Events in Columbia

The Columbia Korean Festival celebrates Korean culture with performances that range from time-honored traditions to contemporary acts, highlighted by a K-pop dance contest. Attendees can watch taekwando demonstrations and take part in interactive activities and games. Food lovers will find favorites such as kimchi, kimbap, Korean corndogs, bulgogi, and a variety of Korean desserts. Presented by the Korean Community Presbyterian Church, the festival offers free admission. Tickets for food and merchandise are available for purchase on site, with cash as well as debit and credit cards accepted.

1412 Richland St, Columbia

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Explore Zen meditation in a welcoming session that blends instruction and practice. Associate Zen teacher Rev. Dr. Steven Meredith Hotetsu Garmon leads, drawing on experience as a former philosophy professor, a Buddhist practitioner since 2001, and a Unitarian Universalist minister since 2004, now retired. As founder and leader of One Earth Zen, an ecospiritually oriented community, he has organized Zen practice groups including Border Zen Center in El Paso, Dancing Crane Zen Center in Gainesville, and Boundless Way Zen of Westchester in White Plains. Newcomers are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is needed. Regular practice is presented as a way to nurture wisdom and compassion for our shared planet. It is offered in person in the Library at UUCC and online via Zoom.

2701 Heyward St, Columbia

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Celebrate Halloween on two wheels with a costumed ride that begins at the Lexington Target parking lot, then cruises through Lexington and into downtown Columbia. Costumes are optional, and spooky, silly, or cute looks are encouraged. Participants may bring a friend who rides and carry candy to share with pedestrians and motorists along the way. This ride is independently organized and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any businesses, pages, or individuals unless explicitly noted by the organizer.

5119 Sunset Blvd, Lexington

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A relaxed conversation focuses on discovering spiritual truth through personal experience rather than being told what to believe. Participants consider how to recognize what is true, whether it is possible to know God directly, and how inner experiences can shape understanding of life’s purpose. Suitable for longtime seekers and the newly curious. Questions and individual perspectives are encouraged.

6251 St Andrews Rd, Columbia

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Celebrate the season at a Fall Festival featuring a trunk-or-treat, food, games, and a selection of baked goods. Hosted by Dixiana Baptist Church, this family-friendly gathering offers Halloween fun with activities for all ages and a welcoming focus on community and fellowship.

3516 Charleston Hwy, West Columbia

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Celebrate Halloween with a spooky karaoke night hosted by DJ Randy inside the hall. Admission is $15 per person and includes a costume contest and finger foods. Take the mic, cheer on fellow singers, and enjoy a festive evening of music and costumes.

424 Cedarcrest Dr, Lexington

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At Sharper Image Hair Salon, this interactive experience centers on educating, empowering, and encouraging girls and women to understand, care for, and celebrate their natural hair while nurturing confidence, connection, and self-love. Participants explore texture and porosity, learn how to choose products, practice healthy routines with moisture and protective care, and use positive language that supports a strong self-image. The program blends instruction, live demonstrations, and heartfelt conversation to cultivate sisterhood, and it features a signature mirror moment designed to uplift and affirm. Family participation is welcome, whether attending with a daughter, mother, granddaughter, sister, niece, or friend, or coming solo. The aim is simple... learn about your hair, care for it well, and embrace its beauty so personal confidence can grow across generations.

736 St.Andrews Road Suite E, Columbia

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Two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, composer, educator, and storyteller Charlton Singleton leads Chords & Conversations, an intimate program built around solo piano, songs from his own pen, and the music that influenced him. He welcomes the audience into the meaning behind the melodies, reflecting on the people, places, experiences, and emotions that shape each piece. Blending performance with candid dialogue, this musical journey offers a close-up encounter with Singleton in a setting that feels like a cozy living room. Hosted at the ColaJazz Office, the evening includes light snacks and beverages and encourages open conversation. Tickets are $30, with special pricing of $24 for ColaJazz Members and $15 for students.

2123 College St, Columbia

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An Evening With David Sedaris features the bestselling writer behind Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Calypso, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Barrel Fever, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, and Theft By Finding. His writing appears regularly in The New Yorker and on BBC Radio 4. Presale access is available through the Koger Center mailing list.

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