MARDI GRAS COLUMBIA FEB. 25
Before the raucousness of St. Pat’s in Five Points, celebrate Mardi Gras with your very own krewe (a Mardi Gras parade host) in Columbia. The festivities start with the Lagniappe 5K at 8 a.m. where runners are highly encouraged to wear Mardi Gras costumes. Parade down Rosewood with festival hosts Krewe de ColumbiYaYa and partygoers who formed their own krewe. The parade ends with a music festival at City Roots Farm. Once the sun goes down, the party is over, but all events except the 5K are free.
“MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY” LONGSTREET THEATRE FEB. 17-25
USC’s upcoming play is for anyone who enjoys pop culture as much as fine art. The Theatre department’s latest work combines the apocalypse and “The Simpsons.” The play, written by Anne Washburn and directed by Jeremy Skidmore, is a dark comedy that centers on a group of post-apocalyptic survivors who decide to recreate an episode of the long-running cartoon to pass the time. The play will be shown at Longstreet Theatre. Student tickets are $12 and general admission is $18.
ST. PAT’S IN FIVE POINTS MARCH 18
Columbia’s largest and wildest street festival is just around the corner. The annual St. Patrick’s Day party begins with the “Get To The Green” 5k, 10k or 1-mile Family Fun Run at 8 a.m. Watch the parade down Devine Street starting at 10 a.m. and then enjoy the food and drink vendors, live music, petting zoo and more around Five Points. Headliners for the event include St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Michael Ray, Superchunk and Drivin’ N Cryin’ in addition to the 20 other bands that will dot downtown. Pre-sale tickets are $15 and day-of tickets will be $20.
BLACK STORIES, THE NICKELODEON MONDAYS IN FEBRUARY
In a partnership with SC Humanities, The Nickelodeon Theatre on Main Street is hosting four film screenings every Monday in February. The series will feature films that explore cornerstones in the Civil Rights Movement, like the Freedom Riders and the Black Power Movement, as well as the current struggles African-Americans face. Each screening features a Q and A hosted by prominent USC professors and Columbia-area activists. Check out nickelodeon.org for all the details.
