There will be plenty of action in the night sky this year. | Photo via Pexels

Calling all stargazers. We’ve put together a handy guide of this year’s celestial events so you won’t miss a thing. Grab your calendar, mark down these dates, and start planning your 2023 night sky viewing adventures.

💫 Meteor showers

If you missed the Quadrantid meteor shower on January 3 and 4, fear not — there will be plenty more showers to catch this year. Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

Lyrids: April 22-23
Eta Aquarids: May 6-7
Delta Aquarids: July 28-29
Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31
Perseids: August 12-13
Draconids: October 7
Orionids: October 21-22
Southern Taurids: November 4-5
Northern Taurids: November 11-12
Leonids: November 17-18
Geminids: December 13-14
Ursids: December 21-22

🌕 Full moons and supermoons

It may technically be the Year of the Water Rabbit, but it’s also the moon’s year to shine. While most years there are 12 full moons, 2023 will welcome 13 (two will occur in August). Here’s the full list, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

February 5: Snow moon
March 7: Worm moon
April 6: Pink moon
May 5: Flower moon
June 3: Strawberry moon
July 3: Buck moon
August 1: Sturgeon moon
August 30: Blue moon
September. 29: Harvest moon
October 28: Hunter’s moon
November 27: Beaver moon
December 26: Cold moon

📍 Where to go

When choosing a spot to view celestial events, aim for a location that is away from man-made light. Here are some spots that we suggest:

Congaree National Park | 100 National Park Rd., Hopkins
Dreher Island State Park | 3677 State Park Rd., Prosperity
Lake Murray | 11+ public lake access points

MORE CELESTIAL EVENTS

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EVENTS

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Monday, Jan. 23

Read Southall Band | Monday, Jan. 23 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. West, Columbia | $15 | This Oklahoma-based Southern rock band has over 900,00 monthly listeners on Spotify and is touring in support of their new album “For the Birds.”
MR. BURNS | Monday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Feb. 4 | 8 p.m. | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., Columbia | $35 | Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy propels us forward nearly a century, following a new civilization stumbling into its future.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Winter Stars Planetarium Experience | Tuesday, Jan. 24-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.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Dick Goodwin Presents The Big Band Experience | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 7 p.m. | Chayz Lounge, 607 Meeting St., West Columbia | $25 | This 12-piece band, featuring a brass section, will perform a blend of popular music selections from a number of decades.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Garden Asana - Grass Roots Yoga | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 8:15-9:15 a.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | $15 | Breath-centric, in-person, for everybody.
Line Dance Lessons | Thursday, Jan. 26 | Bill’s Music Shop, 710 Meeting St, West Columbia | $40 for four sessions | Dances will combine classic and current line dances learned over four weekly sessions.
The Essence of Humanity: An Artist Talk with YoYo Lander | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | Free with CMA membership or admission | Join the Friends of African American Art & Culture to welcome home artist and South Carolina native YoYo Lander for a moderated conversation.*

Saturday, Jan. 28

Savage Craft 2nd Anniversary | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 12-11 p.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works, 430 Center St., West Columbia | Free | Spend the day at Savage Craft Ale Works to celebrate the brewery’s second year of business with live music, a custom menu, and fun for the whole family.*

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

EDU

Local program offering $550,000+ in scholarships

A photo collage of four students dressed in a cap and gown

All scholarships are made possible through charitable funds established by generous donors committed to furthering the education of students across the Midlands. | Photo provided by Central Carolina Community Foundation

Calling all parents of high school seniors and college-age students: Now through Sunday, March 5, Central Carolina Community Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 school year. The median scholarship award is $2,000, and nearly half of the opportunities are renewable.

Bonus: One general application opens the doors to 230+ scholarship opportunities.

Students will be notified in May if they’re awarded a scholarship. See how easy it is to apply below.*

START AN APPLICATION

NEWS NOTES

Weather

56º | Sunny | 8% chance of rain

Coming Soon

The Midlands meat-and-three staple, Lizard’s Thicket, is opening a new location on the 1700 block of S. Lake Dr. in Red Bank, just past the Shoppes at White Knoll. Construction hasn’t started, but the restaurant hopes to open by the end of the year. 🥘 (The State)

Opening

Would you like a book with that biscuit? Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits’ second location in the café at Richland Library Main (1431 Assembly St.) will open at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The new dine-in or carry-out spot will be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 🐱

Shop

The Devine Street District’s annual Winter Sidewalk Sale begins Friday, Jan. 27, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 29. We love an opportunity to purchase a special Valentine’s Day gift on sale from places like Just the Thing, Britton’s, and Gardener’s Outpost. 🛍️

Sports

Batter up. Gamecock Baseball Flex Passes are now available. The passes allow fans to purchase 10 vouchers for any home game at Founders Park. The first pitch of the season for the No. 23 ranked team is on Friday, Feb. 17 against UMass Lowell at 4 p.m. ⚾

Job

New year = new job. Grow yourself professionally in 2023 and work for a company known for delivering innovative patient-centered care. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians has several medical + administrative job openings. Learn more + apply.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Events

Celebrate 90 years of Drink Small

Drink Small is depicted in the V and the E of the Five Points postcard mural. | Photo by COLAtoday

Some know him as “The Blues Doctor” and others may recognize him as the man with his guitar on the Five Points mural facing Harden Street. On Saturday, Feb. 4, you’re invited to celebrate Drink Small’s 90th birthday at the South Carolina State Museum.

Hosted by The ColaJazz Foundation, the event will celebrate Drink Small’s career in a variety of ways, including:

A curated exhibit showcasing photos, instruments, and mementos from his career.
A new art piece featuring a guitar made of guitar picks.
Cardboard guitars for children to decorate.
A concert from fellow blues legend Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues.
And, of course, a performance from the legend himself, Drink Small.

Grab tickets here, but if you can’t make it, the exhibit will be available for viewing in the museum through the end of February.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: I am back from my Southwest adventure in Santa Fe and did find several Columbia, SC references at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. It didn’t take long once I was there, the first information I read mentioned the impact teaching art at Columbia College had on her work. Just a few years later, she was recognized as one of America’s most important artists.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about the entertainment lineup at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Five Points, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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