March for Meals - March 1
March for Meals, a 5K fundraiser to help provide meals for homebound seniors, will be held Saturday, March 2 at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. It will begin at 7:30 am. Registration is $25 for runners, $20 for walkers and $10 for children. It's sponsored by Senior Resources, a Columbia nonprofit organization which provides services for senior citizens. For more information, call 252-7734 or email seniorresourcesinc@sc.rr.com.
St. Pat’s in Five Points - March 16
This year’s St. Pat’s in Five Points Celebration will be held Saturday, March 16.
It will begin with the annual St. Patty’s Day Parade at 10 am. (The parade will begin at Dreher High and travel Devine Street to Five Points.)
In conjunction with the festival, the St. Pat’s in Five Points Beauty Pageant will be March 9 at 12:30 pm at CA Johnson High School.
For more information, visit StPatsColumbia.com.
Last year’s St. Pat’s festival raised $66,000 for local charities and other causes.
Bark to the Park - April 20
Bark to the Park, a walk/fundraiser to help homeless pets, will be held April 20. Sponsored by Pawmetto Lifeline, the one-mile walk starts in Finlay Park. Registration begins at 8 am, and the walk begins at 9:30 am. Walkers raise money through pledges.
Sponsorships are available, and anyone interested in sponsoring the event should send an email to mdhayes@pawmettolifeline.org. Anyone with questions about participation can call 465-9172 or email
rgoffena@pawmettolifeline.org.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes - April 18
On Thursday, April 18, men from across the Midlands will walk a mile in high heels for a good cause.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a fundraiser for Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, a Columbia-based nonprofit organization that supports victims of sexual abuse. The walk will begin at 6 pm outside the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the Vista. Registration is $15 if done by March 30. For more information, visit stsm.org or call 790-8208 ext. 101.
Angel's Tea - April 19
Angel's Tea and Silent Auction, a fundraiser for St. Lawrence Place, will be held April 19 from 11 am to noon. Participants will enjoy champagne, tea and refreshments while bidding on auction items. Tickets are $25, and "Angel" tickets are $5. St. Lawrence Place is a Columbia charity that provides assistance to homeless families. For more information, call 256-3999.
Burrito Dash 5K - April 20
The second annual Moe's Burrito Dash, a 5K charity event, will be April 20. Sponsored by Moe's Southwest Grill of Columbia, this event raises money to benefit Epworth Children's Home. It begins at the downtown/USC Moe's location. There will be prizes of $2,000, $1,000 and $500 for the top three finishers in the men's and women's division.For entry fees or other information, visit StrictlyRunning.com.
Epworth Children's Home is a Columbia shelter for children who have been abused and/or neglected.
Rosewood Crawfish Festival - May 11
The Crawdaddy Dash kicks off the annual Rosewood Crawfish Festival. This year's Crawfish Festival will be Saturday, May 11, from 11 am to 8 pm on Rosewood Drive. The event is sponsored by the Rosewood Merchants Association as a way to draw spotlight area businesses.
Tickets are $9 in advance and $12 the day of the event. Proceeds are donated toward worthy causes in the community.
For more information, call 803-261-8947 or email RosewoodMerchants@gmail.com.
Summer Concert Series - June-August
Columbia's Summer Concert Series will be held in Finlay Park from June to April. During those months, concerts will be held every Saturday night at 7 pm.
The city is currently accepting applications from bands interested in performing. The deadline is 5 pm on March 1. Those interested in applying should contact Kim Mitchell at kcmitchell@colulmbiasc.net.