Tomorrow, June 5, South Carolina Pride is hosting Outfest, a festival that celebrates Pride Month locally + helps to raise money for Famously Hot SC Pride in the fall. This year, Outfest will be held on the 1200 block of Park Street (the same block at Art Bar), is free to attend + festivities begin at 2 p.m.

Here’s the need-to-know so you can attend Outfest like a pro:

🌈 Utica Queen, a former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, will headline the event.

🌈 Paris Lefaris + Carla Cox will co-host the event.

🌈 The Drag Pageant is back + will feature Koko Dove, Gouda Judy, and Victoria Lefaris.

🌈 Local talent will provide additional entertainment.

🌈 Vendors will provide resources for the LGBTQ community.

Not quite ready for the party to stop? Head on over to Afterglo at Capital Club (1002 Gervais St.) where the newly crowned Miss Outfest Columbia, Mercy Madison, and Elena Devour will keep the party going. The party begins at 10:30 p.m. + donations will be accepted at the door.

#MUSTDO

Show

The Four Horseman | Fri., June 4 | 8 p.m. | The Senate | $15+ | Rock out with this Metallica cover band — doors open at 7 p.m. 🤘
Girl Interrupted at O’Hara’s | Fri., June 4 | 7-10 p.m. | O’Hara’s Public House | Free | Enjoy a night of live music. 🎵

TryThis

Poetry, Prose, Song and YOU | Fri., June 4 | 7-9 p.m. | Tapp’s Outpost | Free | Show off your skills at this open mic night. 🎤

Saturday

Columbia International Festival | Sat., June 5-Sun., June 6 | Times vary | State Fairgrounds | $7 | Immerse yourself in a variety of cultures through food, music, shopping, performing arts + more at SC’s largest international event. 🌍
Drift Jam Floatilla Music Festival | Sat., June 5 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Spence Island, Lake Murray | Free | Spend your Saturday at the world’s largest floating music festival. 🚤
Lexington County Ag + Art Tour | Sat., June 5-Sun., June 6 | Times vary | Multiple locations | Free | Take a self-guided tour around local farms and enjoy artists + food trucks along the way. 🌽
Dining Event with SC Philharmonic | Sat., June 5 | 5:30-7 p.m. or 7:30-9 p.m. | Segra Park | $15 plus food + drinks | A night of live music and ballpark food favorites. 🎵

Sunday

Forge your Own with Angry Giant Forge | Sun., June 6 | 12-6 p.m. | The Random Tap | $45 | Try your hand at blacksmithing + make your own bottle opener, oyster shucker, steak turner or fire poker. ⛏️
Chamber Ensemble at Saluda Shoals | Sun., June 6 | 4-5 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park | $15 | Listen to the classical sounds while enjoying nature.
Let’s Get Metaphysical: Aerobics | Sun., June 6 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. | Boyd Plaza | $25+ | Includes take-home goodie bags + gallery admission to The Imaginative Worlds of M.C. Escher.

PlanAhead

Driving Down Main: Staying the Course | Mon., June 7 + Tues., June 8 | 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | Main Course | $350 per foursome | Practice your golf swing while giving back to your community. Ⓟ

MORE OF THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS

📸 @gamecockwbb

The accolades don’t stop coming. Saniya Rivers, Gamecock Women’s Basketball commit, was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year for high school girl’s basketball. The award recognizes both athletic talent + academic achievements.

Saniya is from Wilmington, NC + is a senior at Ashley High School.

#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?

Just use #COLAtoday on social media.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

88º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain 🌥️

Development

Plans to renovate the buildings at 1728 + 1730 Main St. have been filed by the Middleton family. If approved by the Design/Development Review Commission, the plans include relocating Main Street Physicians + Revive Wellness Studio and creating 6 luxury apartments. ⚒️ (The Post and Courier)

Coronavirus

SCDHEC and the SC Brewers Guild have partnered to launch their “Shot and a Chaser” campaign at breweries across SC. Those who get vaccinated at a participating brewery will receive a free beer or soda. Locally, River Rat is participating on Fri., June 11 from 3-7 p.m. + will offer the J&J and Moderna vaccine. 🍺 (The State)
Beginning Sat., June 19, South Carolina will begin allowing limited in-person visitation for vaccinated inmates at the Palmer, Livesay, Goodman, and Manning prisons. Visitors must bring a vaccination card or negative test result + visits must be scheduled. (WIS)

Civic

Earlier this week, Columbia Housing Authority announced plans for new + renovated affordable housing by 2030 with rent remaining the same. Residents who will be affected by the changes will be contacted about relocation, if necessary. 🏠 (WLTX)

Community

Columbia Animal Services is looking for volunteers 18 and older to foster pets. Animal services provides all of the necessary supplies + basic medical care. For more information, call Columbia Animal Services at (803) 776-7387. 🐶 (WIS)

Number

$272 million. The amount of funding available to South Carolinians through the federally funded SC Stay Plus program. Those who are eligible can receive assistance for up to 12 months of late rent + utility bills. Due to separate funding available for Richland County residents, they are not eligible for this program.

Award

Calling all creatives and makers — the Garden and Gun Made in the South awards is accepting entries in the food, drink, home, style, outdoors, and craft categories through July 1. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 and each category winner + runner up will be featured in the December/January issue. Enter here. 🏆

TodayIs

National Donut Day + Duck Donuts is celebrating with a free bare, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar donut in store today. You’re welcome. 🍩

Health

Looking for a primary care doctor? Kristin Smith, FNP has joined Palmetto Primary Care Physicians and is currently accepting new patients in the Irmo area. Meet Kristen. 🩺 Ⓟ

Biz

There's a reason over 3 million people start their day with Morning Brew — the daily email that delivers the latest business news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Unlike most traditional news, Morning Brew keeps readers informed + entertained for free. Ⓟ