Get your pancake breakfast in Sumter, and then head to Camden for the Irish Fest or to Columbia for the Craftsmen's Classic

SUMTER COUNTY

Don't miss the 61st-Annual Kiwanis Pancake Day at Alice Drive Middle School, 40 Miller Road, Sumter, on Saturday, March 2, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage and help raise money for Kiwanis projects through the year. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children (4-12 years old) and are available from any Kiwanis Club member. If you need tickets delivered to your office or somewhere else in town, reach out to (803) 938-3794 or kiwanisclubofsumtersc@gmail.com.

The Annual Barbecue Cook-Off benefiting Boy Scouts of America will be held Friday-Saturday, March 22-23, at the Sumter American Legion Fairgrounds, Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Wing ding will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday with barbecue tasting and competition being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For information or tickets, visit www.sumterbbq.com.

Old McCaskill's Farm will hold its 13th-Annual Sheep Shearing Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, at 377 Cantey Lane, Rembert. This family friendly event provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about farm living. There will be border collie demos, horseback rides, hay rides, live bluegrass music and more. Visit www.oldmccaskillfarm.com or find Old McCaskill Farms on Facebook.

Local and out-of-town bands will unite to deliver an epic concert event with Sumter Springfest. Happening on Main Street in downtown Sumter, the event will be held from 2 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. From mouth-watering hamburgers to fire-roasted pizza to a classy meal, there will be dining options available for whatever you may be craving. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://sumterspringfest.com.

Swan Con: Sumter's Comic Arts Festival, presented by USC Sumter and the Sumter County Cultural Commission, will be held Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, at USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road. Celebrating all things geeky, nerdy and fantastical, this free event will feature collectibles, artwork, costumes and more. For event information or updates, follow on Facebook at Sumter SwanCon.

CLARENDON COUNTY

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser with entertainment by Soul Candy will raise money for the Optimist Club's youth programs and camps. Dinners are $12 per plate at Lucy's Traditional Southern Bakehouse, 5 W. Boyce St., Manning, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.

The Carolina Anglers Team Trail (C.A.T.T.) will host Qualifier No. 4 on Saturday, March 23, on the Santee Cooper Lakes at the John C. Land III Sports Fishing Facility, 4404 Greenall Road, Summerton. Blastoff will be at 7 a.m. and weigh-in at 3 p.m.

The 16th-Annual Charity Golf Classic to benefit the animals at A Second Chance Animal Shelter (ASCAS) will be held on Saturday, March 23, at Players Course at Wyboo, 1560 Players Course Drive, Manning. Registration will be held at 8 a.m., followed by 9 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $40 per person for Players Course members and $55 for non-members. Entry forms can be found at A Second Chance Thrift Store in Manning, Players Course at Wyboo, The Shoppe on Brooks in Manning and Shared Treasures in Summerton. Call Herb Whetsell at (843) 509-3737 or Mike Stegmoyer at (803) 460-0878.

KERSHAW COUNTY

Put on your green and join in the 8th-annual Irish Fest Camden from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at Historic Camden Revolutionary War Park, 222 Broad St., Camden.

Experience live Celtic music on three stages, featuring headliner Syr, a Celtic folk rock band from Columbia. Enjoy other international artists from Ireland and Canada, Irish dancing, bagpipes and drums.

Kids will have a blast in the 2-acre Kids Zone with inflatables, face painting and the craft tent. More than 100 vendors will meet your retail therapy needs. Adults and children alike will enjoy the majestic Irish Gypsy Vanner horses and the Irish Wolfhounds' "Kiss Me I'm Irish" booth.

Indulge in delicious festival treats from more than 40 vendors in the food truck arena. See the list of delectable foods at https://irishfestcamden.com/2024-food-trucks/.

Wet your whistle at the Irish whiskey tasting tent or with a variety of Irish brews or green beer. Enjoy the Irish Pub tent serving up hot shepherd's pie and live pub music.

Tickets at the gate are: $20, adults; children (ages 2 to 12), $10.

COLUMBIA

The 41st-Annual Craftsmen's Classic Art & Craft Festival will be held at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Ave., Columbia, Saturday-Sunday, March 2-3. Hours are: Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $8 on Saturday for adults (age 13 and above), $5 on Sunday only; children (6-12), $1; under 6, free. The festival features original designs and work from hundreds of talented artists and craftspeople from across America. See the creative process in action as many exhibitors demonstrate throughout the weekend. There is something for every style, taste and budget with items from the most traditional to the most contemporary. This show is a winner of Sunshine Artist's "200 Best" awards.

The S.C. Gun and Knife Show will be held Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17, at South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia. Show hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 per person or $8 with military ID and children under 12 years of age admitted free with paid adult. Visit the South Carolina Arms Collectors Association at www.scgunshows.com. Call (803) 463-9377 or email showdirector@scgunshows.com.

The Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic, a S.C. Farm Bureau-sponsored event, is every outdoorsmen's dream. Come to the S.C. State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, Friday-Sunday, March 22-24, and see what the fuss is about. Features include a canine aquatic competition, fishing demonstrations in Jim Vitaro's Hawg Trough, a 5,000-gallon fish tank, a chance to meet two world-class anglers, Jimmy Houston and Roland Martin, the SCDNR's Aquatic Education Pond, the Extreme Raptor Show, vendors galore and more. The hours of the Classic are: Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is $10, with children 12 and under admitted for free. Senior citizens, military, veterans and first responders receive a discount at the gate. Fairground parking is $5. To purchase tickets online, visit www.psclassic.com/tickets.

FLORENCE COUNTY

The car wrecking, metal-smashing event of the year, the Palmetto Destruction Demolition Derby, will be held Friday-Saturday, March 29-30, at the Florence Center, 3300 W. Radio Drive, Florence. Visit www.florencecenter.com/events/2024/palmetto-destruction to purchase tickets.