Columbia is easy with little kids: EdVenture’s toddler area downtown, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, two big holiday light shows and free storytimes all over Richland Library.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
A casual Main Street restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a few blocks from EdVenture and the Main Library.
An Italian restaurant with a kids’ menu for 12 and under: buttered noodles, spaghetti and a meatball, chicken fingers or fettuccine Alfredo, each with a side.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
The main library, with Family, Toddler and Hello, Baby! storytimes.
A branch with Toddler Storytime, Hello Baby! and Saturday Family Storytime.
A small, sensory-friendly play space for ages 0–6, with capped hour-long sessions so it never gets chaotic.
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
Downtown’s reopened park, with the Cola Summit Playscape (five slides, rope ladders and climbing limbs) and a seasonal splash pad.
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.
An inclusive playground for kids of all abilities, with hobbit playhouses, a Little Free Library, a hammock park, covered swings, misting stations and an accessible restroom.
A state park with two playgrounds in the picnic area, trails and a 30-acre lake; kids 5 and under get in free.
A free riverside park on the Three Rivers Greenway with a half-mile of lighted, paved paths for strollers and wheelchairs and river overlooks.
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.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
A big children’s museum built for ages 0–10, with a designated toddler area.
Columbia’s zoo and garden, home to Boo at the Zoo in October and Wild Lights in winter.
The state museum, free for kids under 3; some 2nd- and 3rd-floor exhibits are closed during gallery renovations.
The city’s art museum, free for kids 6 and under, open until 8pm on First Thursdays.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Columbia without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Columbia.
Downtown, 1431 Assembly St.Richland Library MainThe main library, with Family, Toddler and Hello, Baby!FreeIndoorNortheast, 763 Fashion Dr.Richland Library SandhillsA branch with Toddler Storytime, Hello Baby!FreeIndoor
Downtown, 901 Laurel St.Finlay ParkDowntown’s reopened park, with the Cola Summit Playscape (five slides, rope ladders and climbing limbs) and a seasonal splash pad.FreeHopkins, 100 National Park Rd.Congaree National Park BoardwalkA 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.FreeNear the Granby, Whaley and Olympia mill villagesGranby ParkA free riverside park on the Three Rivers Greenway with a half-mile of lighted, paved paths for strollers and wheelchairs and river overlooks.FreeAlong the Broad RiverRiverfront Park and Columbia CanalA 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.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar.
Weekday mornings and SaturdaysFree Hello, Baby!, Toddler, Family and Bilingual storytimes at branches across Richland County.
Schedule ↗Weekly at 9 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly morningsFree 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.
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Tuesdays at 9:30am · Cayce-West Columbia Branch LibraryAn experience for our youngest library users and their grownups — this storytime is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the joys of reading.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 9:30am; Saturdays at 10am · Lexington Main LibraryAn experience for our youngest library users and their grownups — this storytime is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the joys of reading.
Storytime calendar ↗
Under 12 months free with a sibling ($8 without)
Admission page ↗Under 2 free
Admission page ↗Children under 3 free
Admission page ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Columbia right now.
Children under 2 are free, and there’s a designated toddler area.
Yes. Richland Library Main, Richland Library Sandhills, Finlay Park, Congaree National Park Boardwalk, Granby Park and Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal are free or have a free entry. See the free list.
Go indoors: Richland Library Main, Richland Library Sandhills and Little Bee Sensory Playhouse. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
Richland Library: Weekday mornings and Saturdays. Lexington County Public Library: Weekly at 9 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Columbia weekly list.
Every one of the 15 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 11 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. How we choose and check.
Under 2 free; kids 2+: $15; adults: $15. We checked this on its official site on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Friday morning: the five things worth leaving the house for in Columbia, plus what to skip.
