What to do across the Midlands: Sip tea and paint a vase, celebrate Flag Day and play bingo or join the Bits of Thread Sewing Circle, all in Sumter

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SUMTER COUNTY

Sip tea, enjoy light refreshments and paint a vase at High Tea at Two from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Sumter County Gallery of Art, 200 Hasel St. Participants will select a vase from a variety of handcrafted ceramic vases to personalize and will be guided through underglaze decoration techniques. Vases will remain with gallery staff for clear glazing and kiln firing and will be ready for pickup one to two weeks after the workshop. Cost is $45 for non-members and $40 for members. For more information, call (803) 775-0543 or stop by the gallery between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/mspw34sr.

Celebrate Flag Day by learning the history and other facts about our country's flag while playing bingo at Temple Sinai Jewish History Center. This event is free and open to the public, and all ages are encouraged to attend. Bingo winners will receive prizes! The event is Saturday, June 13, at 1:30 p.m., and it is free and open to the public. The church is at 11 Church St.

Out and about with the kids on Wednesdays during the summer and need something to do before lunch? Listen to fun stories by Elise at the Wesmark branch of Sumter County Library. Each Wednesday from 10:30 to 11 a.m., Elise will read to the children at 180 W. Wesmark Blvd. Storytime will be held throughout the summer and continues into the fall and winter.

Where Creativity Grows: The Topiary Experience with Michael Gibson, led by esteemed topiary artist Michael P. Gibson, is a two-hour therapeutic workshop for up to 12 participants set for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Sumter County Gallery of Art, 200 Hasel St. "Participants will learn the Gibson Method to Creative Pruning, a five-step approach for developing their creative topiary skills, while receiving personalized support from Gibson. This workshop blends education, hands-on activities and group reflections to maximize the therapeutic benefits of topiary art. Gibson is a renowned topiary artist and educator with over 30 years of experience, having created more than 700 living sculptures across the U.S. Featured on HGTV's "Clipped," he served as the first artist-in-residence at Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden. Gibson developed the Gibson Method, blending geometry and storytelling to transform plants into art. To purchase your ticket, visit https://tinyurl.com/54kntd2j.

Grab your project, whether it be knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross stitch or any other sewing, and join the Bits of Thread Sewing Circle from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at 180 W. Wesmark Blvd. Please no sewing machines. The event is free and hosted by Sumter County Library.

Sumter Museum will host a free Talk with Dr. Susanna Ashton at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the museum, 122 N. Washington St. Ashton, a professor of English at Clemson University and an expert on slavery and freedom narratives, will speak on her book "A Plausible Man: The True Story of the Escaped Slave Who Inspired Uncle Tom's Cabin." The book traces the early life of John Andrew Jackson, born enslaved near Lynchburg, South Carolina, his escape from slavery and his later career as a public speaker and writer. Light refreshments will be provided. Books On Broad will have books available for purchase at the event.

Fun for the whole family, mind-blowing magic by John Tudor and a comedy show by comedian hypnotist Colin Chapman will be coming to Patriot Hall, 135 Haynsworth St., on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27. The Mental Health Matters Magic Show and Carnival Extravaganza will be held at various times those days. Magic show tickets are $10, and comedy show tickets are $20. Visit https://tinyurl.com/2jvxr69r for tickets and showtimes.

Fourth Fridays Concert Series returns with country singer Cody Webb at 6:30 pm. Friday, June 26, on the grounds of Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main St. Later dates include: July 24 - Honey & New Era, Aug. 28 - Level 10 Live Band & Show and Sept. 25 - Sole Purpose. Concert attendance is free, and there will be food and drink available for sale. Downtown restaurants will be open for dine-in and take-out. Palmetto Optimist Club will be back with free books for the kids, as well as popcorn and cotton candy for sale. Bring your chairs (no coolers) and spend an evening in downtown Sumter!

Go on a Reading Adventure with Curious George with Sumter Museum and Temple Sinai Jewish History Center at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the center, 13 Church St. Families are invited to enjoy George's Zoo Adventure through interactive storytelling, hands-on activities and fun for children of all ages. The event is free.

The 2026 Krawlin' For Christ Jeep Show featuring Jeep vendors, live music, food vendors, RC course and a Jeep Show and Shine Competition will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Entry to this indoor and outdoor event is free to the public. All proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital. To find out more, go to https://Krawlinforchrist.wixsite.com/my-site-1. The show and shine registration booth will be open from 8:30 to 11 a.m. the day of the event. Cost to register your Jeep is $20, and all proceeds will go to St. Jude Children's Hospital. There will be raffles. No alcohol allowed.

BISHOPVILLE

Celebrate South Carolina's own scaly reptile at the 2026 Lizard Man Stomp beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, on Main Street in Bishopville. Enjoy vendors, live music, arts and crafts, kids activities, a car show, parade and more.

