Krewe de Columbi-Ya Ya’s pro tips

• You can’t miss the free parade. (Tom Hall never wanted to do the festival without the parade.) Good spots to post up are along Rosewood in front of Publix — a good spot for kids to catch beads — and by Sour & Salt Bakery, who will be selling King Cakes this year. Bonus: the end of the parade (near City Roots + Hunter Gatherer hangar) is really fun to witness around 11:30 a.m.
• Dress in all the purple, gold, and green you can find, but leave the feather boas and glitter at home.
• If you’re 21+, bring money to purchase beer/wine tokens — the only way to buy booze at the festival. One token is $6 and buys you one beer or wine.

• Buy your ticket online in advance to save time in line. If you purchased a ticket online, you can head straight to the Will-Call line, which is usually shorter than the cash and credit lines. Look for the signage.
• New this year is a food vendor dining area with designated tables and chairs, meaning it’ll be easier to find a place to sit and enjoy all the Cajun and Carolinas-inspired foods.
• Have a great time. That’s what the Krewe is all about.

• Runaway Gin - A Tribute to Phish 10-Year Anniversary | Friday, Feb. 9 | 8-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St., Columbia | $15-$20 | Hear this band jam out to some of your favorite Phish tunes.

• Pups & Pints Adoption Event | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 12-3 p.m. | Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside St., Columbia | Free | Bring a leash, drink a pint, and speed date with the pups.
• Gamecock Men’s Basketball vs. Vanderbilt Commodores | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 1 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $20-$55 | Root for the Gamecock Men’s basketball team as they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores inside of Colonial Life Arena.
• Black History Month Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 10 | 2-5 p.m. | Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia | Free | The event features a culinary conversation with Gullah Chef BJ Dennis, author Dinah Johnson, and a performance by the Cultural Expression African Drum and Dance Ensemble.

• Amore Under the Stars | Wed., Feb. 14 | 6-10 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $80 | This unique Valentine’s Day experience features champagne, stargazing, an exclusive laser show, and more.

• City Grit: Impress your guest with the best when you opt for an upscale casual dinner at City Grit, a 2023 James Beard Finalist known for its tasty tapas + wine.
• Gervais & Vine: Have a taste for modern Mediterranean bites? Yes, chef. Enjoy an evening filled with fresh food and wine served in a cozy dining room or al fresco on the patio.
• SC State State Museum: How about dinner and a show? Amore Under the Stars features delicious food from Loosh Culinaire, a champagne bar, live music, an exclusive planetarium laser show, and more.
• Mellow Mushroom: Valentine’s Day can still be special even if you’re spending the night in. Pick up a pizza, an order of wings, or plant-based goodies from Mellow Mushroom.

• The top-ranked Gamecock women’s basketball team will face Missouri and No. 11 UConn without their leading scorer + rebounder Kamilla Cardoso as she heads to play for Brazil in the Olympic qualifiers. Coach Staley is confident the team will rise to the occasion. (The State)

• WNBA star and Gamecock Hall of Famer A’ja Wilson made an appearance on Good Morning America to talk about her book, “Dear Black Girls.” Grab tickets to her book signing event, happening on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at the R2i2 Conference Center. (ABC Columbia)

• Chicken Salad Chick will host its grand opening in Trenholm Plaza on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m. This will be the chicken salad chain’s first Columbia location, with two additional Midlands stores in Irmo and Lexington.

• The gong has been recovered. ColumbiaPD said that a good Samaritan found the public art centerpiece in a neighborhood near the VA Hospital.

• Lexington Medical Center is hosting its 2nd Annual Technical College Career Fair on Friday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The event for SC technical college students offers an immersive experience with job shadowing opportunities and career insights. Pre-registration required.

• The Lunar New Year is coming up and we have just the way to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. On Saturday, Feb. 10, head to Richland Library Northeast (7490 Parklane Rd.) from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Family Storytime, where families can enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and more.

• AllSouth is hosting their annual Soldiers & Vets Charity Golf Tournament to benefit the Fort Jackson-Palmetto State Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, AUSA. Sign up to play or become a tournament sponsor.*

• Planning to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday? Stream it with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription — get 30 days free with code GOAT.*

• We’re excited to share that 6AM City, our parent company, closed its Series A funding round led by the media company, TEGNA. This partnership means continuing to deliver the same hyper-local news and events while expanding our reach to new readers and communities. Learn more.

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