From Sumter's Fourth Friday concerts to Lee County's Lizard Man Stomp, there is plenty to do locally and just a short drive away

SUMTER COUNTY

Splash around at the Sumter Aquatics Center. The center offers classes and activities and a free water aerobics class. You can also rent the center for parties, which includes use of the new lazy river. Usual admission for all guests is $3, and hours throughout the summer are: Mondays: closed; Tuesday: noon-5 p.m.; Wednesday: noon-5 p.m.; Thursday: noon-5 p.m.; Friday: noon-7 p.m.; Saturday: noon-5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1-6 p.m.

Gamecock City Farmers Market is now open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays outside Central Carolina Technical College's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Training Center, 853 Broad St. The market will continue to add vendors so that there is a little bit of something for everybody, from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade jewelry. The official grand opening of the market is Saturday, July 6. The grand opening will include its regularly scheduled vendors as well as dancing, raffles, face painting, performers and more.

Sumter Farmers Market is up and running from noon to 5 p.m. Fridays through Nov. 22 at USC Sumter, 200 Miller Road. Grab some lunch at one of the many food trucks and purchase quality, farm-fresh products and unique hand-crafted items all at the market. SFMNP-Senior and WIC vouchers are accepted.

Fourth Fridays has started back up for the summer in front of Sumter County Courthouse, 141 N. Main St. Every fourth Friday through September, a different band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m., and the event will last until 9 p.m. with food trucks/vendors, beer and free entertainment. Palmetto Optimist Club will give out free books to kids and have popcorn for sale, and Sertoma Club will sell the beer. Downtown restaurants will also be open during the event. Bands on the schedule are The Live in the Flesh Experience on June 28, Chief Complaint on July 26, Second Nature on Aug. 23 and Too Much Sylvia on Sept. 27. Bring your own chairs. Coolers aren't allowed.

The Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St., is bringing back its Summer Movie Series featuring $2 showings and popcorn and water for just $1. The lineup is as follows: June 25, "Wish"; July 2, " Paw Patrol"; July 9, "Under the Boardwalk"; July 16, "Puppet Treasure Island" (1996); July 23, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie"; and July 30, "Ratatouille." Movie times are 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. For additional information, visit SumterOperaHouse.com.

Sumter Original Brewery invites the community to "fill the brewery with comics and vintage toys" on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Comic Sanctum LLC is hosting the event at 2 S. Main St.

Jeep lovers, their friends and family will all come together at the third-annual Krawlin' for Christ Jeep Show and Shine on Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St. There will be Jeep vendors, live music, food vendors, an RC course and the Show and Shine Competition. The indoor/outdoor event is free and open to the public and supports St. Jude Children's Hospital. To be a vendor or for more information, please contact Minnie Sue Ardis or Ashley Ardis at krawlinforchrist@sc.rr.com. Learn more about the event at https://Krawlinforchrist.wixsite.com/my-site-1.

CLARENDON COUNTY

The City of Manning will hold its Red, White and Blue Celebration from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at the Farmers Market, 21 E. Boyce St. There will be music, food and of course a fireworks display. Bring a chair and sit for a while.

LEE COUNTY

Look for the Lizard Man and celebrate a local legend at the third-annual Lizard Man Stomp event in Bishopville on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On June 29, 1988, a lizard man, standing 8 feet tall, was allegedly spotted walking in Bishopville's Scape Ore Swamp near Browntown Road, and locals have been fascinated with the legend ever since. There will be a parade, music, arts, crafts, car show and free food for the kids in downtown Bishopville.

The Lizard Man Stomp 2024 Arts and Crafts Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at the S.C. Cotton Museum, 121 W. Cedar Lane, Bishopville. Free admission. Vendors can contact Millie Scott at (803) 486-5093.

COLUMBIA

View the power and performance of powerboats from across the country at the Dam Boat Run at Lake Murray on June 21-23. The event benefits the Big Red Barn Retreat and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. For additional information or to register to be in the boat run, visit www.lakemurraypowerboatrun.com.

See S.C.'s Largest Fireworks Show synchronized to music on Lake Murray on Saturday, June 29. Fireworks will be launched at about 9:30 p.m. from both Spence Island and Dreher Island. The best viewing location is from a boat. Tune your radio to hear patriotic music while enjoying the view. The best way to watch/listen is to tune your radio to 93.1 If you choose to stream the music there will be a delay. The fireworks are funded through Capital City/Lake Murray Country's fundraising efforts at the Taste of Lake Murray each year, private donations and support from sponsors. The Annual Patriotic Boat Parade on Lake Murray will not take place this year due to the construction at the dam. All normal fees will apply at the park sites, all boat launching sites and Marinas on Lake Murray. Should thunder and lightning occur and cause a postponement, the fireworks will take place on Sunday, June 30.

The Lexington County Peach Festival complete with fireworks will be held Monday, July 4, at the Gilbert Community Park in Gilbert. The schedule of events is: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., car show; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., arts and crafts vendors; 9:30 a.m., peach parade; noon-9 p.m., live entertainment; and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Visit lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com for more information.

