Coin and currency show, comic and toy show, pancake breakfast and orchestra debut concert this week in Sumter

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SUMTER COUNTY

The celebration of our nation's 250th birthday continues. Join Sumter Museum for an evening with award-winning author Andrew Lawler as he discusses his newest book, "A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis that Spurred the American Revolution," which according to the museum is "a fascinating account of the overlooked events and individuals who helped shape the path to American independence." The Thursday, Aug. 27, at noon event includes a presentation by the author, audience Q&A, book sales and signing and reception included with ticket purchase. Ticket options are available, including admission-only options for members and non-members, as well as a package that includes a copy of "A Perfect Frenzy." Get tickets at https://tinyurl.com/mryh6cjt. The event will be held at Sumter Museum - Heritage Education Center, 122 N. Washington St.

Help send local students to camp through Mahjong with Mission on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Tin Lizzie's Cafe in Sumter, 105 E. Wesmark Blvd., Suite 1. Sumter Young Life is hosting the fundraiser, and all proceeds support sending students from Sumter Young Life's Traditional, Wyldlife and Capernaum ministries to camp. No experience playing is needed to attend. Registration includes playing at a table, raffle entry and light refreshments. Register at https://tinyurl.com/7td7375e.

The Sumter 2026 Annual Coin and Currency Show will be held at 2320 Four Bridges Road, Sumter, on Aug. 28-29, starting at 11 a.m. that Friday. This event brings together coin dealers, collectors and numismatic enthusiasts to buy, sell and trade coins, currency, bullion and collectibles. Whether you're looking to add to your collection, get a free appraisal or simply browse, the show offers something for collectors at every level.

Browse, shop and meet like-minded people at the fourth Sumter Comic and Toy Show on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be vendors from across the Southeast with an amazing selection of comics, vintage toys and cards at Sumter Original Brewery. Comic legend Bud Root, Andy Smith, Brian Shearer and Surtur will be signing, sketching and selling their wares. The brewery will debut its show-exclusive comic. This will be a family oriented event, with great books, toys, food, cards and beer (must be 21 to consume alcohol). Free admission. The brewery is at 2 S. Main St.

Fourth Fridays Concert Series returns Aug. 28 with Level 10 Live Band & Show and Sept. 25 with Sole Purpose. Concert attendance is free, and there will be food and drink available for sale. Downtown restaurants will be open for dine-in and take-out. Palmetto Optimist Club will be back with free books for the kids, as well as popcorn and cotton candy for sale. Bring your chairs (no coolers) and spend an evening in downtown Sumter!

Sumter Gun Show will be held this year Aug. 29 to Aug. 30 all day at Sumter American Legion (Sumter fairgrounds), 30 S Artillery Drive, through Great American Promotions. One hundred twenty exhibitors are expected to attend.

Sumter's Marine Corps League No. 1202 will host a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the VFW No. 3034, 1925 Gion St., Sumter, from 8 to 11 a.m. Tickets are $7 in advance but can be purchased on the day of the event for $7. It is your chance to donate to Toys for Tots and get a great breakfast.

Sumter Symphony Orchestra's debut concert will be Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St. The performance will include Suite in E major, Clarinet Concerto, Adagio for Strings and Serenade for Strings. Tickets are $5 for students with ID, $10 for military, government employees, teachers, first responders and seniors and $40 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

A can't-miss trio is coming to Sumter County Patriot Hall. The 3 Redneck Tenors will present Beethoven & Blue Jeans at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at 136 Haynsworth St. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the door or at sumterpatriothall.com.

City of Sumter and Sumter County Government will host a Labor Day fireworks show on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Dillon Park starting at 9 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the holiday event with your family. The park is at 1200 Clara Louise Kellogg Drive.

Shonda English is hosting Gospelfest featuring special guest Luther Barnes and The Sunset Jubilaires, Lee Burgess and Resurrection, Soul Alliance, The Wilson Family of Cades and more on Monday, Sept. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. Gates open at 10 a.m. Co-host will be Elijah "Mr. Thaddeus" Bradford. This annual Labor Day celebration will be held at Bishop W. T. English Memorial Park, Sumter, 3735 Congruity Road. Food trucks and food stations will be on site. Register to win a 30th anniversary T-shirt and other anniversary giveaways. No smoking or alcohol allowed, and security will be enforced by Sumter County Sheriff's Office. For more information, call (803) 840-2809 or (803) 848-1866. For ticket information, visit Imports Ltd., 9 N. Main St.

