Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Columbia to support with your time. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are ~40 ways to get involved in Soda City.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Girls on the Run Columbia | Inspire girls to strengthen confidence and other important life skills. Sign up to become a coach and guide a team through the curriculum.
If the holidays are your favorite time of the year
Epworth Children’s Home | Volunteer or donate to “Christmas with Epworth” — an annual drive for community members to fill the holiday wishes of children at Epworth.
If you live and breathe Columbia
Historic Columbia | Support fun + educational events, work as an interpretive guide, host walking tour guides, and more.
Sparkle On Main | Thursday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Dec. 14 | 5 p.m. | The Pastor’s Study | $40 | Get ready to light up the town with this dazzling event filled with music, lights, and good vibes.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra — The Lost Christmas Eve | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $35+ | Hear the band and their elaborate Christmas-themed rock operas, blending heavy metal, classical music, and theatrical storytelling.
Greek Dinner Night | Thursday, Dec. 12 | 5-9 p.m. | Sour and Salt Bakery | $16 | Order online for pick-up, delivery, or join in for a family-style meal.
Making Spirits Bright Holiday Pop-Up Experience | Select dates between Thursday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Williams-Brice Stadium (Traditions Club) | $10 | Fans can expect new light shows, more decorations, and additional activities for kids that are all included with your ticket.
Friday, Dec. 13
Greater CWC Parade Day and Holiday Parade of Lights | Friday, Dec. 13-Saturday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Greater Cayce-West Columbia, Cayce | Free | This longtime community event is perfect for supporting our local small business community and seeing holiday lights.
Dick Goodwin - A Holiday Big Band Night | 7:30 p.m. | Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, Camden | $25 | This 12-piece ensemble, with its vibrant brass section, will bring a festive mix of beloved Christmas classics.
Harlem Globetrotters 2025 World Tour | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $25+ | Watch some of the world’s best athletes do some rim-rattling dunks.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Accessibility Morning - Meet Santa + The Grinch | 9-11 a.m. | South Carolina State Museum | Free | This program provides free access for families of children, teenagers, young adults, and adults who would benefit from a quieter, sensory-friendly, and disability-adapted experience at the museum.
Morihiko Nakahara will conduct the SC Philharmonic’s festive performance. | Photo provided by the SC Philharmonic
Jingle all the way to the Koger Center for “Home for the Holidays,” the SC Philharmonic’s new holiday pops concert.
This festive extravaganza — taking the stage on Thursday, Dec. 19 — features holiday classics performed by guest artists CammWess, Cat Galan, Michael Hazin, Johnnie Felder, and the Columbia Choral Society. Bonus: The Cola Rep Dance Co. will perform with the orchestra.
Psst... We heard this event is so fa-la-la-la fabulous, that even Santa’s going to be there.
The latest renderings for the Mall Park — the space that occupies the former Richland Mall site — have been released. The renderings feature updated parking, walking trails, and a storage building, but Forest Acres’ City Council is still deciding on hours of operation with businesses + a water pavilion. (WLTX)
Number
$159 million — that’s the amount Michelin could invest in Lexington County to expand operations. Lexington County Council approved entering negotiations with Michelin, which is currently headquartered in Greenville, but other counties are vying for the attention of the tire manufacturing company. (The State)
Biz
LaserForm and Machine, a metal fabrication company, is expanding operations in Kershaw County by purchasing a 100,000+ sqft facility in Lugoff. The expansion would create 32 new jobs + be a $16 million investment, and set to be operable by Q2 of 2025.
Sports
Kalen Anderson, a head golfing coach at USC, will be co-head coach for Team USA at this year’s 2025 Arnold Palmer Cup, taking place at the Congaree Golf Club this June. She will be the first coach in program history to be awarded this honor and will work alongside Nick Clinard, Auburn men’s golf head coach. (Gamecocks Online)
State
We love learning. The US Department of Education is helping USC’s College of Education by funding tutoring, mentoring, standardized test preparation, family outreach, and college campus visits for students across seven school districts in SC. (The Post and Courier)
Listen
The Hurricanes survive a shark attack with a 3-2 win. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Hurricaneswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Feel Good
Do you love COLAtoday? We’re calling on you to help support our mission to create free, unbiased local media. Donate now — your generosity will help support us, your COLAtoday team.
Eat
Craving a meal that’s as indulgent as it is healthy? Ratio, a local restaurant known for its Peruvian-inspired tapas, delivers the perfect balance (just like its name suggests). Dr. Thomas C. Austin, MD, FACOG, of Lexington Women’s Care Sandhills, shares his expert-approved picks for nutritious, delicious dining in this month’s Doctor’s Orders.*
Concert
Give the gift of live music this holiday season. Experience the timeless hits of Hall & Oates like never before at “You Make My Dreams Come True,” a jazz celebration led by Noel Freidline on Jan. 31 at the Columbia Museum of Art. Snag tickets.*
Shop
Looking for a gift the kiddos will actually use? Enter: Dribbleup’s Smart Basketball. It features guided coaching sessions so they can train anytime, anywhere. Psst — it’s 60% for the holidays.*
Category
Sports
Gamecocks in the news
Stay up-to-date with Gamecock news. | Photo by COLAtoday
We get it, you’re busy. So, here are five nuggets of Gamecock football news you may have missed over the last week.
USC football freshman + edge rusher Dylan Stewart agreed to a new NIL deal set to pay him anywhere between $1 million to $1.5 million to stay with the Gamecocks in 2025.
Mike Shula — Alabama’s former head coach with experience in the NFL — is set to be promoted to offensive coordinator at USC. Shula spent this last season with the Gamecocks as an analyst and worked closely with LaNorris Sellers.
Kyle Kennard, a senior edge rusher for the Gamecocks was awarded Defensive Player of the Year. The only other player to receive this award at South Carolina was Jadeveon Clowney in 2012.
LaNorris Sellers, the red-shirt freshman quarterback + 2024 standout, received the Freshman of the Year award.
The Buy
The Buy
Not sure what to gift for the holidays? Browse ideas from this year’s top 100 gifts on Amazon:
Looking for more Mexican food options in the Cola area? Que! Bueno Mexican Bar and Grill is coming to Sumter Street where the old Pizza Hut used to be near Greek Boys. The new 2,400 sqft space will be Que! Bueno’s fourth restaurant in the Midlands.
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