.
Columbia Philatelic Society meets the third Sunday of every month, 2–4:30 p.m., Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Avenue, West Columbia. www.columbiascphilately.com.
Chapin Sunrise Rotary Club meets every Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin.
Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo meets every Wednesday (except the fifth Wednesday of a month), 7:30 a.m., Seven Oaks Recreation Center, 200 Leisure Lane. rfunderburkrotary@gmail.com.
Readers & Writers Columbia meets every third Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Lizard Thicket Restaurant, 10170 Two Notch Road. errolmaw@gmail.com.
The South Carolina Foundation for Educational Leadership Luncheon featuring Coach Nick Saban will be held March 4, 2026 at the Marriott Columbia, 1200 Hampton Street. scleadershipfoundation.org/luncheon.
•MUSEUMS
Olympia Mill Village Museum, the story of “Life in the Olympia Mill Village in the 1920s.” Free admission, Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 1170 Olympia Avenue. Museum includes the Olympia School Annex, the Mill House Museum, and 15 outdoor exhibits. www.olympiamillvillagemuseum.org.
The Richland One Family Experience at the South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, will be held Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The first 100 families who enter the museum will receive a free at-home activity. forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=mc2OcflqA0eiK33pL7Y3fewA2euRZFBinKW5YvPbchUQ0dPMjJOMFFDMTZJOUlCOEFVWjZTWlQ1Qi4u&route=shorturl
•MUSIC
The Loose Canon Recorder Consort meets every Tuesday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. to play a variety of music including baroque, Irish, and contemporary. Advanced beginners and more advanced players are welcome to join the group. loosecanonrecorders@gmail.com.
The Endless Summer Band will perform November 21, 6–10 p.m., 300 Senate Street (The Hall owned by Dupre Persival). Tickets can be purchased on Facebook through Humanitix. 803-404-9178 or 803-237-0949.
The Carolina Jazz Society will present a Christmas concert featuring traditional holiday songs with a jazz interpretation
Sunday, December 7, 5 p.m., Heyward Street United Methodist Church, 2501 Heyward Street. www.carolinajazzsociety.com.
Celebrate the Holidays with the Palmetto Chamber Orchestra Sunday, December 7, 4 p.m., Incarnation Lutheran Church, 3005 Devine Street. palmettochamberorchestra.org.
•STUDENTS
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) has launched its 2025 South Carolina Songbird Art Contest, presented in partnership with Wildlife Forever and sponsored by Dominion Energy. This free contest invites all K– 12 students across the state to showcase their creativity while learning about the native birds that call South Carolina home and the migratory visitors to our state. The deadline to enter is November 30, 2025. www.scwf.org/south-carolina-songbird-art-contest.
•SUPPORT GROUPS
Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOS), a peer led group, not a place for someone who is in crisis of suicide, meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7–8:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church 1715 Broad River Road. 803-622-1512 or SOSColumbiaSC@gmail.com. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741.
Promise of Serenity NAR-ANON Meeting (For families and friends of addicts) is held every Monday, 6 p.m., Angelican Church of the Epiphany, 2512 N. Beltline Boulevard. colanaraon@gmail.com or www.nar-anon.org.
ADD/ADHD Support Group of the Midlands (AttentionDeficitHelp.com)—The people involved with this local support group are parents, families, co-workers and special individuals sharing and learning about the joys, frustrations, opportunities, and challenges of ADD/ADHD. The goal is to give hope and support. Join monthly in-person and virtual meetings, www.attentiondeficithelp.com.
The SC Youth Advocate Program is available 24-hours-a-day for foster families. 800-882-5513 or scyap.com.
•THEATER
Columbia Classical Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker will be performed December 5, 7:30 p.m.; December 6, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and December 7, 2 p.m., Koger Center. kogercenterforthearts.com.
This holiday season, Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College invites audiences to celebrate with a lineup of festive performances—The Best Christmas Pageant Ever—family musical presented by Columbia Children’s Theatre, Saturday, December 6, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Swingin’ Holidays: A Big Band Christmas—presented by S.C. Jazz Masterworks Ensemble, Sunday, December 7, 3:30 p.m.; The Two Claras 2025, Friday, December 12, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, December 13, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.; The Christmas Angel 2025, Friday, December 19, 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; and Saturday, December 20, 7 p.m. For tickets and details, visit www.harbisontheatre.org/events.
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