Enjoy the Palmetto Pickle Music Festival, find Greek food specialties, be part of Black Expo Columbia and more this weekend
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SUMTER COUNTY
Sumter Farmers Market is up and running from noon to 5 p.m. Fridays through Nov. 22 at USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road. Grab some lunch at one of the many food trucks and purchase quality, farm-fresh products and unique hand-crafted items all at the market. SFMNP-Senior and WIC vouchers are accepted.
Enjoy local beach music during the Multicultural Festival on the grounds of Patriot Hall on Friday, May 24, with featured guests The Tams from Atlanta and 14-K Gold Band and local singer Terence Lonon. Bring your lawn chairs and get ready to eat good food from a variety of food trucks. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 9:30 p.m. at 135 Haynsworth St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Buy tickets at Patriot Hall or online at https://tinyurl.com/yrnm3vrn.
The famous three-day Iris Festival surrounding the blooming of the irises at Swan Lake Iris Gardens will include concerts, arts and crafts, plants and flowers, antique and classic car shows, various contests and many children's activities. The festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, May 23-26, at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, 822 W. Liberty St. The festival kicks off with the Taste at the Gardens on Thursday, May 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. with entertainment and food vendors on the Garden Street Gate of the gardens. The theme is "Hawaiian Night," and Hawaiian attire is encouraged. There will be a performance by Charleston Polynesian Dancers along with music by DJ Howie D, food booths and trucks and boat rides. Admission is free. On Friday, May 24, and Saturday, May 25, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, May 26, it will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The legacy of African American cowboys and frontiersmen will be celebrated at the annual Black Cowboy Festival and Rodeo. Education, recreation and cultural appreciation can be expected throughout the three-day affair. The festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, May 23-26, at Greenfield Farms, 4585 Spencer Road in Rembert.
Pick up your paddles for a charity pickleball tournament to support a worthy cause on May 25-26 at Palmetto Tennis Center, 400 Theatre Drive. The event benefits the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports veterans, first responders and their families. Register for the tournament at https://tinyurl.com/4zj3mv2k. Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing to win prizes. Not a pickleball player? You can come out to watch the games instead. There will be food trucks there and a bouncy house for the kids. Stretch Zone will also be on site both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. doing 15-minute stretches per person for free. The action starts at 8 a.m. both days and runs until 6 p.m.
Fourth Fridays starts back up for the summer on Friday, May 24, with Honey & the New Era Band in front of Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main St. Every fourth Friday through September, a different band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m., and the event will last until 9 p.m. with food trucks/vendors, beer and free entertainment. Palmetto Optimist Club will give out free books to kids and have popcorn for sale, and Sertoma Club will sell the beer. Downtown restaurants will also be open during the event. Bands on the schedule are Honey & the New Era Band in May, The Live in the Flesh Experience on June 28, Chief Complaint on July 26, Second Nature on Aug. 23 and Too Much Sylvia on Sept. 27. Bring your own chairs. Coolers aren't allowed.
Splash around at the Sumter Aquatics Center to celebrate the start of summer and the center's opening day on Monday, May 27, Memorial Day. There will be free admission on that day. The center offers classes and activities and a free water aerobics class. You can also rent the center for parties, which includes use of the new lazy river. Usual admission for all guests is $3, and hours throughout the summer are: Mondays: closed; Tuesday: noon - 5 p.m.; Wednesday: noon - 5 p.m.; Thursday: noon - 5 p.m.; Friday: noon - 7 p.m.; Saturday: noon - 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 - 6 p.m.
On Saturday, June 1, walk, run or jog for a good cause at the annual Epps Orthodontics K9-5K. All proceeds from the run benefit Sumter SPCA. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate or cheer on their favorite runner. Sign up at eppsortho.com.
CLARENDON COUNTY
Palmetto Pickle Music Festival will kick off on Saturday, May 18, at 7301 Salem Road in New Zion. Featured artists will include Charlie Floyd performing at 6 p.m. and Sawyer Brown performing at 8 p.m. Concert gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 online and can be purchased at ticketleap.com/picklefest.
On Saturday, June 1, Clarendon will make its debut on the annual state Ag+Art Tour, featuring two stops: Cannon Ag Products, at 2996 Hicks Road in Turbeville, from noon to 4 p.m., allowing visitors to browse the wide array of fresh produce and other on-site crafters, and Richburg Farms, at 4553 Paxville Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., where visitors can check out the roadside market, smell sweet flowers and enjoy the open fresh air at the play area and open-air shed.
