Saturday October 22, 2011

A one-day passport to Italy in downtown Columbia! Italians love to have a good time... and you can join them for one of Columbia's best outdoor parties! Join thousands of fun-seekers as the Italians show us all how to have one fabulous grand time! From 10am - 10pm on Main Street in downtown Columbia, you'll enjoy authentic Italian foods at Bella Italia's Café like signature pepperoni rolls & pizza, dolci (sweets/desserts), gelato and beverages; stop in at the Italian Fresh Market, stocked with Italian brand pastas,tomatoes, olives, olive oil, breads, Italian desserts homemade by lodge members; and locally grown vegetables and fruits; get your toes tapping with this year's main attraction - Ray Massa's EURORHYTHMS, the best Italian-American band in the USA! Participate in a bocce tournament, learn to dance the Tarantella, let your kids play games, listen to stories, and stomp grapes! Your entire family will love this really great event, hosted by the Bella Italia Lodge 2808. Visit the Italian Festival website for details! Ciao!

Schweinshaxe, Sauerkraut, mit kartoffeln

Saturday October 22, 2011

Oktoberfest is coming to Lexington SC! Founded in 1735 as "Saxe Gotha", so named for Princess Augusta of the German Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, Lexington was born with German roots. Oktoberfest 2011 will be a celebration of this German heritage.Lexington's Oktoberfest is sure to have something for everyone. Admission is FREE! Visit the "German Village" from noon to 5pm where you will find arts and craft vendors, free giveaways, and activities for the little ones, like "bouncy castles" , face painting, crafts, balloons and more! At the center of it all will be the "Oompah Tent" with authentic German food, German beer & live German music from noon until 10pm. See Menu Here.
After 5:30pm Oktoberfest is going to be joined by it's good friend Rocktoberfest. Live music by Going Commando and Brian Connor and Friends. Live German music will still be playing and German food and beer will be served in the Oompah tent all the way until 10pm as well! Details online at the Lexington Oktoberfest website.

Now through October 31, 2011

If your idea of a good time is spending an evening in a home where a voodoo practitioner murdered her family over 50 years ago, then don't miss the Hall of Horrors. Or do you prefer a story of mutilated bodies in corn fields? Then head out to the newest haunting in the Greater Ghoulumbia area: The Deceased Farm near Lexington. Or how would you like to experience the feeling of free-falling into space? Harmon's Tree Farm presents the Black Hole, as well as a Haunted Hayride out into a sunflower field. BOO!

Opens Friday October 21, 2011

Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. A vanished father. A pill-popping mother. Three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you've got a major new play that unflinchingly—and uproariously—exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family. This show will leave you breathless as it unfolds before your eyes! Shows at Trustus Theatre in the Vista on Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Friday & Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM. Tickets Prices: Thursdays $20 Fridays & Saturdays $22.50 Sundays $17.50

Columbia Community Concert Band

Friday October 21, 2011

Enjoy a free concert this Friday evening as the Columbia Community Concert Band performs Porgy and Bess, Themes from 007, American Riversongs, Semper Fidelis and many more favorites. The 80-piece band is comprised of amateur players from the Columbia area and is really a joy to hear. Concert begins at 7:30pm. For details visit the CCCB website.

Saturday October 22, 2011

The Chili Cookoff is an annual charity event which donates to a number of charities. It's a production of Group Therapy in Five Points and will be held on Saturday, October 22. This year's charities are Columbia's own CAMP KEMO (a program run by Palmetto Health), and The Disabilities Board Of Charleston County. Each year the event becomes larger than the previous year and in the heart of it all are the incredible chefs and cooks who donate their time, ingredients, recipes and talent. Visit the Chili Cookoff website for details.

Free Admission to the Blues Festival!

Saturday October 22, 2011

The Blues soothes the mind and feeds the soul. Hear some of the finest blues musicians around during the 17th annual Blues Festival. Leo Kottke, Wanda Johnson, Toni Spearman, Harper, Randall Bramblett, Speed Limit 35, and the Mobros take the stage for an all day festival that starts at noon and goes to 10pm. Visit the Blues Festival website for full details and to download 28 page program. That's a lot of pages, man!

