Checked October 2, 2026 on each place's official website, linked next to each fact. Hours and prices change, and seasonal events add or drop dates, so open the linked page before you go. Where a site would not load for our check, we say so and send you to it.
Columbia sits where the Broad and Saluda rivers meet to form the Congaree, so a lot of what there is to do here is on or near the water: a national park, a zoo and garden on the Saluda, and 15 miles of riverside trail. Add the State House and museums downtown, the University of South Carolina's football Saturdays, and a fall season packed with the State Fair, Halloween events and holiday lights.
This page is the hub. Each section below gives the essentials and links to our full guide for that place or topic.
Quick picks
| If you want | Go to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| One big family day | Riverbanks Zoo & Garden | $27.95 adult online |
| A free nature day | Congaree National Park | Free entry |
| A Saturday morning downtown | Soda City Market on Main Street | Free to walk in |
| A rainy day with kids | EdVenture, then the State Museum | $15 / see below |
| Fall 2026 | SC State Fair, Oct 15–25 | $20 at the gate |
| Game day | Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium | Tickets vary |
Outdoors
- Congaree National Park (100 National Park Road, Hopkins, SC 29061), southeast of the city. Entrance is free. The Boardwalk Trail is a 2.6-mile round trip into old-growth bottomland forest and is wheelchair and stroller accessible; other trails flood from time to time, so check the park's alerts. Sources: NPS fees, trail information. Full guide: Congaree day trip.
- Three Rivers Greenway, a 15½-mile linear park along the rivers, lighted and with free parking. The Saluda Riverwalk alone is 3 miles of paved path and boardwalk, with parking at 650 Candi Ln; the West Columbia Riverwalk adds 1.1 miles on the Congaree. Source: 3rvrs.net. Full guide: Three Rivers Greenway.
- Saluda Shoals Park, west entrance 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. $7 per car. Open 7 am – 7 pm through October 31, then 7 am – 5 pm from November 1; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trails, river access, the Barking Lot dog park and a playground. Source: ICRC. Full guide: Saluda Shoals Park.
- Lake Murray, west of the city. Dominion Energy's Lexington-side beach park is open April 9 through Labor Day only ($5 per vehicle, reserved online); the Irmo-side boat launch is open year-round ($5 a day, paid online). Source: Dominion Energy. Full guide: Lake Murray public parks.
- Farther afield: Camden, Poinsett State Park, Greenville's Falls Park and more are in day trips from Columbia.
With kids and family
- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, SC 29210. Open daily 9 am – 5 pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adults (13–61) $27.95 online or $30.95 at the window; children 2–12 $24.95 online; under 2 free; parking $3 online, $6 at the window. One ticket covers the zoo and the botanical garden. Source: Riverbanks visitor information. Full guide: Riverbanks Zoo & Garden.
- EdVenture Children's Museum, 211 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201. $15 for children and adults, $10 for first responders, military and seniors, under 2 free. From September 8 to Memorial Day it opens Monday and Wednesday–Saturday 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5 pm, and is closed Tuesdays. Adults need a child with them to enter. Source: edventure.org. Full guide: EdVenture.
- South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, next to EdVenture. Tuesday–Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday noon – 5 pm, closed Monday. On the first Sunday of every month, general admission is $1. It has a planetarium, a 4D theater and an observatory. Source: scmuseum.org. Full guide: South Carolina State Museum.
- More family picks with prices: things to do with kids in Columbia.
Food and drink
- Soda City Market: every Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm, rain or shine, on the 1300–1500 blocks of Main Street downtown (Experience Columbia SC). The market's own site, sodacitysc.com, would not load for our check, so check the official site for holiday changes. Full guide: Soda City Market.
- Brunch by area (the Vista, Main Street, Five Points, West Columbia), with weekend hours: best brunch in Columbia.
- Restaurants: for Main Street and the Vista, see downtown Columbia restaurants (hours and reservation policies checked on each restaurant's site); our restaurant directory lists local places A–Z from their own websites. We do not rank them or sell placement.
- Date nights that pair dinner with something to do: date ideas in Columbia.
Arts, history and museums
- South Carolina State House, at Gervais and Main Streets. Guided tours run on the half hour from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays (none at 12:30), and on Saturdays at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 2:30, except the Saturdays after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Groups larger than 10 should call the tour office at (803) 734-2430. Source: scstatehouse.gov.
- Columbia Museum of Art, entered from Main Street. Tuesday–Saturday 10 am – 5 pm (Thursday to 7 pm, and to 8 pm on First Thursdays), Sunday noon – 5 pm, closed Monday. Adults $15, 65 and over $13, college students and youth 7–18 $10, children 6 and under free. Source: columbiamuseum.org.
- Historic Columbia house museums: the Robert Mills House, the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Museum of the Reconstruction Era, with tours starting from the Welcome Center at 1616 Blanding Street. Tour times vary by day, so check the official site before you go: historiccolumbia.org. The house gardens are open 10 am – 4 pm.
- The State Museum (above) covers art, cultural history, natural history and science under one roof.
Nightlife and live shows
- The Vista and Five Points (next to USC) are the two walkable districts for bars, restaurants and late nights. Five Points posts its events on its calendar; the Vista Guild posts on vistacolumbia.com. See our Five Points and Downtown pages.
- Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor Street, box office 803-576-2350, hosts concerts and touring shows. Shows change weekly, so check the official site: thetownship.org.
- The Koger Center for the Arts is the University of South Carolina's performing arts center. Its site would not load for our check, so check the official site for this season's schedule.
- For this week's concerts and shows, use our weekend guide and the October–November 2026 events calendar. Big concerts and Gamecock basketball are at Colonial Life Arena: see our arena guide.
Game day
South Carolina's remaining 2026 home football games at Williams-Brice Stadium, from gamecocksonline.com:
| Date | Opponent | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 3 | Kentucky | 4:15 pm |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Tennessee | TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Texas A&M (Homecoming) | TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Georgia (Senior Day) | TBA |
Parking lots, shuttles and the clear-bag rules are in our Williams-Brice Stadium parking guide. For concerts and Gamecock basketball, see our Colonial Life Arena guide. The Columbia Fireflies' minor-league baseball season runs in the warmer months; check the official site at columbiafireflies.com for the 2027 schedule.
Free things to do
- Congaree National Park: no entrance fee (NPS).
- Three Rivers Greenway: free, with free parking (3rvrs.net).
- State House tours and the grounds downtown (scstatehouse.gov).
- Soda City Market: free to walk in on Saturday mornings.
- State Museum on the first Sunday: $1, not free, but close (scmuseum.org).
- Fourteen more, from the Lake Murray Dam walk to free museum days: free things to do in Columbia.
Seasonal: fall and holidays 2026
- South Carolina State Fair, October 15–25, 2026, at the fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive. Gate admission $20; advance tickets $10 at Circle K or $11 online through October 14, then $15/$16 during the fair. $5 for everyone on opening day (Thursday, Oct 15); seniors 55+ $15, or $5 on Senior Day (Wednesday, Oct 21); children 5 and under free. Gates open at 11 am on most weekdays, noon on opening day and Sundays, and 10 am on Saturdays, and close at 9 pm (8 pm on the last day, Sunday Oct 25). Sources: tickets, hours. Full guide: SC State Fair 2026.
- Boo at the Zoo at Riverbanks, October 16–30, 6–9 pm, with a new $6 Spooky Rides Pass for unlimited train and carousel rides (riverbanks.org). More: Halloween events in Columbia.
- Pumpkin patches and corn mazes around the Midlands, with each farm's 2026 dates and prices: pumpkin patches near Columbia.
- Vista Lights, the Vista's 41st holiday open house, Thursday, November 19, 2026, with more than 60 galleries, shops and restaurants open (vistacolumbia.com).
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks, select nights November 20 – January 10, 5–9 pm, with 60+ lantern displays and Santa through December 23. Tickets go on sale November 2 (riverbanks.org). Every light show: Christmas lights in Columbia.
Plan by when you have
- This weekend: things to do in Columbia this weekend.
- The next two months: October–November 2026 events calendar.
- A rainy day: EdVenture in the morning (not Tuesday), lunch in the Vista, then the State Museum or the Museum of Art.
- A full day out of town: day trips from Columbia.
- Thinking of moving here? Best neighborhoods and suburbs of Columbia.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Columbia, SC?
Columbia's best-known things to do are Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Congaree National Park (free entry), the Three Rivers Greenway, Soda City Market on Saturday mornings, EdVenture and the State Museum, State House tours, Gamecocks football at Williams-Brice Stadium, and in fall the SC State Fair (October 15–25, 2026). This guide sorts them by category with hours and prices checked on October 2, 2026.
What is Columbia, SC known for?
It is South Carolina's capital and home to the University of South Carolina. Visitors come for the State House, Gamecocks football, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Congaree National Park's old-growth forest, the rivers and greenway, and the Soda City Market on Main Street.
What are free things to do in Columbia, SC?
Congaree National Park has no entrance fee, the Three Rivers Greenway is free with free parking, State House tours run on weekdays and Saturdays, and Soda City Market is free to walk in. The State Museum charges $1 general admission on the first Sunday of each month. Our free things to do guide lists 14 more.
What can adults do in Columbia, SC at night?
Head to the Vista or Five Points for bars and restaurants, see a show at the Township Auditorium or the Koger Center, or book a seasonal night event: Boo at the Zoo runs October 16–30, 2026 and Riverbanks' Wild Lights runs select nights from November 20. Check each venue's own calendar for this week's shows.
What is there to do in Columbia, SC when it rains?
EdVenture Children's Museum ($15, closed Tuesdays from September to Memorial Day), the South Carolina State Museum (closed Mondays) and the Columbia Museum of Art (closed Mondays) are all indoors and close together downtown. A guided State House tour is another indoor option.
What is there to do in Columbia, SC with kids?
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (children 2–12 are $24.95 online), EdVenture, the State Museum's planetarium, Saluda Shoals Park and the Congaree boardwalk are the top picks. Our things to do with kids guide has 12 family outings with prices.
Is Columbia, SC worth visiting?
For a weekend, yes: a national park, a large zoo and botanical garden, a riverfront trail system and a walkable downtown are all a short drive from downtown, and fall adds the State Fair and SEC football. Most of the outdoor highlights are free or cheap.