This
hCalendar-compliant page
is optimized for search engines. View this calendar as published at
www.sc.edu.
Public Archaeology Day
Join Kelly Goldberg, Ph.D. and students on Thursday, May 28 for a Public Archaeology Day on the Historic Horseshoe!
Visitors are invited to stop by the active excavation site in front of the McKissick Museum between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to meet the team, learn about the project and see students and professional archaeologists actively excavating. Guests will also be able to explore select artifacts and maps from current and past field seasons and may even have the opportunity to help screen for artifacts themselves.
The excavation is being conducted by Anthropology field school students, building on the work of classes in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences and the South Carolina Honors College. The site under investigation is a 19th - 20th century structure believed to have served as a kitchen building associated with the first President's House and housing for enslaved individuals on campus.
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
See event description for more details.
Institutional Libraries Exchange
We are excited to share that the SC State Library and the iSchool's Accessibility Leadership Lab (ALL) are partnering to host a full-day event on Friday, May 29th for institutional libraries and their supporters/partners. Registration is now open!
The event takes places at the South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC from 10am – 3pm. We will also have a Zoom option available for those unable to travel, but we encourage all who can to attend in-person so that you can fully participate in the discussion.
Register here,
Description:
How can we provide better access to information and library services to the thousands of South Carolinians who live in an institution and are unable to visit a traditional public library? Join us for a day of learning and networking focused on institutional library services in correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. Access to a library in these settings can have a profound impact by providing a space for…
Admission Cost: FREE.
Friday, May 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
See event description for more details.
John Crist Live
About This Show
John Crist is one of today’s fastest-rising stand-up comedians, earning more than one billion video views, more than 7.9 million fans on social media and sold-out shows from coast to coast and continuously charts as one of Pollstar’s Top 10 Global Touring Comedians. John has sold out the majority of his 2025 U.S. ‘Jokes For Humans’ dates and recently launched a Fall extension – which kicked off at Las Vegas’ Encore Theater and will visit cities like Austin, Louisville, Cleveland and more later this year.
His latest comedy special John Crist: Emotional Support (February 18), showcases his skills in delivering witty, pop culture commentary through clean humor. Filmed just six miles from his childhood home in Lilburn, GA, John Crist: Emotional Support sees the viral comedian diving into the ever-changing dynamics of growing up Christian in the 90s, navigating family group texts, mediating fights on the neighborhood Facebook page and more. In its first three weeks, the special earned more than…
Admission Cost: $17.87 - $161.75.
Sunday, May 31, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Koger Center Auditorium.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, June 1, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Tribute to Dr. Johnnie McFadden and the McFadden Endowment
Dr. Johnnie McFadden, USC Benjamin E. Mays Distinguished Professor Emeritus and First African American Tenured Faculty of the 20th century, has made a number of wonderful contributions to the University of South Carolina, Columbia. On Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. we will gather to pay tribute to Dr. McFadden as well as announce the Grace Jordan and Johnnie McFadden Endowment which was established to benefit the Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Program.
The program will be held at the Campus Room of the Capstone Building (898 Barnwell St.). Please indicate if you can accept our invitation to attend this special program. RSVP at the link below by Jan. 23. A reception will immediately follow the program.
Register for the Event here -- https://McFaddenTribute2026.eventbrite.com.
Admission Cost: Free.
Friday, June 5, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Capstone 101 - Campus Room.
Clue
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved,
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222 or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $24 - $93.
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Clue
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved,
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222 or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $24 - $93.
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Southeastern Piano Festival Celebration Concert
The School of Music’s illustrious piano faculty (Phillip Bush, Scott Price, and Nicholas Susi) will perform.
Tickets go on sale May 1!
Purchase tickets in person at the Koger Center Box Office or online. New this year: save $ by purchasing an event package of all SEPF signature concerts!
Admission Cost: $5 USC Students; $25 General Admission.
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
Clue
A mansion. A murder. A mystery.
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
©2026 Hasbro. All rights reserved,
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222 or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $24 - $93.
