© 2026 South Carolina Public Radio
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
SC Public Radio's statewide network is experiencing intermittent outages and programming issues due to ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Our team is working to keep these disruptions to a minimum and to resolve issues that do arise. Streaming on this site, the SCETV App, the NPR App, and smart speakers is unaffected.

Soda City Market Adds Flavor to Columbia City Life

South Carolina Public Radio | By Tut Underwood
Published February 22, 2016 at 11:37 AM EST
treet musician Matthew Dickinson plays his hammered dulcimer on a bright Saturday morning at the Soda City Market on Columbia's Main Street.
1 of 3
treet musician Matthew Dickinson plays his hammered dulcimer on a bright Saturday morning at the Soda City Market on Columbia's Main Street.
Tut Underwood/SC Public Radio
Jeff Hayden and his daughter share a laugh at the Soda City Market.
2 of 3
Jeff Hayden and his daughter share a laugh at the Soda City Market.
Tut Underwood/SC Public Radio
Shoppers line up for fudge at a Soda City booth in Columbia.
3 of 3
Shoppers line up for fudge at a Soda City booth in Columbia.
Tut Underwood/SC Public Radio

  Many elements go into the quality of life of a city: business, the arts, education, outdoor activities and more. In Columbia, a longtime Saturday morning ritual gives residents and visitors alike a chance to stroll down Main Street and purchase food from peanuts to Mexican to fresh fudge; enjoy street musicians playing instruments from violins to horns to dulcimers; or shop for jewelry and other goods.

Dog walkers meet and greet one another, and sights, sounds and smells mingle to produce an experience to remember, or to look forward to. Either way, people keep returning to keep the event popular and part of the life of the Midlands.
Tags
SC FocusColumbia
Tut Underwood
Tut Underwood is producer of South Carolina Focus, a weekly news feature. A native of Alabama, Tut graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communication. He worked in radio in his hometown before moving to Columbia where he received a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina, and worked for local radio while pursuing his degree. He also worked in television. He was employed as a public information specialist for USC, and became Director of Public Information and Marketing for the South Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include reading, listening to music in a variety of styles and collecting movies and old time radio programs.
See stories by Tut Underwood