Recreation

Recreation

Innovista has recreation and entertainment opportunities that will appeal to anyone’s taste—from culture to sports to the outdoors.

Waterfront Park
The Congaree River is a focal point for recreation opportunities, and a world-class Waterfront Park with river landings and an amphitheater will make the water more accessible to the entire community. The South Carolina Gamecocks, a national powerhouse in baseball, will open a new riverfront stadium with a seating capacity of 8,000 in spring 2009.

Blue waters, green spaces
River development will complement an extensive series of riverfront parks and pathways—the Three Rivers Greenways—that line much of the Congaree and Broad River. Columbia’s nationally recognized Riverbanks Zoo and Garden sits on the banks of the Saluda River, which, along with the Broad, feeds into the Congaree. Finlay Park is currently the city’s largest green area, a few blocks northeast of the Vista, and a gathering space for festivals, political rallies, and the start and finish of running races.

Just the ticket
Foundation Square at Discovery Plaza will be the epicenter of Innovista, featuring the 18,000-seat Colonial Center for Gamecocks basketball, NBA exhibition and National Indoor Football League games, and concerts such as Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Kenny Chesney, and Jimmy Buffet. Nearby is the Carolina Coliseum, home to the Columbia Inferno minor league hockey team.

Production value
The Koger Center for the Arts and the School of Music are the cultural hub of Innovista, bringing world-class music, opera, and dance to the community. The Columbia Museum of Art is one of the Southeast’s largest fine-arts museums, and the State Museum also holds exhibitions.

Theatergoers will appreciate University productions at Drayton Hall and Longstreet Theatre, local professional productions at Town Theatre and Workshop Theatre, and eclectic, independent productions at Trustus Theatre.

‘Gritty’ culture
Artista Vista is a spring gallery “crawl” in which patrons can explore all of the Vista’s art-related business and show places. Vista Lights is another annual celebration, in the fall, in which local business stay open late and offer specials and giveaways. The historic Adluh Flour Milling Company provides tours and free baked goods. If you don’t know what grits are, check out Adluh.

Recreation Links

South Carolina Gamecocks Baseball
The Gamecocks are a three-time College World Series participant under Coach Ray Tanner

Artista Vista
A "crawl" through various Vista galleries and arts venues

Arts Institute-University of South Carolina
Promoting dance, film, literary arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and more

Columbia City Ballet
Professional company with 32 paid dancers and nearly 2,000 season members performing at Koger Center

Columbia Museum of Art
Downtown museum featuring exhibitions, public and children’s programs, and facility rentals

Cultural Council of Richland/Lexington Counties
Provides leadership, funding, and business expertise to artists and arts organizations

Finlay Park
Columbia’s largest park and green space

McKissick Museum
Exhibitions and permanent collections, many documenting South Carolina culture and folklife

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Home to more than 2,000 animals, 400 species of native and exotic, and scenic Saluda River views

South Carolina Philharmonic
One of Southeast’s leading orchestras with more than 100 performers

The State newspaper’s events calendar
Listings of community happenings

Vista entertainment
The Congaree Vista Guild’s listing of museums, theaters, and other entertainment options