Commercial/Paid Events: We offer opportunities for promoters of paid ticket events to advertise in GO! listings and display advertising. GO! calendar entry for paid events is $50 for the first 20 words and 25¢ a word above that.

Deadline is Friday before Publication. Send items two weeks before your event by fax 803-359-2936 or email: lexingtonchronicle@gmail.com

events

BLESSING OF THE WHEELS: Jun. 30, 1-3 pm, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 N. Lake Dr., Lexington. Drive-through and have your wheels blessed, vehicles, tractors, lawn mowers, motorcycles, scooters, even children’s toys on wheels.

MTC Quick-Start Day: Jun. 29, 9-11:30 am at the MTC Airport Campus Academic Center. Apply to MTC for free ($35 application fee waived). Learn about financial aid, see if you qualify to exempt the MTC placement test. Schedule an advisement appointment, meet with a counselor, and receive an admissions decision. Register online at www.midlandstech.edu/mtc-quick-start .

Pet Clinic: Jul. 13, 8 am-12 pm at We-Care Center, 1808 Chapin Rd, Chapin. The Street Dog Coalition will host a free pet medical clinic for pets of homeless and low-income families. No appointment necessary. Services offered: physical exams, vaccinations, parasite control, pet food, spay/neuter vouchers, and more. For info on how to volunteer or donate much-needed supplies contact Dr. Jessica Graham of Graham Vet to Pet Veterinary Services at grahamvet2pet@gmail.com , 803-563-3683 or visit the Facebook event: www.facebook.com/events/2354753254850301/ .

Farmers Markets

Market at Icehouse: Every Sat. May 30- Sept. 28 (except Jul. 6) from 9 am-12 pm at Icehouse Amphitheater. A farmer/ grower and local artisan market that uses a community-friendly atmosphere to promote, support, and encourage local production. This year’s event will include live, local music each week. To learn more visit www.facebook.com/pg/MarketatIcehouse/ . To become a vendor contact Walker Brewer at 803-358-7275 or email market@lexsc.com .

SEEDS OF HOPE FARMER’S MARKET: Every Saturday beginning June 8 through August, 8 am-noon, Grace United Methodist Church, 410 Harbison Blvd., Columbia. Accepts USDA produce vouchers for senior citizens. Info: 803-732-1899.

Food and fun

BBQ: Jun. 29, 8 am til sell out at the Hite/Dooley Reunion Bldg, 825 Two Notch Rd, Lexington. Enjoy old fashioned, pit cooked chicken, pork bbq, and hash. Items sold in bulk, no plates. Sale to benefit the Hite/Dooley Building Fund. For info, call Stan Hite 803-546-2069 or Charles Dooley 803-331-7216.

Death of a Hot Sauce Salesman: Jul. 20, 6-9 pm at the River Center at Saluda Shoals Park. This murder mystery dinner event has guests using their detective skills to solve the murder of Prescott Knight, hot sauce baron. Event includes a buffet meal, drink tickets, costume contest with a 1950s Southern Gentry theme, and door prizes. Grand prize to the amateur sleuth who solves the mystery. Tickets are $45, event is for those 18 or older. Get your tickets http://www.friendsoftheirmobranchlibrary.org/ or at the Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Rd.

Lunch & Learn: Jul. 9, 12-1 pm at Shiloh United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1000 Springhill rd., Gilbert. Hear Museum Director JR Fennell discuss ‘Superstitions of Lexington County and the Dutch Fork Area’. RSVP by Jul. 5 to 803-359-7586.

Middle 5k & BBQ: Jun.

29. The run begins at 8 am. It starts and ends at the Community Park of Irmo. The run is followed by a BBQ competition from 11 am-2 pm. Cost $30 per runner and $20 per person for all-you-can-eat samples of BBQ from all of the competitors. For more info call 803-800-3915. Tickets available for both online at www.inthemiddle-bc.org/ .

July 4

246th Army Band: Jun. 28, 7:30 pm. The 246th Army Band will be playing a variety of music from the decades at the Icehouse Amphitheater to kick off the 4th of July celebrations. Come out for this free event with a fireworks display after the show.

JULY 4 BOAT PARADE: June 29, noon, starting at Bomb Island on Lake Murray and proceeding to Lake Murray Dam. Patriotically decorated boats will thrill familes and children. Watch from your own boat, backyard or from parks near the dam.

