The hot weather in West Columbia is beginning to subside, as the fall season gets closer. With better weather, more people are getting outside to enjoy it. No more was great outdoor weather more evident than the Meeting Street Music Fest. It was held last Saturday and the event attracted a large crowd.

“We estimate the attendance to the Meeting Street Music Fest to be at 8,500,” said Anna Huffman, West Columbia Director of Public Relations and Business Development.  It was only the second year of the Meeting Street Music Fest.

“We’re so pleased with the success of the  Meeting Street Music Fest, Huffman said.  We’re seeing so much growth and we’re very thankful from the response of the community. “And Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Families, friends, of all ages came out for a spectacular event. And the weather was great, too. 

“It’s was a beautiful evening for people to come out and enjoy music and dance in the streets of West Columbia,” said West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles. “There was so much live music from a lot of talented musicians and really good bands. I saw many of those who came enjoying the food trucks, too. The celebratory atmosphere just builds on the wonderful community spirit. I’m very pleased with the city staff that put it together and the volunteers who worked to make everything so much fun.”

Business owners on Meeting Street also got a chance to show off under the beautiful blue West Columbia skies on the day of the Meeting Street Music Fest. 

“It was a great day for us,” said Bill Kinsey, owner of Encore at 743 Meeting Street. “The Music Fest crowd was great and having all those people right outside our door gave us the chance to invite them in and see our place. It was a great day and I thank the City of West Columbia for putting it on.” 

Willie Wells, owner of Bill’s Pickin’ Parlor liked the fact that there were three stages at the music fest this year. 

“There was a lot of traffic in front of my business and it was a good day for everyone,” he said. His band Willie Wells and the Blue Mountain Grass also played on one of the Music Fest stages. “We had a blast,” he said.  

The good weather on Saturday is just the beginning. The forecast for this weekend includes daytime highs of around 80 degrees. With more comfortable weather, comes the opportunity to visit some West Columbia restaurants and sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. 

Savage Craft Ale Works

Savage Craft Ale Works at 430 Center Street has an outdoor courtyard filled with tables for outdoor dining. It also has a rooftop bar that offers a bird’s eye view of West Columbia’s Meeting Street and the surrounding area.

Black Rooster

Black Rooster is at 201 Meeting St., West Columbia, in the Brookland Development. It’s at the base of the Gervais Street Bridge, at the corner of Alexander and Meeting streets and adjacent to the Congaree River. It has an amazing rooftop bar with an amazing  view of Downtown Columbia and the Gervais Street Bridge. Black Rooster also offers sidewalk-level seating and diners can be seen sitting out and enjoying the atmosphere, especially as it gets warmer.

WECO Bottle and Biergarten

WECO Bottle and Biergarten at 626 Meeting St., is West Columbia’s destination for retail beer and wine and includes lots of shaded outdoor seating. The place also features food trucks with everything from Mexican cuisine and the Wurst Wagen to Korean food and the Belgian Waffle Truck for brunch on Sunday.

Café Strudel – West Columbia

Cafe Strudel, West Columbia, is at 300 State St. It’s known as the top brunch destination in the area. Cafe Strudel has a back patio for outside dining.

Other West Columbia restaurants that have outside dining are: D’s Wings at 425 Meeting Street, beside the Interactive Art Park; The Hideout in WECO, on State Street, Breakfast at Ruiz; and Another Broken Egg.

List of West Columbia restaurants:

• Grecian Gardens Restaurant – 2312 Sunset Blvd – 803-794-7552
• Cafe Strudel – 300 State St. – 803 – 926-5255
• Savage Craft Ale Works – 430 Center St. – (803) 888-6005
• WECO Bottle and Biergarten – (803) 851-1279
• The Hideout in WECO – State Street
• City Limits Q – (803) 260 – 7469
• La Cienega Mexican Grill & Seafood – (803) 888-7471
• Breads and Such – 1220 C Ave. – (803) 851- 0566
• Buttercream Dreams – 1230 C Ave. – (803) 708-4485
• Hite’s BBQ – 240 Dreher Rd. – (803) 794-4120
• Jimmy’s Mini Mart/Citgo – 812 Meeting St. – (803) 794-0090
• Maurice’s Piggie Park – 1600 Charleston Highway – 803-796-0220J
• Nick’s House of Pizza Restaurant- 1082 A Sunset Blvd – 803-794-9240
• DeLuccas 1720 Sunset Blvd. – 803- 926-5255
• Breakfast at Ruiz – 116 State Street – (803) 550-9681
• Ariana’s Greek Restaurant – 1720 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-4430
• Lizard’s Thicket – 2234 Sunset Blvd. 803 – 794-0923
• True BBQ – 1237 D Ave – (803) 791-9950
• Chick-fil-A -2299 Augusta Rd. – (803) 939-1600
• Rush’s 2332 Sunset Blvd. – (803) 796-5034
• Another Broken Egg – 101 State St. – (803) 829-0223