What everyone’s talking about:

The best way to watch from home:

The games worth getting tickets to:

• First home game: Furman vs. USC | Saturday, Sept. 9 | 7:30 p.m.
• Rival game: Clemson vs. USC | Saturday, Nov. 25 | TBD
• Browse all home game tickets.

Your must-bring stadium items:

• Your ticket. Download or update the South Carolina Gamecocks mobile app for the latest game day info + seamless mobile ticketing. The app features a new digital map to locate concessions, menus, and amenities at the stadium.
• A clear sling bag or clear purse to breeze through security.
• Gamecock gear. If your wardrobe is sorely lacking in garnet + black, shop this black jersey and this garnet t-shirt.
• One sealed water bottle per person — trust us on this one.

A quick Williams-Brice survival guide:

• Police advise fans to use I-77 — accessible from I-26 and I-20 — to get to the stadium.
• Gameday shuttle services are free to students with proof of a Carolina card.
• Bring cash. We suggest anywhere from $20 to $60. Many nearby businesses, churches + residences sell spots in their parking lots.
• Post-game stadium traffic will have priority. See the pre-game + post-game traffic flow patterns.

Make tailgating easy:

• Ensure you always have shade with this covered + easily portable chair.
• Power your grills and slow cookers with this tried-and-true generator.
• Keep drinks cold — no ice required — with a Kanga Cooler.
• Party sustainably with Pirani Life tumblers.

• Live Music with Paisley Marie | Friday, Sept. 1 | 6-9 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy live music amongst the plants at the Franklin Street location.
• Paddle and Pint | Friday, Sept. 1 | 6-8 p.m. | 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia | $47 | Sample eight different craft beers after you paddle down the Lower Saluda River.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Delmarva Shorebirds | Friday, Sept. 1 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Grateful Dead Night // Grateful Dead T-Shirt Giveaway (first 1000 fans) // Post-Game Fireworks*

• Justin Pepper 5K | Saturday, Sept. 2 | 7:30 a.m. | Palmetto Bone & Joint, 104 Ellett Rd., Chapin | This is a charity event to assist with the Scholarship Program at The Justin Pepper Foundation.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Delmarva Shorebirds | Saturday, Sept. 2 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Retro Videogame Night // Post-Game Fireworks*

• First Sunday at the SCSM | Sunday, Sept. 3 | 12-5 p.m. | The South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $1 | The first Sunday of every month, SCSM offers admission for $1 thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
• Closing Reception for Bullets and Bandaids: A Veteran Anthology | Sunday, Sept. 3 | 2-4 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a reception featuring the show’s artists, writers, and veterans, along with a sneak peek at Bullets and Bandaids Volume 5.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Delmarva Shorebirds | Sunday, Sept. 3 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Season Finale // Fan Appreciation Night*

• Commercial real estate properties around Cola are doing well in 2023. The industrial sector stands out, with a report from Colliers SC revealing that vacancy dropped to a record low of 2.4% in the second quarter, even as 1.2 million sqft of new space was added. (Columbia Business Report)

• Grab your garnet + black shirts and head to Steel Hands Brewing tomorrow to watch the first Carolina football game against UNC with fellow fans. The watch party is free and will feature its new Sandstorm Gameday Lager on draft, food specials, themed cocktails, and more.

• Columbia Fashion Week is introducing “The ColaFW Experience,” its first magazine publication, celebrating the city’s fashion scene. Attend the magazine release party happening on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at All Good Books. Enjoy pre-sale offers, meet creatives, and embrace a night of style.

• Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) is seeking volunteers for a Lakeside Litter Sweep on Lake Murray happening on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. KMB will provide supplies, lunch, and prizes.

• Join local artists at Art at The Arcade Mall (1333 Main St.) for First Thursday on Main Street happening on Thursday, Sept. 7. The event includes live art creation, art for sale, and displays from artists like Alex Ruskell, Anthony Lewis, Cait Patel, and more.

• Collaborating with the USC Center for Civil Rights and Columbia SC 63, the Columbia Museum of Art presents the “Our Story Matters Gallery,” a new permanent exhibition. This gallery delves into the history of Washington Street — once the heart of Columbia’s Black community. (The Post and Courier)

• Get ready to rock out in the River District. The City of West Columbia is hosting the inaugural Meeting Street Music Fest on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This free festival features a lineup of incredible artists on multiple stages, cold drinks, yummy bites, and more.*

• The Blood Connection has a critical need for all blood types, particularly O negative, as Hurricane Idalia recovery efforts are underway. Community members can help replenish the local blood supply by donating blood throughout the holiday weekend.*

• Congratulations Tracy B., the winner of $250 cash from our WStoday giveaway. Want to stay in know about Winston-Salem, NC? From the latest news about developments and restaurants to fun events around town, we’ve got you covered. Subscribe to WStoday.

• Known for its pimento cheese + any kind of salad you can think of, we recommend taking a look at DiPrato’s catering menu to pick up authentic New York deli-style food with Italian influence and Southern flare. Pro tip: You’re missing out if you don’t order a dessert with your meal.

• You have the choice between Family Style Combinations (feeding 10+), Boxed Meals (feeding 20+), or a Build-Your-Own method of catering for the big game.

• Grab a Tub Of Chicken — 12 pieces including three breasts, three wings, three thighs, and three legs. Pro tip: You can order the tub of chicken with white meat (seven breasts + five wings).