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 and Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Chills, thrills and frightful fun!
Watch out for ghosts, ghouls and goblins as the museum presents its annual Halloween event for families, “Tricks and Treats at the State Museum!”

Offering safe Halloween fun the last two Saturdays of October, children will enjoy:

• “Peanuts” characters from Carowinds on Saturday, Oct. 22;
• Piggly Wiggly’s Mr. Pig (both weekends!);
• Haunted Halloween Party with “goblin games” and spooky prizes for everyone;
• Haunted gallery scavenger hunt with prizes;
• Balloon art by Nick Propst with his Catalina macaw, Trixie;
• “Creepy” crafts and coloring;
• Face painting ($2);
• Pumpkin painting ($2);

All activities are FREE with Museum admission or Membership unless otherwise noted.
Come in costume for “Tricks and Treats” and receive $1 OFF regular Museum admission. Don’t miss it! Visit the State Museum website for details.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

One night only! October 22nd! Don't miss out on this fun event at the Jewish Community Center. There will be lots of sports memorabilia in our live and silent auction, food, fun, and former Atlanta Braves pitcher/National Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro! Visit the JCC website for details.

Tickets: $36
7:00pm - Cocktail Hour
8:00pm - Program

Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center
306 Flora Drive
Columbia , SC 29223
803-787-2023

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Featuring all LOCAL artisans and craftsmen, this event will be a great way to get your Christmas shopping underway, as there will everything from jewelry to pottery to upcycled creations, home decor and more! Watch artists demonstrate glass blowing, wood-turning/pen making, spray painting art and canvas painting! Festival hours: 10am - 3pm.

Our Hands Together Artisan Market
101-A Ballentine Park Road
Irmo, SC 29063
803-749-0011

Saturday October 22 , 2011

Benefitting the Y's Partners with Youth campaign, the Pumpkin Run is fun for families, kids and adults. We have a 12 and under Fun Run
as well as a 5K run/walk. Come out and join us!
5K registration (day of event) – $35
All info online at Y's website

Northwest YMCA
1501 Kennerly Rd
Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-8007

Thursday October 27, 2011

Get your freak on Thursday, October 27 for Unbound Dance’s third annual Carpe Noctem FREAK SHOW. This freaky fundraising event includes performances from UNBOUND Dance, Columbia Alternacirque and Party Time Gurls featuring Carla Cox. DJ Lola will pump rocking music on the dance floor while emcee Alex Smith carries the audience through the FREAK SHOW experience. Be sure to put on your craziest carnival costume for a chance to win the FREAK SHOW Costume Contest. In addition, there will be freaky carnival attractions, light food and cash bar. Carpe Noctem FREAK SHOW will be hosted at 701 Whaley, Columbia, SC 29201. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or online, www.unbounddance.com.

Thursday October 27, 2011 - Sunday October 29, 2011

Already known as the coolest dance show yet to play the Koger Center, Columbia City Ballet’s Dracula: Ballet With A Bite returns with new blood for this “must see” Halloween favorite. Count Dracula and his Brides of Darkness are back with new choreography, costumes and palpitating music in this cutting-edge production. Dracula is always a favorite with its haunting visuals, graphic special effects and pulsating rock/jazz musical score composed by the late Thomas E. Semanski.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Halloween:
October 27 (Student Night- all students with ID get a $10 ticket, any seat), October 28, and October 29th (Adult Costume Contest Night) all at 7:30 pm

Visit the Columbia City Ballet for all the info!

Friday October 28, 2011

Hearty German cuisine is the main attraction on this special dinner cruise aboard Lake Murray's only dinner-cruise yacht, the beautiful Spirit of Lake Murray! The menu includes Cucumber Salad, Sauerbraten-Roast Beef, Mustard Pork Chops, Boiled Potatoes, German Style Green Beans and Quark Pudding for dessert! A cash bar will allow diners to treat themselves to their favorite beer (including specialty craft brews), wine or cocktail. Cruise the lake for 2.5 hours and enjoy a lovely sunset, see the moon and stars reflect in the water and feel a refreshing breeze! You're going to love it! Visit the Spirit of Lake Murray website for details.