Coming: Pirate Day, Great Outdoors Expo at Simpson Hardware, eSTEAM festival, First Responders BBQ Cookoff, Oktoberfest and more

Fourth Fridays Concert Series returns Friday, 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!

Pirate Day with the Backcountry Privateers is returning to Sumter Museum on Saturday, Sept. 26, in downtown. "Ahoy, matey! Set yer course for adventure and join us for a day of pirate fun!" It will be held at the museum's backcountry homestead, 122 N. Washington St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's free and open to the public.

This year's annual eSTEAM festival returns 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. 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 at https://esteamsumter.com/esteam-in-motion-5k-2. If you have questions, email info@esteamsumter.com.

Enjoy an evening strolling through downtown while tasting delicious dishes from area chefs and bakers during the annual Porches of Sumter, hosted by Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and presented by FTC and Tandem Health. This event is always held in downtown Sumter's Historic District as the weather turns cooler, and this year it will be on Friday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Buy tickets at www.sumterchamber.com.

The 2nd annual First Responders BBQ Cookoff & Car/Truck Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Awards at 2 p.m. Free admission and parking, with raffles and door prizes. To enter the cookoff or show, or to be a sponsor, contact Lt. Mike McCoy at (803) 774-4098.

It won't be long until Oktoberfest is back in Sumter. On Saturday, Oct. 10, enjoy all the craft beer you can drink from Sumter Original Brewery alongside authentic German foods on North Main Street. There will be a kids' corner with a slide, balloon artist, ice cream and more. This event serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for Sumter United Ministries. Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door (no refunds). Kids 10 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased through https://sumteroktoberfest.com via Eventbrite. The event starts at 5 p.m. with German music on Main Street from Dirndl Dames until 8:30 p.m.

Don't miss the annual Great Outdoors Expo at Simpson Hardware and Sports, coming up Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Sumter store at 40 W. Wesmark Blvd. Special guests will include Hayden Alabama Podcast, Andy Montgomery, Andrew Beam and Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel. There will be more than 75 vendors there and plenty to do for the whole family. Enjoy great food, giveaways and deals, demos for outdoor gear, duck-calling competitions, live fishing demos and activities for the kids, including face painting, balloon artists, a duck pond and BB gun range. Live music and entertainment will be provided by Chappell Court Band and Green Swamp Collective. Friday's hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have fun and learn all about health as the Sumter County Recreation and Parks presents Golden Connections A Senior Community Health and Resource Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Doors open at 9 a.m. The event will include local and state resource vendors, prevention information, giveaways, guest speakers, fraud bingo, entertainment and refreshments. A drawing for an iPad will be held - must be present to win. To preregister or for more information, call (803) 436-2248 or email recreation@sumtercountysc.gov. Sponsors are Sumter Economic Development, FTC, S.C. Office of the Attorney General and Sumter Senior Services.

Tickets for the annual Fall Feast benefiting Sumter Green, presented by FTC, can be purchased at www.sumteroperahouse.com/fall-feast-2026. Fall Feast will be held at USC Sumter on University Drive on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy being outside in the fall weather with friends and family while you taste different dishes from area vendors and chefs and listen to a live band. This event helps support beautification efforts throughout the county during the rest of the year.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, hear the Brass Roots Trio perform as part of Mayesville Presbyterian Church Rejoicings Series. The trio "has won acclaim for its adventurous programming, breathtaking virtuosity, artistic passion, and exhilarating performances," according to the church. "Performing with a variety of instruments - trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, Native American flute, vocals, and piano - the Trio can be mistaken for a much larger ensemble. Informative and sometimes humorous commentaries fused with warmth make an immediate connection with the audience. The Trio's 'American Impressions' program spans Billy Joel to Aaron Copland, and southern gospel revival songs to showpieces of Gershwin and Bernstein. The Trio has played to standing ovations in every corner of the U.S. and England and in 2009 performed for President and Mrs. Obama and their guests at the White House. It is presented as a free offering to the community, but donations are appreciated." The church is at 109 W. Sumter St., Mayesville. The concert will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m.