The South Carolina Book Lovers Expo and Food Truck Festival will be held Saturday, July 27, at the Gala Event Center, 1801 Bush River Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can meet 40 regional authors representing many genres, get writing coaching, get books signed and take your pick of food from among five food trucks. Children are welcome at the event and will be able to explore the newest books, get their faces painted, take part in storytelling and more. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.thebookbutler.com/events.

The Sustainable Midlands Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival will be held 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at The Robert Mills House at Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, Columbia. Live music will be performed by Reedy River String Band, Swamptooth and Michael Haney Music. There will South Carolina artists and apparel vendors, food trucks, kids activities, silent auction and of course - lots of different kinds of tomato tastings, contests and competitions.

FLORENCE COUNTY

The Third Annual Watermelon Crawl will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at 5255 Langston Road, Timmonsville. The free family friendly event will include food trucks, 40 local vendors and fun for the entire family.

Join Dooley Planetarium, 200 Alumni Drive, Florence, on Sunday, June 23, for the Evening Skies of Summer. This free public planetarium program will provide an overview of the night sky for June and July and showcase constellations, planets and various deep sky objects that are visible this time of year. The program begins at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. for visitors to explore the planetarium. Seating is first come, first served.

KERSHAW COUNTY

Kids, show your patriotic pride at the 8th-Annual Kids' 4th of July Parade on Saturday, June 29, starting at 10:30 a.m. at Camden City Hall. The festivities begin a half hour earlier at 10 a.m. and will include Camden police and fire departments, Hobkirk Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Revolutionary War Visitor Center and more. Decorate your scooter, bicycle or wagon for the holiday and wear your best red, white and blue. The event is free, and there will also be free snow cones after the parade. Motorized vehicles (electric or gas powered) are not allowed, and children 10 and under must be escorted by an adult.

Get ready for Jammin' in July at Historic Camden on Saturday, July 13, starting at 5 p.m. The music starts then with bands including Landslide, Rusty Davis Group, Jim Hayes, Fair Jam, Ten Cent Rich, Melton Moon and Blake Weinbach. The event will be held rain or shine, and drinks, cocktails and food will be available to buy. Bring your own blanket and lawn chairs. Doors open at 4 p.m. at Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site. 222 Broad St., Camden. All ages are invited to come. Buy your tickets at Davis and Son's Guitar Shop or jamminincamden.com.

AMUSEMENT PARKS

The YMCA of Columbia opened its water parks for summer 2024, one in Orangeburg and one in Santee. The Santee Water Park, 1761 Bass Drive, Santee, SC 29142, is open Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Orangeburg Water Park, 2550 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118, is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for those 48 inches and above and $5 for those 47 inches and below. Free for YMCA of Columbia members. Both parks offer family fun slides, zero-depth pools, tot pools, lazy river, slides and spray features, group pavilions and snack bars. If you have any questions, contact the Orangeburg County YMCA at (803) 268-9622.

Carowinds has announced the final lineup for its 10-day Carowinds Summer Music Fest Amplified by Coke Studio. Grammy, CMA and ACM award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will take the stage on July 19, accompanied by chart-topping country artist Niko Moon and singer-songwriter Hannah Ellis. The festival will also feature a host of talented openers warming up the stages for other major acts, including Johnnyswim opening for LeAnn Rimes on July 5, 10 Years opening for Skillet on Aug. 2 and Blanco Brown opening for Flo Rida on Aug. 9. Hosted at Carowinds' on-site amphitheater. The fest also features performances by regional bands and emerging artists throughout the park, including 10 acts performing in-park, showcasing a mix of Nashville recording artists and Carolina talent.

- Friday, July 5: LeAnn Rimes with Johnnyswim

- Saturday, July 6: Bret Michaels Parti-Gras Tour 2024

Special guests Dee Snider and Steve Augeri, plus Great White and Slaughter

- Friday, July 19: Carly Pearce with Niko Moon and Hannah Ellis

- Saturday, July 20: TobyMac with Tenth Avenue North

- Friday, July 26: Brett Young with Restless Road

- Saturday, July 27: Brantley Gilbert with Lauren Alaina

- Friday, Aug. 2: Skillet with 10 Years

- Saturday, Aug. 3: Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra and Tonic

- Friday, Aug. 9: Flo Rida with Blanco Brown

- Saturday, Aug. 10: Russell Dickerson with Tyler Rich

The Carowinds Summer Music Fest is free with park admission. Season passholders can enjoy all performances as part of their pass benefits.

For the latest updates on the Carowinds Summer Music Fest, including performance schedules, visit Carowinds.com. Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, is home to top-rated roller coasters, including Fury 325, the world's tallest and fastest giga coaster, as well as more than 58 rides, attractions, and live stage shows. Carolina Harbor, a 26-acre water park, features a variety of water slides, wave pools, large play structures and a three-acre children's play area. For information on attractions and accommodations at Carowinds, visit www.carowinds.com or call (704) 588-2600.