99 events and attractions in the Midlands are confirmed on the organizers’ own pages, from Oct 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. Prices, hours and rules below are quoted from those pages and dated; anything an organizer has not published says “not published” rather than a guess. Towns covered include Columbia, Camden and Rock Hill. Next up: South Carolina State Fair, Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026.
Midlands Events In The Next 45 Days
| Event | Where | Dates | Hours | Price (as published) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina State Fair | Columbia | Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | Admission Fri Oct 23 11am-9pm; Sat Oct 24 10am-9pm; Sun Oct 25 noon-8pm; rides to midnight Fri/Sat | Gate $20 general; seniors 55+ $15; 5 and under free; advance $15 at Circle K or $16 online during the fair; rides sold separately | Clear bag and youth policies apply |
| Boo at the Zoo (Riverbanks Zoo & Garden) | Columbia | Oct 16, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026 | 6:00-9:00 PM nightly | Admission price not shown on the event page; optional Spooky Rides Pass $6 adds unlimited train and carousel rides; Trick-or-Treat Dinner Party $60 ($50 members) Oct 16-18 and 23-25, 6-8 PM; Haunted Hideaways igloo $250 ($200 members) | Children younger than 2 admitted free; trick-or-treat throughout the zoo; most animals are off-exhibit at night; carousel and train cost extra; capacity limited |
| Gamecocks men's basketball exhibition vs. Campbell | Columbia (Colonial Life Arena) | Oct 25, 2026 | Tipoff 2:00 PM (Sunday) | See event site | University of South Carolina home exhibition; the schedule lists live stats. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Aiken Fall Steeplechase (33rd running) | Aiken | Oct 31, 2026 | See event site | Patron ticket $47.25 (required for entry; children 10 and under free with an adult); Patron parking $42 (required for vehicle entry; infield vehicles parked before noon); 5% electronic ticketing fee on all purchases; Winner's Club and Trackside Chalet sold out | Festive activities for children; tailgate-style day at the racecourse |
| David Sedaris | Columbia (Koger Center for the Arts) | Nov 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | Reserved seating. |
| Gamecocks men's basketball vs. Stetson (home opener) | Columbia (Colonial Life Arena) | Nov 3, 2026 | Tipoff 7:00 PM (Tuesday) | See event site | First regular-season home game on the 2026-27 schedule; live audio and live stats listed. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Experimental Relief (USC Aiken ten-minute play festival) | Aiken (Etherredge Center, USC Aiken) | Nov 5, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Nov 5-7 at 7:00 PM; Nov 8 at 2:00 PM | Adults and non-USCA students $5 | Short plays written, directed, designed and performed by USC Aiken students. |
| American Patriot Coffee Holiday Market | Camden (American Patriot Coffee) | Nov 6, 2026 | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM | See event site | Browse vendors and holiday gifts. |
| Gamecocks football vs. Texas A&M (Homecoming) | Columbia (Williams-Brice Stadium) | Nov 7, 2026 | Kickoff in the afternoon, exact time to be announced (Saturday) | See event site | SEC home game named Homecoming on the schedule page. Time not yet announced. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Tab Benoit with Jesse Dayton: Soul of the Swamp Tour | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 7, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| Columbia Choral Society: Light for the Journey | Columbia (Ebenezer Lutheran Church) | Nov 8, 2026 | 4:00 PM | $20 adults; $15 seniors and military; $10 students; under 14 free | Choral concert of hope, wonder and renewal, directed by Dr. Elizabeth M. Mears. |
| Gamecocks men's basketball vs. Southeast Missouri State | Columbia (Colonial Life Arena) | Nov 8, 2026 | Tipoff 1:00 PM (Sunday) | See event site | University of South Carolina home game on a Sunday afternoon. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Fort Mill Veterans Day Ceremony | Fort Mill (Veterans Memorial, 106 N. White St.) | Nov 11, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Free | Patriotic ceremony and music with remarks from town officials. |
| Veterans Day at Quaker Cemetery | Camden (Quaker Cemetery) | Nov 11, 2026 | 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM | See event site | Over 1,100 American flags, live patriotic music and light refreshments. Not rescheduled in case of rain. |
| Ashley McBryde: Into The Wild Tour | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 12, 2026 | 8:00 PM | See event site | |
| The Battle of Camden (play) | Camden (Arts Center of Kershaw County) | Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 21, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Free (ticket required) | Original play on the 1780 battle, part of Camden's SC250 celebration. Free, but a ticket is required for seating. |
