A Soda City Market roundup for Small Business Saturday 🛍️

This weekend is Small Business Saturday, and we thought what better way to support, shop + see some of Columbia’s local small businesses than Soda City Market?

Rain or shine — year round, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Soda City Market is a collection of local entrepreneurs who bring unique pieces, hand-crafted items, and Southeast produce to fill your belly, brain + body in the heart of downtown on Main Street every Saturday.

Soda City Market is a microcosm of Columbia, a melting pot of cultures, and an inviting community experience. Without further ado, Here’s a roundup of 140+ Soda City Market vendors to shop local this holiday season.

🍐 Vendors who fill your belly:

323 Ranch | Beef + pork cuts, sausages, and eggs.

Adam’s Apples and More | Apple butters, jams, marinades + chow chow.

Agape Chocolates | Every product sold helps to feed a local child.

BKeD SHoP Donuts | Who doesn't like donuts?

Boeshreen | Middle Eastern cuisine

Brown Sistaz Island Vibz | Authentic Jamaican cuisine

Buds Mobile Cafe | Mississippi Delta food, like shrimp + grits and fried fish.

Kingz Peanut Truck | Boiled peanuts with flavors like garlic pepper + cajun.

🧠 Vendors who exercise your brain:

Bee Bottom Art | Explore the collection of tiny art pieces.

Blue Dasher Laser Designs | Get a custom laser piece for the perfect, unique gift.

Cobble & Vine Candle Co. | These candles are handmade from organic ingredients.

Color Me Special | Check out its embroidered products, like kitchen towels + face masks.

Copper Loft Designs | Explore its unique jewelry pieces from up-cycled copper.

Dolphin Wood House | Prioritize your self care with its luxury bath items.

Eaddy Acres | A local farm in Chapin that offers high-quality vegetables, fresh-cut flowers, and artisan soaps.

Garden Province | Calling all plant lovers — explore its collections of succulents, cacti + air plants.

🧢 Vendors who cover your body:

A Stitch of Faith | Shop kids’ clothing + aprons.

Alter Oceans | Every purchase helps raise money for coral reef restoration.

CanaBliss Farmacy | Explore its CBD products that serve a variety of purposes.

Eagle House Botanicals | Shop its premium CBD products.

Loopy Loomers | Check out its creative hat designs.

Modern Companion | A specialty pet boutique that offers accessories, chew toys + more.

Pannerpete Vintage | Stay trendy with 80s and 90s clothing finds.

Shop Elby | Fulfill all your loungewear needs.

SHOP 140+ VENDORS

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EVENTS

Today

Friendsgiving Food Drive | Wed., Nov. 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Capital City Club | Free | Bring non-perishable items to donate to Harvest Hope Food Bank. 🥫
Night Before Thanksgiving with AJ Lang & Friends | Wed., Nov. 24 | 9 p.m. | Tin Roof | Free
Dragsgiving — Thanksgiving Eve Spectacular | Wed., Nov. 24 | 7 p.m. | The Main Course | $10 | Enjoy a DJ, drinks, and food.

Thursday

Turkey Day 5K Run & Walk | Thurs., Nov. 25 | 8 a.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $30+ | Proceeds will benefit the Boys + Girls Club of the Midlands.
Whigsgiving | Thurs., Nov. 25 | 4 p.m. | The Whig | Price of purchase | Enjoy a full kitchen + bar.

Friday

Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir — 5th Annual Toys 4 Tots Show | Fri., Nov. 26 | 9 p.m. | The Senate | $40+ | Don’t forget to bring a toy to donate at the show.
Seventy-Six and Sunny | Fri., Nov. 26 | 10 p.m. | Tin Roof | Free

Saturday

SC Excellence Gala | Sat., Nov. 27 | 7 p.m.-12 a.m. | UofSC Alumni Center, 900 Senate St. | $50 | Enjoy dinner, cocktails + live music.
Fantastic 4 feat. Kasino, FatRat Da Czar. Rock Ransom and Milah | Sat., Nov. 27 | 7-11:30 p.m. | The Main Course | $15+

Plan Ahead

Mason’s Jingle Jog 5K | Sat., Dec. 4 | 7:30 a.m. | Segra Park | $45 | Race in your best Fireflies neon or Christmas attire as you take part in this one-of-a-kind holiday fun run experience. *

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE NOVEMBER EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

57º | Sunny skies | 0% chance of rain ☀️
Bring your plant babies inside because temperatures are dropping to 22º and below this week. Expect chilly winds + subfreezing temperatures until Thursday. (Cola Daily)

Coming Soon

Santa’s sleigh is running a little behind. We announced on Monday that Miracle on Main Pop-up planned to open its doors yesterday, but due to supply delays, it’s set to open this Friday, Nov. 26. 🎄

Holiday

Paula Whitaker, PhD clinical psychologist + associate psychology professor at Columbia International Univeristy talks about how to keep the peace around the table on Thanksgiving with family members who hold differing opinions. “Practicing gratitude and assuming the best will get you far at the Thanksgiving table.” Read more on how to navigate awkward discussions here. 🦃 (WLTX)
After nine years, Five Points Festivus! is returning to Columbia. From Dec. 3-5, this famous Seinfeld-inspired holiday is based off of the 1997 episode. It will include a bar crawl, retail + restaurant specials, and holiday-related activities. (The State)

Eat

Kusina Filipina’s — the area’s first Filipino food truck — is located at the Forest Drive Sam’s Club serving up food centered around pork, ham hocks + pork belly, often served with sauces. 🐷 (The Post and Courier)

State

Virtual tutoring for students from kindergarten through high school now have access to real-time virtual tutoring thanks to a partnership between South Carolina Department of Education, South Carolina State Library, and Tutor.com. This service is free, and all students have access to resources at any time in over 200 subjects. 💻 (WLTX)

Traffic

For Thanksgiving, metered spaces will be free citywide on Thursday. For Friday + Saturday metered parking will be free in most of the city, with the exception of Five Points. Wednesday-Friday, city-owned garages will be free after 5 p.m. 🚗 (The State)

Travel

Some holiday travel news — the number of travelers at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) are almost double than what they were in 2020, but are not yet at the pre-pandemic numbers. See what locals have to say about travel in 2021 compared to 2020. ✈️ (WLTX)

Concert

The Main Course has music + entertainment almost every night. See who’s playing this week. 🎶*

Health

We all know a bit about diabetes, but probably less about prediabetes. In this podcast, Prisma Health family medicine physician Sara Nelson-Owens, MD, explains what it is + what you can do to reverse this medical condition.*

Seasonal

Save the date: Santa is coming to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) on Sun., Nov. 28 + Sun., Dec. 5. The jolly ol' guy will be available for free photos (for both travelers and the general public) in the main lobby from 12-3 p.m. No appointment needed. 🎄*

Featured Deal

Jack Foster | 20% off all Jack Foster leather goods, including coasters, bags, Columbia hats, Apple Watch straps + more | No promo code needed.*

THE WRAP

Editor's Pick: I just starting reading Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business) by Tabitha Brown. I can't put it down.

I'm not usually into autobiographical-type books, but keep finding empowering, golden nuggets to carry with me throughout the day. Definitely worth a read, and you can pick up a hard copy or Ebook at the Richland Library. 📖

Missed yesterday's newsletter? Read about the winter weather coming to Columbia + Gamecocks Women's Basketball team defeating The University of Connecticut here.