JULY 4 Fireworks Display: June 29, 9:15 pm, lauched from Dreher Island State Park and Spence Island on Lake Murray. Patriotic Music will be available on local radio. View from parks on both sides of Lake Murray Dam, Dreher Island and from boats and backyards. Admission: Dreher Island State Park -  $2 for adults, $1.25 SC Seniors, FREE for children 15 years and younger (Gates close at 8pm to allow emergency vehicle access).Lake Murray Dam Park Sites -  $3/cars & trucks; $2/ motorcycles and $5 buses. Open until they reach capacity (First come, to capacity basis). The walking path on the dam will also be open.

Star Spangled Symphonic Salute Concert: Jul. 3, 8 pm at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Concert free with $5 per car park admission. Join the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra in beautiful Saluda Shoals Park by the river as we pay tribute to the founding of our nation with rousing and inspiring patriotic music. Bring your lawn chairs, blanket, and picnic basket and settle in for some old-fashioned Independence Day fun! For more info, contact Saluda Shoals at 803-731-5208.

meetings

Friends for LaVie: Jul. 28, 4 pm. Meetings held at 1213 W Main St, Lexington. Pro-life

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Meets July 1, 9 am, 605 W. Main St., Lexington. County Resdients welcome.

Music/theater

Casablanca: Aug. 2, 8:30 pm at Icehouse Amphitheater. Join the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission and the Icehouse Amphitheater for a showing of Casablanca. This movie is rated PG. Admission is free. Fleetwood Mac Tribute: Jun. 27, 7 pm. The Abbey Elmore Band will perform at the Icehouse Amphitheater in Lexington. Join the Amphitheater and WOMG for a free musical tribute to Fleetwood Mac. GOSPEL SINGING: Jul. 6, 6 pm, Midlands Gospel singing Center, 705 Martin Smith Rd., Gilbert. Guests are Jordan River and the Shirleys. Love offering accepted. Refreshments served. The Grinch: Jul. 12, 8:30 pm at Icehouse Amphitheater. Join the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission and the Icehouse Amphitheater Christmas in July and a showing of The Grinch. This movie is rated PG. Admission is free. REGGAETRONIC: Free floating music festival on Lake Murray July 13, 11 am. Bring your boats and floats and savor modern reggae, funk, rock and electronic music. Donations accepted for Shriners Children’s Hospital. Visit www.reggaetronicsc.com for information or to donate.

Southern Gospel: Jun. 29, 6 pm at West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene at 350 Wattling Road, West Columbia. Southern gospel singing with The Rivertown Boys. No admission fee, love offering will be received.

Summer

Free summer lunch & activities: Jun. 10-Aug. 8, Mon.-Thu. 11 am-1 pm. Lunch from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Snack 12:45-1 pm. (Closed the week of July 4th) Free summer lunch and activities for kids/teens up to age 18 at Church of Christ at Sunset Boulevard, 1303 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia. Arts and crafts, games, puzzles, outdoor basketball, summer reading, outdoor play, and more.

Summer Reading: Jul. 10, 10-11:30 am at Riverland Park in Cayce. Aug. 7, 10-11:30 am at Fountains of Edenwood, Cayce. Children-middle school age children are invited to bring their own books or borrow books to read during this summer reading event.

OUtdoor fun

Annual yard sale: Jul. 27, 7 am-12 pm at the Atrium of the Lighthouse, the back building on the Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church campus at 5503 Sunset Blvd, Lexington.

Murders & Mysteries Walking Tours: Jul. 5, 8 pm at the Riverwalk Amphitheater at 123 Alexander Rd, West Columbia. Attendees will learn about some of the more gruesome aspects of West Columbia’s history including bootlegger and murder stories. Attendance is free, but plan ahead for parking! Attendees should be 18+ or have parental permission.

Springdale Summer-fest and Golf Cart Parade: Jun. 29, 6-9 pm at 2915 Platt Springs Rd, West Columbia. This free community event will host Whiskey Run and Trent Jeffcoat for a night full of family fun ending in a spectacular fireworks display.

Strides for Autism Walk: Aug. 24, 9 am-1 pm at Irmo Community Park, 7457 Eastview Drive, Irmo. $15 registration includes t-shirt. For more info and to register visit https://scautism.org/events/strides-for-autism/. Proceeds benefit the South Carolina Autism Society.