columbia county amphitheater

Went down for Thursday's Farmers' Market. The facility and area is very well done. There was very little of anything related to what I expected at a Farmers' Market - some tomatoes was about it. The rest was more like a crafts and "As seen on TV" exhibit.

This gem is located behind the Columbia County / Evans Library. This park is small and quaint, with just the right amount of family activities. We spend a lot of time at the library and this amphitheater/playground!The actual amphitheater is a small but perfect size for concerts and events. It is a true amphitheater with brick steps and grassy areas to spread out the beach blanket or sit in camp chairs to enjoy the live entertainment. The County frequently hosts special events, our favorites being Brews, Blues and BBQ and the Kids' Karaoke. When there is a special event, the County will post signs and close the playground area off from the parking lot. Admission is sometimes required for special events, though there are some that are free of charge. Let me be clear: special events at the amphitheater sometimes have admission fees but the playground, splashpad and walking path are free and open to the public every day until dusk with the exception of special events at the amphitheater. The amphitheater sits on a small, picturesque pond and has a playground. The pond has an asphalt path that is a third-of-a-mile around that we enjoy walking around with our dog (pooper scooper stations are provided -- thank you, Columbia County!) A lot of people walk and jog around the pond but it is never crowded -- even early in the morning. There are several picnic tables under covered pavilions to enjoy a meal -- many families have birthday parties here and gather for picnic dinners when it is hot and the kids can run through the splashpad while the adults socialize. For children, it has a great playground and a small but fun splashpad. The splashpad is concrete but has a several water features and is located in the middle of all playground areas. The water is cold and refreshing and our little one loves it. The playground itself has three sections for different age groups and has playground equipment and swings for special needs children. They just recently installed a rubber mat flooring system for all three playground sections. For parents with children of different ages and levels of activity, I feel that you can easily watch/see your children at all three locations without worry. And, if you bring bikes, you can definitely watch/see older children walking or riding around the pond easily. Two of the playground areas are shaded by pine trees which helps a lot. On Saturdays during Spring/Summer/Fall and during special amphitheater events, the Catch Phrase Cafe (inside Library's building) has a very reasonable Concessions Stand in front of the amphitheater. On Saturdays, they offer cold drinks and treats (snowcones, ice cream, etc.) and other snacks (popcorn, candy, etc.) This playground is just special to us. You'll love it when you find it. It is especially wonderful for smaller children as it is not crowded like the Evans Towne Center Park where the big kids (and some adults) seem to run the smaller children over. And, like I already mentioned, it has playground equipment designed for specifically for children with special needs, which frankly, I think is pretty darn awesome. The overall pace of this playground is much more relaxed and low key compared to the fast pace of other nearby parks. Every Thursday from May to October the Evans Towne Center Farmers Market is held at the amphitheater area from 4pm to 7pm with free admission. We love this weekly event, too.Mom Notes: The bathroom building is pretty clean, has a diaper changing station in each side , hot water at the sinks, and offers plenty of space to change kids out of wet bathing suits into dry clothes. Bathrooms are in close proximity to playground and splashpad. There is a water fountain at the bathroom building for quick sips and water bottle refills. Parking lot is close to the playground and the amphitheater if you need to get a snack or something out of the car. This playground is usually not crowded, even if the parking lot is full. Bring a camp chair as they are more comfortable than the picnic tables and benches if you are planning on your child running around the splashpad. (You can also sit in the shade better with a camp chair.) And, finally, if you're out of snacks and your child is starving from playing hard, you can get snacks and kid-friendly lunches inside the library building at the Catch Phrase Cafe. (Sandwiches, snacks, cookies, Capri Sun juice, bottled water, bottled and fountain drinks, ice cream, etc. I highly recommend the light and fluffy homemade cookies!)