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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - With the Fourth of July approaching, many community events in the Midlands are looking to help mark Independence Day:

Fireworks with the Philharmonic at Segra Park

Originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, but rescheduled for Thursday, July 3, is the annual Fireworks with the Philharmonic event at Segra Park.

Gates open for the event at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8 p.m. The South Carolina Philharmonic is performing a full show ending with the 1812 Overture, which will cue the start of the fireworks display.

Tickets already purchased with the previous date are still acceptable for entry on Thursday. Tickets are still available but will increase in price by $2 on July 3. Tickets can be purchased here.

Fort Jackson 4th of July Celebration

Fort Jackson is inviting the public to celebrate Independence Day with a free, family-friendly event on Friday, July 4. Gates open at 4 p.m. with music at 5:30 p.m. and a fireworks show at approximately 9 p.m.

The celebration includes a kids’ zone with rides, fireworks and and live music from artists Aden Webb, Syr, DJ B-SAM, and the 282D Army Band.

The event is at Hilton Field. Fort Jackson asks attendees entering from off-post to use Gate 4, Boyden Arbor Road to access Hilton Field.

Red, White and Boom Independence Day Celebration + Fireworks Spectacular at Columbia Fireflies Game

Fireworks with the Philharmonic is not the only 4th of July celebration taking place at Segra Park.

The Columbia Fireflies host the Augusta Greenjackets on Friday, with the City of Columbia will also hosting the “biggest post-game show of the year.” There will be happy hour drink specials and unlimited “Hoppy” hour for children on the SCU Kids’ Zone inflatables.

The game begins at 6:35 p.m. and the fireworks will follow. Tickets for this game are still available at the Columbia Fireflies website.

Fireworks at the Lexington County Peach Festival

Fireworks can also be seen on July 4 at the annual Lexington County Peach Festival, located at Gilbert Community Park on Rikard Circle.

The festival will include a parade starting at 9:30 a.m. with plenty of exhibits, an antique car show, activities for kids and more. It all leads up to the annual fireworks show scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Lexington Independence Day Celebration

The Town of Lexington is also hosting its annual July 4th event at the Icehouse Amphitheater starting at 7 p.m.

The 246th Army Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. before a fireworks show scheduled for 9:20 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Born in the USA 4-Miler

For those looking to get a run in for the holiday, the Born in the USA 4-miler kicks off from the corner of Trenholm Road and Forest Drive in Columbia at 7:04 a.m. on July 4.

A firecracker youth fun run will take place later at 7:54 a.m.

On-site registration will be available starting at 6:04 a.m. on July 4.

Click here for more information.

City of Newberry Annual Law Enforcement Fireworks Display

The City of Newberry is holding its annual fireworks display on July 4 at Newberry High School. Spectators may sit in the stadium or view from adjacent properties to observe this show which will feature synchronized music.

Gates will open after 6pm and the fireworks show will begin after 9pm. The City of Newberry notes the display may begin earlier if weather requires.

Irmo Laser Lights Show

There is a free laser light show celebration at the Prisma Health Amphitheatre in Moore Park at 7473 Church St. in Irmo. There will be complimentary hot dogs (while supplies last) and Kona Ice will be on-site.

The Town of Irmo Events Committee recommends that you bring bag chairs and coolers for the evening. No tickets are necessary for this event.

‘We Love America Night’ Firework Show with the Lexington County Blowfish

The Lexington County Blowfish v. Glowfish game on Friday is recognizing Independence Day by hosting Wreaths Across America at the game and holding a large fireworks display. It’s also considered one of their “Faith and Family Nights” presented by HIS Radio 92.1 FM.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game begins at 7:05 p.m. with the fireworks to follow. Tickets can be purchased on the Lexington County Blowfish website.

Lake Wateree State Park Annual 4th of July Fireworks Show

The Lake Wateree Association is holding a fireworks display at Lake Wateree State Park (881 State Park Rd Winnsboro, S.C.) in the day-use area adjacent to the tackle shop. The event is from 4-10 p.m., with the fireworks show taking place at 9:30 p.m.

Be sure to bring chairs or towels for seating. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase in the tackle shop.

This event is free with park admission.

Orangeburg County Fair July 4th Celebration

The Orangeburg County Fairgrounds is hosting a Fourth of July event with performances, fireworks and a hot dog eating contest.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:30pm.

Admission for this event is free. Hot dog plates with chips and a soft drink will be sold for $6.

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Lexington Medical’s new clinic near Blythewood aims to expand access to care and support Scout Motors’ 4,000-job expansion by 2025.

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — As the town of Blythewood and its surrounding communities continue to grow, so does the need for accessible medical services.

In response, Lexington Medical Center has announced plans for a new healthcare facility, a move that town officials hope will also attract future development.

The new 22,000-square-foot facility, called Lexington Medical Park, is slated for construction near Red Hawk Way, just outside the Blythewood town limits and not far from Westwood High School.

“So it's going to be so very good presence there, robust comprehensive family medicine, OBGYN, physical therapy; we hope to open by the end of 2025 with family medicine and physical therapy in the summer of 2026 with OBGYN,” said Kirk Jenkins, senior vice president at Lexington Medical Center.

Town leaders said the new medical center will improve access to essential services for residents, a concern Mayor Sloan Griffin said was a major issue in conversations with the community.

