It’s not too early to start making your Fourth of July plans. If you live in West Columbia there are lots of close-by options for the middle of the summer holiday that can be traced back to 1776 and the American Revolution. 

West Columbia City Hall will be closed on July 4, but some West Columbia businesses have become the go-to for the July 4th holiday period. And West Columbia is close to a lot of other July 4th celebration opportunities.

A lot of families include barbeque as a part of their Fourth of July celebration. 

“The Fourth of July is our busiest day of the year,” said David Hite, owner of Hite’s Barbeque at 240 Dreher Rd, West Columbia. “A line of barbeque lovers will fill our parking lot on July 4th. Hite’s Barbeque has become a tradition for the people of West columbia and the areas around us.” 

For the July 4th Hite’s will cook, smoked over oak and hickory wood: 750 half-chickens; six whole hogs; 250, 25-pound hams; 400 racks of ribs, including baby back ribs; and 400 gallons of hash. 

Besides barbeque, there will be a lot of other activities going on during the week of July 4th, including tubing trips down the Congaree River.  

“Fourth of July is our busiest day of the year and the fact that it falls mid-week, we are expecting a big turnout for both weekends, before and after the Fourth of July,” said Michael Mayo, owner of Palmetto Outdoor. Palmetto Outdoor is one of the most successful river tubing and kayaking centers in the Southeast.

Palmetto Outdoor tubing trips end at the West Columbia Riverwalk. You can book your trip at the Riverwalk, too. “We want to make sure everyone who comes to float down the river has a safe and fantastic Fourth of July,” said Mayo. 

In addition to river tubing and food, there are other Fourth of July activities, including music, baseball, and fireworks going on close-by for the residents of West Columbia to enjoy.

And make sure you celebrate respectfully. The City of West Columbia Fireworks Ordinance allows for the discharging or shooting of fireworks on July 4th, Independence Day, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. only. Please refrain from discharging fireworks at any other time. It is otherwise unlawful to shoot fireworks inside the City Limits. The West Columbia Police Department’s non-emergency phone number is 803-794-0721. 

More July 4th Celebrations

Join the Town of Lexington for a free Independence Day Celebration on July 28 at the Icehouse Amphitheater. The 246th Army Band will play a concert beginning at 7 p.m. and there will be a fireworks show to follow. You can tune into 93.1FM The Lake to listen to patriotic music during the fireworks show.
Best viewing areas include the Icehouse Amphitheater, Main St. restaurants, Lexington Square Park, Lexington Veterans Monument and any public parking lot in the Downtown Area.

The annual 4th of July Celebration on Lake Murray is Saturday, June 29. Fireworks will launch at dark (roughly 9:30 PM) from two lake locations: Spence Island & Dreher Island.  Fireworks do not launch from the park sites at the dam. The best viewing location is from a boat. It’s one of the largest fireworks shows and it is synchronized to patriotic music.  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 The Lake. The Annual Patriotic Boat Parade on Lake Murray will not take place this year due to the construction at the dam.

The Columbia Fireflies and the South Carolina Philharmonic will hold Fireworks with the Phil, at Segra Park at its Independence Day Celebration on July 4. It will be held outside of the ballpark to create more capacity inside Segra Park.  Gates for Fireworks with the Phil will open at 6:30 pm and the concert will begin at 8 pm. The 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will coincide with a rousing rendition of the 1812 overture performed by the SC Philharmonic around 9:15 pm to conclude the concert. Throughout the event, food and beverages will be available for purchase. The SCU Kids Zone will be open from 6:30 pm to 8 pm, closing once the concert begins. Get tickets for the event at ColumbiaFireflies.com

The Lexington County Blowfish Baseball Game and Fireworks Show begins at 7:05 p.m. on July 4, at the Blowfish Stadium at 474 Ball Park Road, Lexington. On July 4th the Blowfish will play the Glowfish and a firework display will be held at the end of the game. 

The Lexington County Peach Festival begins at 9 a.m. on July 4 and concludes around 9:30 p.m. with a Fireworks display. It’s at Gilbert Community Park, 110 Rikard Circle, Gilbert. It’s the 64th annual Lexington Peach Festival and will provide fun events and festivities all day long. The festival kicks off at 9 am with a car show, followed by a parade at 9:30 am, and ends the day with a firework display around 9:15 pm. Throughout the day you can enjoy live music and entertainment, a tractor show, children’s rides, an art exhibit, and more.

There will be a 4th of July, Independence Day Celebration, with a fireworks show, at Fort Jackson.  It’s July 4, and open to the public. Carnival Rides start at 4 p.m. and Food and Beer Trucks begin serving at 4 p.m. The Music Festival Starts at 6 pm (Local Bands and Artists) Featuring: DJ Payne; Jazzy Trinity; HiJacked, with The Reggie Sullivan Band, the headliner, going last.  There will be Misting Stations and Fireworks will begin around 9 p.m.

If you live in West Columbia, there are lots of chances on different days to celebrate the Fourth of July. Make sure you get out and catch one or all of these Patriotic events.