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2024 Columbia Wrapped: Soda City’s top news of the year

Hi Soda Citizens. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?

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2024 was a big year for Cola, to say the least. | Graphic by 6AM City

Your COLAtoday Wrapped is here, and it’s been a big year for the Soda City. Let’s dive into your top stories of 2024, but first, some stats.

53,994 of you are subscribed to COLAtoday and know all the best news and events in our city. Psst... send this newsletter to a friend to make sure they’re in the loop too.

You’ve read 263 newsletters. In those newsletters, we’ve shared over 1,000 News Notes, played around with our new look, and highlighted 1,500+ events to keep you in the know. Thanks for being here!

You’ve changed, and so has Columbia. Let’s look at how you felt throughout the year.

  • In February, Richland County and Forest Acres officials gathered to share plans for the redevelopment of the 32-acre Richland Mall property. We can’t wait to share info about the new park, grocery store, and retail spots coming soon.
  • In August, Liverpool F.C. + Manchester United came to town for a match at Williams-Brice Stadium as part of the Rivals in Red Tour for the biggest international sporting event in our state’s history.
  • A few years after we shared that Crystal Lagoons was coming to Columbia, it was announced that the beach-style lagoon with restaurants, parks, and a hotel, would be developed around Oak Hills Golf Club in north Columbia.
  • In November, you were excited to find out about the winter and holiday-themed events happening in and around Cola, and we had you covered.

We had fun connecting with you on social media as well. Here are our top three posts that brought in the most new followers.

More from COLAtoday
The New York Times put together a list of nine food trends for 2025 including sauces, coffee, and grab-and-go options. Here’s where you can get try some of these trends in Columbia.
Readers predict Columbia in 2101 will thrive with healthcare and manufacturing, a booming population, high-speed trains, and a pedestrian-friendly future.
Richland County is launching a 41,000-square-foot regional training center to support workforce development, economic growth, and major employers like Scout Motors.
Experience chef collaborations, wine-paired vinyl dinners, and a music and craft beer showcase April 22-27, Tuesday through Sunday, at Columbia Food & Wine Festival.
The annual Tiki Week at Bourbon is moving to The Dragon Room, blending tiki-inspired food and cocktails with Asian cuisine.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Celebrate the Oscars in style with fine dining, live entertainment, and a red carpet experience at The Venue hosted by The Nick.
Gray Collegiate Academy will be opening its new satellite campus in Irmo this August 2025, initially hosting ~600 students, grades six through 10.
Here are some of your favorite hot soups at nine restaurants in the Columbia, SC area from Mexican dishes to spicy Asian noodle bowls.
Tina Roy drops the “Not Like Us (G-Mix),” a custom Kendrick Lamar remix celebrating the team’s skills on the court.