What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
What is a Kinetic Sculpture?
It is a human-powered 3D representation of your interpretation of your favorite literary character or book. Bring your imagination to life using pedal power, as an individual or as a team. A team may include multiple members on a bike with themed costumes or multiple escorts in costume riding or walking along with a sculpture that includes kinetic movement.
Rules:
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1. Sculptures must have wheels or moveable legs, at least one gear, and be able to move forward, stop, and turn.
2. You must be able to keep up with a 3 mph minimum speed.
3. Sculptures must be able to stop safely and quickly. Sculptures that do not pass the brake safety check will not be allowed to compete.
4. All pilots must wear approved helmets. Please bring your own.
5. Sculptures must not pose any danger to anything/anyone around it or near it and must not have open flames. The pilot must be able to escape quickly and safely in the event of an emergency.
6. Participants are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages prior to or while operating the vehicle.
7. All Participants must be in an appropriate costume. This is a family-friendly event. Therefore, the City reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of costumes.
8. Sculptures must be no larger than 8' 6" (102 inches) wide, 8' high, and 18' long. A variance may be given with special permission from the parade coordinator.
We're pausing for 2026 due to the Meeting Street Road Improvement Project affecting the race route. But mark your calendars for April 17-18, 2026, for the Meeting Street Music Fest. Click for more info.
SHOW
2023
2024
EVENT TIMELINE
11:00 AM - Kinetic Sculpture Parade
11:00 AM - All Areas Open
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- SIDE-BY-SIDE SOAPBOX RACING
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
- AWARDS & SPONSOR RECOGNITION ON STAGE @ SAVAGE
3:30 PM - THE AFTER PARTY BEGINS
EVENT LAYOUT
SPONSORS &PARTNERS
Kinetic Derby Day Overview
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, join us for the sixth annual Kinetic Derby Day at Meeting Street and State Street, featuring a Fantasy Worlds theme! Step into iconic realms inspired by stories like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, or create your own magical world with dragons, castles, and flying cars.
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Kinetic Derby Day combines creativity, competition, and family-friendly fun as teams build unique vehicles and sculptures. Festivities begin at 11:00 AM with the kinetic sculpture parade, followed by thrilling side-by-side soapbox racing from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
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In response to community feedback, we’re introducing a refreshed soapbox racing lineup with two divisions: Art Cars and Kit Cars. Art Cars will focus on custom, from-scratch builds, highlighting participants' unique, handcrafted designs. Kit Cars will provide a pre-built frame for racers to personalize, replacing the former “Need for Speed” division. Each division will include the same age groups as in previous years: 8-12, 13-17, and adult.
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Explore activities at the hill’s base, including chalk art displays and interactive electric cars. The Meeting Street Artisan Market, hosted in West Columbia’s Interactive Art Park, will showcase local crafts. At the corner of Meeting and State Streets, you’ll find the Giant Slide and a food truck rally.
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On State Street, the third annual iMAGINE STEAM festival will offer hands-on activities, while the Boys and Girls Club hosts a mini soapbox racing experience for young racers in the Kids’ Zone.
Kinetic Derby Day is dedicated to community pride, creative problem-solving, and fun. Join us as we bring fantasy worlds to life and celebrate a day of imagination and innovation!
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