A racing team crashes into a pile of corn kernels at the bottom of Meeting Street for Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia.
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A Snapshot of Kinetic Derby Day 2003

ByJohn Lowry, CPP

On the morning of Saturday, April 22, 2023 I grabbed my camera and headed to the City of West Columbia for the fourth annual Kinetic Derby Day. Having had the pleasure of attending and photographing this event every year, I was excited for what lay ahead.

The City of West Columbia conceived of Kinetic Derby Day as a delightful and imaginative means of fostering community spirit and generating interest in the West Columbia River District—an area that encompasses restaurants, merchants, and parks along the Congaree River, just across from downtown Columbia. The event features soap box and kinetic sculpture racing with obstacles down Meeting Street. There is a Kids Zone and STEAM festival along State Street throughout the day. Each year, there has been a carnival-style feature such as a Ferris Wheel or the giant slide present this year. Food trucks are parked between the racing area and the STEAM festival. The Meeting Street Artisan Market and surrounding restaurants and shops are also open for business.

The crowds attending Kinetic Derby Day have steadily grown each year. People lined both sides of Meeting Street to watch the racers roll down the hill before coming to a stop in a huge pile of corn kernels. It makes for a photogenic event with the interesting and often quirky vehicles racing each other downhill. I chose a few of my favorite images from the day to share and tried to show some different aspects of the festival.

A costumed racing team poses at the top of Meeting Street for Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia.
A costumed racing team poses at the top of Meeting Street for Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia.
Two racing teams line up at the starting line for Kinetic Derby Day.
Two racing teams line up at the starting line for Kinetic Derby Day.
A chalk artist works on Meeting Street during the 2023 Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia.
A chalk artist works on Meeting Street during the 2023 Kinetic Derby Day in West Columbia.
Some happy people arrive at the bottom of the giant slide.
Some happy people arrive at the bottom of the giant slide.
This whale-themed kinetic sculpture was one of the more interesting ones at the 2023 Kinetic Derby Day.
This whale-themed kinetic sculpture was undoubtedly one of the more interesting ones at the 2023 Kinetic Derby Day.
A member of the West Columbia Fire Department seals off Meeting and State Streets for Kinetic Derby Day.
A member of the West Columbia Fire Department seals off Meeting and State Streets.
A racing team crashes into corn kernels at the bottom of Meeting Street.
A racing team crashes into corn kernels at the bottom of Meeting Street.

Portrait Photographer

portrait photographer based in Columbia, SC

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