Chili weather has arrived: Lexington and Five Points cook-offs scheduled

You Buy, We Give, a partnership between Books on Broad and Food for the Soul in Camden, was created to help end homelessness and hunger in Kershaw County. For every copy sold of the cookbook “Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day,” Books on Broad will donate a copy to Food for the Soul to be distributed so that families and individuals learn how to prepare food and eat well on a limited income. Books on Broad is at 944 Broad St.; (803) 713-7323, www.booksonbroad.com; Food for the Soul, foodforthesoulkc.org

Potluck on the Farm: 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Orangeburg Fairgrounds. Part of the Midlands Food Alliance series of events where farmers and eaters who support local food can enjoy an afternoon of good food and fellowship. Bring a dish to share, with a name card and ingredients, and dishes and utensils. Free event, RSVP at (803) 360-3358 or midlandsfoodalliance@gmail.com

Nick Night at Terra, Oct. 21. Chef Mike Davis creates a special three-course menu with a percentage of the evening’s sales to benefit Nickelodeon Theatre. Enjoy oyster fennel stew, beef bourguinin and a “movie night” dessert. Reservations not required but recommended, call (803) 791-3443. Terra is located at 100 State St., West Columbia. TerraSC.com

Dining with dogs returns to Mr. Friendly’s and Solstice Kitchen: Reserve a space for you and your pup by calling Pupcakes, (803) 467-0171. Your four-legged friend will enjoy a three-course animal-friendly meal for $12 per dog, while you order off the restaurant menu. Pick a date: Mr. Friendly’s: Oct. 21, Nov. 11; Solstice Kitchen: Oct. 22, Nov. 12.

Oktoberfest at St. Alban’s: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 24, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. Enjoy brats, kraut, potato salad and more. Eat in or take out, tickets $10 in advance, $11 at door, available at church office, 403 Park Road, Lexington, (803) 359-2444. Proceeds benefit local LICS and missions in Ecuador.

Lexington County Chili Cook-off, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 24 at Lexington County Baseball Stadium. Local chili cooks show off their best and you get to help choose the winner. Tickets for all-you-can-eat samples: $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 years and younger (under 4 is free), proceeds benefit SisterCare, LICS and the Blowfish Baseball Reading Program, available at www.goblowfishfaseball.com. Stadium located at 474 Ball Park Rd., (803) 254-FISH

Hats Off: A Night of Caps & Nightcaps at Tombo Grille to benefit S.C. Oncology Cares, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27. Enjoy delicious food from Tombo Grille, Village Idiot and Pita, drinks, wine tasting, music by DJ Kevin Snow and a silent auction. Tickets $20 per person, available at the door, 4715 Forest Drive, Forest Village Shopping Center.

7 Chefs + 5 Breweries + 1 Legendary Bluesman = Campfire Social: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct 29 at Greenbriar Farms. Co-hosted by Bacon Bros, Public House, this benefit for Project Host will feature chefs Anthony Gray (Bacon Bros., Greenville), Mike Davis (Terra, Columbia), Jason Scholz (Stella’s Southern Bistro, Greenville), Joe Clarke (American Grocery, Greenville), Kyle McKnight (Highland Avenue, Hickory, NC) and Josh Hopkins (Empire State South, Atlanta); Croxbone/Fireforge Brewing Company (opening 2016, Greenville), Birds Fly South Brewing (Greer), Quest Brewing (Greenville), Thomas Creek (Greenville) and Fullsteam Brewing (Durham, NC). Musical guests Mac Arnold and John Hartness. Tickets $75 per person at eventbrite.

Is your chili the best? Enter the 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off in Five Points and find out. Registration is now open, tent locations are first come, first served. Awards given in Best Overall, Vegetarian, Non-Traditional, Texas-Style, Best Set-up and the Silver Spoon Award (formerly People’s Choice). Proceeds to benefit Camp Kemo, Happy Wheels and Special Olympics. Cook-off is noon-7 p.m. Nov. 7 at MLK Park. Register your chili team or get more information at eventbrite.com

Bubbie’s Brisket and Bakery returns 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 22 at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Columbia. Enjoy your favorite Jewish grandmother’s traditional kosher delights (such as knishes, corned beef, matzah ball soup, rugelach, challah, brisket and more). 5827 N. Trenholm Road; www.bethshalomcolumbia.org

S.C. Oyster Festival, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 22 at Robert Mills House and Gardens/Hampton-Preston Mansion. Oysters sold by the bucket, fried, oyster gumbo and shooters available. Bring your chairs, blankets and oyster knives and enjoy live music, arts and crafts. www.scoysterfest.com

Too early to plan for next year? Charleston Wine + Food tickets are on sale now (some events are even sold out!). The event is scheduled for March 2-6 at various locations in and around Charleston. charlestonwineandfood.com

Happy Hour History Tours: The Vista by Historic Columbia 5:30-7 p.m. Fridays in September. Guided tours meet in the parking lot of Publix on Gervais Street and explore the history and architecture of the Vista with cocktail and appetizer stops along the way. $20 for Historic Columbia members, $25 for non-members.historiccolumbia.org, (803) 252-1770 ext. 23

Columbia Food Tours, owned by Kristin and Brian Cole, takes you on a walking tour of downtown Columbia to experience the culture and cuisine of the capital city. Sign up for a tour, gather at the State House steps, and visit six to eight of Columbia restaurants and sample items. Tours last 2 1/2 hours, rain or shine. Details and ticket reservations, $42 per person, at www.columbiafoodtours.com

Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours and Historic Columbia offer monthly 2 1/2 -hour walking historical food tours in the Famously Hot Vista. Groups enjoy specialties from five restaurants while hearing history about Columbia and the Vista. Try the 11a.m.-1:30 p.m. Brunch and Munch or 4-6:30 p.m. Sites and Bites Tours, all beginning at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Tickets, $30-$38, depending on the number in your party; www.twogalsfoodtours.com. Customized tours available.

