My City Of Dust Calendar
June 3, 2026
By Tom Poland Passport To Preservation John Mulhouse sent me his 2026 Abandoned New Mexico City of Dust calendar, and it’s a keeper. John’s beat is why. “The lost…
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Panel discussion explores abstract art’s political dimensions
June 3, 2026
The Columbia Museum of Art presents Truth in Abstraction, a panel discussion held in connection with featured exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil, on Thursday, June 18, from…
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Reggaetronic’s Lake Murray Palooza returns to Lake Murray July 11 with music, boating, and community impact
June 2, 2026
The Reggaetronic team is bringing a new flavor of music festivals to Lake Murray with the return of Lake Murray Palooza July 11th from 11AM to 7PM. Set against the scenic backdrop…
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Upcoming CMA exhibition puts the hand in handwork
June 1, 2026
The Columbia Museum of Art announces featured exhibition Body Matters, on view August 22, 2026, through January 3, 2027. Organized by the CMA, this exhibition is part of Handwork 2026,…
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Trustus Theatre presents 27th annual Vista Queen
May 28, 2026
Trustus Theatre is set to dazzle audiences with the 27th Annual Vista Queen, a glittering lip sync battle and fundraiser all in support of our theatre home. Hosted by the…
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Man, The Intruder
May 27, 2026
By Tom Poland The rains of late and spring’s approach set my mind on the Carolina bays, those coastal plain wetlands of mystery and life. The elliptical depressions are…
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The World Book
May 20, 2026
By Tom Poland A lulu of a lady sold my parents a set of the World Book Encyclopedia. Miss Lulu Goolsby to be exact. It changed my life living…
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Central Carolina Community Foundation launches resident survey to inform regional community assessment
May 18, 2026
Central Carolina Community Foundation has launched a region-wide survey to hear directly from Midlands residents about the issues, opportunities, and challenges shaping their communities. The survey is part of a…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: conversations, economic-development, education, food, health-care, life, local-industry, music, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, the-arts, transportation
A Striped Bass & An Oak
May 13, 2026
By Tom Poland Though my hair was chestnut brown, I was green, a young writer hoping to create something memorable. I needed inspiration and I found it in a…
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Dick Goodwin Big Band performs “Broadway and Beyond” at the Arts Center of Kershaw County on May 28
May 12, 2026
The Arts Center of Kershaw County welcomed the renowned Dick Goodwin Big Band for a thrilling evening of live jazz on Wednesday, May 28, at 7:30 PM – bringing one…
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Columbia Museum of Art June 2026 Exhibitions and Events Calendar
May 7, 2026
Columbia Museum of Art June 2026 Calendar EXHIBITIONS Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil On view through June 28, 2026 Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil is a…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: entertainment, non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts
Buried Alive
May 6, 2026
By Tom Poland A road down Edisto Island way will take you past green swamps and oaks dripping with Spanish moss and shanties with bright, sky-blue doors. Churches white…
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2026 South Carolina Arts Awards date, time set
May 6, 2026
Streaming presentation on Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m. The South Carolina Arts Commission is announcing that it will recognize nine distinct and deserving recipients of the 2026 South Carolina…
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Midlands Light Opera Society presents Dido and Aeneas May 14- 17
May 1, 2026
Midlands Light Opera sails to ancient Carthage for Purcell and Tate’s beloved opera Dido and Aeneas May 14 -17, 2026. Performances will be Thursday and Friday (5/14 and 5/15) evening…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: entertainment, festivals-special-events, music, non-profit, on-the-move, teens-and-young-adult, the-arts
South Carolina Philharmonic announces 2026–2027 season: Find Your Sound
April 30, 2026
The South Carolina Philharmonic announces its 2026–2027 season, Find Your Sound, a compelling lineup of concerts exploring identity, connection, and the power of music to reflect the human experience. The season…
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Trustus Theatre announces Kelsey Mesa as incoming Executive Artistic Director
April 29, 2026
Trustus Theatre announced the appointment of Kelsey Mesa as its next Executive Artistic Director. A dynamic leader, director, and educator, Mesa brings a wealth of experience from her tenure at…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: headlines, on-the-move, the-arts
Kids Summer Movie Series returns to The Nick for its third year with eight weeks of handpicked classics and a toy drive
April 29, 2026
The Nickelodeon Theater announced Camp Cinema, the theme of its third annual Kids Summer Movie Series, running June 3 through July 25. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning, families are invited…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: entertainment, media, non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts
Columbia Fashion Week presents the 6th annual COLAFW Met Gala: where fashion becomes art