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Southeastern Piano Festival Artist Spotlight: Nicholas Susi
Described in The WholeNote as “an innovative musician and aggressive thinker with a gift for keyboard brilliance,” Nicholas Susi will present a recital featuring two of his passions: French Impressionism and the music of Franz Liszt.
About the Artist:
Nicholas Susi recognizes that Classical music has been a transformative force in his life, and seeks to share its power with others through his teaching and performing. He is Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of South Carolina, President of the American Matthay Association and Associate Director of the Southeastern Piano Festival. He previously taught piano and music theory at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. He completed his doctorate at the University of Michigan, with previous studies at the University of Kansas and at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln as a two-time DAAD grantee. Primary teachers include Zena Ilyashov, Jack Winerock, Nina Tichman and Arthur Greene.
Tickets go on sale May 1!
Purchase tickets in person…
Admission Cost: $5 USC Students; $25 General Admission.
Monday, June 8, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, June 8, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Southeastern Piano Festival Artist Spotlight: Pedja Muzijevic
In the 1970s, cassette players revolutionized how we experienced music at home. For the first time, we could record, curate, and create our own playlists, free from algorithms or formulas. Mozart next to Dolly Parton? Steve Reich alongside Peggy Lee? Why not? These were our personal mixtapes.
Pianist Pedja Muzijevic has created a refreshing program as a tribute to that era.
Structured like a classic 60-minute cassette, the performance unfolds in three chapters, offering a rich and eclectic journey through time and sound. From the theatrical flair of Carl Philip Emanuel Bach and Joseph Haydn to the playful, tipsy waltz of György Ligeti, each piece invites the audience into a new world. The program also features the tender nostalgia of Valentyn Silvestrov, from the war-torn Ukraine, the sonic innovations of George Crumb and Henry Cowell, minimalism of Philip Glass and the passionate romanticism of Dora Pejacevic and Amy Beach.
This is more than a concert; it’s a celebration of the art of listening, a…
Admission Cost: $5 USC Students; $25 General Admission.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
Southeastern Piano Festival Artist Spotlight: Blair McMillen
Hailed by The New York Times as “prodigiously accomplished and exciting,” Blair McMillen takes the stage with a dynamic program featuring the music of Claude Debussy, Brian Wilson, Margaret Bonds, William Bolcom and more.
About the Artist,
Hailed by The New York Times as “prodigiously accomplished and exciting” and as one of the piano’s “brilliant stars,” pianist Blair McMillen has forged a musical life that is unbounded by convention. He is well-known for his advocacy of living composers and contemporary music, as well as for championing very early keyboard music and more recent neglected masterpieces. For more than two decades, McMillen has divided his time as piano soloist, chamber musician, music festival director, and educator/teacher.
Blair McMillen is the co-founder and co-director of the Rite of Summer Music Festival. Rite of Summer is a free, outdoor contemporary-music series held on New York City’s Governors Island. The festival has presented boundary-pushing artists such as the JACK…
Admission Cost: $5 USC students; $25 general admission.
Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
Sacred Service, by Ernest Bloch
Baritone soloist & the Varna International Choir and Orchestra,
Conductor: Gregory Buchalter, The Metropolitan Opera,
Experience the profound beauty of this monumental work. Sacred Service by Ernest Bloch — a majestic fusion of spiritual depth and symphonic power, which combines Jewish sacred text based on Old Testament scriptures with the grandeur of late Romantic symphonic writing.
The large Varna International chorus includes soloists and choristers from throughout the USA, joined by the internationally renowned, award-winning Bulgarian female choir “Detska Kitka”.
The concert is a celebration of the sister-city relations between the cities of Columbia, SC and Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Brought to you by Varna International – producer of the Muzika! Festival.
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222, or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $32 - $91.
Thursday, June 11, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Southeastern Piano Festival Artist Spotlight: Soyeon Kate Lee
2026 Spoleto Festival USA Chamber Music attendees will have a second opportunity to hear pianist Soyeon Kate Lee, praised by The New York Times for her “huge, richly varied sound, lively imagination and firm sense of style.”