Celebrate independent filmmaking at the 2026 Swan Lake Premiere Film Festival, coming up Sept. 11-13. The three-day program at Sumter Little Theatre includes a special 9/11 presentation, official-selection screenings, screenplay awards, a pitch fest and an awards show. According to the theater, "The Swan Lake Premiere Film Festival welcomes films from around the world across all genres-including drama, comedy, thriller, horror, sci-fi, animation, documentary, music videos, faith-based films, and Southern storytelling. Whether you're a first-time filmmaker or a seasoned professional, SLPFF celebrates the diversity and daring spirit of independent cinema. Proceeds from the Festival will benefit the Sumter Little Theatre and Sumter Museum." Learn more about the competition, buy tickets and submit a film if you'd like at www.slpff.com.

African Queenz and Seniors United will present the 2nd Annual Senior Citizens Prom on Sunday, Sept. 13, with all proceeds going toward future senior events. Admission for 62 and older is $5 and for under 62 is $10. There will be a cash bar. The event will be held at Silver Spoon Event Center, 670 W. Liberty St., from 5 to 8 p.m. that day. For more information, visit www.theseniorsunited.org.

The Major General Tom Olsen Memorial Kiwanis Golf Tournament is coming up quickly on Friday, Sept. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This annual Kiwanis golf tournament community service fundraiser will be at the Links at Lakewood, 3600 Green View Parkway, Sumter. There is a 9 a.m. shotgun start. For more information or if you have questions, contact Bill Hoge at (803) 795-9299, (803) 717-6575 or william.h.hoge@gmail.com.

Celebrate STEAM with movement during the eSTEAM In Motion 5K in Downtown Sumter on Saturday, Sept. 19. The theme for this 5K run/walk is Run for Curiosity. The race begins at 8 a.m. Register by Aug. 28 to receive a guaranteed race shirt. Participants are welcome to register after Aug. 28, including on race day, while registration remains open. Shirts are not guaranteed after the deadline. Register to take part at https://esteamsumter.com/esteam-in-motion-5k-2. If you have questions, email info@esteamsumter.com. Speaking of eSTEAM, this year's annual festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Sumter. Enjoy a day of family-friendly fun, hands-on learning with a parade, food vendors, interactive displays, live stage shows and more.

FLORENCE

The Pee Dee Doll Club will host its 39th Annual Doll & Toy Show and Sale from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at SiMT, 1951 Pisgah Road, Florence. This event offers a wide range of doll and toy vendors, verbal appraisals, raffle prizes and a silent auction. Raffle proceeds benefit the United Federation of Dolls and Camp Adaptabilities. Admission: Adults / $6; Children 12 & under / free. Verbal appraisals by Robin Wyatt & Bradley Justice, $5 per item.

Don't miss Rick Steve's Europe, A Symphonic Journey from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at FMU Performing Arts Center, 201 S. Dargan St., Florence. This performance "invites you to journey across Europe through music and storytelling inspired by European travel host, Rick Steves. Blending vivid imagery, cultural insight, and live orchestral music." Call (843) 661-4444. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/tvptu5we.

Spend an evening at Florence Country Club at a party Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. that will help raise money to support victims of child abuse. Sip, savor and swirl around the club during Party for a P(o)urpose to benefit CARE House of the Pee Dee. There will be a live auction, silent auction and "a fine selection of wines, beer, and bourbon, along with a signature drink that will have you 'raising your spirits' for a great cause," according to the host. "Immerse yourself in an evening of fun and festivity, all while making a profound impact on our community. Your participation helps ensure that children and families impacted by abuse and neglect receive the support and services they desperately need." Register at https://tinyurl.com/2hh28nkw.