| Antique Shops of Camden Holiday Open House | Camden (Downtown Camden Cultural District) | Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | See event site | See event site | Sales and gift ideas at downtown antique shops. |
| Craftsmen's Christmas Classic Art and Craft Festival (Columbia) | Columbia (SC State Fairgrounds) | Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-4pm | Adults $10; ages 6-12 $1; under 6 free | Admission is good all three days with a free return pass. |
| Gaelic Storm with JigJam | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 13, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| South Carolina Philharmonic: The Masters of Melody | Columbia (Koger Center for the Arts) | Nov 13, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | Program runs from Mozart to Prokofiev. A free pre-concert talk is held at 6:30 PM in the Koger lobby. |
| Columbia Princess Day | Columbia (Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center) | Nov 14, 2026 | 10 am- 4:30 pm | See event site | Stories, songs, dances, crafts and games with fairytale characters; children encouraged to dress up. |
| Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| Roll Con 2026 (games and cosplay) | Camden (Old Armory) | Nov 14, 2026 | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Free | Tabletop, card and video games, plus cosplay. |
| Winthrop men's basketball vs. Jackson State (Homecoming) | Rock Hill (Winthrop Coliseum) | Nov 14, 2026 | 2:30 PM | See event site | Homecoming game. |
| Itty Bitty Ren Faire | Camden (Kershaw County Farmers Market) | Nov 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Free | Free parking. 50th Artisan Market from Flora & Fauna Marketplace. |
| Gamecocks women's basketball vs. FGCU | Columbia (venue not named on the schedule page) | Nov 17, 2026 | Tipoff 7:00 PM (Tuesday) | See event site | University of South Carolina home game; the schedule lists live audio and live stats. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Jerron Paxton and Dennis Lichtman (Cultural Series) | Aiken (Etherredge Center, USC Aiken) | Nov 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM | See event site | Acoustic blues, ragtime and 1920s jazz in the Etherredge Center lobby, with light hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. |
| Winthrop women's basketball vs. South Carolina State | Rock Hill (Winthrop Coliseum) | Nov 17, 2026 | 11:00 AM | See event site | Morning in-state game. |
| Newberry Chamber Orchestra Fall Concert | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 18, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| A Very Berry Christmas (Community Christmas Tree Lighting, North Pole Nights) | Newberry | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 18, 2026 | Tree lighting Nov 20: performances 5:00-5:45 PM, ceremony 6:00 PM, free Christmas movie at the Ritz Theater 7:30 PM; North Pole Nights Dec 4, 11, 18 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Community Hall and Memorial Park | See event site | Kids can make and take a holiday craft (free); North Pole Nights has faux snow, story time from the library, and a mailbox for letters to Santa |
| Fireflies Holiday Lights (Segra Park) | Columbia (Segra Park) | Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Nightly 6-9 PM; New Year's Eve 5-8 PM; closed Nov 26, Dec 25 and Jan 1 | General admission per person: November nights $10, December and January nights $12; $2 more on the day of the event; Fireflies Igloos on the Infield sold separately (price not published) | Over 2 million lights; fifth year; tickets at FirefliesTickets.com |
| Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Columbia | Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | Select nights 5-9pm; Santa visits through Dec 23 | See event site | 60+ lantern displays, nightly snowfall, photo ops |
| Drivin' N' Cryin' at the Opera House | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 21, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| Gamecocks football vs. Georgia (Senior Day) | Columbia (Williams-Brice Stadium) | Nov 21, 2026 | Kickoff time to be announced (Saturday) | See event site | SEC home game named Senior Day on the schedule page. Time not yet announced. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| Rockin' Before the Races 5K | Camden (405 East DeKalb Street) | Nov 21, 2026 | 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM | See event site | Flat, fast, family-friendly course through Camden's historic residential area. |
| Rockin' Before the Races Street Festival | Camden (Broad Street) | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM | See event site | Live music, classic car cruise-in, food and games for the whole family. |
| Colonial Cup Races (51st running) | Camden | Nov 22, 2026 | See event site | General admission $52.50 online/at gate by card; children 12 and under free; general parking $21 | No dogs or pets allowed at Springdale Race Course; paper, plastic and cans preferred over glass; races run rain or shine; tickets, tailgating and parking non-refundable |
