Kids Market @Cola City Expo
Saturday, June 27 from 10am-1pm
Ages 5-17 — $25/booth

Kids Market is a one-day, in-person event where children ages 5–17 run their own small businesses. Kids sell products or services they’ve created, interact with real customers, and experience what it’s like to earn money through their own efforts.

Each market is community-focused, family-friendly, and built to help kids grow confidence through real-world experience.

Click here to watch a short video about the Kids Market.

Market ideas can include handmade items, store-bought, food, games or services. HINT: Cola City Homeschool Expo attendess are especially looking for used books and curriculum materials!

Does your child have a business idea they’ve been wanting to try? Let them launch it at the Cola City Homeschool Expo! The homeschool expo is a well-loved resource in the community. It draws families who are actively looking for resources and creative opportunities, which make it an incredible place for kids to practice selling, build confidence, and showcase what they’ve created.

CLICK HERE to REGISTER

>>Go Back to the Expo HOME PAGE<<

Cola City Homeschool Expo 2026
In-Person Vendors

Saturday, June 27th, 10 am-4 pm at
Jamil Center, 206 Jamil Road, Columbia, SC 29210

Vendor Registration Options: note all vendors have access to free wi-fi; tablecloths/coverings not included.
Spaces are limited–hurry before it’s too late! Late Registration closes on June 15.

• SOLD OUT Premium Perimeter Space 10×10 (best value), $250: includes 8-foot table, 2 chairs, electricity access, with linkback on Expo directory and one vendor shout-out on Facebook event. Located along the perimeter wall for maximum visibility. Offers floor space to bring your own additional tables/shelves/displays in the designated area.
• SOLD OUT Economy Perimeter Space 8×6, $125:  includes 8-foot table, 1 chair, no electricity access, with linkback on Expo directory and one vendor shout-out on Facebook event. Located along the shopping perimeter interior side (not on the wall). Allows enough floor space to bring your own additional tables/shelves/displays in the designated area.
• Table Only Budget Space, $75 LATE REGISTRATION: includes 8-foot table, with linkback on Expo directory and one vendor shout-out on Facebook event. No electricity access or chair provided. Located on the interior shopping aisles. All signs and items must fit on or under the table.

Virtual Sponsors Promotional Add-On Options: Business participants who cannot attend in person can still get promotions, in order to make meaningful connections with our local homeschool community: Click HERE for Virtual Sponsor Registration and Add-On Promotions

Complete this form to secure your space with the 2026 Cola City Homeschool Expo!

Many hands make light work! We have several stations that will need assistance to implement this Career Day Expo. If you have a teen who is participating, this is a great way to keep an eye out and also let them have some autonomy. We appreciate your time and energy!

• Check-in and help desk: Participants will check in to get their group schedule and assignments. Volunteers are needed to answer questions for vendors/workshop presenters too.
• Drop-offs Chaperone: Families with younger siblings have the option to drop-off teen participant. Volunteers will be needed to be the point of contact to make sure the students are supervised getting to the various activities.
• Refreshments team: Volunteers are needed to manage the refreshments area, clean up any spills and assist the distribution of boxed lunches.
• MVP Be Pro Ambassadors: Parents or teens who will spend the day working with the Be Pro Mobile
  Workshop Tour Team to demonstrate the use of on-board simulators and communicate directly with
  peers about available training options and career opportunities.
• Set-up and/or Clean up: Volunteers needed for Wednesday night (7pm), Early Thursday morning (7am), Thursday afternoon (3-5pm)

Contact Kim with any questions: colacityinfo@gmail.com

Tell us how you’re able to help out, fill out this form:

Are you ready to explore exciting career paths and gain hands-on experience? Join us for an engaging Career Day, specially designed for homeschool high school students! This event is packed with interactive workshops, expert advice, and real-world activities that will help you discover your passions and shape your future.

An Event Especially for High Schoolers!

What to Expect:

• Interactive Workshops led by industry professionals in various fields.
• Hands-On Experiences that let you try out different skills and discover what excites you.
• Career Exploration where you can ask questions, learn about potential career paths, and get personalized advice.
• Networking Opportunities to connect with mentors and professionals who are eager to share their knowledge.

Why Attend?

• Explore a variety of career options through real-world experiences.
• Gain valuable insights from professionals in various fields.
• Get inspired to take the next steps toward your future career.
• Make connections that could help guide your career journey.

Learn, Grow, and Have Fun While Discovering Potential Career Paths!

Date and Time: Thursday, February 6 from 9am-3pm
Location: Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall), 5637 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29212
Cost: $25 for teens (ages 13+); Lunch/Refreshments optional add-on; Parent-Educator/participant: $25

• Featured Workshop: Be Pro Be Proud, Exploring Trade Skills and Careers
• SC Discus: Free resources for Career Explorations for High Schoolers presented by SC State Library. Bring your own electronic device for hands-on practice
• Test Prep and Science Apps: Free resources (and games) to improve your test scores presented by US Army.
• Soap Knapping Workshop: Highlighting land history and preservation for park ranger/guide/naturalist by Nature As Teacher
• Activities Stations Open Lab: Highlighting several hands-on games/activities to explore your interests. Presented by Cola City Homeschoolers
• Vendor Hall Representatives: Columbia International University, Palmetto Homeschool Association, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology, Cola City Homeschoolers, SC Homeschooling Connection, Lexington County Library and SC Discus.

Reserve your space NOW!

