4th Annual Italian Festival & Bocce Tournament

Saturday October 22, 2011

A one-day passport to Italy in downtown Columbia! Italians love to have a good time... and you can join them for one of Columbia's best outdoor parties! Join thousands of fun-seekers as the Italians show us all how to have one fabulous grand time! From 10am - 10pm on Main Street in downtown Columbia, you'll enjoy authentic Italian foods at Bella Italia's Café like signature pepperoni rolls & pizza, dolci (sweets/desserts), gelato and beverages; stop in at the Italian Fresh Market, stocked with Italian brand pastas,tomatoes, olives, olive oil, breads, Italian desserts homemade by lodge members; and locally grown vegetables and fruits; get your toes tapping with this year's main attraction - Ray Massa's EURORHYTHMS, the best Italian-American band in the USA! Participate in a bocce tournament, learn to dance the Tarantella, let your kids play games, listen to stories, and stomp grapes! Your entire family will love this really great event, hosted by the Bella Italia Lodge 2808. Visit the Italian Festival website for details! Ciao!

Lexington Oktoberfest!

Saturday October 22, 2011

Oktoberfest is coming to Lexington SC! Founded in 1735 as "Saxe Gotha", so named for Princess Augusta of the German Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, Lexington was born with German roots. Oktoberfest 2011 will be a celebration of this German heritage.Lexington's Oktoberfest is sure to have something for everyone. Admission is FREE! Visit the "German Village" from noon to 5pm where you will find arts and craft vendors, free giveaways, and activities for the little ones, like "bouncy castles" , face painting, crafts, balloons and more! At the center of it all will be the "Oompah Tent" with authentic German food, German beer & live German music from noon until 10pm. See Menu Here.
After 5:30pm Oktoberfest is going to be joined by it's good friend Rocktoberfest. Live music by Going Commando and Brian Connor and Friends. Live German music will still be playing and German food and beer will be served in the Oompah tent all the way until 10pm as well! Details online at the Lexington Oktoberfest website.

Scare Yourself Silly at Haunted Farmhouse, Hall of Horrors or Haunted Hayride

Now through October 31, 2011

If your idea of a good time is spending an evening in a home where a voodoo practitioner murdered her family over 50 years ago, then don't miss the Hall of Horrors. Or do you prefer a story of mutilated bodies in corn fields? Then head out to the newest haunting in the Greater Ghoulumbia area: The Deceased Farm near Lexington. Or how would you like to experience the feeling of free-falling into space? Harmon's Tree Farm presents the Black Hole, as well as a Haunted Hayride out into a sunflower field. BOO!

August Osage County: Trustus Theatre

Opens Friday October 21, 2011

Winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award. A vanished father. A pill-popping mother. Three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you've got a major new play that unflinchingly—and uproariously—exposes the dark side of the Midwestern American family. This show will leave you breathless as it unfolds before your eyes! Shows at Trustus Theatre in the Vista on Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Friday & Saturdays at 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM. Tickets Prices: Thursdays $20 Fridays & Saturdays $22.50 Sundays $17.50

Columbia Community Concert Band: Lexington Baptist Church

Friday October 21, 2011

Enjoy a free concert this Friday evening as the Columbia Community Concert Band performs Porgy and Bess, Themes from 007, American Riversongs, Semper Fidelis and many more favorites. The 80-piece band is comprised of amateur players from the Columbia area and is really a joy to hear. Concert begins at 7:30pm. For details visit the CCCB website.

The Chili Cookoff: Five Points

Saturday October 22, 2011

The Chili Cookoff is an annual charity event which donates to a number of charities. It's a production of Group Therapy in Five Points and will be held on Saturday, October 22. This year's charities are Columbia's own CAMP KEMO (a program run by Palmetto Health), and The Disabilities Board Of Charleston County. Each year the event becomes larger than the previous year and in the heart of it all are the incredible chefs and cooks who donate their time, ingredients, recipes and talent. Visit the Chili Cookoff website for details.

