Treat your loved ones to fun, cozy, and personalized picks this holiday gifting season. | Graphic by 6AM City
Psst — It’s nearly mid-December. Finish your holiday shopping this weekend with our gift ideas:
Gifts for your significant other
Local pick: Autumn Harvest from Seminole Candle Co. | $28 | Set the mood of the season in your home with the scents of candied ginger, sweet harvest apples, spicy cloves, and cinnamon.
Full-zip flannel jacket | $36.99 | Flannel, cotton, and fleece combine in this ultra-soft, stylish hoodie.
Local pick: USC Symphony Orchestra Series season pass | $320 | They’ll remember this gift throughout the year at this six-performance pass featuring classic concertos and symphonies.
Gifts for students
Fidget toy pen | $16.99 | A great stocking stuffer, this chromatic, magnetic pen can be stacked into various shapes.
Local pick: All Good Books Membership | $25 | A year-long membership at Five Points’ independent bookstore gets you 10% off books, coffee, and tea, plus early access to member-only events and sales.
Gifts under $20
Shower steamers | $9.99 | This best-selling assortment features scents like lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary.
Fireflies Holiday Lights | Friday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Jan. 3 | Segra Park, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia | $12-14 | Holiday spirit awaits at Segra Park — Fireflies Holiday Lights, presented by Lexington Health, is now open nightly 6-9 p.m.*
AVANTech, a Columbia-based nuclear and industrial systems manufacturer, is investing $3.7 million to grow its Richland County operations. The expansion will grow its existing facility, add a new one, and create 65 new jobs.
Holiday
Hanukkah starts this Sunday, Dec. 14, and you can celebrate with the annual menorah lighting at the State House on Monday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
Wellness
Girl Scouts of South Carolina — Mountains to Midlands and Girlology will host “Unbothered and Alive: Discover the Power of Embodiment” on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Cathy Novinger Girl Scout Leadership Center. The workshop helps women explore self-worth, body image, and mindfulness.
Plan Ahead
The Cola Rose Shower returns Saturday, Feb. 7 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Williams-Brice Stadium Traditions Club. Tickets start at $80 for the celebration blends fashion, philanthropy, and health advocacy while collecting feminine products for Sistercare + The Period Project.
Eat
Less kitchen, more family. Preorders are open for the Christmas Brunch Family Meal from smallSUGAR. The seasonal spread includes baked grits, Japanese milk bread cinnamon buns, breakfast casserole, and you can choose full or half sizes for pickup.
Award
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank won the Columbia Chamber’s 2025 Workforce Development Award. The award recognizes Chamber partners using strategies to retain skilled employees and support workplace inclusion in the Midlands.
Shop
Your glasses called — they’re ready for retirement. Shop Zenni’s durable frames + advanced lenses for an upgrade, with most pairs under $80. Bonus: Take an extra 10% off with code TWW.*
Older Adults
Are you taking advantage of these stellar senior discounts? From savings with Walgreens to a discounted Amazon Prime membership, we found 20 hacks all older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth.*
Category
Sports
🏈 Touchdowns incoming
New South Carolina offensive coordinator Kendal Briles on the sideline at TCU. | Photo via ESPN.
The Gamecock football team is looking to improve their offense next season and head coach Shane Beamer’s found the crew to lead the charge. On Thursday morning, USC made it official. Let’s meet the new coaches.
Briles arrives from TCU, where his offenses ranked among the nation’s top units and never dipped below 30 points per game. His resume includes stops as a coordinator at Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, FAU, and Baylor, where he led one of the most explosive offenses in college football history.
Drayton joins the staff as running backs coach and assistant head coach for offense. The 33-year coaching veteran won national titles at Florida and Ohio State, and he’s coached standouts like Ezekiel Elliott, Bijan Robinson, Matt Forte, and Brian Westbrook.
Clements takes over the offensive line after working with Briles at TCU. He has 35 years of experience and has guided top-10 rushing offenses at Baylor, Houston, Ole Miss, and North Texas.
Riverbanks Zoo and its Wild Lights display landed at No. 8 on USA Today’s 10BEST list again this year. It’s one of my favorite seasonal displays and a fun event for the whole family. It runs through Sunday, Jan 11, so you still have plenty of time to make it out.
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