April 28, 2026
Columbia Fashion Week announces the return of its most anticipated signature event, the 6th Annual COLAFW Met Gala, taking place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Columbia Museum of…
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Dawn Staley elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 22, 2026
Gamecock women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Coach Staley joins just three others from the University of South Carolina who…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: education, on-the-move, sports, the-arts
The Transistor Made History
April 21, 2026
By Tom Poland Cell phones are a big deal but to some of us the transistor was an even bigger deal. I was disobeying my parents staying up late…
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Columbia streams art showcases local artists at former Sylvan’s Jewelry building
April 21, 2026
Twelve local artists were awarded micro-grants in fall 2025, and six completed creations will exhibit on Main Street beginning April 23, 2026 The City of Columbia’s Columbia Streams Art program is thrilled…
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Free outdoor concert series coming to Columbia as Koger Center launches Levitt AMP music series
April 16, 2026
The Koger Center for the Arts has set the headliners for the first Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series, a series of free outdoor concerts sponsored in part by the LevittFoundation. The concerts will…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, on-the-move, the-arts
Irmo Town Limits Free Concert Series
April 16, 2026
The Irmo Town Limits Free Concert Series is coming to Moore Park! Join us for three Friday nights of live music, community spirit, and local eats. Best of all? Admittance is…
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Peach Blossom Lit
April 15, 2026
By Tom Poland Come March, my thoughts turn to peach blossoms and memories of family fruit trees. One tree from youth stands above others. From my deep well of…
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Columbia Museum of Art May 2026 exhibitions and events calendar
April 13, 2026
EXHIBITIONS Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil On view through June 28, 2026 Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil is a thematic presentation of this important American artist’s…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: entertainment, non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts
Inaugural Songbird Festival at Finlay Park set for May 30th & May 31st
April 9, 2026
Two-day festival brings nationally touring acts and regional favorites to downtown Columbia, with a free kickoff show Friday night A new music festival is taking flight in the heart of…
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Masters Memories
April 5, 2026
By Tom Poland I never had time for golf, but I love the Masters. I never miss the Sunday round on TV. It almost always provides high drama. I…
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2026 McDaniels Auto Group Golf Classic and gala to raise funds for Lexington Health Foundation
March 31, 2026
A pair of annual events benefiting cancer patients in the Midlands is returning this spring. Tickets are now available for the 2026 McDaniels Gala, and limited team spots remain for…
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Outgoing CMA director receives Order of the Palmetto
March 30, 2026The Columbia Museum of Art’s outgoing executive director, Della Watkins, has been awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of her years of leadership,…
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Clunky Phones & Party Lines
March 25, 2026
By Tom Poland In rural Georgia the party line was our lot back in the early 1950s. When the phone rang, we counted. Our phone rang two times. Three…
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Columbia Museum of Art appoints interim director as executive director search progresses
March 24, 2026
The Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees have appointed Robin Waites, former executive director of Historic Columbia, as the interim executive director of the Columbia Museum of Art while…
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Pink Himalayan Chai Dreams by Teri Leigh Teed selected for 2026 Healing Power of Color Invitational Exhibition
March 23, 2026Pink Himalayan Chai Dreams, a fine art photograph from Teri Leigh Teed’s Eleanor’s Dream series of her Healing Spirit Art© Collection, has been selected for the 2026 Healing Power of…
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South Carolina’s only organized Suzuki Music School awarded capacity building grant
March 22, 2026
Suzuki Academy of Columbia, the only organized Suzuki music school in South Carolina, has been awarded a Capacity Building Grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation to strengthen its long-term sustainability…
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Free outdoor concert series coming to Columbia as Koger Center launches Levitt AMP music series
March 19, 2026
The Koger Center for the Arts has set the headliners for the first Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series, a series of free outdoor concerts sponsored in part by the LevittFoundation. The concerts will…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, on-the-move, the-arts
Southern Truth Tellers
March 18, 2026
By Tom Poland Each January, my thoughts turn to a fellow Georgian. James Dickey died January 19, 1997, of the same disease that took my mother’s life. On June…
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Columbia children’s theatre presents Peter Pan JR.