17th Annual Blues Festival: MLK Memorial Park

Saturday October 22, 2011

The Blues soothes the mind and feeds the soul. Hear some of the finest blues musicians around during the 17th annual Blues Festival. Leo Kottke, Wanda Johnson, Toni Spearman, Harper, Randall Bramblett, Speed Limit 35, and the Mobros take the stage for an all day festival that starts at noon and goes to 10pm. Visit the Blues Festival website for full details and to download 28 page program. That's a lot of pages, man!

Tricks and Treats at the State Museum

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 and Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Chills, thrills and frightful fun!
Watch out for ghosts, ghouls and goblins as the museum presents its annual Halloween event for families, “Tricks and Treats at the State Museum!”

Offering safe Halloween fun the last two Saturdays of October, children will enjoy:

• “Peanuts” characters from Carowinds on Saturday, Oct. 22;
• Piggly Wiggly’s Mr. Pig (both weekends!);
• Haunted Halloween Party with “goblin games” and spooky prizes for everyone;
• Haunted gallery scavenger hunt with prizes;
• Balloon art by Nick Propst with his Catalina macaw, Trixie;
• “Creepy” crafts and coloring;
• Face painting ($2);
• Pumpkin painting ($2);

All activities are FREE with Museum admission or Membership unless otherwise noted.
Come in costume for “Tricks and Treats” and receive $1 OFF regular Museum admission. Don’t miss it! Visit the State Museum website for details.

Annual Sports Memorialbilia Silent Auction featuring Hall of Fame Atlanta Braves Phil Niekro: Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center

Saturday, October 22, 2011

One night only! October 22nd! Don't miss out on this fun event at the Jewish Community Center. There will be lots of sports memorabilia in our live and silent auction, food, fun, and former Atlanta Braves pitcher/National Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro! Visit the JCC website for details.

Tickets: $36
7:00pm - Cocktail Hour
8:00pm - Program

Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center
306 Flora Drive
Columbia , SC 29223
803-787-2023

All-Local Arts & Crafts Festival: Our Hands Together Artisan Market

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Featuring all LOCAL artisans and craftsmen, this event will be a great way to get your Christmas shopping underway, as there will everything from jewelry to pottery to upcycled creations, home decor and more! Watch artists demonstrate glass blowing, wood-turning/pen making, spray painting art and canvas painting! Festival hours: 10am - 3pm.

Our Hands Together Artisan Market
101-A Ballentine Park Road
Irmo, SC 29063
803-749-0011

YMCA Northwest Pumpkin Run

Saturday October 22 , 2011

Benefitting the Y's Partners with Youth campaign, the Pumpkin Run is fun for families, kids and adults. We have a 12 and under Fun Run
as well as a 5K run/walk. Come out and join us!
5K registration (day of event) – $35
All info online at Y's website

Northwest YMCA
1501 Kennerly Rd
Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-8007

Freak Show: Unbound Dance

Thursday October 27, 2011

Get your freak on Thursday, October 27 for Unbound Dance’s third annual Carpe Noctem FREAK SHOW. This freaky fundraising event includes performances from UNBOUND Dance, Columbia Alternacirque and Party Time Gurls featuring Carla Cox. DJ Lola will pump rocking music on the dance floor while emcee Alex Smith carries the audience through the FREAK SHOW experience. Be sure to put on your craziest carnival costume for a chance to win the FREAK SHOW Costume Contest. In addition, there will be freaky carnival attractions, light food and cash bar. Carpe Noctem FREAK SHOW will be hosted at 701 Whaley, Columbia, SC 29201. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or online, www.unbounddance.com.

Dracula: Columbia City Ballet

Thursday October 27, 2011 - Sunday October 29, 2011

Already known as the coolest dance show yet to play the Koger Center, Columbia City Ballet’s Dracula: Ballet With A Bite returns with new blood for this “must see” Halloween favorite. Count Dracula and his Brides of Darkness are back with new choreography, costumes and palpitating music in this cutting-edge production. Dracula is always a favorite with its haunting visuals, graphic special effects and pulsating rock/jazz musical score composed by the late Thomas E. Semanski.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Halloween:
October 27 (Student Night- all students with ID get a $10 ticket, any seat), October 28, and October 29th (Adult Costume Contest Night) all at 7:30 pm

Visit the Columbia City Ballet for all the info!