Wine Wednesdays at Craft And Draft. Each Wednesday will feature select wines at $5 per glass and three to four wines that will be available for sampling and buying. Craft and Draft is at 2706 Devine St., (803) 764-2575, www.craftanddraftbeer.com

Columbia Brew Bus offers tours of Columbia’s growing beer scene. A standard tour, $45, includes pickup at one of the partner restaurants (Flying Saucer, Liberty Tap Room or World of Beer) and stops at Conquest Brewing, River Rat Brewery and Swamp Cabbage Brewing. At each stop you get at least 16 ounces of beer samples, brewery tour, Q&A with brewery staff and opportunity to buy brewery merchandise. Along the way, enjoy sightseeing, light snacks, trivia and prizes, coolers to keep purchases cold and an all-S.C. music playlist curated by Scene SC. Information and booking at www.columbiabrewbus.com

FoodShare Columbia connects families and communities with affordable fresh fruits and vegetables from local and regional farmers. The partnership of the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, Richland Library, USC School of Medicine, EdVenture Children’s Museum and the Columbia Housing Authority provides boxed food that can be ordered twice a month, between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Bellfield Cultural Arts Center at 2611 Grant St., (803) 255-8161. Cost is $20; $10 for SNAP participants. Cash and EBT accepted.

Calling all chefs – current, retired and experienced: Cooking Matters, a new cooking and nutrition education curriculum, will offer cooking and nutrition classes for adults and is looking for volunteers to share their skills. Email snapclasses@gmail.com

Learn to make sushi at SakiTumi. Wednesdays by appointment, couples and small groups can call and arrange classes in the art of making sushi. Pricing options include food and class or choose to include wine or hot sake. Call (803) 931-0700 after 2 p.m. for scheduling or information. SakiTumi is at 807 Gervais St.

Ballentine Community Center presents Flavors of the World cooking class series, meeting 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month. Classes $15 per person. Charlene Lyles, (803) 781-2031.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute. Friday, Oct. 16, Sauvignon Blanc tasting with grilled salmon; Nov. 3, 5 & 6, crackling salmon with black truffles; Nov. 10, 13, lobster thermidor; Nov. 17, 20 & 24, sea bass with Mumm Champagne sauce. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com.

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio: Thursday, Oct. 15, Celebrate Let’s Cook’s 8th Anniversary; Friday, Oct. 16, couples cook; Oct. 20, Wild Women; Oct. 21, Camden’s Broad Street Market (contact Broad Street Market for registration, (803) 425-8858); Oct. 22, hands-on pasta; Oct. 23, couples cook; Oct. 29, review of Italian Piedmont Region trip; Oct. 30, almost Halloween class. Detailed listings at letscookculinary.com. Let’s Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 348-5874.

McCutchen House at USC: Chef du jour classes (9 a.m.-1 p.m.): Oct. 31, Pie Making 101; Nov. 7 (extended 6-hour class), Bread 101; Nov. 14, roasting; Dec. 5 (extended 6-hour class), Cakes 101. Wine classes: Oct. 20, Wines from Alsace; Nov. 3, dessert wines; Dec. 1, rare wines. Registration for classes through McCutchen House or call Becky Moran (803) 777-8225

Farmers in the Forest: Forest Acres Farmers Market at Richland Mall in the parking lot along Beltline Boulevard. Wednesdays 3-7 p.m. through Nov. 25. Vendor applications can be found at farmersintheforest.org; follow on Facebook.

Blythewood Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Doko Meadows, 171 Langford Road, Blythewood. Michaela Barno, (843) 697-1733

302 Artisans at Senate’s End: 2-7 p.m. (No Frills Grill food truck serves lunch noon-6 p.m.) Thursdays through Oct. 29 at 302 Senate St. www.facebook.com/302Artisans

Northeast Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 22, Lake Carolina Town Center, Northeast Richland. www.lakecarolina.com

Rosewood Market Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m. every Friday, 2803 Rosewood Drive. (803) 256-6410 www.rosewoodmarket.com

1st Market at First Nazareth Baptist Church: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 21; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays; Millwood parking lot across from church. Senior vouchers, WIC, SNAP/EBT and debit cards accepted. Local farmers and gardeners encouraged to participate; (803) 254-6232

Irmo Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-noon, first and third Saturdays through September, Carlisle Street, Irmo. www.irmofarmersmarket.com

Kershaw County Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Nov. 21, 222 Broad St., Camden. www.kcfarmersmarket.org

Lexington Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Sept. 26, Lexington Square Park, 205 E. Main St. www.lexsc.com

Soda City Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at the 1500 block of Main Street; Mini-market every Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Marriott on Main. www.sodacitysc.com

Sandhills Farmers Market: 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 24 at Sandhill Research Center, 900 Clemson Road, across from Village at Sandhill. www.clemson.edu

Healthy Carolina’s Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Davis Field (Greene Street).