Count down the days

Your child's entrance into kindergarten is surely a milestone. Kick it off right at EdVenture on Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. at Countdown to Kindergarten 2010. Help your kids learn the basics of going to school, such as carrying a lunch tray and riding the bus, get their teeth and eyes checked, and let them browse EdVenture's museum, all at no charge.

Peanut-palooza

Head south on Friday and Saturday and grab some goober peas. Pelion’s 29th annual S.C. Peanut Party will kick off Friday with the blessing of the pots, followed by a performance from the Pelion High School band. The celebration will continue Saturday with an invitational parade starting at 10 a.m., carnival rides, a car show, other live music and, you guessed it, plenty of peanuts for everyone. Go online for more information.

Party at the champs' house

The Young Leaders Society is holding its Ballpark Bash from 6 to 9 tonight at Carolina Stadium, home of the College World Series champion USC baseball team. The night includes food, drinks and entertainment from Villanova, who recently signed with Universal Records. Tickets are $15 at the gate, or you can get a VIP ticket for access to the Gamecock Club Suite on the second level of the concourse. There you'll have an indoor, air-conditioned bar and buffet, plus comfy chairs to enjoy the concert. For more information, call 803-733-5419.

On stage

Take in some theater with the closing weekend of Paradise Key, showing at Trustus' Main Stage. It's August 1951 in the sweaty back room of a U.S. Army safe house deep in the Florida Keys. Nazis, polio and a Faustian bargain to secure American lives all unfold in the course of one night. The show, by playwright Dean Poynor, took top honors at the Trustus Playwrights' Festival. It runs tonight through Saturday, with tickets ranging from $20 to $22.50. For reservations or information, call 803-254-9732 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Casey Affleck's in town — well, sorta

Head to the Nickelodeon Theatre for an adaptation of author Jim Thompson's 1952 noir novel The Killer Inside Me. Casey Affleck stars as Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford, a small-town 1950s police officer with a deep, dark secret. Kate Hudson co-stars as Ford's innocent girlfriend, and Jessica Alba takes a turn as Joyce, a local prostitute. The first show is at 3 p.m. Friday, and this one's worth skipping out of work early for. (But, if you can't pull that off, there are also shows at 5:30 and 8 p.m., and again those three times Saturday and Sunday.)

Everybody loves Raymond

Head to the Comedy House Theatre this weekend for a night of laughs courtesy of Raymond "Grady." Enjoy the wiry personality and high-pitched voice that made this comedian memorable in the Rush Hour movies. Performances are tonight at 8:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Go online for tickets and information.

Return of the Redcoats

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., remember the Battle of Camden. The historic Camden Revolutionary War site, 222 Broad St., will be host to period British soldiers interpreting life in occupied Camden from the King's point of view. A skit, Crimes & Punishment, will play out four times throughout the day, at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2:15 and 3:30 p.m. There will be Colonial games, refreshments and a documentary about the battle, and a blacksmith will be firing up the forge from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. There's no charge for admission. Call 803-432-9841 for more information.

Crawl for a Cause

Head out Friday and Saturday for Pour on the Tour, a pub/golf crawl to support the Dickerson Center for Children. It all kicks off Friday with a party from 6 to 11 p.m. at Bogart’s Bar & Restaurant in West Columbia. Check out the live music and get discounts on food. Then on Saturday, the bar crawl begins at 5 p.m. Start at Gervais & Vine and move though other Vista bars for trivia and drinks. End the night with appetizers at Kelly’s Deli & Pub, 1001 Washington St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from Bogart’s Bar & Restaurant, Sam’s Fine Wine & Spirits or online.

Tastings at Tombo

From 5:30-7 p.m. this afternoon, taste the difference a good tequila can make. Try Don Julio Anejo, Don Julio Reposado and Jose Cuervo Platino and see the subtleties that come with aging the agave. It's taking place at Tombo Grille, located at 4517 Forest Drive, and there's no charge to attend. Call 803-782-9665 for reservations.

Small toy soldiers

Whether it’s the plastic toy soldiers from your childhood, or expertly crafted military figurines, you can see, purchase and trade toy soldiers and other military miniatures at the Southeastern Toy Soldier Show. Introduce the kids to a once popular hobby or have fun on your own terms at the S.C. State Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Coming soon:

Greek festival: Sept 16-19 at the corner of Sumter and Calhoun streets. Enjoy Columbia's 24th annual Greek Festival.

Get you Sommore: Aug. 20-22 at the Comedy House Theatre. Enjoy a show from the reigning Queen of Comedy, Sommore, with her quick wit and sharp sarcasm.

Gamecocks home opener: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks open their season against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.

Columbia Blues Festival: Oct. 1-2. The 16th annual festival will be held at Martin Luther King Memorial Park in Five Points. The event begins at noon each day.

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