eSTEAM is this Saturday, and plenty of fall events for all are coming up - Oktoberfest, Porches and more

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SUMTER COUNTY

This year's annual eSTEAM Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 3, with about 90 participating exhibitors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Sumter. Enjoy a day of family-friendly fun, hands-on learning with a parade, food vendors, interactive displays, live stage shows and more. The parade begins at 10 a.m. There will be a sensory sensitivity hour from 9 to 10 a.m. for children with sensitivities, and some exhibitors will be participating. Other festival attendees are asked to be respectful of that time.

Join Sumter County 4-H and Clemson Extension for a hands-on Community Innovation Fair celebrating youth creativity, literacy and innovation, on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be hosted by Sumter County 4-H, Clemson Extension and Community Literacy Lab and is meant to bring together STEM, creativity and communication skills in one engaging event. Aligned with the South Carolina 4-H STEM Program - 2026, this fair highlights how literacy is essential to innovation, from coding and robotics to visual storytelling and advocacy. Youth and adult participants will demonstrate their knowledge, creativity and critical thinking through hands-on challenges and displays that connect reading, writing and communication to real-world solutions. Proceeds will support the local literacy programs with Community Literacy Lab and 4-H youth development. Current 4-H membership is not required for participation in this event, but you must preregister through https://tinyurl.com/3fjpehap.

The South Carolina Green Industry Association will hold its 23rd Annual Fall Field Day on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Modern Turf, 5740 Peach Orchard Road in Dalzell. To register, visit https://scgreen.org. Educational presentations, hands-on courses, equipment demonstrations, networking with exhibitors and a catered lunch will be offered. Attendees can also earn South Carolina Pesticide and ISA Arborist credits. Fall Field Day begins at 8:30 a.m. for registration with classes and exhibitor visits end at 3 p.m. More than 35 exhibitors will showcase their products and services throughout the event. Presentations include: Rooted for Success - Sod Harvesting, Installation, and Turf Health in South Carolina presented by Modern Turf and Signature Green; Proper Tree Planting Techniques presented by DabneyCollins; Name That Plant - Field Identification for Landscape Crews presented by Moore Farms Botanical Garden; Mowing Patterns and their Effects presented by Power Equipment Distributors; and Sprayer Calibration and Pesticide Safety presented by Clemson University Extension. For more information on SC Green, visit scgreen.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Enjoy an evening strolling through downtown while tasting delicious dishes from area chefs and bakers during the annual Porches of Sumter, hosted by Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce and presented by FTC and Tandem Health. This event is always held in downtown Sumter's Historic District as the weather turns cooler, and this year it will be on Friday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Buy tickets at www.sumterchamber.com.

The 2nd annual First Responders BBQ Cookoff & Car/Truck Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Awards at 2 p.m. Free admission and parking, with raffles and door prizes. To enter the cookoff or show, or to be a sponsor, contact Lt. Mike McCoy at (803) 774-4098.

It won't be long until Oktoberfest is back in Sumter. On Saturday, Oct. 10, enjoy all the craft beer you can drink from Sumter Original Brewery alongside authentic German foods on North Main Street. There will be a kids' corner with a slide, balloon artist, ice cream and more. This event serves as the largest fundraiser of the year for Sumter United Ministries. Tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door (no refunds). Kids 10 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased through https://sumteroktoberfest.com via Eventbrite. The event starts at 5 p.m. with German music on Main Street from Dirndl Dames until 8:30 p.m. Before the festivities start, though, run off some calories at the 5th-Annual Oktoberfest Buzz Run 5K that morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in historic downtown Sumter. Proceeds benefit Sumter United Ministries. There will be an awards ceremony and afterparty on the brewery rooftop. Visit https://sumteroktoberfest.com/buzz-run for more and to register.

Don't miss the annual Great Outdoors Expo at Simpson Hardware and Sports, coming up Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Sumter store at 40 W. Wesmark Blvd. Special guests will include Hayden Alabama Podcast, Andy Montgomery, Andrew Beam and Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel. There will be more than 75 vendors there and plenty to do for the whole family. Enjoy great food, giveaways and deals, demos for outdoor gear, duck-calling competitions, live fishing demos and activities for the kids, including face painting, balloon artists, a duck pond and BB gun range. Live music and entertainment will be provided by Chappell Court Band and Green Swamp Collective. Friday's hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have fun and learn all about health as the Sumter County Recreation and Parks presents Golden Connections A Senior Community Health and Resource Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. Doors open at 9 a.m. The event will include local and state resource vendors, prevention information, giveaways, guest speakers, fraud bingo, entertainment and refreshments. A drawing for an iPad will be held - must be present to win. To preregister or for more information, call (803) 436-2248 or email recreation@sumtercountysc.gov. Sponsors are Sumter Economic Development, FTC, S.C. Office of the Attorney General and Sumter Senior Services.

Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale begins Thursday, Oct. 15, for a Friends Preview Night for Friends members only from 5 to 7 p.m. Those interested in being a Friends member can join at the door. The annual book sale is hosted by the Friends to help support programs and services the library would otherwise be unable to provide to the public. This includes activities and events for children and adults like the Summer Reading Program and Christmas Winter Wonderland. The sale continues at the following dates and times:

- Friday, Oct. 16, from 2 to 6 p.m.

- Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Friday, Oct. 23, from 2 to 6 p.m.

- Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Bag of Books Day is Oct. 25 with books costing $5 per bag. The book sale happens inside the main library branch's meeting room at 111 N. Harvin St. Book purchases are cash or check only. For more information on this event, contact Sumter County Library at (803) 773-7273. For more information on programs available at the library, visit www.sumtercountylibrary.org.

It's that time of year again. Poinsett State Park Campground is hosting a family-friendly Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m. This annual event is held in partnership with Carolina Camping Club at 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield. Wear your costume, decorate your campsite, and enjoy a campfire and activities on this fall night in the park.

Spend Halloween evening at Petoberfest this year for a safe, family-friendly holiday that will benefit Sumter SPCA. Visit the shelter at 1100 S. Guignard Drive from 4 to 7 p.m. that night for trick-or-treating, free Bark Park for the dogs, local vendors, furry friends and more. Everything is free. For more information, call the SPCA at (803) 773-9292. If you'd like to be a vendor, text Angel Hankins at (803) 840-5822 for vendor information.

Save the date for Alice Drive Baptist Church's annual Family Fall Festival! On Oct. 25, the community is invited to the Loring Mill Campus from 4 to 6 p.m. to enjoy Treat Street, inflatables, snacks, food trucks at cost, and fun.

FLORENCE

You know fall is near when the Eastern Carolina Agricultural Fair announces its dates. The popular event is coming to 5226 E. Palmetto St., Florence, from 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 22-Nov. 1, with amusement rides, entertainment, exhibits, fair food and much more. To learn more, visit www.ecafair.com/eca/index.asp.

The all-new Sesame Street Live show, "Elmo's Got the Moves," is coming to the Florence Center, 3300 W. Radio Drive, Florence, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. This show will have the audience out of their seats dancing along with Elmo and his Sesame Street friends as they dance, stretch and play along to fan-favorite songs, including "Sunny Days," "Elmo's Got the Moves" and "Letter of the Day." Get your tickets at www.florencecenter.com/events-tickets.

The 2026 SC Pecan Music and Food Festival returns for its 21st year on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 123 N. Dargan St., Florence. "This exciting one-day festival is the area's largest event, drawing over 50,000 attendees each year. The festival consistently wins Best of the Pee Dee awards and has been featured in numerous national publications such as Travel + Leisure Magazine Online and AAA's Go Magazine." Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago, will be the headline band. For additional information, visit www.scpecanfestival.com.

COLUMBIA

After a 12-year absence, the Italian Festival returns to Columbia on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Finlay Park, 930 Laurel St. The free festival will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 2 to 2:30 p.m. on the park's main stage. Visitors can enjoy Italian food, local vendors, live music, cultural performances and activities throughout the park. Entertainment highlights include Italian sword fighting, Palmetto Opera and ColaJazz.

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

There will be two days of horses, hounds, sport, shopping, demonstrations and tradition in Historic Camden coming up during Camden Horse and Hound Weekend Sept. 25-26. It kicks off with the Denim and Diamonds Gala on that Friday, billed as "a premier social event of the season" and hosted by The Camden Hunt. On Saturday is a showcase of equestrian and canine exhibitions, regional vendors and great food. Buy tickets at camdenhorseandhound.com.

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.

LEE COUNTY

Scary season is coming up soon! On Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., don't miss Paranormal Presentations at Lee County Public Library in Bishopville. South Carolina Paranormal Investigation and Research will be at the library to talk about their paranormal investigations across South Carolina and demonstrate some of their ghost hunting equipment. The library is at 200 N. Main St.

Gather with friends and family for the Bishopville Fall Festival: Unity in the Community, coming back to the city on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, all day in downtown.