FreeColumbia · Soda City

Free things to do with kids in Columbia, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Columbia this week: we found 19 free outings, including Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe, plus 18 library programs. One free day or event is coming up, including one museum or zoo free day, each with its date. And seven places never charge admission, like Richland Library Main and Richland Library Sandhills.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

19free outings this weekincl. 18 library programs1free days and events coming upincl. 1 museum or zoo free day7places that are always freeRichland Library Main, Richland Library Sandhills2free storytime calendarsRichland Library, Lexington County Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in Columbia this week

Every free outing on this week’s Columbia list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Tue Oct 2010am

Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main)

Richland Library Main · 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201

Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Tue Oct 2010:30am

Family Storytime (Richland Library North Main)

Richland Library North Main · 5306 North Main St., Columbia, SC 29203

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Tue Oct 2010:30am

Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)

Richland Library Sandhills · 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229

Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 1–3
Wed Oct 2110–11am

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe

Columbia Museum of Art · 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201

A preschool art session for 4- and 5-year-olds and a grown-up: story time, a look at bodies in the Body Matters exhibition, then a modeling project in the studio. Siblings welcome.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 4–5
Wed Oct 2110am

Family Storytime (Richland Library St. Andrews)

Richland Library St. Andrews · 2916 Broad River Rd., Columbia, SC 29210

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 2110am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Wheatley)

Richland Library Wheatley · 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 2110:30am

Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Cooper)

Richland Library Cooper · 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206

A storytime for infants and lap babies.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Thu Oct 2210am

Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Main)

Richland Library Main · 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201

A storytime for infants and lap babies.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Thu Oct 2210am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)

Richland Library Cooper · 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Thu Oct 2210am

Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)

Richland Library Northeast · 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223

A bilingual English and Spanish storytime (Cuentacuentos Bilingüe).

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Thu Oct 2210am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)

Richland Library Ballentine · 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Thu Oct 2210:30am

Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Sandhills)

Richland Library Sandhills · 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229

A storytime for infants and lap babies.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Fri Oct 2310am

Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Wheatley)

Richland Library Wheatley · 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205

A storytime for infants and lap babies.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–1
Fri Oct 2310:30am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Blythewood)

Richland Library Blythewood · 218 McNulty St., Blythewood, SC 29016

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)

Richland Library Ballentine · 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Main)

Richland Library Main · 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)

Richland Library Cooper · 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410:30am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)

Richland Library Sandhills · 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2411am

Family Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)

Richland Library Northeast · 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223

Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Showing all 19 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Columbia

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov7
Nov8
Dec5
Dec6

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

Columbia Museum of Art · Columbia

Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Cardholders onlyFree general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)

Any day

Places that are always free in Columbia

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

Finlay Park

Downtown, 901 Laurel St.Downtown’s reopened park, with the Cola Summit Playscape (five slides, rope ladders and climbing limbs) and a seasonal splash pad.Official site ↗Report a problem

Congaree National Park Boardwalk

Hopkins, 100 National Park Rd.A free national park with a 2.6-mile boardwalk loop from the visitor center into old-growth swamp forest; it’s wheelchair and stroller accessible, with benches along the way.Official site ↗Report a problem

Granby Park

Near the Granby, Whaley and Olympia mill villagesA free riverside park on the Three Rivers Greenway with a half-mile of lighted, paved paths for strollers and wheelchairs and river overlooks.Official site ↗Report a problem

Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal

Along the Broad RiverA 167-acre park along the canal and river; during renovations, the southern section is open, with about a half-mile of trail, a shaded overlook with picnic tables and a big lawn.Official site ↗Report a problem
Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

Richland Library

Free Hello, Baby!, Toddler, Family and Bilingual storytimes at branches across Richland County.

Weekday mornings and Saturdays

BabiesToddlersFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Lexington County Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Storytime (Tuesdays 9:30am, Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library) and Preschool Storytime (Mondays 10:30am, Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library), with more at Batesburg-Leesville Branch Library, Chapin Branch Library, Gaston Branch Library and Gilbert-Summit Branch Library and other branches.

Weekly at 9 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in Columbia

Indoor play in ColumbiaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with pricesThanksgiving weekend in ColumbiaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayThis week in ColumbiaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in Columbia: the FAQ

This week we found 19 free outings for ages 0–6, including Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe, Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main), Family Storytime (Richland Library North Main) and Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.

Richland Library Main, Richland Library Sandhills, Finlay Park, Congaree National Park Boardwalk and Granby Park and 2 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes: Richland Library Main. See all of them on indoor play places in Columbia.

Yes. Richland Library and Lexington County Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Littles Weekly

Free things to do in another city

or nearby:
CharlotteGreenvilleCharlestonSavannah
All 51 cities

Free stuff, found by Friday.

One short email every Friday morning with the best things to do with little ones in Columbia that weekend, free ones flagged.

Columbia skyline