West Columbia will be rocking.

The City of West Columbia’s 2nd Annual Kinetic Derby Day, is Saturday. It’s a guaranteed day of family fun, from 11 a.m until 3:30 p.m., on Meeting and State Streets in West Columbia.
“Last year’s Kinetic Derby Day gave us a chance to show off the City of West Columbia,”said Mayor Mayor Bobby Horton. “It’s a much-anticipated event. We are so proud of the effort that goes into this festival. This year will just be better.”

Kinetic Derby Day is free and includes a kinetic sculpture parade, soapbox car racing for adults and children, art, food, and family fun.

Anna Huffman, City of West Columbia Communications director, described what will happen.

“It’s a day of fun and festivities for the whole family. A parade, racing to a grit pit finish line, live art being performed, dancers, singers, painting, sculpting, poetry reading, and more,” she said. There’s also a kids zone with free face painting, a bounce house, and balloon art, and Soap Box cars for kids under the age of 10 to play in.”
Huffman also said you can bring some items to make the experience more enjoyable.
“You should bring chairs to sit and watch the parade and races,” she said. “Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, cash for the food trucks and artisan market, and a get ready for some art and racing attitude.”

The Kinetic Sculpture Parade begins at 11 a.m. on Meeting Street. The child and adult soap box derby racing begins at 11:30 a.m. on Meeting Street. Adults have two race categories, Art Cars and Need For Speed. Children ages eight-and-up will race on Meeting Street. Authentic vintage race cars will be available for the younger children to race on State Street.
Kinetic Derby Day also includes the Jasper Project Artisan Village on State Street from 11 a.m until 3 p.m. The Jasper Project Artisan Village will be a display of multiple artists’ exhibitions and demonstrations. Those attending will be able to view and interact with many different types of art.
And after all the competition, there will be an awards ceremony. City leaders said it is a perfect event for spring.
“The City of West Columbia’s inaugural Kinetic Derby Day event was a success,” said Kelli Ricard, West Columbia’s special events coordinator. “In its first year, it was very well attended.”

Ricard, who collected data from the day, said Kinetic Derby Day participants came from Columbia, Cayce, Lexington, Gaston, Gilbert, Monks Corner, Branchville, Goose Creek, Dacusville, and Augusta, GA. There were 60 participants, broken down into 19 kinetic sculpture entries, and 41 soap box derby entries.
And they are planning on coming back.
“Everyone we have spoken to along the way is very excited about this year’s event. The teachers and schools are planning on challenging each other,” Ricard said.”Kinetic Derby Day is a can’t-miss proposition.

Here are the specifics:
At 11 a.m., the Kinetic Sculpture Parade will begin on Meeting Street at South Lucas Street. Kinetic sculptures are human-powered 3D representations bringing imagination to life using pedal power, as an individual or as a team. A team may include multiple members on a bike with themed costumes or multiple participants in costume riding or walking along with a sculpture that includes kinetic movement. New components to the event this year include a literary character/book themed Kinetic sculpture parade. They can be as simple as someone in costume riding a bike or more elaborate structures like the Flying Pterodactyls or The River Guardian that appeared in last year’s parade.

At 11:30 a.m., the soapbox cars take over the massive hill on Meeting Street to race in adult and children divisions. Awards are given for the best art car, the fastest car, and best wipeout. At the bottom of the hill, take a right on to State Street to find art installations, artist tents, interactive science fun, food trucks, and exhibition soapbox racing.
Kinetic Derby Day Event Timeline
11 a.m., until – 3:30 p.m. Kids’ Zone open (Green space across from Thompson’s Funeral Home, 200 State Street)
11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The Jasper Project Artisan Fairway open (On State St. between Meeting Street and Center Street.)
11 a.m. – 11:30 AM Kinetic Sculpture Parade (On Meeting Street starting at S. Lucas Street and ending on State Street)
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kids Soap Box Racing (On Meeting Street between Brookland United Methodist Church and Leaphart Street)
1 a.m., – 3 p.m. Adult Soap Box Racing (On Meeting Street between Brookland United Methodist Church and Leaphart Street)
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Award Ceremony (On Stage on State Street)
The following lots are available for parking during the event:
Capitol Square – 100 Sunset Blvd
First Baptist Church – 400 State Street – Trolley Service Provided
Lexington School District 2 Fine Arts Building – 824 9th Street – Trolley Service Provided.
Lexington School District 2 Office – 715 9th Street – Trolley Service Provided
For more information go to: Kineticderbyday.com