West Columbia, SC 02/27/2025 - The City of West Columbia’s award-winning 6th Annual Kinetic Derby Day featuring iMAGINE is April 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on State and Meeting Streets, in West Columbia, South Carolina. The Kinetic Sculpture Parade kicks off the day and will feature participants dressed to represent their favorite fantasy world (this year’s theme). The soapbox racing begins at 11:30 a.m. State Street transforms into the iMAGINE STEAM Festival, with interactive booths for the kids. The day includes competition and fun for all ages as teams construct unique vehicles and art installations. Register for the parade or the races, be a sponsor or volunteer, or apply to be a chalk artist or food truck at www.kineticderbyday.com.
Kinetic Derby Day staff and volunteers will be at the following events to answer questions about building Kinetic Sculptures and Soap Box Cars:
CWC Block Party
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library, 1500 Augusta Rd., West Columbia, SC
About: Cayce-West Columbia Branch Library’s first block party. The event brings together local partners to share resources, make connections, and showcase the library’s offerings to the diverse community.
Best of Carolina Spring Vendor Fair
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Greene Street, University of South Carolina Campus, Columbia, SC
About: The event is organized by Carolina Productions, the student-run programming board at USC, which is known for bringing life to campus with year-round events.
Be My Neighbor Day
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: South Carolina Children’s Theatre, 153 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601
About: Hosted by South Carolina ETV in partnership with Fred Rogers Productions, this event offers hands-on activities, story time sessions, and opportunities to meet beloved characters, promoting neighborliness and community engagement.
iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Main Street, Downtown Greenville, SC
About: A free street festival to ignite interest in STEAM learning and career pathways among Pre-K through 12th grade students and their families. The festival features interactive exhibits, live stage shows, and hands-on learning experiences.
Tartan Day South Highland Games & Celtic Festival
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Historic Columbia Speedway, 2001 Charleston Highway, Cayce, SC
About: This festival showcases the traditions of the United Kingdom with events including Highland athletics, Celtic music, and cultural displays.
Volunteer
Sign Up: https://signup.com/go/igQtyDo
Details
Kinetic Sculpture Parade – 11 AM – Meeting Street
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
It is a human-powered vehicle, gear-based with no stored energy, motors, or electricity, designed to reflect your interpretation of the yearly theme (2025 is Fantasy World). Bring your imagination to life and travel through the parade route in the heart of the River District in West Columbia. A panel of judges will award the most inventive entries with trophies in various categories. Your sculpture can travel as an individual or a team (a team can include multiple members on a pedal-powered sculpture with themed costumes or multiple escorts in costume riding or walking along with a sculpture that contains kinetic movement).
iMAGINE STEAM Festival – State Street
The iMAGINE STEAM Festival on State Street showcases interactive exhibits, emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) to engage Pre-K through 12th-grade students and families in STEAM subjects and careers. This dynamic street fair festival showcases hands-on learning exhibits provided by companies, schools, and nonprofits, all aimed at making STEAM subjects come alive for families. Explore interactive exhibits, conduct fun experiments, and get hands-on with the latest STEAM education. It is a unique opportunity for families to engage with the worlds of science, technology, art, engineering, and math in a fun and exciting way.
The Kids’ Zone, presented by the Boys and Girls Club – State Street
Inflatable Obstacle Course
Exhibition soapbox racing for the little ones
Face Painting and more!
Meeting Street Artisan Market – Interactive Art Park
Vendors showcasing and selling handmade art, crafts, and creations.
Giant Slide, Food Truck Rally, & Chalk Artists - Corner of Meeting and State Streets
FREE giant slide for all ages.
Multiple food trucks with a diverse selection to satisfy all appetites.
Multiple chalk artists create temporary art on the street. Interact with the artists as they finish their masterpieces.
Soapbox Racing – 11:30 AM – Meeting Street
Experience the ultimate Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia, SC, by participating in the soapbox derby races at 11:30 AM. Choose to build an art or a kit car and compete for exciting prizes while embracing the fantasy theme by dressing up as your favorite character. Enjoy an exhilarating soapbox race down a massive hill featuring outrageous vehicles like rocket ships and giant rubber ducks, reminiscent of the "Little Rascals." It's a day filled with skill, creativity, daring, and unforgettable experiences!
For more details, volunteering, team registration, or sponsorship, visit www.kineticderbyday.com.
About Kinetic Derby Day
The mission of Kinetic Derby Day is to inspire creative problem-solving, build community pride, and showcase our growing community welcoming economic investment. The event intends to inspire creative thinkers and help develop problem-solving skills to construct imagined ideas. For more information, visit www.kineticderbyday.com.
About iMAGINE
iMAGINE is a program of South Carolina’s Coalition for Mathematics & Science (SCCMS) at Clemson University. Its mission is to create meaningful experiences that promote a culture of lifelong learning and professional growth, emphasizing science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), innovation, and entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina. For more information, visit https://www.imaginesteamsc.org/ or contact Dallas Thomas at dthomas@sccoalition.org.