March 17, 2026
Columbia Children’s Theatre (CCT) invites families across the Midlands to take flight this spring with Peter Pan JR., a high-flying musical adventure full of magic, mischief, and the power of imagination!…
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Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation awards $280,512 in grants to advance cultural vibrancy and civic engagement in Columbia
March 17, 2026
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation awarded $280,512 to six organizations spearheading projects that strengthen cultural vibrancy and civic engagement across Columbia.…
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Fashion House Coordinator
March 12, 2026
Prime & Prim Studio of the Arts is an elite Cultural Incubator for models, dancers, and creative professionals seeking to take their careers to the next level. Through our High…
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A Good Whooping
March 11, 2026
By Tom Poland I am no stranger to the flyswatter, switch, belt, and paddle. I even got a good whooping with a paint brush. I ought to be a…
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One Columbia for Arts and Culture names Larry Hembree as 2026 Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award recipient
March 10, 2026One Columbia for Arts and Culture announced Larry Andrew Hembree as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award. This honor recognizes Hembree’s exceptional leadership, creativity, and…
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CNN commentator and author Alencia Johnson to headline Fireside Chat and Book Signing in Columbia on March 13
March 10, 2026Senator Tameika Isaac Devine & Former Mayor Steve Benjamin to Host Evening of Bold Conversation about Leadership and Change Community leaders, changemakers, and book lovers are invited to an inspiring…
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Summer Blink Book Review: “That Which Binds Us” by Cathy Rigg
March 10, 2026By Reba Hull Campbell When traveling light, I still indulge in the luxury of carrying a hard copy book with me. For a recent vacation trip, I chose Cathy Rigg’s…
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Columbia’s skyline comes to life in 235-foot mural at Columbiana Centre
March 9, 2026The City of Columbia, through its Columbia Streams Art public art program, partnered with Columbiana Centre to commission a large-scale mural that captures the skyline and spirit of the capital city. The…
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Columbia Museum of Art April 2026 calendar
March 8, 2026
EXHIBITIONS Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil On view March 21 through June 28, 2026 Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil is a thematic presentation of this important…
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Muzika! 2026 Festival announces 5th anniversary season in South Carolina
March 5, 2026
25-year international legacy brings Metropolitan Opera leadership, Broadway classics, and Bulgarian folk to the Palmetto State this June This June, the Muzika! Festival returns to South Carolina for its fifth…
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S.C. Arts Commission announces six recipients of 2026 Governor’s Awards for the Arts
March 5, 2026
Recipients from Charleston, Florence, Hampton, Richland and York counties The South Carolina Arts Commission is happily announcing six unique and deserving 2026 recipients of the state’s highest recognition for exceptional…
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Osprey At Crooked Bridge
March 4, 2026
By Tom Poland Three birds hold me in their thrall. The osprey, whippoorwill, and oft-slighted buzzard. I love the whippoorwill’s lilting call. The noble osprey and its distinctive M-shaped…
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The Colors of Spain, European tour comes to Columbia for one night only
March 3, 2026Columbia audiences will get a rare first look at a European touring production this month when “The Colors of Spain” makes its U.S. premiere at the Koger Center for the Arts. Set for…
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CMA organizes major exhibition with Columbia-born artist Rodney McMillian
March 2, 2026
The Columbia Museum of Art presents major spring exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil, on view from March 21 through June 28, 2026. Organized by the Columbia Museum…
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Mischief Along The Augusta Highway
February 26, 2026
By Tom Poland A restless boy grew up in the midst of forests and pastures. Outside of biking, reading, and exploring woods, the Augusta Highway entertained me. If Rambling…
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