EVENTS

Blood Drive: Oct. 28, 2-7 pm at St. David Lutheran Church, Family Life Center, 132 Saint David’s Church Rd, West Columbia 29170. All donors in Oct. will be entered for a chance to win 1 of 5 $500 gift cards courtesy of Tango card. Log onto www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code: SDLC to schedule your donation time. For more info call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org .

MISSION MARKET: Nov, 9, 8 am- 1 pm, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 1130 St. Peters Rd., Lexington. Vendors, This & That Shop selling crafts and homemade items, Sharon’s Corner Bake Shop, a casserole shop, and The Cafe. Proceeds benefit the church’s charities.

ST. ALBAN’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY: Nov. 10, 10:30 am, St. Albans Epsicopal church will celebrate its 45th anniversary at the 10:30 am service. A reception will follow. The chruch is at 403 Park Rd., Lexington. Everyone welcome. Call office 359-2444 M-F, 8 am – noon for more info.

St. David Lutheran 174th Anniversary: Nov. 10, 11:30 after worship at 132 St. Davids Church Rd, West Columbia. The church will celebrate its 174th anniversary. A meal will be served. For more information contact the church office at 356-3035. Worship is from 10:30-11:30 am.

Food and fun

Chili & Dessert Cook Off: Oct. 26, 11 am-3 pm at 1900 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia. Key Changes Therapy Services to host a non-profit Cook Off to raise money for music therapy services for children. Entertainment by Brent Lundy, performances by children who receive music therapy, and other family-friendly activities. Tasting Tickets are $15, chili competition entry is $25, dessert competition entry is $25 or you can enter both for $40. For additional info and tickets call 803-250-6833.

Jamil Food Truck Jamboree: Nov. 20, 12 pm at Jamil Shrine Center. Local food trucks come together. Live music by Heart Shaped City. A beer wagon will be present for adults with proper ID. FREE bounce house, small train rides, and face painting for children 12 and under. Admission $5, children 12 and under free.

Lunch & Learn: Nov. 12 12-1 pm at Shiloh United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1000 Springhill Rd, Gilbert. Hear the History of Lutheran Seminary in Lexington. $10 for catered lunch. RSVP to 803-6359-7586 by Nov 7.

Veterans Dinner: Nov. 9, 6 pm at the Legion Hut, 211 American Legion Drive in Lexington. Veterans are being honored at Post and Unit 7’s dinner with a program entitled “100 Years of Service”. Veterans who attend, dinner is free. Guests of Veterans will need to pay $7 for dinner, as it is catered. If you’d like to attend, RSVP to Linda at 803-529-6439.

harvest events

Swansea Harvest Fest: Oct. 26, 5-8 pm at Swansea Sports Complex, 616 I.W. Hutto Rd, Swansea. Enjoy trunk-or-treat, music, food, games, and a costume contest.

Trunk or Treat: Oct. 29, 5:30-7 pm at Robert Mills House & Gardens, 1616 Blanding St. Put on your costume and let Historic Columbia bring the fun of Halloween. Free event allows kids to trick or treat at decorated vehicles and the front and back doors of the Robert Mills House, participate in activities and enter the candy corn guessing contest. Awards and prizes for best costumes and best decorated trunk will be given at 6:45 pm.

Holiday Events

Christmas Craft Show & Holiday Bazaar: Nov. 9, 9 am-2 pm at Lexington Middle School. Over 100 crafters and vendors from all over the Midlands will showcase their talents and creations to get a jump start on holiday home décor or gifts. Free parking, free admission. Silent auction to benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank.

Holiday Concert: Dec. 8, 3 pm at Lexington 1 Performing Arts Center at Lexington High School. This concert by the Lexington Community Band is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Holiday Craft/Vendor Sale: Nov. 3, 12-5 pm at Hollow Creek Community Center, 2701 Priceville Rd, Gilbert. Come shop vendors. Vendor fees, food and country store sales will benefit local blessing boxes. There will also be a silent auction. Please bring non-perishable items to donate to the blessing box.

lessons/training

Senior Care Resources: Nov. 7, 6:30 pm at Cherokee Presbyterian Church, 3622 Augusta Hwy, Gilbert. This Lessons for Life session is to help those caring for a senior, or seniors seeking support. Join us to learn about all the senior care resources available as presented by the Lexington Council on Aging. Learn about Meals on Wheels and community meals; home care assistance; legal aid; and medical transport and equipment rentals. All are welcome. Childcare is provided.

meeting

Friends for LaVie: Oct. 27, and Nov. 24 at 4 pm at Midlands Christian Church, 1312 W. Main St., Lexington. This community pro-life group supports LaVie Pregnancy Care Center through talents, abilities, or donations of items. The group is open to everyone and donations are welcome. For more info email friendsforlavie@gmail.com .

