Checked September 2026. Seasonal items are marked; check each venue's own calendar for this week's times and prices.
Evening dates
An indie film at the Nickelodeon
Where: 1607 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201.
"The Nick" is Columbia's nonprofit art-house cinema, run by the Columbia Film Society in the former Fox Theatre on Main Street. It screens several films a day plus special series.
A play at Trustus Theatre
Where: 520 Lady St, in the Vista.
Trustus is a professional theatre with two small stages — the Thigpen Mainstage and the Side Door Theatre — so every seat is close to the action. Check the season at trustus.org.
First Thursday at the Columbia Museum of Art
Where: Main Street, downtown.
Free admission and late hours on the first Thursday of each month, with a 6 pm tour of the collection (columbiamuseum.org). Walk to dinner on Main Street afterwards.
Dinner in the Vista, on Main Street or in Five Points
The three downtown districts hold most of the city's restaurants and bars. Browse restaurants in our directory.
Sunset on the Lake Murray Dam
Where: Lake Murray Public Park (north recreation area: 2101 N Lake Dr).
A 1.7-mile walkway crosses the dam above the lake. It is free and one of the best sunset spots near the city.
Day dates
Riverbanks Botanical Garden
Where: garden entrance at 1300 Botanical Pkwy, West Columbia (the zoo entrance is 500 Wildlife Pkwy).
The garden side of Riverbanks sits across the Saluda from the zoo, linked by the free Saluda Skyride and the paved River Trail. Tickets, hours and both entrances: our Riverbanks Zoo & Garden guide.
Saturday at Soda City Market
Where: 1300–1700 blocks of Main Street, Saturdays 9 am–1 pm, year-round.
Graze your way along the producer-only stalls, then walk to the State House grounds.
The Boardwalk at Congaree National Park
Where: 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins.
A 2.6-mile boardwalk through old-growth floodplain forest, with no entrance fee. Bring bug spray in warm months. Trails, dogs and camping: our Congaree day trip guide.
Riverfront Park and the Canal
Where: 312 Laurel St.
A flat, paved path between the Columbia Canal and the Broad River — easy for a long talk-and-walk.
A day at Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park (3677 State Park Rd, Prosperity) has picnic spots, trails and lake access; admission from June 2026 is $6 for adults (southcarolinaparks.com).
Seasonal dates
- South Carolina State Fair — October 15–25, 2026, at the State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr (scstatefair.org; our State Fair guide). Fall only.
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks — the zoo's lantern festival runs on select nights from late November into January (riverbanks.org/events/wild-lights; more in Christmas lights in Columbia). Winter only; timed tickets.
- Synchronous fireflies at Congaree — a short viewing window in mid-May (May 13–20 in 2026), with passes by online lottery in April through Recreation.gov (nps.gov/cong/fireflies.htm). Spring only.
- Columbia Fireflies baseball at Segra Park in the BullStreet district. Spring and summer.
- Gamecock football at Williams-Brice Stadium. Fall Saturdays — expect heavy traffic.
Cheap and free date ideas
- State House tour (free, 1100 Gervais St)
- McKissick Museum on the USC Horseshoe (free, weekdays)
- Finlay Park's overlook plaza, downtown (free)
- The Gervais Street Bridge at sunset (free)
See the full list of free things to do in Columbia, start the day at one of our brunch picks, book dinner from our downtown Columbia restaurants list, or plan a day trip from Columbia.
The full list, by category: things to do in Columbia, SC.
Concert night? Our Colonial Life Arena guide covers parking, the clear bag rule and door times.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good cheap date in Columbia, SC?
Walk Soda City Market on a Saturday morning, take the free State House tour, walk the Riverfront Park canal trail, or watch the sunset from the Lake Murray Dam walkway. All four are free.
Where can you see an indie film in Columbia?
The Nickelodeon Theatre at 1607 Main St is Columbia's nonprofit art-house cinema, run by the Columbia Film Society.
When is the 2026 South Carolina State Fair?
October 15 to 25, 2026, at the State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr in Columbia (checked September 2026).
When can you see the fireflies at Congaree National Park?
The synchronous firefly viewing event is in mid-May (May 13 to 20 in 2026). Passes are allocated by an online lottery on Recreation.gov in April.