Plus, four local high school football teams will compete in football championships.
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Today’s Forecast

54º | Partly cloudy | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:09 a.m. | Sunset 5:15 p.m.
 

🤲 It’s Giving Tuesday

It’s Giving Tuesday — here’s a guide to donating in Columbia
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United Way of the Midlands is seeking volunteer tutors for this year’s Midlands Reading Consortium | Photo provided
Today is Giving Tuesday — the globally celebrated day for giving back to your community through gifts + monetary donations.

Last year, Giving Tuesday brought in an estimated $3.1 Billion in 24 hours in the US alone. That’s a 15% increase over the prior year + a 25% increase since 2020.

There are hundreds of Midlands nonprofits that you can give to today. You might already have one in mind, but if you’re not sure where to start:
The Blood Connection’s brand new donation center

One of The Blood Connection’s donation centers is located at 5141 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington. | Photo provided

Five ways to participate in Giving Tuesday that don’t involve a monetary donation:

Pay it forward
While you’re already grabbing a local cup of Joe, go ahead + buy one extra coffee and pay for the person behind you.

Volunteer
We just updated our volunteer guide — donate your time, talents, or knowledge to a local nonprofit.

Donate items
Explore dozens of local food pantries and donate food for those experiencing food insecurity.

Use your platform
Giving Tuesday offers a social media toolkit, including graphics, posting ideas, and sample captions across several platforms.

Give blood
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, one donation of blood can save up to three lives. Find a Blood Connection nearest to you and donate blood.

If all else fails and you find yourself busy today, don’t underestimate the power of a compliment or picking up the phone to connect with someone. A few nice words can help a person more than you think.
LTC Hospitality
 
Events
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Wednesday, Nov. 29
  • Historic Columbia’s Holiday House Tours | Wednesday, Nov. 15-Saturday, Dec. 30 | Times vary | Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | $18 | Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th century.
  • Holiday Lights on the River | Wednesday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | $25-$75 | Journey through more than two miles of lights featuring colorful, animated light displays of all shapes and sizes.
Thursday, Nov. 30
  • Holiday Market - Junior League of Columbia | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | SC State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $10 | Head to the South Carolina State Fairgrounds to find the perfect gifts from nearly 170 merchants.
  • Home for the Holiday’s Pop Up Bar | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 4 p.m. | The Venue, 1624 Main St., Columbia | $10-$50 | Step into a winter wonderland to sip on specially crafted holiday beverages and sing along to your favorite holiday tunes.
  • Holiday Planetarium Lighting | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 4-7 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Free | Kick off the holiday season with an after-hours event featuring special shows, shopping time in the museum store, and more.
Friday, Dec. 1
  • Winter Wonderland | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 4-7 p.m. | 1600 Block of Main Street | Free | Enjoy snowfall every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December on the 1600 Block of Main Street.
  • Winter Wine at the Holiday Lights on the River | Friday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 2 | 6-7 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St Andrews Rd., Columbia | $35 | Sample eight different wines, enjoy light refreshments, get one s’mores packet and admission to Holiday Lights on the River the evening of the event.
100+ more events to plan for
Click here to have your event featured.
Central Carolina Community Foundation
 
Seasonal

Jingle all the way to the Holiday Planetarium Lighting
Exterior of the South Carolina State Museum with a holiday display in the planetarium dome.
General admission is “Pay-As-You-May” meaning how much you pay is up to you. Planetarium + 4D shows are $5. | Photo provided by the South Carolina State Museum
The South Carolina State Museum is kicking off the holidays with an after-hours event featuring special holiday shows (think: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 4D) and the new planetarium experience, “Áróra.”

Stop by for photos with Santa, shop in the museum store, enjoy night-sky observing in the Boeing Observatory (weather permitting) + more.

