# Free things to do with kids in Columbia this 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: 2026-10-19
- 19 free outings this week; 1 free days and events coming up; 7 always-free places
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/free/
- Indoor play (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/indoor-play/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/llms.txt

## Free days and free events coming up

- **Bank of America Museums on Us weekend** at Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. When: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Price: Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID). Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID. Official page: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-partners (checked 2026-10-19)

## Free this week

- **Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe** at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10–11am. Price: Free; registration required. Ages: 4–5. 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. Official page: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/gladys-gang-preschool-edition-head-toe (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main)** at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 1–3. Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library North Main)** at Richland Library North Main, 5306 North Main St., Columbia, SC 29203. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)** at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 1–3. Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library St. Andrews)** at Richland Library St. Andrews, 2916 Broad River Rd., Columbia, SC 29210. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Wheatley)** at Richland Library Wheatley, 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Cooper)** at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Main)** at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)** at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** at Richland Library Northeast, 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. A bilingual English and Spanish storytime (Cuentacuentos Bilingüe). Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)** at Richland Library Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Sandhills)** at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Wheatley)** at Richland Library Wheatley, 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–1. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-23&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Blythewood)** at Richland Library Blythewood, 218 McNulty St., Blythewood, SC 29016. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-23&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)** at Richland Library Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Main)** at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)** at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)** at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** at Richland Library Northeast, 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 11am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-19)

## Always free

- **Richland Library Main**, Downtown, 1431 Assembly St. The main library, with Family, Toddler and Hello, Baby! storytimes. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/locations (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Richland Library Sandhills**, Northeast, 763 Fashion Dr. A branch with Toddler Storytime, Hello Baby! and Saturday Family Storytime. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/locations (checked 2026-10-18)
- **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 page: https://finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **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 page: https://www.nps.gov/cong/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Granby Park**, Near the Granby, Whaley and Olympia mill villages. A free riverside park on the Three Rivers Greenway with a half-mile of lighted, paved paths for strollers and wheelchairs and river overlooks. Official page: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal**, Along the Broad River. A 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 page: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Richland Library**, Countywide. Free storytimes at branches. Official page: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?keyword=storytime (checked 2026-10-18)

## Free library storytimes

- **Richland Library**: Weekday mornings and Saturdays. Free Hello, Baby!, Toddler, Family and Bilingual storytimes at branches across Richland County. Calendar: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?keyword=storytime
- **Lexington County Public Library**: Weekly at 9 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings. 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. Calendar: https://lexcolibrary.com/events/

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s free to do with kids in Columbia this weekend?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/free/#this-week); the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

### Are there free museum or zoo days in Columbia?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/free/#free-days).

### Where can we go for free any day in Columbia?
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.

### Is there free indoor play in Columbia?
Yes: Richland Library Main. See all of them on [indoor play places in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/indoor-play/#places).

### Are library storytimes free 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.

### How do you check these free listings?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).