Watch a film, savor a gourmet burger, eat pancakes, play golf and more
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SUMTER COUNTY
Celebrate independent filmmaking at the 2026 Swan Lake Premiere Film Festival 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. 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.
Enjoy gourmet burgers along with live music, craft vendors and activities for all ages at the fundraiser for Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. Savor Sumter Gourmet Burger Cookoff will feature some of the best burger chefs in the area. For additional information, visit www.palmettooptimistclub.com/burgercookoff or call (803) 406-3932.
The family of the Rev. Marion G. Walters, a lifelong Sumter County resident and pastor for 59 years who passed away in January 2023 at 89, will host an event honoring his life and legacy on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 5 p.m. This will be a fun community event filled with live performances, games, food trucks and more for the entire family. Sumter schools' band and chorus groups will perform, along with gospel groups One Accord, Joseph Ricks and the Gospel Sounds, The New Gospel Tones and The Gospel Jubilees of Sumter. Special performances by DJ Pac-Man and Johnson Steppers. The event will be at Juice Field, 933 S. Main St., Sumter.
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.
American Legion Post 15 is hosting a free breakfast for veterans to honor their service to our country on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Post, 28 S. Artillery Drive. "Enjoy a complimentary breakfast while connecting with fellow veterans and learning about resources, services and opportunities available throughout Sumter County." If an organization is interested in participating or hosting an information table, contact Stephanie Gibbons, Home Committee chairman of American Legion Post 15, at (803) 840-3268 or Stephw278@yahoo.com.
The Major General Tom Olsen Memorial Kiwanis Golf Tournament is coming up 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.
Fourth Fridays Concert Series returns 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!
FLORENCE
Put on your best costume and compete for prizes at Power Comicon. Whether you're a superhero fan, comic book lover, gamer or anime enthusiast, Florence Center is the place to be on Saturday, Sept. 12. The event will include comic artists, writers and other comic-related guests as well as comics, toys, statues, art, costume apparel and tons of pop culture memorabilia for all ages. Tickets will be sold at the door the day of the show for $10, kids 12 and under are admitted free. The Florence Center is located at 3300 W. Radio Drive, Florence.
LAKE CITY
Wander the grounds of Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, 100 New Zion Road, Lake City, while enjoying unlimited samples from breweries across the Southeast at the 10th annual Moore Farms Botanical Gardens Beer Fest. More than 20 local and regional craft breweries will be represented at the Saturday, Sept. 13, event. The 90s' theme event will be held from 1-5 p.m. Local food and live music will be available. Free sober ride shuttle service will run between the festival and The Inn at the Crossroads all day. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, visit www.moorefarmsbg.org/event/beer-fest
COLUMBIA
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral invites the public to celebrate at the annual Columbia's Greek Festival Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 17-20, at the Cathedral, 1931 Sumter St., Columbia. Come enjoy live Greek music indoors and outdoors, a variety of delicious Greek foods, presentations on Greek culture, history and heritage, and shop art, ceramics, jewelry, apparel, icons, pens, soaps, souvenirs and more. For more information, visit www.columbiasgreekfestival.com or call (803) 461-0248.
Get a jump start on your home decor for fall and the upcoming holidays or grab an early Christmas gift at the Midlands Fall Arts and Crafts Market on Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 19-20, at the South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia. The event showcases the talent of 150 vendors, artisans, crafters and local businesses. Browse a variety of handcrafted items, original artwork, home decor, jewelry, specialty foods and other locally-made products. Admission and parking are both free and well-behaved pets are welcome. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
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.
Love boiled peanuts? Don't miss the Palmetto Peanut Boil in its 19th year. The annual outdoor festival draws thousands of attendees and highlights the best of the best cooks and recipes in South Carolina competing for the honor of the championship trophy and bragging rights for another year. Along with the competition, there is live music, food and kids' entertainment. The event will be held noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2900 block of Devine Street, Columbia. Admission is free, and all proceeds from the sale of food and beverages benefit Animal Mission. To learn more, visit https://animalmission.org/palmetto-peanut-boil/
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.
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.