Communications & Leadership: Lexington County Toastmasters offers a way to learn and grow. 7:15 am on the 1st-3rd Thursday except holidays, 2nd floor conference room, Lexington Medical Center, 811 West Main Street, Lexington. For details, contact Jerry Bellune at jerrybellune@yahoo.com or 803-331-6695. Richland 2500 Toastmasters International meets 1st & 3rd Thursday each month except holidays, 6:45-8:45 pm at Irmo Medical Park building - 7033 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 in room 302. Contact: Donald Dills, 803-917-7726, Kalenna Ginyard, 803-873-5433.

Home League: Every Thursday at noon, women age 16 and up are welcome to meet at the Salvation Army at 7532 Irmo Dr., Irmo. Enjoy fellowship, education, worship and service as part of the Salvation Army Church of Irmo women’s fellowship club. For more info call or text Captain Amy Rockwell at 803-466-1071.

Parkinson’s Support Group: 2nd Friday of each month at 2 pm at Deepwood Estates, at 203 Old Chapin Road, Lexington, SC 29072 inside Deepwood Estates Retirement Community in the Activities Room. Open to all those impacted by Parkinson’s. Patients, loved ones, and caregivers are welcome to learn and share.

Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group: Meets every month 3rd Tuesday at 2 pm at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Lexington. For more information, call Carolyn Brooks 803-960-9949 or Sue Amick 803-463-2001.

SMART Recovery: Tuesday nights at 7 pm, at LRADAC Richland County’s campus at 2711 Colonial Dr, Columbia, in Room 604. The meeting offers Self-Management And Recovery Training for all ages. For more info on this or other programs by the Courage Center visit www.couragecentersc.org .

Music/theater

Blues & jazz: Oct. 26, 7:30 pm at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. Reggie Sullivan kicks off the “Carolina Shout” series, performing with a dynamic lineup of professional musicians. For info or tickets call the box office at 803-407-5011.

GOSPEL SINGING: Nov. 2, 6 pm, Midland Gospel Singing Center, 705 Martin Smith Rd., Gilbert. Guests are Gospel Truth Trio and the Harper Brothers. Free admission A love offering will be accepted and refreshments will be served. Jazz Piano: Nov. 23, 7:30-9:30 pm at Johnson Hall, USC Darla School of Business, 1014 Greene St, Columbia. See Kenny Barron and the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble. For info and tickets visit www.scjazz.org or call 803-238-7944.

reunions

Hite: Descendants of John Jacob Hite are invited to a picnic lunch and family meeting on 10/27 at 12:30 pm. Event at the Hite-Dooley Reunion Building, 825 Two Notch Road, Lexington. Review the Hite family tree and recent improvements to the building. Please bring a meat and veggie or dessert item. RSVP to Stan Hite at 803-546-2069.

OUtdoor fun

Artisan Market: Every Sat. from 9 am - 1 pm til Dec.

21. Meeting Street Artisan Market will be held under the pavillion at 425 Meeting Street, West Columbia in the Interactive Art Park. Vendors selling original art, crafts, foods, and produce to attend. Vendors will change weekly. For more info contact Colleen Otte, Parks Assistant and Venue Rentals at 803-936-6279.

Guided Nature Tour: Nov. 2 at the Cayce Riverwalk, 201 Naples Ave, Cayce. Children’s guided nature tour at 10 am. Guided nature tour at 1 pm. Dr. Rudy Mancke will conduct a slow and leisurely guided tour through the riverwalk. Free but registration is required. Call Cayce City Hall at 803-550-9520.

L.C. Lucas Memorial Golf Tournament: Nov. 11, 9 am registration, shotgun start 10:30 am at Charwood Golf Club, 222 Clubhouse Dr, West Columbia. Proceeds to benefit those struggling locally. If interested in donating or playing golf, call Charwood Pro Shop at 803-755-2000 or Rock Lucas at 803-603-1342.

Out of the Darkness Walk: Oct. 27, 2 pm at Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park. Walk to fight suicide at this community walk event. Proceeds benefit local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Learn more at http://outofthedarkness.org/ or call 888-333-2377.

VETERANS DAY PARADE: Nov. 3 (rain date Nov. 10), downtown Lexington, honoring 100th anniversary of American Legion Post 7 and Auxiliary. Free entry in parade. Contact Sharon Willis, 785-1454, for parade application.