Oktoberfest Lake Cruise: Spirit of Lake Murray

Friday October 28, 2011

Hearty German cuisine is the main attraction on this special dinner cruise aboard Lake Murray's only dinner-cruise yacht, the beautiful Spirit of Lake Murray! The menu includes Cucumber Salad, Sauerbraten-Roast Beef, Mustard Pork Chops, Boiled Potatoes, German Style Green Beans and Quark Pudding for dessert! A cash bar will allow diners to treat themselves to their favorite beer (including specialty craft brews), wine or cocktail. Cruise the lake for 2.5 hours and enjoy a lovely sunset, see the moon and stars reflect in the water and feel a refreshing breeze! You're going to love it! Visit the Spirit of Lake Murray website for details.

Fabulous Ongoing Events, Upcoming Events, News and Special Offers!

Through Fiery Trials: Religion in the Civil War | South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum
Now - May 12, 2011

An estimated 3,694 Union and Confederate chaplains served during the Civil War with an estimated 150,000 Confederate conversions or baptisms during the war and a similar number of revivals on the Union side. “Through Fiery Trials” will examine the experiences of chaplains, soldiers and citizens while challenging guests to assess the similarities in the role that religion played for both Northerners and Southerners during the War. The exhibit will highlight Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths and feature rare religious objects owned by some of the most storied figures from the war. Among the exhibit’s items are bibles that belonged to generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, a crucifix carried into battle by general George Pickett of the famous Pickett’s charge, a Jewish sweet meat bowl and a soldier’s bible that was struck by a bullet and has the resulting hole through it and much more. Visit the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum's website for more information.

Parents' Night Out
Every Friday Night

Bring your children to Lake Murray Gymnastics for a great evening of fun they'll be talking about for weeks - while you enjoy some "me" time. Parents' Night Out is held every Friday evening at our brand new, state of the art, 10,000sq ft. gymnastics training center in Irmo. Along with supervised activities on our equipment, including trampoline, kids will build confidence and meet new friends. We have been teaching gymnastics in the Columbia area since 2005.
For more information, visit the Lake Murray Gymnastics website.

Save the Dates! Friday October 28 & Saturday October 29, 2011

The 2011 Balloons, Blues and BBQ will kick off on Friday, October 28 at 3 p.m. The colorful and brilliantly decorated hot air balloons will light up the sky as darkness falls across the land. If you haven’t witnessed the breathtaking spectacle of a collection of giant balloons, don’t miss this opportunity. The event is held on the scenic and spacious private property adjacent to the Blythewood Community Center, 311 Blythewood Road. Last year’s event drew an incredible response and this year’s two day event promises to be even better with 20 colorful hot air balloons, 18 competing professional BBQ teams and array of Blues Music. On Friday night, come for the “Sampling”. Guests will enjoy a variety of food from the BBQ contestants when they serve “Anything Butt” – meaning anything but BBQ as they prepare for the next day’s Bar-B-Que competition. The cost for sampling six items is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. On Saturday bring your kids in their Halloween Costumes for spooky stories, Trick or Treat, a costume competition (for both kids and adults) Tethered balloon rides that go 25 to 30 feet up in the air will be available Friday and Saturday. The official BBQ Cook Off will begin as Friday evening’s events conclude. With over 8,000 people expected to attend this two day event, Saturday’s festivities begin at sunrise with “The Hare and the Hound” balloon race. Each hot air balloon will navigate towards a painted ‘X’ in the field and try to drop a bag of grits onto the mark. The balloonist whose bag is closest to the ‘X’ wins a cash prize. The fun continues throughout the day with food, vendors, tethered balloon rides. Visit the Blythewood festival website for details.