| NOH Guild Oyster Roast | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Nov 22, 2026 | 4:00 PM | See event site | |
| Aiken Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run (15th annual) | Aiken (Citizen's Park) | Nov 26, 2026 | 1-mile fun run 8:00 AM; 5K 8:30 AM | $20-$30 | Thanksgiving Day run benefiting Toys for Tots; costumes encouraged and a new unwrapped toy is welcome. |
| Running of the Turkeys 5K (17th annual, York) | York | Nov 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM | $30-$35 | Run/walk/stroller jog; non-perishable food donations collected for PATH at packet pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 25 or race morning. |
| 38th Annual Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting (Aiken) | Aiken (Newberry Street Festival Center) | Dec 3, 2026 | 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM | Free | Choirs, Santa, free hot chocolate and cider; rain date is Friday, December 4. |
| ChristmasVille in Old Town Rock Hill | Rock Hill (Old Town Rock Hill) | Dec 3, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026 | See event site | See event site | Nearly 70 events including horse-drawn carriage rides, historic tours, music, a gingerbread house contest and Santa visits. |
| Dailey & Vincent: Candy Canes & Coal Tour | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Dec 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| Fort Mill Christmas Village and Tree Lighting | Fort Mill (Fort Mill Amphitheater at Walter Y. Elisha Park) | Dec 3, 2026 | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM; tree lighting at 6:00 PM | See event site | Christmas Village with vendors, trackless train rides, Santa photos and food trucks. |
| Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market | Columbia | Dec 3, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026 | See event site | See event site | Seasonal shopping with unique gifts, handcrafted goods and specialty foods; parking is $5 during regular shopping hours. |
| Snowball Festival (craft fair, tree lighting, carnival, Christmas parade) | Lexington | Dec 3, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026 | Craft Fair Dec 3-4 4-8 PM; Tree Lighting Dec 4 6:30 PM; ELF movie Dec 4 7:30-9:30 PM; Carnival Dec 5 11 AM-3 PM; Parade Dec 6 3 PM | See event site | Carnival has face painting, balloon art, pictures with Santa, rides and attractions, free cookies while supplies last; most events at Icehouse Amphitheater |
| 56th Annual Christmas Craft Show (Aiken) | Aiken (Odell Weeks Activities Center) | Dec 4, 2026 to Dec 5, 2026 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Free | Indoor and outdoor show of handmade gifts from Southeast exhibitors; no pets inside the building. |
| Rock Hill Christmas Parade | Rock Hill | Dec 4, 2026 | 6:30 PM | See event site | Lighted floats, walking groups, marching bands and mascots ('Light the Night' theme) |
| Santa's Twilight Express (South Carolina Railroad Museum) | Winnsboro (South Carolina Railroad Museum) | Dec 4, 2026 to Dec 19, 2026 | 6:00 PM departures | See event site | Evening ride with hot chocolate, cookies, stories and carols plus a visit with Santa; about 90 minutes; no restrooms on the train. Departure times as the museum lists them on its home page. |
| Tommy Emmanuel, CGP with Trey Hensley | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Dec 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| 79th Annual Fort Mill Christmas Parade | Fort Mill (Historic Downtown Fort Mill) | Dec 5, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free | |
| Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade (74th) | Columbia (downtown) | Dec 5, 2026 | See event site | See event site | Theme 'Light Up the Holidays!'; over 125 entries; rain or shine; Grand Marshal William Starrett (South Carolina Ballet) |
| Jim Brickman: A Christmas Celebration | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Dec 5, 2026 | 3:00 PM and 7:30 PM | See event site | |
| Santa's North Pole Express (South Carolina Railroad Museum) | Winnsboro (South Carolina Railroad Museum) | Dec 5, 2026 to Dec 19, 2026 | Departures 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:00 and 3:00 on Dec 5, 12 and 19 | See event site | Santa walks through the train and visits every child; about a 90-minute ride; pajamas welcome; coach or dining car seating. Departure times as the museum lists them on its home page. |
| Winthrop women's basketball vs. Wofford | Rock Hill (Winthrop Coliseum) | Dec 5, 2026 | 2:00 PM | See event site | Non-conference game against the Spartanburg rival. |
| Gamecocks women's basketball vs. Oklahoma State | Columbia (venue not named on the schedule page) | Dec 6, 2026 | Tipoff 4:00 PM (Sunday) | See event site | University of South Carolina home game. Prices and bag policy not published on the page read. |
| The Nutcracker Ballet (South Carolina Ballet) | Newberry (Newberry Opera House) | Dec 6, 2026 | 4:00 PM | See event site | A Nutcracker Enhanced Experience is listed the same day at 2:30 PM. |
40 more Midlands events after December 9 are on the month pages and the city pages below.
