The Best of Soda City: South Carolina’s Brain, Body, and Belly Market
Where 1300-1600 Block of Market Street in tree-lined downtown Columbia South Carolina.
Open Rain or shine every Saturday
Hours 9:00AM- 1:00PM
Soda City Market, Columbia South Carolina
The energy is electric! The Soda City Market was founded in 2005 growing from just 6 vendors to 150 rotating vendors from all walks of life. The market is self-funded and contributes 500 individual paychecks to the locally crafted vendors weekly. What started out at a couple of hundred marketgoers can boom to up to 7,000 people on an event weekend. The market founder wanted the weekly event to be a microcosm of all things Columbia and regional.
The market focuses on three main points; brain, body, and belly. Not hard for your brain to be stipulated by all the amazing music, art, and melting pot of cultures represented. The market can easily support body health with its wealth of wellness offerings including CBD products, handcrafted soaps, and plants. We need plants for general happiness, agreed? Finally, your belly will not be disappointed. The Soda City Market is a veritable artisan buffet of all things food including vegan and gluten-free options.
Why should the Soda City Market be on your weekend to-do list? Let’s check it out.
10 Reasons To Head To Soda City Market
A Producer Only Market
Soda City Market is a producer-only market — vendors must make or grow their own products (including out-of-season/exotic fruits and vegetables, antiques, and vintage items). Everything sold at our market is unique, hand-crafted, and produced in the Southeast. The market fields an average of 150 vendors per week and over 400 unique vendors throughout the year!
Although most vendors are local to South Carolina, they also have rotating small businesses coming in from North Carolina, Georgia, and Maine.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
International Food
More than just the local farm produce (which they also have) Soda City represents a variety of cuisines capable of taking you across the world as you stroll down Market Street. International cuisine includes Brazilian, Venezuela, Spain, Indian, Thai, and Filipino. Think paella, Brazilian grilled meats, and curries. You can also find Thai Cooking Kits by Simpli Thai, which feature Kao Soi, Green Curry, or Pad Thai ingredients.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
Local Food Creations
You can also find mouthwatering local favorites including shrimp and grits, locally cured beef jerky, and pecan apple butter.
One must-stop is Grown Wild Foods artisan-crafted nut mixes that feature flavors like Bourbon Bacon Pecans and Cinnamon Pecan Crunch with Fireball Whiskey.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
Something For Everyone
There are offerings for the kids at Soda City as well! Check out A Childhood Store for eco-friendly crayons and art kits. They also host activities like a “Color Your Own” market tote or apron and have activity kits to build your own spaceship or castle.
After you’ve picked up some loot for the kids, head down to Chill Out Pops for a Blue Lemonade or Mexican Hot Chocolate popsicle.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
Hydration
The Market Street stretch can get warm towards the middle of the afternoon, but they’ve got you covered with hydration options. Try the seasonal kombucha offerings from the charming retro KombiKeg van or Dogs On The Run for some fresh squeezed lemonade.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
Pet Friendly
Not only are pets welcome, but there is also something for them at the market. It’s a great outdoor space to roam with your best friend and socialize. Not to be left out of the shopping, The Modern Companion makes bespoke pet bananas and ties so that they can make a scene as they stroll down Market Street.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
The Glow Up
You’ll find plenty of booths selling beaded jewelry, handcrafted earrings and accessories, and newly glowed-up sneakers. From streetwear to lounging, the Soda City Market has you covered. The clothing, jewelry, and accessory option range from newly crafted, to thrifted vintage and rotate between different vendors all year long.
Soda City Market, Columbia South Carolina
Rotating Live Music
What’s a market without a music vibe? Street performers light up Saturday at the Soda City Market with every genre of music. On any given Saturday you might hear an electric violinist, harpist, or even “Poetic The Masked Rapper.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
The Art Scene
From custom prints to sandblasted ceramics and handblown glass, this is the easiest gift buying you’ll ever do. The market has something for everybody and the best part is that your purchase supports the local arts community and real people. Phoenix Fire Studios has got you covered for the mug lover in your life, while Blue Dash Laser Designs has the chess player in your life covered with a custom laser-cut wooden chess board.
Photo Credit: Soda City Market
Plants, Yes, You Definitely Need More Plants
From custom bouquets to starting the succulent garden you’ve always wanted, you’ll find it in these bustling Main Street blocks each Saturday. Local farms bring fresh floral bundles while local nurseries represent the best of both indoor and outdoor plants. Yes, you need another one! You’ve got permission from us to get all the plants from places like Floral Hardy Farm out of Lexington (bouquets) or Old Turtle Pond Farm (succulents).
In addition, Thorne and Finch have you covered for beautiful woven macrame plant holders.
Bonus: The Surrounding Local Businesses
One of the great things about the Soda City Market is its proximity to tons of other great brick-and-mortar shops that surround the neighborhood. If you need to take a break from the heat you can duck into one of the many restaurants, galleries, or clothing shops around the market. The Good Life Cafe and Odd Bird Books are two stops worth making off the main market drag.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the market, Soda City has an online application here and can also be contacted at hello@sodacitysc.com.
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