FRIDAY, JAN. 17

Free Fridays
The Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (500 Wildlife Pkwy.) launches its Free Fridays series. Every Friday throughout January and February, residents of Richland and Lexington counties can receive free daily admission to Riverbanks Zoo & Garden with proof of residency, such as a valid driver’s license, property tax statement or vehicle registration. It’s a perfect opportunity to bring the family and see what Riverbanks Zoo & Garden has to offer. Riverbanks is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Visit riverbanks.org for more information.

Boonie Bevans & Carolina Drive (concert)
Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor (710 Meeting St.) hosts Boonie Bevans & Carolina Drive for its regular Friday night concert series. Bevans and co., a popular Charleston group, play classic bluegrass from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is a $15 donation, and the snack bar is open. Visit billsmusicshop.com for more information.

Friday Dinner Cruise
The Spirit of Lake Murray (docked at 216 Shadowood Dr.) hosts a Friday night dinner cruise around Lake Murray. The boat opens at 5:30 p.m. and the cruise departs promptly at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 8:30 p.m. Enjoy open seating and a full bar in indoor and outdoor seating (seating is first come, first served). Cruise tickets cost $35 for adults and $30 for children 10 and under. Visit spiritoflakemurray.com for more information.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18

Jamie Wright (concert)
Chayz Lounge (607 Meeting St.), Rod Foster & Company and Upstate SC vocalist Jamie Wright invite you to enjoy “A Night of Soul Grooves.” Expect to hear hits and classics by Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, The Whispers, Teddy Pendergrass, The Gap Band, Michael Jackson and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Dressy attire is required. Visit chayzlounge.com for more information.

Donut Fest
Steel Hands Brewing (2350 Foreman St.) invites you to have a cheat day on Saturday at its Donut Fest. In addition to the release of Steel Hands’ Jelly Donut Amber on draft, enjoy a donut-and-flight pairing, donut-themed games, donut food specials, live music and more. This event runs from noon to 10 p.m., and there’s a donut-eating contest from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Donut Fest is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/@steelhandsbrewing for more information.

Blues Deluxe (concert)
The acoustic duo Blues Deluxe performs at The Bistro (1085 Lake Murray Blvd.). The pair offers up a stripped-down, acoustic dose of true down-home country blues starting at 6:30 p.m. This show is free to attend. Visit bistroontheblvd.com for more information.

SUNDAY, JAN. 19

Steve Ladd (concert)
Award-winning contemporary Christian singer Steve Ladd performs at Red Bank Baptist Church (1357 S. Lake Dr.). Ladd, a 2017 GMA Hall of Fame inductee who’s scored six Top 40 singles and performed on Alan Jackson’s “Precious Memories,” starts his show at 10:30 a.m. Visit redbankchurch.org for more information.

TUESDAY, JAN. 21

Historically Speaking
The Lexington County Main Library (5440 Augusta Rd.) and the Lexington County Museum invite you to dive into local history with their Historically Speaking lecture series. Each month, museum staff members discuss a different aspect of Lexington County history and take your questions afterward. This event is free to attend and starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit lexingtoncountymuseum.org for more information.

Game On: Bingo
The Gilbert-Summit Branch Library (405 Broad St.) holds its weekly Game On night with a few rounds of bingo. Play with family and friends to win gently used books and other prizes. This event is free to attend and runs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It is intended for all ages. Visit lexcolibrary.com for more information.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22

Tokyo Joe (concert)
O’Hara’s Public House (131 E. Main St.) welcomes popular local rockers Tokyo Joe back to their traditional Wednesday night spot, but with a bit of a twist. This time, the band is playing an unplugged acoustic set of favorites, originals and covers. This show runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/oharasph for more information.

THURSDAY, JAN. 23

Social Scene: Bridgerton Tea Party
The Swansea Branch Library (199 N. Florence Ave.) pays tribute to a popular TV show with its Bridgerton Tea Party. Enjoy all things Bridgerton with tea, games, crafts and more. This event is intended for all ages and runs from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Refreshments are provided. Visit lexcolibrary.com for more information.

Across the county line

The SC State Museum (301 Gervais St.) invites you to its digital dome planetarium experience, Áróra!, on Friday, Jan. 17. This immersive cinematic journey takes guests across remote Icelandic landscapes and into space to find and understand the secrets of the mystical, eerie Northern Lights and explore how these stunning displays of colors have also been seen on other planets and moons throughout our galaxy. Áróra! runs throughout the day, and admission costs between $15 and $18. The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit scmuseum.org for more information.

The Trustus Theatre (520 Lady St.) takes you back in time to the French Revolution in its new play, “The Revolutionists.” Join four very real women who lived in France during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror: Playwright Olympe De Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle. “They hang out, murder Marat, lose their heads, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in Paris, 1793. What was a hopeful revolution for the people is now sinking into hyper-violent hypocritical male rhetoric.” Showtime is 8 p.m., and tickets are $25. Visit trustus.org for more information.

If you’re an Elton John fan, you’ll want to head over to the Koger Center for the Arts (1051 Greene St.) for a special show on Friday, Jan. 17. Tom’s Elton Tribute, led by musician and vocalist Tom Cridland, features classic hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Candle In the Wind,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Crocodile Rock” and “Your Song.” And this tribute act recreates everything, from note-perfect versions of the hits to outrageous costumes. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and tickets cost between $15 and $35. Visit kogercenterforthearts.com for more information.

Congaree National Park (100 National Park Rd.) invites you to enjoy nature on Saturday, Jan. 18, on the Woodpecker Walk. Ranger Shelby leads a 2-mile guided walk focusing on common woodpecker species in the Southeast, their unique adaptations and important ecological niches in ecosystems found in Congaree National Park. This event is free to attend and starts at 9:30 a.m. Visit nps.gov/cong/index.htm for more information.

The Newberry Opera House (1201 McKibben St.) presents a performance by two-time Grammy Award-winning Charleston band Ranky Tanky on Saturday, Jan. 18. The quartet reinterprets and revitalizes music from the Lowcountry’s Gullah tradition, blending in blues, gospel and R&B. Showtime is 8 p.m., and tickets cost between $45 and $85. Visit newberryoperahouse.com for more information.