# Columbia Littles: things to do with little kids in Columbia, SC this weekend

> The South Carolina State Fair runs its final week through Sunday, and Boo at the Zoo fills Riverbanks Zoo & Garden every evening with trick-or-treating and Ray’s Moonlight Magic. Saturday morning pairs pumpkin decorating on Boyd Plaza at the Columbia Museum of Art with five Family Storytimes, including Richland Library Main at 10. Wednesday’s free Gladys’ Gang session at the museum suits 4- and 5-year-olds. This week has 22 outings, 19 free and 18 indoors.

- Week: Oct 19–25, 2026
- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 22 outings at 12 places; 19 free; 18 indoor. For kids ages 0–6.
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/index.md
- City guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/guide/index.md
- Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/visiting/index.md
- Events data (JSON): https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/events.json
- RSS feed: https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/feed.xml

## Top picks this week

- **South Carolina State Fair** (Mon, Oct 19 to Sun, Oct 25, 7 days · Fair hours 11am–9pm Mon–Fri, 10am–9pm Sat, noon–8pm Sun (rides run later)) at South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: $20 at the gate ($16 online, $15 at Circle K); 5 and under free; ride vouchers $40–42. Ages 0+. The fair’s final week: rides, animals, fair food and shows. Thursday, Oct. 22 opens with a sensory-friendly morning, and the fair closes Sunday at 8. Source: https://scstatefair.org/hours/
- **Boo at the Zoo** (Mon, Oct 19 to Sun, Oct 25, 7 days · 6–9pm) at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC 29210. Cost: Tickets online; children under 2 free. Ages 0+. Trick-or-treat through the zoo, catch Ray’s Moonlight Magic and dance with the Eeky Freaky DJ. The Haunted Carousel and Riverbanks Express cost extra. Source: https://www.riverbanks.org/events/boo-at-the-zoo
- **Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza** (Sat, Oct 24 · 9:30–11:30am) at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: $10 per pumpkin (includes decorating supplies); gallery admission not included. Ages 3+. Pumpkin decorating, coloring pages and games outside the museum, hosted by the Contemporaries. Reserve a pumpkin ahead; walk-ins welcome while supplies last. Source: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/contemporaries-present-pumpkins-and-painting
- **Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe** (Wed, Oct 21 · 10–11am) at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: 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. Source: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/gladys-gang-preschool-edition-head-toe
- **Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10am) at Richland Library Northeast, 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A bilingual English and Spanish storytime (Cuentacuentos Bilingüe). Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime

## A Saturday that works (Saturday, Oct 24)

1. **Morning**: South Carolina State Fair, South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Fair hours 11am–9pm Mon–Fri, 10am–9pm Sat, noon–8pm Sun. Cost: $20 at the gate ($16 online, $15 at Circle K); 5 and under free; ride vouchers $40–42. https://scstatefair.org/hours/
2. **Lunch**: Market on Main, Main Street, 1320 Main St.. Open 10am–10pm. Cost: $$. (from the city guide) https://marketonmain.com/
3. **After nap**: South Carolina State Museum, Columbia. Open 10am–5pm. Cost: Kids $10, adults $13, children under 3 free. (from the city guide) https://www.scmuseum.org/

Plan for a nap break in the middle. Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site, so check before you head out.

## By day

- **Monday, Oct 19**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo
- **Tuesday, Oct 20**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo; Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library North Main) (free); Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills) (free)
- **Wednesday, Oct 21**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo; Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library St. Andrews) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Wheatley) (free); Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Cooper) (free)
- **Thursday, Oct 22**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo; Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Main) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper) (free); Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine) (free); Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Sandhills) (free)
- **Friday, Oct 23**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo; Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Wheatley) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Blythewood) (free)
- **Saturday, Oct 24**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo; Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza; Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Main) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills) (free); Family Storytime (Richland Library Northeast) (free)
- **Sunday, Oct 25**: South Carolina State Fair; Boo at the Zoo

