The Stone of Hope fountain, located inside of Martin Luther King Jr. Park, is engraved with Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes. | Photo by COLAtoday | Photo by COLAtoday
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend in January. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Columbia Museum of Art 75th Anniversary Gala | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $200 | Hop aboard as the CMA celebrates 75 years of artistic excellence and community engagement.
Constellation Concerts with She Returns from War | Thursday, Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum | $25 | Hunter Park, performing as She Returns from War, will playing new songs from her upcoming album.
Kevin James: Eat The Frog | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $50+ | The everyman comic takes his new material on the road.
A new sidewalk project will connect downtown Columbia to the fairgrounds and Williams-Brice Stadium via Assembly Street and George Rogers Boulevard. The 10-ft-wide paths aim to improve walkability and game day safety. Construction is expected to begin later this year or early 2027. (WIS)
Coming Soon
Dutch Bros. Coffee is building its first Columbia location on Garners Ferry Road, near I-77 and the VA Medical Center. Permits were issued in December for a drive-thru + walk-up shop. No opening date has been announced. (Post and Courier)
Development
Lexington Town Council approved annexing more than 190 acres on Barr Road, allowing a 299-home Meritage Homes subdivision to proceed. The approval adds oversight for traffic impacts and fees. (WLTX)
History
Columbia’s oldest restaurant, Villa Tronco, will be honored with a historical marker on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. The unveiling ceremony is presented by SC Archives & History, Richland County Conservation Commission, and the SC Restaurant & Lodging Association.
State
To offset cost delays in major roadwork, Gov. Henry McMaster plans to request $1.1 billion in his upcoming 2026 executive budget. The proposal would keep infrastructure projects like Carolina Crossroads. (WLTX)
Arts
The Columbia Museum of Art will unveil its new collection galleries on Friday, Jan. 16, marking the final phase of its 75th anniversary renovation. New installations span American, Asian, European, and modern works, including pieces by Jasper Johns and Mario Joyce.
Correction
Right date, wrong day — we told you Jan. 10 was a Wednesday. It’s actually a Saturday. So if you were planning to catch the monks walking through Cola today, you’ve got a little more time. Thanks to our sharp-eyed readers for keeping us on our toes.
Biz
Kickstart the new year by expanding your business’s reach. Our business promo portal puts your message in front of our thousands of highly engaged local subscribers in as little as two days. Plus, first-time customers save 15% with code NEW15 at checkout. Get started.
Health
Did you find yourself straining to hear during holiday gatherings? Make 2026 a year of better hearing with Horizon IX. This revolutionary hearing aid delivers natural sound so real, experts are calling it a miracle. Dual processors separate speech from noise for effortless clarity so you won’t miss a single word. Start your 45-day no-risk trial.*
Community
Celebrate 75 years of art, community, and inspiration at the Columbia Museum of Art’s 75th Anniversary Gala on Friday, Jan. 16. Enjoy a world-tour themed evening with live music, global-inspired bites, immersive galleries, and unforgettable experiences — all while supporting arts education and enrichment in our region. Snag tickets.*
Wellness
Interested in a THC or CBD journey in 2026? Women-owned and operated brand TribeTokes is offering 15% off with code DRYJAN15, plus a free CBD/CBG tincture when you spend $40. Try pineapple THC gummies or mini THCA prerolls for some California sober fun during dry January.†*
Feel Good
A Midlands man recently won $100,000 on a lottery ticket, and it took a family member’s second opinion to convince him of his good fortune. Curious about the game he played?Check the details.*
Category
Survey says…
Thanks for sharing the love. | Graphic by 6AM City
1,116. That’s how many responses we received from readers during our Giving Campaign.
We analyzed all of those responses to learn more about what you enjoy — and want to see more of — in our newsletters. Here’s what you said:
~20-25% of messages expressed that local info + events are our key value. These readers probably love the Events and News Note sections of our newsletter, along with our monthly Plan Ahead.
~10% said that we’re part of their morning routine, and we couldn’t be happier to accompany your morning cup of coffee.
~10% praised our brevity + easy-to-read format, so we’ll be sure to keep this short.
Several people also called out our support of small businesses + our “no-politics” approach. Psst: More formalized small business coverage is coming soon, so be on the lookout.
Still want to contribute to our Giving Campaign? Click the link below.
Are you resolving to drink more water this year? Set yourself up for success with a sleek, insulated water bottle that keeps liquids chilled for up to 24 hours. Bonus: It’s dishwasher safe.
If you haven’t met the new lions at Riverbanks Zoo yet, Free Fridays are a great excuse. Richland and Lexington County residents get free admission every Friday through February as a thank-you from the zoo to our community.
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