A new month means new events, happenings in Columbia for summer

I don't know about you, but every year it seems spring zips by and suddenly we're in summertime, which means things are about to pick up in a major way.

Maybe it's the fact the weather takes a few months to figure itself out during this time of year, which causes confusion and surprise for just about everyone. But as of now, the warmer temperatures and longer sunny days seem to have worked themselves out.

Summer in Columbia is always an exciting time, although you can say that about most times of year given the wealth of activity that's constantly happening. In other words, the excitement seems to be a year-round thing for this city, which is a good thing, but definitely something that takes a little effort to keep up with it all.

But that's part of the fun.

Now that we've hit the month of May, it's time to take a look at what's happening over the next month, and all of the fun stuff you won't want to miss.

Kicking off this month will be, once again, another fun-filled First Fridays, only this time it's bringing one of the city's most popular events, which raises money for a good cause.

The Winterfest Beer Blast, which was unfortunately postponed in January, will return May 6, now titled "Springfest Beer Blast." The event is not only a whole lot of fun, but the money raised benefits local HIV/AIDS nonprofit Columbia CARES.

Along with Oktoberfest in the fall, Beer Blast is a great way for craft brew enthusiasts to also meet and network with the growing local brewing industry, including Columbia's Asgard Brewing Co. and Bad Idea Brewing, along with Maury County's newest Twisted Copper in Mt. Pleasant.

Given this year's event will take place at The Factory of Columbia, it will also provide a brand new setting and opportunity for attendees to see how that building has shaped up over the last year with new businesses, restaurants and more.

The following week will bring a few must-see shows to The Mulehouse with Travis Denning performing May 12, followed by Grand Ole Opry alumni The Gatlin Brothers on Friday.

On May 18, Marcy Jo's Muletown will host a Bluegrass Jam & Biscuits event featuring Dillon Hodges (firekid) and Daniel Foulks on the fiddle. I'd also recommend checking out Hodges' latest firekid album, "Muscle Shoals Metaphysical," released in December, prior to the show.

Mt. Pleasant's Music on the Porch series also kicked off this weekend, which featured 14-year-old Christian/country singer Kiersi Joli, along with songwriters Andrew Grooms and Chloe Belle. The monthly series will continue throughout the summer, and I recommend you attend at least one if you get the chance.

Music on the Porch provides a great, not to mention free, chance to get outdoors and relax with friends on a Saturday night, typically at an historic Mt. Pleasant home. Just be sure to bring a chair and/or blanket.

As exciting as all of these upcoming events will be, it's only the beginning of what'll no doubt be a fun and festive summer unlike we've seen before. Let's not forget that Kevin Costner will be making his way down here next month.

But that's another story for another time, one that'll come after an already full slate of fun things to mark on your calendar for in the summer of 2022.

Jay Powell is a reporter for The Daily Herald. Contact him at jpowell@c-dh.net or follow him on Twitter @JayPowellCDH.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: A new month means new events, happenings in Columbia for summer