FRIDAY, MARCH 21

Tom Cotter (comedy)
The Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College (7300 College Blvd.) presents comedian Tom Cotter. Get ready for an uproarious night with the breakout star from Season 7 of “America’s Got Talent!” Tom’s unique and infectious humor apparently made him the first comedian ever to reach the finals of AGT and the “highest-ranking human contestant that year.” Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets cost between $35 and $40. Visit harbisontheatre.org for more information.

Paul Dozier (concert)
Chayz Lounge (607 Meeting St.) and guitarist Paul Dozier invite you to enjoy “The Soul Jazz Experience.” Expect to hear hits and classics by George Benson, Norman Brown, The Jackson 5, Kem, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Will Downing and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is 8 p.m. Admission is $30. Dressy attire is required. Visit chayzlounge.com for more information.

Bluegrass Jam (concert)
Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor (710 Meeting St.) hosts their weekly Bluegrass Jam. Grab your acoustic instrument and sit in, or hit up the snack bar, sit back and enjoy the bluegrass tunes. The jam is free to attend, open to all and runs from 9 p.m. to midnight. Visit billsmusicshop.com for more information.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

Midlands Spring Arts & Crafts Market
The SC State Farmers Market (3483 Charleston Hwy.) rings in the new season with the Midlands Spring Arts & Crafts Market. This family-friendly event features over 150 vendors, crafters and local businesses from all over the Midlands. The market also highlights Prisma Health Children’s Hospital as the market’s charity for this spring. A selection of items from the vendors will benefit the Children’s Hospital. This event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/MCACraftShows for more information.

Jon Michaels (concert)
Singer/songwriter Jon Michaels performs at Steel Hands Brewing (2350 Foreman St.). Michaels plays a mix of folk and country-influenced originals and covers from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This show is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/@steelhandsbrewing for more information.

Cherry Blossom Festival
The Town of Irmo invites you to Irmo Town Park (7330 Carlisle St.) for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This popular event coincides with the blooming of the park’s six Yoshino trees, planted back in 2001.  In addition to seeing the pale pink blooms, you and the family can enjoy quiet picnicking, plein air art, handcrafted artwork, food vendors and a new and
vintage Japanese car show. This event is free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit townofirmosc.com for more information.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

Cookout + Car Show
Steel Hands Brewing (2350 Foreman St.) brightens up your Sunday afternoon with a cookout and car show packed with hotrods, classics, muscle cars and more. Enjoy Steel Hands’ 2nd cruise-in of 2025, plus a delicious cookout from noon to 4 p.m. This event is free to attend, and there’s live music all day. Visit facebook.com/@steelhandsbrewing for more information.

Annual Spring Fling
West Side Baptist Church (2100 Platt Springs Rd.) hosts their annual Spring Fling event. Bring the kids to visit with the Easter bunny, and enjoy browsing with local vendors, sample local food, take part in activities for prizes and more. We hear there might even be a special guest hiding eggs in the church garden. This is a free event that runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the first 100 guests are entered into a drawing for a free gift basket. Visit facebook.com/wsbconline for more information.

MONDAY, MARCH 24

Book Club: Scary Story Society
The Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library (1500 Augusta Rd.) is calling all bookworms for their Monday night Scary Story Society book club meeting. Dig into interesting and chilling tales covering all genres of horror. This event is free to attend and is meant for ages 16 and up. It runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visit lexcolibrary.com for more information.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

Arts & Crafts Market
After the Cherry Blossom Festival is over, Irmo Town Park (7330 Carlisle St,) invites you to an arts and crafts market.  Browse through handcrafted artwork, clothing, accessories and crafts with a cherry blossom twist, and take in live music and other arts performances. This event is free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit townofirmo.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
 
Comedy + Beer
The Old Mill Brewpub (711 E. Main St.) brings together the best of both worlds: beer and standup comedy. Grab a pint and enjoy hilarious sets from host Charlie Buzzard, Shorty, Nancy Burkett, T. Link and Wayne Cousins, all for only $15. Showtime is 7 p.m. Visit facebook.com/OldMillBrewPub for more information.

Across the county line

New Brookland Tavern (635 Harden St.) hosts a four-band metal-edged blowout on Friday, March 21. Charlotte deathcore band Deathbloom will open up the show, followed by some metalcore from Backslide. The fascinating Philly hardcore act Kaonashi is up next, and Japanese metalcore giants Crystal Lake close things out. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is $18. Visit newbrooklandtavern.com for more information.

The South Carolina Ballet and the Koger Center for the Arts (302 Gervais St.) presents one of the most beautiful (and demanding) ballets of all time, Adolphe Adams’ “Giselle,” on Saturday, March 22. It’s considered the quintessential ballet of the Romantic era, the heartbreaking story of a young peasant girl who falls deeply in love with the charismatic Albrecht, only to end the performance in a stunning moment of forgiveness and sacrifice. Showtime is 5:30 p.m. and tickets cost between $35 and $60. Visit kogercenterforthearts.com for more information.

The Newberry Opera House (1201 McKibben St.) welcomes Disney’s “Finding Nemo, Jr.” on Sunday, March 23. Bring the kids and dive into an unforgettable underwater adventure, a musical adaptation of the beloved Pixar film. But don’t worry, the journey still follows Marlin, Nemo and their oceanic friends as they try to reunite father and son. Showtime is 2 p.m. Visit newberryoperahouse.com for ticket prices and more information.

If you’re a LEGO builder or fan, either adult or child, you do not want to miss Columbia Brick Con: A LEGO Fan Event at The Oaks (901 Brookwood Dr.) on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23. See displays featuring more than 1.5 million blocks, build and race a LEGO race car, tour through classic LEGO sets, hit the Imagination Station play area and enjoy some live music. Admission is $3 for each day. Visit scbricksevents.com for admission times and more information.

One of the most acclaimed trombonists in modern jazz pays a visit to Columbia on Monday, March 24. Wycliffe Gordon, who played with Wynton Marsalis, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Billy Taylor while building his own career as composer/bandleader, performs with his band Weatherproof at The Pastor’s Study (1633 Main St.). Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets cost between $15 and $30. Visit thepastorsstudy.com for more information.