Head to Bishopville for its Independence Day Festival on Saturday, July 4. There will be fireworks, food and fun activities for everyone. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., and the festival starts at 4 p.m. with an opening ceremony, presentation of the colors, an opening prayer and an F-16 flyover at Lee County Airport, or "Butters Field," 145 Airport Road in Bishopville. Several bands will play at the field's stage, including Koby Weaver with Southern Soul, Austin and Madi and Chukk Gregory Live. A children's play area and food vendors will be open until 8:30, and the fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. The nonprofit bishopvillefireworksinc.org says "every kid deserves the chance to sit on a blanket and watch the sky light up over the celebration of our nation's founding with no cost to the family."

CLARENDON COUNTY

The second-annual Sherri Arment Memorial Charity Golf Classic to benefit pets at Second Chance Animal Shelter will be Saturday, June 27, at Players Course at Wyboo. Cost is: course members, $40, nonmembers, $55. Payment is to accompany entry form. Forms can be picked up at A Second Chance Thrift Store in Manning, Players Course, Chamber of Commerce and A Second Chance Animal Shelter. Registration is at 8 a.m., and shotgun start is at 9 a.m. Tournament package includes green fee and cart, continental breakfast, lunch and prizes (based on entries). This is a four-man captain's choice with 10-point handicap system and mulligans available. For more information, see entry forms or call Herb Whetsell at (843) 509-3737 or Mike Stegmoyer at (803) 460-0878.

Head Turnerz will hold the Show Us Your Wheels Show on Saturday, June 27, at JC Britton Park, 3057 Racoon Road, Manning. The event will benefit Monarch Strong Scholarships. All vehicles are welcome: cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles and golf carts. There will be a 50/50 raffle. Onsite registration will be $20, 9-11 a.m. Awards presentation will be at noon: Best of Show 1986 and newer; Best of Show 1985 and older; Sponsor's Choice; Host Car; MSC Scholars' Choice; Top 15 1986 and newer; and Top 15 1985 and older. There will be Zumba in the Park, barbecue, and ice cream truck and more. The Monarchs Got Talent Show will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.

The S.C. Charity Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, at Santee Cooper Country Club, 630 Santee Drive, Santee. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with shotgun start at 9 a.m. Cost is $75/player and $300/team. Tournament prizes include Closest to Pin, Longest Drive and raffles/door prizes. For additional information, contact Kenneth Johnson at (803) 410-0976 or email info@jwcmemorial.org.

COLUMBIA

Palmer Memorial Chapel's Community Day, a vibrant celebration of connection, fun, and growth, will take place on Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia location, 1200 Fontaine Place. Community Day will be filled with exciting activities for all ages, including delicious food trucks, energetic line dancing, free health screenings and an opportunity to support local entrepreneurs. It's an ideal occasion to experience the true essence of Columbia's inviting and dynamic community. Families, friends and neighbors coming together to celebrate is at the heart of this event.

For more information, contact Torri Toland at (803) 467-4831 or email PalmerMemorialChapel@gmail.com.

Join the South Carolina Orchid Society for its Annual Summer Orchid Auction at noon Sunday, June 28, at 1605 Park Circle, Columbia. There will be 100 items up for live auction including blooming plants, seedlings, pottery, care kits and every thing in between. Bidding starts at 1 p.m . Cash, checks, credit cards, Venmo and Paypal accepted.

Vince Gill will bring his 50 Years From Home tour to the Township Auditorium, Columbia, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/nhb7pchs.

Comedian Desi Banks will bring his all new Your Favorite Cousin Tour to the Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Green St., Columbia, on Saturday, Oct. 10. Banks is an actor, stand-up comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur who has a strong social media influence with more than 19 million fans. He is known for his "razor-sharp wit and hilarious comedic timing." Tickets that were sold for Desi's show, "The Elevation Tour," originally scheduled in 2025 at the Koger Center, are valid for this performance. For more information and tickets, visit KogerCenterForTheArts.com.

CAMDEN

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association will host the Hero Fest motorcycle ride on Saturday, Sept. 26, with all proceeds going to veterans in the Midlands. Participants will make multiple stops along the ride, including in Sumter, starting and stopping at Silver Leaf Cigar Lounge, 1015 Broad St., Camden. Other stops will include Wild Heart Brewing Co., Southern Hops Brewing Co., Slabs BBQ Restaurant and Willie Sue's. There will also be vendors, food trucks, raffles, silent auction, live music and games. Must be present to win prizes. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Rider signup costs $20, and passenger signup is $10. First bike leaves at 10:30 a.m., and the last bike returns at 4 p.m. A meet and greet before the event will be held Friday, Sept. 25, at Greener Pastures Brewing Co., 826 Broad St., Camden, at 6 p.m.