Each event name links to the organizer’s page. Last checked 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-25. Confirm the date and ticket price there before you go, because organizers change both.
Open daily, weekly or all season
| Event | Where | Dates | Hours | Price (as published) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EdVenture Children's Museum (Columbia) | Columbia | Sep 8, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | Until Memorial Day: Mon 9-5; Tue closed; Wed-Sat 9-5; Sun noon-5 | $15 children and adults; $10 first responders, military and seniors with ID; free for children under 2 and members (per edventure.org; confirm age cut-off on page) | Indoor children's museum |
| South Carolina State Museum First Sunday | Columbia | Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 7, 2027 | 1st Sunday of every month, 12 – 5 PM (first Sundays in window: Nov 1, Dec 6, Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 7) | General admission $1 on First Sunday (planetarium shows and 4D theater cost extra; not valid with other discounts or Museums for All) | Suitable for all ages; wheelchair accessible; Dinosaur Gallery and Habitats display closed for renovation, expected to reopen November 2026 |
By Day And By Month
What is on today, tomorrow, this weekend and next week across South Carolina, or plan ahead with events by month: November, December, January, February and March. These pages rebuild themselves from the same checked calendar.
Columbia in November
See Columbia events in November 2026: a $1 State Museum Sunday, Gamecocks home games, Wild Lights opening, Newberry tree lighting and the Colonial Cup, with prices.
Festivals and fairs
The festivals and fairs guide covers the State Fair (through Oct 25), the Aiken Fall Steeplechase (Oct 31), the Colonial Cup in Camden (Nov 22), the Snowball Festival in Lexington (Dec 3 to 6) and the Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade in Columbia (Dec 5).
Concerts and sports
Gamecocks football (Tennessee on Oct 24, Texas A&M on Nov 7, Georgia on Nov 21) and basketball at Colonial Life Arena are in our South Carolina concerts and sports guide, with dates for shows and hockey around the state.
December guide
Wild Lights, the Carolina Carillon parade, the Nutcracker and Gamecocks basketball are in Things to do in Columbia in December 2026.
Cities And Towns
Columbia events, Newberry events, Camden events, Aiken events, Rock Hill events.
Holiday Guides
Christmas in South Carolina, Christmas lights, Christmas markets, holiday train rides, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve: statewide guides with every checked date, by region.
Halloween events
See the South Carolina Halloween events guide for Riverbanks Boo at the Zoo (Oct 16-30) and the Aiken Fall Steeplechase (Sat, Oct 31).
Big-event guides
- Colonial Cup Races: Sunday Nov 22, 2026, Camden: general admission $52.50, children 12 and under free.
- Gamecocks Football Game Day Guide: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia: Tennessee Saturday Oct 24, 2026, 3:30 p.m., parking $30 to $60 at the gate, clear bag rules.
- Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo: Columbia, select nights Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027, 5 to 9 p.m..
- Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade: Saturday Dec 5, 2026, downtown Columbia; time and route not yet announced.
State parks in this region
For free and low-cost days outdoors, see Midlands state parks: fees and dog rules and the State Parks Passport.
Frequently asked questions
How were these events checked?
Each row was read on the organizer’s or venue’s own page by a person using a browser, not copied from a listings site. The link in the first column is that page and the check date is in the log. See our editorial standards and verification log.
What if a price says “not published”?
It means the organizer’s page did not show a price when we looked, often because tickets sit behind a booking widget. We leave it blank instead of guessing; use the event link to see current prices.
What is the next event in the Midlands?
South Carolina State Fair, Oct 15, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026, in Columbia. Dates shift, so use the link in the table.
Where do I report a wrong date or price?
Use the contact page. Corrections are logged on our corrections page.
Sources
- Each event above links to the organizer’s or venue’s own page, where its date, hours and price were read (checked 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-25).
- South Carolina events dataset (CSV and JSON) with the source and checked date of every row.
Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Midlands SC Events: Oct 2026 to Mar 2027”, itssouthcarolina.com/midlands-events/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.