Artista Vista returns to the heart of Columbia’s historic Vista District for an art-filled weekend on April 14th - 16th. This weekend-long art extravaganza emphasizes local artists and galleries, live performance, community engagement, and the rich culture of South Carolina’s capital city.  

The event will kick off with a free Art Gallery Crawl from 6-9 PM on Friday, April 14th spanning across The Vista District. Event-goers are also invited to enjoy live music from Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band outside of Blue Marlin on Lincoln Street, courtesy of Grace Outdoor Advertising. Live demonstrations, music, art vendors, and more will also be present in the Huger Street Cluster of art galleries. 

Offerings continue on April 15th for Art Day, a free event located at Stormwater Studios, Lewis + Clark, and One Eared Cow (1001 Huger Street/413 Pendleton Street). Visitors will enjoy a day of live music while viewing collections and live demonstrations by esteemed local artists. 

Additionally, the Light and Lantern Parade will take place later that evening from 8-9 PM. Beginning at the entrance of the Lincoln Street Tunnel, participants will stroll through The Vista with hand-made lanterns in tow while Partly Cloudy leads the public through the streets. Participants are strongly encouraged to visit one of the “creation stations” during the day at either Stormwater Studios or the Richland Library, or on Lincoln Street that evening to construct their own lanterns and enjoy music from a local DJ before the parade begins. 

Artista Vista concludes on Sunday, April 16th with two offerings. Crafty Feast, a free juried craft fair, takes place from 11AM-4PM on the corner of Lincoln and Lady Streets (1300 Lincoln Street), where art-lovers can purchase local art and other gifts from local makers. The weekend rounds out with Live on Lincoln from 5-8PM. This beloved finale event includes a fantastic dinner by Blue Marlin paired with a one-of-a-kind live performance of song and dance on the cobblestones of Lincoln Street. Tickets are required for Live on Lincoln.

In addition to this weekend-long affair of artistic celebration, local artist, Brittany Watkins, will create multiple outdoor, public art installations using found objects in various locations throughout The Vista including the Columbia Visitors Center and near the Lincoln Street Tunnel.

Members of the community are strongly encouraged to participate in Artista Vista ‘23 and follow The Vista on social media for more information, updates, behind-the-scenes, and more at @vistacolumbiasc on Instagram and fb.com/vistacolumbiasc. The event schedule and more can be found on The Vista’s official website, vistacolumbia.com.