COLUMBIA

The winter stamp show of the Columbia Philatelic Society will take place Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Ave., West Columbia. Doors open at 11 a.m. Friday and close at 5 p.m. Saturday's hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. On hand will be 14 professional stamp dealers offering stamps, postcards, covers (envelopes) and postal history. They will also be available to appraise stamp collections and/or individual items. One of the highlights of this show will be the "History of the United States in Stamps" honoring the 250th anniversary of the nation. Also featured will be a special table for kids who want to learn about stamp collecting. Free stamps will be available to everyone who might want to start this hobby. Admission is free. Parking is free and there's a drawing every hour for a $10 gift certificate to be spent at the show.

Comedian Desi Banks will bring his all new Your Favorite Cousin Tour to the Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Green St., Columbia, on Saturday, Oct. 10. Banks is an actor, stand-up comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur who has a strong social media influence with more than 19 million fans. He is known for his "razor-sharp wit and hilarious comedic timing." Tickets that were sold for Desi's show, "The Elevation Tour," originally scheduled in 2025 at the Koger Center, are valid for this performance. For more information and tickets, visit KogerCenterForTheArts.com.

CAMDEN

The fourth annual Camden Parlay of Pirates and Scalawags takes place Sept. 17-19 to benefit the Historic Camden Foundation. There will be a Pirate Lantern Tour on Thursday with tales of pirate shenanigans in our state, an adults-only Eventide celebration Friday night and an all-day, family-friendly Pirate Parlay on Saturday with comedy sword fights, living history, entertainment and more. Get tickets at https://tinyurl.com/2enu62hk.

There will be two days of horses, hounds, sport, shopping, demonstrations and tradition in Historic Camden coming up during Camden Horse and Hound Weekend Sept. 25-26. It kicks off with the Denim and Diamonds Gala on that Friday, billed as "a premier social event of the season" and hosted by The Camden Hunt. On Saturday is a showcase of equestrian and canine exhibitions, regional vendors and great food. Buy tickets at camdenhorseandhound.com.

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will host the Hero Fest motorcycle ride on Saturday, Sept. 26, with all proceeds going to veterans in the Midlands. Participants will make multiple stops along the ride, including in Sumter, starting and stopping at Silver Leaf Cigar Lounge, 1015 Broad St., Camden. Other stops will include Wild Heart Brewing Co., Southern Hops Brewing Co., Slabs BBQ Restaurant and Willie Sue's. There will also be vendors, food trucks, raffles, silent auction, live music and games. Must be present to win prizes. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Rider signup costs $20, and passenger signup is $10. First bike leaves at 10:30 a.m., and the last bike returns at 4 p.m. A meet and greet before the event will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at Greener Pastures Brewing Co., 826 Broad St., Camden, at 6 p.m.

LEE COUNTY

Do you enjoy nature and art? If so, Hands-on Nature: Leaf Print Art is for you. Join Lee State Park, 487 Loop Road, Bishopville, to make your own leaf print art using fabric and paper, fabric paint, stencils, rubber leaf replicas, real leaves and your imagination from 10 a.m.-noon on Sept. 19. Register at least one day before program. Meet at the Environmental Education Center. Cost is $10. Bring a washed 100% cotton T-shirt (detergent only, no fabric softener). Wear clothes you don't mind getting paint on. Call (803) 428-4988.

Shrink Your Art at Lee State Park, 487 Loop Road, Bishopville, from 10 a.m.-noon on Sept. 5. In this fun recycle craft, participants will make art with No. 6 plastic (aka deli plastic) by baking it in the park's craft oven and watching it shrink. Earrings, keychain fobs, zipper pulls, window deflectors for wildbirds and more are just some of the items that can be made. Meet at the Environmental Education Center. Cost is $5 which includes one sheet of plastic, use of markers and other craft supplies and ranger-led guidance. Call (803) 428-4988.

Scary season is coming up soon! On Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., don't miss Paranormal Presentations at Lee County Public Library in Bishopville. South Carolina Paranormal Investigation and Research will be at the library to talk about their paranormal investigations across South Carolina and demonstrate some of their ghost hunting equipment. The library is at 200 N. Main St.

Gather with friends and family for the Bishopville Fall Festival: Unity in the Community, coming back to the city on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, all day in downtown.