Treat your loved ones to fun, cozy, and personalized picks this holiday gifting season. | Graphic by 6AM City
What do a literary quote clock, three pounds of salt, and a duck lamp have in common? They’re all in our holiday gift guide. Happy shopping.
Gifts for holiday parties and gift exchanges
Local pick: Contest Winning Columbia Tee | $30 | This long-sleeve t-shirt that shows off Cola pride with a cool design by local artist Cait Maloney (proceeds benefit a community program).
Monopoly Deal | $7.99 | This fun + family-friendly gift is a fast-paced version of the classic game.
Three pounds of really good salt | $49.95 | This one may get some strange looks, but its silliness and sheer practicality might make it the most memorable gift at the party.
Olive oil mister | $9.99 | A handy gift they can use to turn oil into a fine mist or a steady drizzle.
Towel warmer | $150.99 | The only thing better than a warm shower is emerging from said shower with a hot towel.
Local pick: Private Animal Encounter Tour at Goat Daddy’s Farm | $129 per person | Go behind the scenes at the Elgin farm for hands-on time with goats, alpacas, pigs, and more, plus a goat-milking demo and feeding experience.
Gifts for book lovers
Literary quote clock | $209 | Why tell time the normal way when you could use 13,000 curated literary quotes?
Music Bingo | 7-9 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza | Free
Thursday, Dec. 4
USC Symphony Orchestra: Debussy & Brahms | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St, Columbia | $8-$30 | Young Concert Artist and 2023 Southeastern Piano Festival featured artist Ying Li returns to the USC School of Music to perform with the USC Symphony Orchestra in a celebration of piano and orchestra.*
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, leading to her arrest. It was an act of bravery now considered one of the pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement. If you’ve got a hankering to learn more US history, and Columbia history, our museums are full of important knowledge. (National Constitution Center)
Kids
$23,296. That’s the annual cost of raising a child in South Carolina in 2025, according to new data from Visual Capitalist. But when it comes to family fun, the best things in life are still free — including these 10+ no-cost activities across Midlands.
Mansion Monday
We’ve all got that loved one who is especially hard to shop for. Enter: our Gift Guide, full of ideas that even the pickiest person will love. Stumbled into a little more cash in 2025? This horse farm in Camden just hit the market, and would make for a holiday season to remember.
Read
The winners are in for the 2025 National Book Awards. This year’s top fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult literature, and translated works were all awarded for their excellence. Whichever pages you’re turning at the moment, we think the best place to enjoy a good read is in the great outdoors. (NPR)
Asked
We’re on the hunt for Tylashia. According to a recent study, five out of six Americans named Tylashia (2014-2024) were born in South Carolina. Is that you? Tylashias write in. (WBBJ)
Biz
WiJo Pouches, a Swedish maker of oral nicotine pouches, will open its first North American facility in Lexington. The $13.5 million project will create 170 jobs when operations begin in March.
Community
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on our Job Board + get connected with local candidates in no time. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
The first Jazz in the Park at Finlay Park is coming up on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. It’ll have a holiday theme, so bundle up, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, and enjoy a sunset in the park. Food vendors will also be on hand if you’d rather grab a bite there.
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