# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Columbia: the parent guide

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-18
- 15 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/guide/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/visiting/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/llms.txt

## Kid-friendly restaurants

### Market on Main (Main Street, 1320 Main St.)

- A casual Main Street restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a few blocks from EdVenture and the Main Library.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Kitchen: Tue–Wed 11:30am–9:30pm; Thu–Fri 11:30am–10pm; Sat 10am–10pm; Sun 10am–9pm (closed daily 3–4:30pm)
- Good for: Weekend brunch downtown before or after EdVenture.
- Skip if: you’re hungry mid-afternoon; the kitchen closes 3–4:30pm daily.
- Website: https://marketonmain.com/

### Pasta Fresca (4722 Forest Dr.)

- 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.
- Price level: $$
- Menu prices: kids’ meals $7.50–$9.50 (12 and under; drink $1)
- Good for: A pasta night every kid will eat.
- Skip if: you need a quick bite; it’s a sit-down dinner.
- Price source: https://www.pasta-fresca.net/menu/kids-menu/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.pasta-fresca.net/

## Indoor play and rainy days

### Richland Library Main (Downtown, 1431 Assembly St.)

- The main library, with Family, Toddler and Hello, Baby! storytimes.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Free storytimes downtown.
- Skip if: you’re staying in the suburbs; there are branches all over.
- Website: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/locations

### Richland Library Sandhills (Northeast, 763 Fashion Dr.)

- A branch with Toddler Storytime, Hello Baby! and Saturday Family Storytime.
- Price level: Free
- Good for: Babies and toddlers.
- Skip if: you’re downtown.
- Website: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/locations

### Little Bee Sensory Playhouse (Lexington, 5483-B Sunset Blvd.)

- A small, sensory-friendly play space for ages 0–6, with capped hour-long sessions so it never gets chaotic.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids $16 per child per session; siblings $12; Under 12 months free with a sibling ($8 without)
- Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–noon and 1–6pm
- Good for: A toddler who does better without a crowd.
- Skip if: you can’t book ahead; sessions are capped.
- Price source: https://busybeesplayhousesc.com/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://busybeesplayhousesc.com/

## Parks and outdoor play

### 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.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Hours: Daily 6am–9pm
- Good for: A free playground morning downtown.
- Skip if: you came for the splash pad in fall or winter; it runs May 23–Sept 30.
- Price source: https://finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/frequently-asked-questions/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://finlaypark.columbiasc.gov/

### 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.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free; no entrance pass required
- Good for: A free stroller walk among bald cypress and tupelo trees.
- Skip if: there’s a flood alert; check the park’s alerts first.
- Price source: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/fees.htm (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.nps.gov/cong/

### Leo’s Landing Inclusive Playground (Saluda Shoals Park) (Irmo, 6071 St. Andrews Rd. (east entrance))

- 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.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids $7 per car (parking)
- Hours: Daily 7am–7pm (Sept 15–Oct 31 hours; earlier closing in winter)
- Good for: A big playground morning for every kind of kid.
- Skip if: it’s a Wednesday before 10am; it closes for maintenance then.
- Price source: https://icrc.net/park/saluda-shoals-park (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.icrc.net/facilities/leos-landing-inclusive-playground

### Sesquicentennial State Park (Columbia)

- A state park with two playgrounds in the picnic area, trails and a 30-acre lake; kids 5 and under get in free.
- Price level: $
- Tickets: kids 6–15 $3.50; adults $6; Ages 5 and under free
- Hours: Daily 8am to sunset
- Good for: A playground-and-lake morning.
- Skip if: you came for the splash pad; it’s closed for the season.
- Price source: https://southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui

### 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.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Good for: A free stroller loop by the river.
- Skip if: you want a playground; this one is for walking.
- Price source: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/

### 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.
- Price level: Free
- Tickets: Free
- Good for: A short free walk with river views.
- Skip if: you want the full three-mile trail; much of it is closed for renovations.
- Price source: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://parksandrec.columbiasc.gov/regionalparks/

## Museums, zoos and big outings

### EdVenture Children’s Museum (Downtown, 211 Gervais St.)

- A big children’s museum built for ages 0–10, with a designated toddler area.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 2+ $15; adults $15; Under 2 free
- Hours: Mon and Wed–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm; closed Tue
- Good for: Toddlers and preschoolers on a rainy day.
- Skip if: it’s a Tuesday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://edventure.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://edventure.org/visit/

### Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (500 Wildlife Pkwy.)

