Simpsonville Daily: Robotics, council updates, and weekend events

Robotics teams roll into Hillcrest High

Hundreds of students and mentors are converging on Hillcrest High School today for the FIRST LEGO League West Regional Tournament, bringing a full day of robotics matches, judging sessions, and STEM activities to Simpsonville. The event runs into the afternoon and features teams from across the Upstate, with local students showcasing months of design, coding, and teamwork on the competition floor.

Hillcrest is serving as one of the state’s key qualifying sites, so strong performances here can help area teams punch their ticket to the statewide championship later this month. Spectators can expect a steady buzz of activity around the campus as families, volunteers, and visiting teams move through the day’s schedule.

City meetings set the tone for February

At City Hall, this past week’s calendar included a special called meeting of City Council and notice of the February Planning Commission session, which was listed as canceled on the city’s online calendar. The shifts in the schedule come as Simpsonville leaders continue working through downtown planning, infrastructure priorities, and other early-year business.

Residents who want to track what council and boards are doing this month can follow agendas, minutes, and meeting notices through the city website’s news and events calendar. With several land-use and development questions in the pipeline for 2026, officials are encouraging people to stay engaged as plans move from discussion to action.

Weekend happenings around town

For those looking to get out of the house, Simpsonville’s weekend lineup leans heavily into music, community, and pets. A Brazil-themed carnival party is slated for downtown tonight, adding late-night energy to South Main Street with food, drinks, and dancing. On Sunday, a local pet store on Harrison Bridge Road is hosting a free adoption event, giving rescue animals a high-visibility platform to find new homes.

Local business and networking groups are also active, with the Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce and other organizers promoting coffee meetups, support groups, and social gatherings stretching into next week. Later this month, car enthusiasts can circle February 21 on the calendar, when the popular Cars and Coffee meetup returns to BridgeWay Station off Holland Road.

Sources

• https://www.simpsonville.com/
• https://www.firstsouthcarolina.org/events
• https://allevents.in/simpsonville-sc/all
• https://members.simpsonvillechamber.com/events
• https://www.bridgewaystation.com/event-details/cars-and-coffee-2026-2026-02-21-08-00