“Because they have a presence here in this community, I do know that they have recognized the need for certain services; so, it will be up to them on that complex to recognize that maybe dialysis is a growing need, maybe orthopedics," Griffin said. "Folks having knee replacements or any other replacements.”

The facility is also expected to support the future workforce of Scout Motors, which is expanding operations in the area. The company currently operates a mobile health site, but that will eventually be replaced with a permanent, on-site clinic.

“The clinic itself will be built into the production facility at SCOUT, and it will be a good-sized clinic, probably a few thousand square feet, that will really increase the size of the number of portals in there as they hire more employees, as SCOUT anticipates hiring more employees, around four to five thousand employees," said Thomas Tafel, director of community health at Scout Motors. "So we are there to take care of their needs.”

Griffin said better healthcare access will lead to more growth across other industries.

“That’s why you also see those other services growing, those pet spaces, pet vacation, veterinarian services," he said. "So, its growing to grow and more of those demands are going to kick in, so as health care becomes more accessible to residents, we will see those others areas continue to grow."

The project comes with a price tag of more than $11 million, with Lexington Medical Center aiming to complete the first phase by the end of 2025.

A new Mexican restaurant has set its sights on a well known shopping center in the heart of Lexington.

Na’cho Margarita, which already has a popular Mexican restaurant along the shores of Lake Murray, is planning a new location at 712 W. Main St. near downtown Lexington. Public records indicate that Na’cho Margarita has applied to the SC Department of Revenue for its licenses to sell alcohol at the address. There also was a Department of Revenue application notice for Na’cho Margarita in the window at the Main Street spot when a reporter went by Monday morning.

The restaurant space at 712 W. Main St. in Lexington formerly was home to RF’s Corner Grill, which closed in March. RF’s had been at that location for more than six years.

Na’cho Margarita opened a Mexican restaurant with a full bar at 745 Marina Way in Prosperity, at Lake Murray, in summer 2023. That lakeside location’s menu features a host of Mexican favorites, including tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, poblanos, sizzling fajitas and more.

The location along W. Main Street will be in the Town Square shopping center that is anchored by a Food Lion supermarket. Other businesses in the plaza include Musician Supply, Terry’s Barber Shop, Black Tiger Tae Kwan Do, and a Wingstop chicken place, among others. Lexington County’s auxiliary administration building is across the street.

It’s in a high-traffic area near downtown Lexington. About 40,000 cars per day travel down that stretch of W. Main Street, per state Department of Transportation data.

With a name like Muffen, you can bet she’s a good baker.

Lexington recently got a little bit sweeter, as Muffen Minemier’s Twisted Whisk — which has been operating as a special order business for cakes, cupcakes and other treats for several years — opened a new storefront and walk-in shop at 206 W. Main St. The walk-in part of the operation officially opened on May 3.

The bakery, which is owned by couple Muffen and husband Chris Minemier, is located in the heart of downtown Lexington, just west of Libby’s restaurant and not far from the popular Icehouse Amphitheater. It specializes in a host of offerings that are baked in-house, including cakes, cupcakes, danishes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, tarts and more. The treats are available in various flavors, with pineapple upside down cupcakes and hulking slices of red velvet cake being among the favorites.

Muffen said buttercream frosting is perhaps her specialty and calling card.

“Everything’s buttercream,” she said. “I will put my buttercream against anyone, anywhere. And everything I do starts with buttercream. So, if it’s pink champagne cake or a lemon blueberry cake or cookies & cream cake, it’s buttercream.”

Twisted Whisk also features fresh breads from Seven Loaves Bread Co. and macarons from B.Mac Bakeshop.

Honing her baking craft was something of a family affair, Muffen said.

“I learned how to bake from my Nanny and grandmothers, and from my father,” Muffen said. She noted that her late parents, Frank and Debbie Dawkins, owned a number of Midlands restaurants years ago, including one called Bama Eileen’s in West Columbia.

Muffen worked in banking and finance for 18 years, up until 2021, but continued to bake through the years, sort of as a side interest. She started baking birthday cakes and wedding cakes for people, and after a while that side gig started to get busier and busier.

About three years ago, the Minemiers set up Twisted Whisk at 206 W. Main St., though not as a walk-in bakery. Until recently the Main Street space was simply the nerve center for the special orders business. Cakes and other goodies for weddings and special occasions were baked in the site’s small kitchen, and customers could come there for planning and to pick up their cakes.

Now the shop has thrown its doors open for walk-in business, and Muffen said there has been a big response from local residents.

“The town of Lexington [government] has been absolutely wonderful to work with,” Muffen said. “They are phenomenal and have just been very supportive. And as for the town people of Lexington, I think all of Lexington has shown up [in the shop]. My plan is to feed all of them.”

Susan Dubose came into the bakery while a reporter was there on Friday morning. She was looking for a treat after a physical therapy session.

“I had knee surgery about four weeks ago, and they finally released me to where I could drive,” Dubose said with a grin. “I drove myself to physical therapy and I said, ‘What am I going to do to reward myself?’ So I came to see Muffen.”

The baker said she hopes to continue to grow the business, and is still exploring which treats are the most popular with customers. She said she’s been thrilled with the response to the walk-in business the last few weeks.

“It’s going well beyond my imagination,” she said.