Save the Dates! Columbia Baroque Soloists Perform Forbidden Dance
Friday, October 28, 2011 and Sunday October 30, 2011

7 PM, Concert Conversations; 7:30 PM, Concert

First Christian Church on Friday | Reformation Lutheran Church on Sunday

The Chaconne, Folia and Passacaglia were considered the most sensual, passionate and dangerous dances of their time. Join the Columbia Baroque Soloists for a concert showcasing the virtuosity of ensemble members Jerry Curry, Jean Hein, Brittnee Siemon, Timothy Hein, and Gail Ann Schroeder who will lead us on a musical tour of dances from their rustic beginnings through the more stylized and courtly settings of the high Baroque. Featured composers include J. S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Francois Couperin, Henry Purcell, Dietrich Buxtehude, Girolamo Frescobaldi and others. Sample their beautiful music here. Ticket information is available online.

Double Feature: Night of the Living Dead and Rocky Horror Picture Show: The Movie

Friday, Saturday and Monday October 28, 29 and 31, 2011

The Newberry Community Players bring you two favorite campy cult classics, back to back!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show includes reinactors and audience participation – do the time warp, again! Goody bags will be sold at the show. Look for more audience interaction than ever, more outrageous dressing-up than ever, a goody bag brimming with surprises, magic moments that are truly magical ...This has got to be the Cult Classic of all time! It’s packed full of terrific numbers from the madness of The Timewarp and Sweet Transvestite, to the ethereal There's a Light and I'm Going Home, by way of the rocky Whatever Happened To Saturday Night? Date: October 28, 29, 31 at 10pm Ticket price: $10 Location: The Ritz Theater (1511 Main St. in downtown Newberry SC) Visit the Newberry Community Players website for more info.

Save the Dates! The Craftsmen's Christmas Classic returns to the State Fairgrounds!
Friday November 4 - Sunday November 6, 2011

This national-award-winning event has been a true Columbia holiday tradition for 36 years! Voted by artists and craftsmen nationwide as the #2 show of its kind in the state, the Christmas Classic is also the second largest event annually at the Fairgrounds, next only to the State Fair itself.

It fills two buildings with more than 300 of the country's finest artists and craftsmen, presenting thousands of their totally original designs and creations in pottery, jewelry, fine art, glass, toys, photography, sculpture, wood, musical instruments, metalwork, furniture, clothing and much more, including specialty foods. There are choices for every style, taste and budget, from contemporary to traditional, functional to whimsical. Every holiday gift list and wish list can be fulfilled with a visit to the Craftsmen's Christmas Classic! For all the happy details, visit the Craftsmen's Christmas Classic online!

Looking for a Job? Looking for New Staff?

The Midlands Job Fair is returning to Columbia to connect job seekers with local employers on November 5, 2011! The event, to be held at Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC, is expected to draw hundreds of eager candidates, along with well-known and home-grown businesses who are actively seeking to fill open positions. At the last Midlands Job Fair in February 2011, more than 1,250 job seekers spent time talking with business representatives and owners. Doors to the November event open at 11am and close at 2pm; however, a special VIP Pass is available to those who complete a Job Fair Workshop Series at their local Midlands Workforce Center (details available at www.midlandsonestop.org). This VIP Pass will allow entry to the event at 10am. Job candidates are encouraged to research companies prior to attending, dress professionally, bring copies of their resumes, and interview with all companies for which they are qualified! Details on which employers will be attending will be made available online as the job fair approaches.

For more information, please visit www.midlandsonestop.org. Employers may contact Carrie Powell at cpowell@midlandsworks.org.

42nd Annual Marion du Pont Scott International Steeplechase Colonial Cup
Saturday November 19, 2011

The Colonial Cup is an annual event, this year held on November 19, 2011 in Camden at the Springdale Race Course. The race has become a South Carolina tradition, and normally draws a crowd of over 70,000 spectators. The "Cup" is a premier social sporting event. Each year the CCRA donates all net proceeds to charity, with KershawHealth being the major beneficiary. Marion duPont Scott deeded the Springdale Race Course property to the State of South Carolina in 1983. Visit the Colonial Cup webpage for detailed information.