Heads up: We’re taking next week off. COLAweekend will be back in your inbox on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Happy holidays, COLA.
Sam here. 👋 “Alexa, play holiday music on volume 10.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said the above phrase this week. Though the year is winding down, there are still plenty of events happening across Columbia. Check out eight events happening this holiday weekend.
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Friday, December 23
Christmas EVE EVE Shellabration | Friday, Dec. 23 | 12-11 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Shellabrate the season with a little buttah and a whole lotta lobster + live music during this special Christmas EVE EVE Cookout featuring lobster rolls (it’s the holidays after all...).*
South Carolina State Fair presents Carolina Lights | Wednesday, Dec. 21-Monday, Dec. 26 | 6-9 p.m. | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | Drive through light experience will feature more than 100 individual LED light displays and cookies and milk will be available for purchase.
Winter Stars Planetarium Experience | Daily through Sunday, Feb. 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $11.95-$13.95 | Explore the beauty of the night sky in the South Carolina State Museum’s 55-ft. digital dome planetarium.*
Columbia Open Studios is NOW OPEN!! | Tuesday, Dec. 27-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 12-12 a.m. | 701 Center for Contemporary Art, 701 Whaley St., Columbia | $75-$125 | This will be the thirteenth installment of 701 CCA’s Columbia Open Studios, during which the public is invited to spend two days visiting artists’ studios throughout the City of Columbia and Richland and Lexington Counties.
Sunday, December 25
Merry Christmas with Bad Santa | Sunday, Dec. 25 | 7-9 p.m. | The Venue, 1626 on Main 1626 Main St., Columbia | Laugh along to a Bad Santa musical comedy show.
Holiday Lights on the River | Wednesday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | No concessions or activities will be offered on Christmas Eve or Christmas night.
In case you missed it — Santa and Mayor Rickennman flipped the switch on the new ceiling of lights that now covers the 1600 block of Main Street. The 28,000 LED light blanket is a permanent installation. 💡
Arts
Have you seen these two new murals around town? Christine Crawford just finished one for WLTX News 19 and Michael Geddings is currently working on one that will soon cover the side of Piecewise Coffee Co. in Cayce. 🎨
DYK
DYK — the Hideout and WeCo has an upstairs space? The upstairs has two rooms and plenty of space to work, catch up with a friend, or simply drink a cup of coffee while overlooking State Street. ☕️
GREAT ESCAPES
Our guide to Cedar Key, Florida
Great Escapes: Our guide to Cedar Key, Florida
There’s not a lot of places to go for a swim in Cedar Key, but you can go for a dip at the City Park or enjoy a nighttime stroll. | Photo by 6AM City
North Florida’s Cedar Key is a tiny island the size of about two Ybor Citiesand has fewer than 900 permanent residents, but it pulls in thousands of visitors throughout the year for its amazing seafood, arts festivals, and fishing.
Why go? Nothing screams Old Florida quite like Cedar Key. Yes the island is home to incredible fishing and funky artists, but also reminds us of the beauty of slow, outdoorsy Florida living.
Eat: Don’t leave without sampling the local seafood fare, especially the savory, spinach-loaded Oysters Rockefeller at Steamers ($18.99).
Vrbo: A downtown cottage right in town (~$154/night)*
Bonus message from our partner: If you’re looking to book this trip, Scott’s Cheap Flights offers all the affordable flight hacks from your home airport. Sign up here.*
Need a gift that only takes a few mouse clicks? Gift three, six, or 12 months of an Audible Premium Plus membership. They’ll get one credit a month good for any title, plus instant access to thousands of books and podcasts inThe Plus Catalog. Hello, future book club. 📚*
Travel
How does Scott’s Cheap Flights work? Sign up for free, follow up to five airports, and Scott’s will notify you when flights are 40-90% off. Bonus: You can browse deals immediately after signing up (like a $300+ round trip to Bermuda). 🌴*
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