A special guest will wrap up the night as the planetarium dome officially lights up with a special holiday display for the season.
Light up your holiday season
News Notes
Announced
  • Theo Von, known for his podcasts and Netflix special “Regular People,” is hitting the road and coming to Colonial Life Arena during his “Return of the Rat” tour on Saturday, Feb. 3. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m.
Read
  • In his fourth book “Garden Disruptors,” author Augustus Jenkins Farmer, III, delves into the narrative of Riverbanks Botanical Garden’s formation in Columbia. The book highlights the evolution of Southern horticulture, emphasizing the break from elitist garden paradigms + the embrace of climate-appropriate, unconventional plants. (The Post and Courier)
Community
  • The Nick introduced the Palmetto Society — a new tier of annual giving. Donors contributing $2,500 or more yearly will receive producer-level membership benefits including, exclusive events, discounts, recognition, and more. Contributions sustain diverse programming, educational initiatives, and daily operations.
Sports
  • Local high school football teams from Dutch Fork, White Knoll, Gray Collegiate, and Camden will compete in the SC High School League Football Championships, beginning this Thursday in Orangeburg. Gray Collegiate will take on Oceanside Collegiate. Dutch Fork + White Knoll will face off in the Class 5A final. (Cola Daily)
Listen
  • Michael Gutshall, creator of the synth-pop duo Travel Therapy, just released his second album, “Sum Notes.” Michael collaborated with Smith Austin and local professionals for production. Listen to nine danceable, synth-focused, uber-electronic tracks. (The Post and Courier)
Seasonal
  • Enjoy the holiday season in Cayce with three upcoming events: Cayce’s Tree Lighting happening on Thursday, Nov. 30, Carols Along the Riverwalk happening on Friday, Dec. 1, and the Christmas Traditions: Old and New event happening on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Asked
  • If you could ask a physician a question about diabetes, what would you ask? (Think: Diabetes cure? Prevention? Tips? Holiday help?) Submit your questions to the Prisma Health experts, who are on call + ready to answer your questions in our next edition of Prisma Health On Call.*
Wellness
  • ICYMI, our latest edition of COLA Wellness in partnership with Prisma Health features: tips for staying healthy this holiday season, a new forest to table restaurant, cold-weather activities, “healthified” sweet potato casserole + more. Subscribe (and never miss an issue).*
Finance
  • Big box stores continue to lobby for the Credit Card Competition Act — a bill that could dismantle credit card rewards. If signed into law, corporations would benefit from lower fees by potentially sacrificing the security and benefits of cardholders. Learn more about the bill and ways to voice your stance.**
Travel
  • Holidays in Aiken means exciting holiday activities for the whole family, magical events, festive shopping + dining experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime. Consider this your invitation to explore the magic of Aiken this holiday season.*
Pets
  • Ever wanted to decode your pet’s DNA? Basepaws’ pet DNA tests provide insights into 300+ dog breeds and 280 health markers — and they’re $85 for Black Friday.*
Correction
  • Yesterday, we incorrectly stated Clemson’s victory in the Palmetto Bowl as their fourth consecutive in the series. It was actually their fourth consecutive win of the season. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten — The Gamecocks won the 2022 rivalry game, 31-30.
**This message is brought to you by The Points Guy.
Soiree on State (City of Cayce)
 
Cause

Unwrap the gift of giving
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Do yourself and others a favor by shopping with our partners that give back. | Photo by 6AM City
Did you know you can sip on tasty coffee and help the planet at the same time?

This Giving Tuesday, we’re excited to spotlight our brand partner, Loveland Coffee, a Columbia-based business that roasts small batched, certified fair trade organic coffee.

This business also donates 1% of its gross annual revenue to local water-based incentives through the nonprofit 1% for the Planet.

Want to keep up the energy for giving back?

We’ve got you covered…
More gifts that give back
The Buy

The Buy 11.28.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A great deal on a professional chef’s knife — get the Henckels German-engineered slicing knife for $70 off (yes, $70).
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The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam
From the editor
Another way to participate in Giving Tuesday is to leave a five-star review for a business you love. If you’ve ever had a good experience working with a local nonprofit, I encourage you to take five minutes or less to share your story and leave them a review. It’s a simple, free, and impactful way to lend support.
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