Take a ride in a hot air balloon and enter your car, truck, motorcycle or golf cart in the Auto, Bike and Golf Carts Show at the Monarchs Got Talent and Auto Show on Saturday, June 8, in Manning. There will also be food, music and games at the event at JC Britton Park, 3057 Raccoon Road. Pre-register your vehicle and buy your hot air balloon tickets at monarchstrong.com. Balloon rides will be from 8 to 10 a.m., weather permitting, and the auto show is from 9 to 11 a.m. Zumba in the Park will be offered from noon to 1 p.m., and the Monarchs Got Talent Show is from 1 to 3 p.m.
LEE COUNTY
If you're a bluegrass fan, put the weekend-long Pickin' in the Park on your calendar. The fourth-annual music-themed event starts Friday, May 24, at 5 p.m. and runs through Monday, May 27, at noon at Lee State Park in Bishopville. The weekend will be full of food, fun, fellowship, crafts and bluegrass music, and there will be a church service presented by BlueFaith, a bluegrass and gospel band, to close the event. Camp at the park to have easy access to all the events, or just stop by the park for the day. The park is at 487 Loop Road, Bishopville.
Look for the Lizard Man and celebrate a local legend at the third-annual Lizard Man Stomp event in Bishopville on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On June 29, 1988, a lizard man, standing 8 feet tall, was allegedly spotted walking in Bishopville's Scape Ore Swamp near Browntown Road, and locals have been fascinated with the legend ever since. There will be a parade, music, arts, crafts, car show and free food for the kids in downtown Bishopville.
COLUMBIA
Black Expo Columbia is meant to promote economic development for minority-owned businesses by showcasing their products and services. The event will be held on Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 6-12 and can be purchased at eventpasshero.com/event/blackexpocola.
The 2nd-Annual Black Eats Week 803 will be held June 17-23, as part of the Juneteenth celebration week. The event, featuring special menus and promotions at participating businesses, community events and activities, recognizes the rich culinary heritage of Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, creameries and more in the Midlands area. Registration is now open for businesses to participate. Details of the week will be offered on the free Soda City Certified app and the Black Eats Week 803 website. Follow on Facebook/Instagram @BlackEatsWeek803 for the latest updates. Interested businesses and sponsors are encouraged to visit www.blackeatsweek803.com or call (803) 922-5310 for more information and to sign up.
On Friday, May 24, only, grab your tickets quickly for the Paw Patrol Live! "Heroes Unite" live stage show in October in Columbia. Tickets start at $25, and sales start at 10 a.m. at ticketmaster.com on May 24, the first day of the general public ticket sale. Any remaining tickets after the first day of general public ticket sales will be available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com and at the Prisma Health Box Office on the next ticket Tuesday. A limited number of V.I.P. (Very Important Pup) Meet & Greet Experience tickets are available, starting at $130. The VIP Meet & Greet Experience includes a premium seat and exclusive photo opp with Paw Patrol characters after the show. Each adult and child (age 1 and up) in a group must have a VIP ticket. "Paw Patrol Live! "Heroes Unite" follows Ryder and the PAW Patrol pups as they face their greatest challenge yet," according to a news release. "When Mayor Humdinger clones Robo Dog, chaos ensues all over the world. It's up to the Paw Patrol to catch the clones, rescue Robo Dog and show that when the going gets 'ruff,' lending a paw makes you the ultimate top hero." Shows will be on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia.
FLORENCE COUNTY
The 13th-annual Grateful Dog Festival returns to raise money for Darlington, Florence and Marlboro counties' humane societies. There will be a kids' zone, silent auction, food and beverage trucks, music and more. The family friendly event also welcomes dogs. The event will be held Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19, at Sugar Magnolia Ranch, 889 Tara Dive, Timmonsville, beginning at 3 p.m.
Bring your appetite to the Florence Greek Food Fest on Saturday, May 18. Watch a live band and dancers and browse among different vendors on site each day of the event from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2990 S. Cashua Drive. Eat under the tent or take advantage of the drive-through. There will also be Greek jewelry and collectibles and Greek beer and wine.