Chocolate, beer and baseball, all among week’s top events in Columbia

SODA CITY STAND UP OPEN MIC: 8:30 p.m. Monday at New Brookland Tavern. Do people tell you you’re funny? Are you the hit of every house party you attend? Maybe you should try stand-up. $2.50. 122 State St., West Columbia. (803) 791-4413, www.facebook.com/Soda-City-Stand-Up-296932350456711/

TOUCAN TUESDAYS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. Enjoy BOGO admission every Tuesday this summer with a donation of two cans of food to Harvest Hope Food Bank. In addition to pay-one-price admission, guests who donate on a Toucan Tuesday will receive $2 16 oz. ICEE drinks, $2 24-oz. fountain drinks and a 2-for-$20 special on misting fans. Donation bins are at zoo and garden entrances. Adults (ages 13 and up), $15.95; children (ages 2-12), $13.50; military (with military ID) and seniors (ages 62 and up), $14.95; children (younger than 2), free. Toucan Tuesdays runs through Aug. 16. 500 Wildlife Parkway. www.riverbanks.org

CHAPIN THEATRE PRESENTS: “WILLY WONKA JR.:” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Harbison Theatre. Willy Wonka, owner of a magical and mysterious chocolate factory, invites the audience to join him in a world of “Pure Imagination.” Although Wonka excels at making candy, he is ready to retire and find some “bright spark” to continue his candy confection creations. Adults (ages 18 and older), $10, youth, $6. 7300 College St. www.chapintheatre.org

FIRST THURSDAY ON MAIN: 6-10 p.m. Thursday along Main Street. A selection of downtown Columbia businesses and galleries keep their doors open late, offering a mix of specials, events, entertainment and more. Among participants: The Whig, Persona Pizzeria, Uptown, Cantina 76, Columbia Marriott, Columbia Museum of Art, Anastasia & Friends Gallery, Random Records, Drake’s Duck-In, Mast General Store, The Nick, Michael’s Cafe & Catering, Grapes & Gallery, Tapp’s Arts Center, Villa Tronco and Gallery at City Hall. Free. www.facebook.com/firstthursdayonmain

BREW AT THE ZOO: 7 p.m. Friday at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Stroll through the zoo and sample a variety of imports, domestics, and micros. Listen to live music. Encounter animals up-close and catch presentations. Food will be available for purchase. Better move fast if you want a ticket – the event typically sells out. $35 Riverbanks members, $45 general public, $55 on day of event. 500 Wildlife Parkway. www.riverbanks.org

COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN: 5-8 p.m. Friday at EdVenture Children’s Museum. This popular annual event helps rising kindergarteners get ready for the big school year ahead with fun games and activities, a mock classroom, practice opportunities for boarding a bus and carrying a lunch tray and more. There also will be information booths for parents. Free. 211 Gervais St. www.edventure.org

COLUMBIA DANCE AND IMPROVISATIONAL FESTIVAL: Various times, Friday through Sunday at Columbia College. Join the Columbia dance community and The Power Company Collaborative for the Columbia Dance and Improvisational Festival. The three-day festival will have classes, jams, performances and discussions that support and stimulate dance and improvisation. $12 per class/jam; other pricing options and packages available. Goldbold Gym & Fitness Center on campus, 1301 Columbia College Drive. www.thepowercompanycollaborative.org

FINAL HOME GAME: 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Lexington County Baseball Stadium. Catch the Lexington County Blowfish in its final home game of the regular season, playing the Gastonia Grizzlies. Catch “really cool” fireworks, too. $6-$9. 474 Ballpark Road, Lexington. www.goblowfishbaseball.com

THE HARMONY OF GIVING TOUR: 5-10 p.m. Saturday at Music Farm Columbia. Enjoy a night full of great music for the United Way of the Midlands Benefit Concert featuring One Time Band, Mustache Brothers, Mark Rapp Quintet, Chris Compton and Ron Rollins, and the Danielle Howle Band. $18 (use promo code UNITED for a $3 discount). 1022 Senate St. www.musicfarm.com

TOUR AND TASTING: LOWCOUNTRY STYLE: 6 p.m. Sunday at Columbia Museum of Art. Nothing compliments a warm summer evening better than comfort food and cold beer. Sample the best brews the South has to offer with a beer tasting while you enjoy some Southern flavor with a Lowcountry boil by Fancy That Bistro. Then embark on a journey to the Carolina coast with the last guided tour of the exhibition “Daufuskie Memories” before it closes. $40 ($32 for museum members). 1515 Main St. www.columbiamuseum.org

FIRST CITIZENS FIRST SUNDAY: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday at S.C. State Museum. General admission is only $1 for guests. Explore four floors of permanent and changing exhibits. Blockbuster exhibit admission, planetarium and 4D theater shows are an additional price. 301 Gervais St. www.scmuseum.org