Richland County Economic Development Office > Living Here

Indie Grits Festival

Indie Grits was born in 2007, charging blindly and passionately onto the scene, with a do-it-yourself attitude. Propelled by a far-flung artistic vision, festival organizers sought to break down the walls intimidating Southern media makers by creating exhibition opportunities for work often overlooked elsewhere. Indie Grits Film Festival – an annual showcase of the best in Southern DIY film and culture – which was named one of the “20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by Moviemaker Magazine.

Soda City Market

Soda City is an open-air street-fair farmers' market in the heart of Columbia, held on the 1500 block of Main St. near the Columbia Museum of Art. The market features produce, dairy, eggs, cheeses, meats and seafood, as well as the city's fines artists and artisans, and is open every Saturday morning from 9am-1pm, year-round rain-or-shine!

City Roots

City Roots is an in-town sustainable 2.75 acre farm in the city of Columbia. This urban farm not only grows fresh, organic food for the community but it's also grown roots in the hearts of the people they serve. The farm currently grows over forty types of vegetables including micro-greens, sells eggs from its free-range chickens, and has a 3,000 gallon tank in which 1,500 tilapia are being raised for commercial production.

City Roots frequently hosts Farm to Table Dinners, which feature local chefs, musicians, farmers and artisans. Guests enjoy a cocktail while exploring the farm. Then guests enjoy a meal in the field or the greenhouse (depending on weather) for a sit down family style dinner paired with sustainable beer or wine. Local Chefs and Farmers are on hand to dine and talk with guests about the harvest menu and the farm.