This is not just another playground meet-up group. It’s a new kind of play program. Intentionally designed to foster independence, social development, problem solving–for all ages.

The Club is the brainchild of Let Grow co-founder Dr. Peter Gray, the eminent psychologist who has spent his life studying the crucial role of unstructured, mixed-age “free play” in developing children’s creativity, confidence, and ability to thrive. Click here to see more about Peter Gray’s explanation for WHY we need more play.

• By organizing their own games and learning to solve the inevitable spats, kids learn real-world social skills. You can’t solve problems if there’s always an adult right there at recess or in a play group, solving them first!
• Mixed-age play benefits all kids. Older students develop responsibility, leadership and empathy. Younger kids learn executive function by trying to be like the big kids.
• Kids who are allowed to take small risks and figure things out themselves at home will have more grit and determination at school.

We are currently revising and regrouping the Play Club initiative. If you are interested in giving our kids agency and autonomy, inspiration about the possibilities of helping build the Cola City Homeschoolers community, fill out the interest form below. If you’re especially excited about this goal, contact Kim text 803-307-4880 or email colacityinfo@gmail.com

Fill out this form to get started!

Birthday Month Card Exchange
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Monthly Card Exchange
All Ages — FREE

Let’s celebrate the fun of birthdays–together! Here’s how it works. Registrations for anyone who has a birthday coming up in May.

• We will send out a list of participants (up to 10 others) who are also having a birthday.
• You will send each of them a card…and each one will send you a card.
• Plus, you’ll get one from Cola City admins too!

We will try to group the lists by ages as much as possible. We recommend you make the cards personalized with a token gift inside–like stickers, temporary tattoos, a printable game or handmade note. Something that mails easily with a regular stamp.

Remember this is meant to be fun! So have your child do a reasonable part of the project. Young ones might put a sticker on the envelop or be able to sign their name. Older ones might be able to manage the addresses on the envelopes.

Contact Kim with any questions, colacityinfo@gmail.com
Sign up here for September birthdays only by September 6. We will send a list out to participants.

Are you interested in volunteering to help contact prospective vendors or help for a few hours in-person on the day of the Expo? Many hands make light work!

1. Help is needed prior to the Expo (remote from home):
   • Brainstorming prospective vendors and sponsors
   • Contacting prospective vendors and sponsors
   • Follow-up contact with prospective vendors and sponsors
   • Promotions online–Share the event and vendors especially on Facebook.
2. Help is needed at the Expo (in person on location). Greet at the check-in desk, assist consignment sale,  promote Cola City or SC Connection booth:
   • Set up, Friday afternoon, June 26 2-5 pm
   • Morning, 8-11 am, June 27
   • Mid-day, 11-2 pm, June 27
   • Afternoon 3-5:30 pm, June 27

Tell us how you’re able to help out, fill out this form:

Mom Squad Interest Form

Do you have a heart for building community, mentoring new homeschoolers? Do you love planning upcoming activities and helping promote them? There’s lots of work to do to help manage all the things for this support community. You can be part of the Cola City Mom Squad.

Let’s work TOGETHER to build a strong network!
Let’s have fun too!
Contribute individually or as a representative for another resource/program–let’s collaborate!

Benefits of Networking Together: I need lots of help–and so do you! So, let’s help each other toward our common goals.

• Experience and expertise with an established homeschool leader
• Endorsement for cross-promotion of your event or resource
• Encouragement and mentorship as a new homeschooler/new leader
• Resources and equipment available for sharing/borrowing
• Financial considerations: collecting fees for events or offsetting overhead costs.

The Mom Squad will be expected: Team work and communication.

• Follow thru with the commitments you volunteered to do.
• Keep in contact with Kim (and other team members) to help implement and promote upcoming activities.
• Attend monthly virtual/zoom meeting–to touch base with the team. Partly for fun, partly for “business” ongoing planning/coordination.
• Brainstorm ideas–so we can do BIG things: Homeschool Expo, Teen Dance, Graduation and more.
• Always be inviting. Cross-promote the opportunities so new homeschoolers and new residents can get connected.

Let’s talk about what you’re willing to do–and see if we can find the job that’s right for you. Complete this interest form, and we’ll get in touch with follow-up for an informal interview with Kim.

Are you interested in faciliating the Green Steps Environmental Projects? Great! Come join the Green Team.

We have ongoing projects already established. But we’re always open to more ideas–and even just a nature walk meet-up. The more time we can log out doors, the better for us all. So, if you’re willing to facilitate a project or just host an outing.

Previous projects we’ve established, and aim to continue offering:

• Solar Ovens
• Gardening Projects: Pollinator plants, Pollinator Nests, and Composting
• Litter Pick-up
• Cardboard Creations
• Seed Paper Valentines
• Shoe Recycling Project
• Science Share Fair
• Other field trips and virtual workshops
• Nature Walks–Rain or Shine

Sign up to get involved in planning our 2024-2025 projects:

Minecraft Club by Cola City Homeschoolers
Registrations now open for Winter Session.
Open play on our secure, private server
thru March 1.

Click HERE to read more about Minecraft Club and Gamers Chat Club
Fill out this registration form. Club moderators will be in touch to set up a time for orientation class to get your participant started.

Quarterly Dues:
New Minecraft & Gamers Chat Club: 1 player $7.50, 2 players $12.50, 3+ players $16
New Gamer Chat Club: 1 player $5, 2 players $8, 3+players $10