About the Artist,
First prize winner of the Naumburg International Piano Competition and the Concert Artist Guild International Competition, Korean-American pianist Soyeon Kate Lee has been lauded by The New York Times as a pianist with “a huge, richly varied sound, a lively imagination and a firm sense of style,” and by The Washington Post for her “stunning command of the keyboard.”
Highlights of recent seasons include appearances at the National Gallery, Library of Congress, Gina Bachauer Concerts, Purdue Convocations, Music@Menlo, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on tour, San Francisco Performances, Camerata Pacifica tour, Chamber Music Chicago and the Cleveland Art Museum. She was a member of Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society’s Bowers program, and is a regular…
Admission Cost: $5 students; $25 general admission.
Thursday, June 11, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
From Stage to Screen
Varna International’s soloists, choir, and orchestra,
Conductor: Gregory Buchalter, The Metropolitan Opera,
Back by popular demand with a new program!
Join us for an incredible evening of music as the Muzika! Festival soloists, choir, and orchestra transport the audience to the big stage through musical theater solos, duets, trios, and choral favorites from the past 80 years of Broadway and iconic Hollywood film scores. This choral-orchestral performance will bring life to your favorite soundtracks – from stage to screen!
Join us for an evening of Broadway and movie music magic brought to you by Varna International – producer of the Muzika! Festival.
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222 or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $32 - $91.
Friday, June 12, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
G.U.M.B.O Experience Concert Series
The G.U.M.B.O Experience is a live, immersive fusion of music, art, and culture—where creativity, energy, and community connect.
For more information please call 803-777-7500 or email kogercenter@sc.edu.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 803-251-2222 or online.
Buy Tickets.
Admission Cost: Tickets: $28.52.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Arthur Fraser Piano Competition Winners Recital
Festival participants compete for a chance to perform with the South Carolina Philharmonic in a Masterworks concert and more than $10,000 in cash prizes.
Tickets go on sale May 1!
Purchase tickets in person at the Koger Center Box Office or online. New this year: save $ by purchasing an event package of all SEPF signature concerts!
Admission Cost: $5 USC Students; $25 General Admission.
Saturday, June 13, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
School of Music 206 Recital Hall.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, June 15, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, June 22, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Live in the Lobby Jazz: Lew Tabackin
The Koger Center and ColaJazz Foundation are excited to present to you the new 2026 Live in the Lobby Jazz season! Featuring 6 stunning performances, you can get your season tickets today to get every show for one low price.
Created as a partnership between the Koger Center for the Arts and the ColaJazz Foundation, Live in the Lobby 2026 will consist of six concerts held throughout the Koger Center facility. Join us to experience this one-of-a-kind series designed for audiences seeking premier jazz and specialty experiences in an exceptional setting.
About the Artist ,
Lew Tabackin, flutist and tenor saxophonist, is an artist of astonishing vision. His electrifying flute playing is at once virtuosic, primordial, cross-cultural, and passionate. His distinctive tenor sax style includes the use of wide intervals, abrupt changes of mood and tempo, and purposeful fervor, all in the service of showing the full range of possibilities of his instrument – melodically, rhythmically, and dynamically. Without…
Admission Cost: Tickets: $27 - $32.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Koger Center for the Arts.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, July 6, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, July 13, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, July 20, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, July 27, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, August 3, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, August 10, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory
This historic observatory adjacent to the Horseshoe of the USC Columbia campus (1429 Greene Street) is currently open to the public on clear Monday nights from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm EST (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm during EDT), weather permitting. Anyone is welcome to come by and observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck. See the Moon, planets, stars, clusters, and more through our telescopes free of charge! To find out if the observatory is going to be open on a particular Monday night, please see its Facebook page or call 803-777-8105 or 803-777-8104.
Admission Cost: Free.
Monday, August 17, 2026, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
Melton Observatory 201.
RHA Block Party
Kickoff the year with food, giveaways, and memories on Greene St!
Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
RHUU Greene Street.