- Columbia’s zoo and garden, home to Boo at the Zoo in October and Wild Lights in winter.
- Price level: $$
- Hours: Daily 9am–5pm
- Good for: A morning with animals.
- Skip if: you need a short outing.
- Website: https://www.riverbanks.org/

### South Carolina State Museum (Columbia)

- The state museum, free for kids under 3; some 2nd- and 3rd-floor exhibits are closed during gallery renovations.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 3–12 $10; adults $13; Children under 3 free
- Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A long rainy-day museum morning, including Sundays.
- Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.scmuseum.org/visit/hours-admission (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.scmuseum.org/

### Columbia Museum of Art (Columbia)

- The city’s art museum, free for kids 6 and under, open until 8pm on First Thursdays.
- Price level: $$
- Tickets: kids 7–18 $10; adults $15; Children 6 and under free
- Hours: Tue–Wed and Fri–Sat 10am–5pm; Thu 10am–7pm (First Thursdays to 8pm); Sun noon–5pm; closed Mon
- Good for: A calm museum hour with a baby or preschooler.
- Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
- Price source: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/visit (checked 2026-10-18)
- Website: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/

## Free things to do

- Richland Library Main
- Richland Library Sandhills
- Finlay Park
- Congaree National Park Boardwalk
- Granby Park
- Riverfront Park and Columbia Canal

## Best for under 3s

- **EdVenture Children’s Museum**: Toddler area.
- **Riverbanks Zoo & Garden**: Animals.
- **Richland Library Main**: Hello, Baby!
- **Richland Library Sandhills**: Hello Baby!

## With a baby or a 1-year-old

### Baby and lap-sit storytimes

- **Baby Storytime** (Lexington County Public Library): Tuesdays at 9:30am · Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library. An experience for our youngest library users and their grownups — this storytime is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the joys of reading. https://lexcolibrary.com/events/
- **Baby Storytime** (Lexington County Public Library): Thursdays at 9:30am; Saturdays at 10am · Lexington Main Library. An experience for our youngest library users and their grownups — this storytime is a wonderful way to introduce your child to the joys of reading. https://lexcolibrary.com/events/

### Babies get in free

- **Little Bee Sensory Playhouse**: Under 12 months free with a sibling ($8 without). https://busybeesplayhousesc.com/
- **EdVenture Children’s Museum**: Under 2 free. https://edventure.org/visit/
- **South Carolina State Museum**: Children under 3 free. https://www.scmuseum.org/visit/hours-admission

## Library storytimes

- **Richland Library**: Weekday mornings and Saturdays. Free Hello, Baby!, Toddler, Family and Bilingual storytimes at branches across Richland County. 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. https://lexcolibrary.com/events/


## Happening this week

- **South Carolina State Fair** (Fair hours 11am–9pm Mon–Fri, 10am–9pm Sat, noon–8pm Sun (rides run later)) at South Carolina State Fairgrounds. $20 at the gate ($16 online, $15 at Circle K); 5 and under free; ride vouchers $40–42. https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#e-south_carolina_state_fair
- **Boo at the Zoo** (6–9pm) at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Tickets online; children under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#e-boo_at_the_zoo_riverbanks
- **Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza** (Sat 9:30–11:30am) at Columbia Museum of Art. $10 per pumpkin (includes decorating supplies); gallery admission not included. https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#e-pumpkins_and_painting_cma
- **Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe** (Wed 10–11am) at Columbia Museum of Art. Free; registration required. https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#e-gladys_gang_preschool_cma
- **Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** (Thu 10am) at Richland Library Northeast. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#e-bilingual_storytime_richland_library_nor

Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/index.md

## Holiday pages

- [Santa in Columbia: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Columbia for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/christmas-lights/index.md)

## 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

### Is EdVenture good for babies?
Children under 2 are free, and there’s a designated toddler area.

### Are there free things to do with little kids in Columbia?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/guide/#free).

### What can we do in Columbia on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
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.

### Where are the free storytimes in Columbia?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Columbia weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/).

### How do you choose the places in the Columbia guide?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How much is the EdVenture Children’s Museum for a toddler, and who gets in free?
Under 2 free; kids 2+: $15; adults: $15. We checked this on [its official site](https://edventure.org/visit/) on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.