With winter on the outskirts, it’s time to start planning for the Columbia South Carolina sunshine and all that springtime brings! We at Lady Street Builders love our city and we want to share all the beauty available to you when planning for Springtime in Columbia. Spring is one of the best times in be in Columbia. We encourage you to take advantage of our mild temperatures, blooming trees and some of the incredible festivals in the area.
Bold and Beautiful Blooms
Our city comes alive with bold and beautiful blooms at the first hint of spring. From the cherry blossoms to pear trees, a walk through Columbia’s State House Grounds is a perfect fusion of history and nature. If you want to jump in the car for a self-guided public art tour you’ll find just how beautifully the two coexist in our Soda City – Columbia, SC. To really dive into springtime’s floral offerings, head over to the Riverbanks Zoo Botanical Garden. They offer 70 acres of unparalleled beauty. Dramatic and themed gardens showcase more than 5,700 species of native and exotic plants, providing a living classroom for gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
Spring Season Brings Fun Festivals
We’re really into our food and beverages year-round, but especially in spring. In the Spring, Columbia hosts a plethora of festivals dedicated to our first and favorite love, FOOD. The 2024 Columbia Food and Wine Festival is the hot ticket in town, the five-day festival showcases some of the city’s finest cuisine and emphasizes the use of ingredients sourced from South Carolina farms. The Columbia Food and Wine Festival in April is another terrific food and drink event that shouldn’t be missed! It is a five-day culinary extravaganza showcasing the finest plates and pours Columbia has to offer, earning recognition as a must-attend event for foodies across the Southeast. In May, you can get your fill at the Columbia Food Truck & Beer Festival. This annual event hosts over 35 vendors with something to please everyone and local libations featuring every flavor from watermelon to mango to “salty.” As the days get warmer, keep an eye out for the many other fun festivals and events happening like the Columbia International Festival, an event you’ll want to bring an empty stomach to.
Enjoy Mild Temperatures
It’s no secret that we have some seasonably warm days approaching. Before we hit the dog days of summer, make sure to enjoy all of the restaurants who offer patio dining! When it comes to al fresco dining options, Columbia, SC has them in spades.
If you’re looking for something a bit more active, now is the perfect time to explore Congaree National Park. The park offers numerous trails with different levels of difficulty, sure to keep all ages entertained with changing fauna and surprise visits from wading birds. In May, you’ll be able to catch the synchronous fireflies and follow their journey on one of the boardwalks. Keep up with the exact timing of the fireflies and updates on safety accommodations on their website so you can witness this magical event for yourself.
Spring in Columbia also hosts bountiful activities to keep those kiddos occupied, we’ve got all your spring break fun listed HERE.
St. Pat’s in Five Points – March 15, 2025
This awesome event is held in one of the most happening spots in all of Columbia, Five Points. This festival is held to celebrate all things Green and Irish. Some of the events they hold are: a kids zone; Get to the Green road races; St. Pats Parade; Live Music on four different stages; a Silent Disco. This is one heck of a time if you like dark beer and great music. You can get all the details on their website at www.StPatsColumbia.com
Firefly Baseball (seasonal)
This is a new one for the list. Columbia added a great minor league baseball team named The Fireflies, with their mascot, Mason Jar, no joke. Their season kicks off in April this year and runs all through the Fall. The Fireflies are proud to call the Sprint Communications Park home, which won the award for Minor League Park of the Year. They have games all of the time and it’s an awesome place to spend an afternoon/evening. The tickets are reasonable, they have great craft beer with even better food. For their schedule, check out www.ColumbiaFireflies.com.
Soda City Farmers Market (weekly)
Farmers Markets aren’t a new idea, however they have gained a lot of steam in the past few years. We promise you have never been to one like Soda City. The organizers of Soda City shut down a few city blocks on Main Street each Saturday from 9am to 1pm to allow hundreds of vendors to display their local products including fresh produce and cheese, coffee, clothing, womens accessories, woodworkers, food trucks, artisans, street performers and much more. Leash up your dogs, strap in your kids, and come see a true gem of downtown Columbia. www.SodaCitySC.com
City Roots (weekly)
City Roots is Metro Columbia’s first urban farm. Located just blocks off of Rosewood Drive and next to Owens Field, this sustainable farm and event space is always hosting awesome events like Farm to Table dinners throughout the year, Smoke and Beer (local beer fest) in February, Mardi Gras in March and many more. If you don’t have anything to do on a weekend, be sure to check out www.cityroots.org for their bustling event calendar.
Pallidum Society Chili Cook Off (annual)
This annual event is hosted by the Pallidum Society to benefit Historic Columbia and all their endeavors. If you are into chili, spices, music and good spirits, you won’t want to miss this. It is usually hosted in early February, so if you missed it this year make sure to put it on your calendar for next year. For more details go to www.HistoricColumbia.org/chili
So get to preparing for Springtime Columbia. We have LOTS of blooming beauty to offer you. If you’re thinking of moving here and you’d like to build your own custom home or buy from a fantastic Columbia builder, call on Lady Street Builders. We have a terrific array of plans to choose from or we can build your home from the bottom up. Contact us today.