## All outings this week

- **South Carolina State Fair** (Mon, Oct 19 to Sun, Oct 25, 7 days · Fair hours 11am–9pm Mon–Fri, 10am–9pm Sat, noon–8pm Sun (rides run later)) at South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: $20 at the gate ($16 online, $15 at Circle K); 5 and under free; ride vouchers $40–42. Ages 0+. The fair’s final week: rides, animals, fair food and shows. Thursday, Oct. 22 opens with a sensory-friendly morning, and the fair closes Sunday at 8. Source: https://scstatefair.org/hours/
- **Boo at the Zoo** (Mon, Oct 19 to Sun, Oct 25, 7 days · 6–9pm) at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy., Columbia, SC 29210. Cost: Tickets online; children under 2 free. Ages 0+. Trick-or-treat through the zoo, catch Ray’s Moonlight Magic and dance with the Eeky Freaky DJ. The Haunted Carousel and Riverbanks Express cost extra. Source: https://www.riverbanks.org/events/boo-at-the-zoo
- **Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe** (Wed, Oct 21 · 10–11am) at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: 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. Source: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/gladys-gang-preschool-edition-head-toe
- **Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza** (Sat, Oct 24 · 9:30–11:30am) at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: $10 per pumpkin (includes decorating supplies); gallery admission not included. Ages 3+. Pumpkin decorating, coloring pages and games outside the museum, hosted by the Contemporaries. Reserve a pumpkin ahead; walk-ins welcome while supplies last. Source: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/contemporaries-present-pumpkins-and-painting
- **Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main)** (Tue, Oct 20 · 10am) at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: Free. Ages 1–3. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library North Main)** (Tue, Oct 20 · 10:30am) at Richland Library North Main, 5306 North Main St., Columbia, SC 29203. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime
- **Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)** (Tue, Oct 20 · 10:30am) at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. Cost: Free. Ages 1–3. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Help your toddler discover the alphabet, numbers and other concepts while building early literacy skills. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-20&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library St. Andrews)** (Wed, Oct 21 · 10am) at Richland Library St. Andrews, 2916 Broad River Rd., Columbia, SC 29210. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Wheatley)** (Wed, Oct 21 · 10am) at Richland Library Wheatley, 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Cooper)** (Wed, Oct 21 · 10:30am) at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. Cost: Free. Ages 0–1. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-21&keyword=storytime
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Main)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10am) at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: Free. Ages 0–1. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10am) at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime
- **Bilingual Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10am) at Richland Library Northeast, 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A bilingual English and Spanish storytime (Cuentacuentos Bilingüe). Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10am) at Richland Library Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Sandhills)** (Thu, Oct 22 · 10:30am) at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. Cost: Free. Ages 0–1. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-22&keyword=storytime
- **Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Wheatley)** (Fri, Oct 23 · 10am) at Richland Library Wheatley, 931 Woodrow St., Columbia, SC 29205. Cost: Free. Ages 0–1. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. A storytime for infants and lap babies. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-23&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Blythewood)** (Fri, Oct 23 · 10:30am) at Richland Library Blythewood, 218 McNulty St., Blythewood, SC 29016. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-23&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Ballentine)** (Sat, Oct 24 · 10am) at Richland Library Ballentine, 1200 Dutch Fork Rd., Irmo, SC 29063. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Main)** (Sat, Oct 24 · 10am) at Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Cooper)** (Sat, Oct 24 · 10am) at Richland Library Cooper, 5317 North Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills)** (Sat, Oct 24 · 10:30am) at Richland Library Sandhills, 763 Fashion Dr., Columbia, SC 29229. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime
- **Family Storytime (Richland Library Northeast)** (Sat, Oct 24 · 11am) at Richland Library Northeast, 7490 Parklane Rd., Columbia, SC 29223. Cost: Free. Ages 0–5. Indoor. Exact address not confirmed on the organizer’s page. Share stories, songs and more while building early literacy skills, with fun for the whole family. Source: https://www.richlandlibrary.com/events?date_start=2026-10-24&keyword=storytime

## Seasonal events and guides

- [Santa visits in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/santa/index.md)
- [Christmas lights in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/christmas-lights/index.md)
- [Thanksgiving weekend in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/thanksgiving/index.md)
- [Free things to do in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/free/index.md)
- [Indoor play places in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/indoor-play/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

### What can I do with a little one in Columbia this weekend?
This week we found 22 outings that work for kids ages 0–6. Our top three: South Carolina State Fair, Boo at the Zoo, Pumpkins and Painting on Boyd Plaza. [See the full list](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#all).

### Are there free things to do with little ones in Columbia this week?
Yes, 19 of this week’s 22 picks are free, including library storytimes and Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Head to Toe. Tap “Free” in [Find your thing](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#all). For free places you can visit any week, see [free things to do in Columbia](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/guide/#free) in the city guide.

### What are good indoor activities for kids in Columbia when it rains?
18 picks this week are indoors, mostly library programs and shows. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in [Find your thing](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#all).

### Where can I find storytimes and toddler activities in Columbia?
This week we list 18 library storytimes and baby or toddler programs. Each one links to the library or venue page with the time and place. [See them in the list](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#all).

### What’s on for babies and toddlers under 3 in Columbia this week?
6 of this week’s picks are baby or toddler programs or made for ages 3 and under, including Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Main), Toddler Storytime (Richland Library Sandhills) and Hello, Baby! (Richland Library Cooper). 6 of them are free and 6 are indoors. [See them in the list](https://littlesweekly.com/columbia-sc/#all).

### How do you pick what goes on the Columbia list?
We go through Columbia’s library calendars, parks, museums, zoos and local family pages every week, and keep what works for ages 0–6. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the date, time, place and price there. This list was last checked Oct 19, 2026. [How we choose and check listings](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).

### How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Friday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.