History

Livin La Vida Local

• Median family income: $49,400
• Population: 111,821
• Estimated average home price: $100,00 (prices have grown ~156%)
• Average cost of a gallon of gasoline in South Carolina: $0.69

Local headlines

• The Gamecocks hired legendary Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz to help revive the program. In his first year, Holtz went 0-11, a season many Columbians are still trying to forget.
• The South Carolina Penitentiary along the Congaree River, originally constructed in 1867, was razed to construct the CanalSide Development.
• Columbia’s City Center Master Plan laid out the future of Columbia including plans for the Three River Greenway and the Columbia Convention Center.

Who was performing

• The Beach Boys played at the SC State Fair.
• Death Cab for Cutie played at New Brookland Tavern.
• When Rod Stewart performed at the Carolina Coliseum ticket prices ranged from $25-$50.
• WARQ’s Fall Out concert at Capital City Stadium included performances from Bush, Train, Cowboy Mouth, and Sponge.

• Chapin Labor Day Parade and Festival | Monday, Sept. 2 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Chapin | Free | Watch the parade and enjoy live music, food options, a children’s carnival area, a train museum, and vendors from all over.

• Sip and Plant Workshop: Carnivorous Plants | Tuesday, Sept. 3 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | $45 | Learn about the various types of carnivorous plants, including Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and more.

• Trivia Night | Wednesday, Sept. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza | Free | Invite your friends and show off your book smarts.

• Columbia Fireflies vs. Charleston RiverDogs | Thursday, Sept. 5 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | It’s USC Night: The Gamecocks take over Segra Park, with the first 1,000 fans in attendance receiving a special co-branded Fireflies Rally Towel.

• Meeting Street Music Fest | Friday, Sept. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia | Free | Enjoy a lineup of multiple genres of music, including nationally and regionally renowned artists on multiple stages throughout the River District.

• Columbia Philatelic Society Stamp and Postcard Show | Saturday, Sept. 7-Sunday, Sept. 8 | Times vary | Tri-City Leisure Center | Free | Shows feature numerous dealers, exhibits, door prizes, free admission, parking, and refreshments.

• Koger Center Presents: Live Outside 2024 Season | Sunday, Sept. 8 | 5-7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | Enjoy a free outdoor concert on the lawn in front of the Koger Center.

• Basil | Ideal for the travel bugs, this Thai restaurant will appeal to anyone’s adventurous side in an approachable (and tasty) way.
• California Dreaming | Located in the historic Union Station, this eatery serves classic American fare in an inviting atmosphere, perfect for stories that start with “back in my day...”
• Lizard’s Thicket | This local staple boasts a classic Southern vibe with its nostalgic cooking.

• The Gamecock football team won their season opener against Old Dominion 23-19. Next up, the team travels to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on the SEC Network.

• 38,300 — that’s the record enrollment number of the USC’s Columbia campus for the 2024-25 academic year, up from 36,538 in 2023. The freshman class grew by 280 students, with 52% being SC residents. (The Post and Courier)

• Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — will invest $800 million to establish its first SC data center in Aiken County, creating 100 new jobs. The 715,000 sqft facility will support Meta’s AI workloads and operate with 100% renewable energy, opening in spring 2027.

• The Columbia Chamber is accepting applications for the Midlands Minority Business Accelerator Class of 2025. Minority-owned businesses can apply by Thursday, Oct. 31, for a 12-month development program offering mentorship, and networking.

• Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill creating the Robert Smalls Commission to design a monument honoring Robert Smalls on the SC State House grounds. The monument’s design and location will be finalized by 2025, with completion by 2028.

• Award-winning author and Loose Lucy’s owner James D. McCallister is set to release his new story collection, “The Night I Prayed to Elvis,” inspired by his rural SC childhood. The book launch event will be Wednesday, Sept. 18, at All Good Books.

• The Panthers will surprise in 2024. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
  

• Cooler weather is approaching — time to replace drafty windows with beautiful, energy-efficient Renewal by Andersen^® windows. For a limited time, enjoy 20% off your entire order.*

2023-24 successes

• Bassmaster Elite Series: Hosted at Dreher Island State Park, the event brought over $1 million in direct economic impact through 3,800 room nights and reached 958,000 viewers on Fox Sports.
• Southeastern BBQ Showdown: This new event attracted chef teams from across the U.S. and Japan, and will be featured on Bally Sports TV.

Looking ahead

• 2024-2025 Events: Notable upcoming events include the Great Race in June, BFL Super Tournament, and the Taste of Lake Murray.
• Expansion: CCLMC broke ground on the new Lake Murray Country Visitor Center in Irmo.