So many fresh, blank 2026 calendars out there and so many Columbia SC events to fill them. Culture, community and small businesses are at the forefront this month, so immerse yourself in all three and more in the Heart of SC.
Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Jan. 1 – 11
Riverbanks remains illuminated a little while longer, so extend the sparkle of the holiday season with a winter’s night all aglow thanks to the elaborate installations still peppering the park.
Restaurant Week at varying locations | Jan. 8 – 18
If your New Years Resolutions include trying new things or supporting local, Restaurant Week is here to make sticking to your goals all too easy. Dabble in various cuisines without breaking the bank and you may even find some new favorites to add to your rotation the rest of the year.
An Evening of Vino & Vinyl at Chayz Lounge | Jan. 9
Pull from your own personal library of jazz, soul, blues or classic pop albums and bring one along to Chayz Lounge to help craft the evening’s playlist. Then sit back and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait for your familiar tunes to have their turn.
Central Carolina Comic Con at South Carolina State Fairgrounds | Jan. 10 – 11
Boasting an impressive lineup of special guests to include Lou Diamond Phillips, Holly Marie Combs, Lee Majors, Doug Jones and Lindsay Wagner, to name a few, Central Carolina Comic Con is back for an action-packed weekend of cosplay, photo ops, autograph signings, panels, video games, after parties, contests and other pop culture programming.
Hops & Shops: New Year, New Finds Market at Savage Craft Ale Works | Jan. 11
Having found a new home at Savage Craft, the recurring brewery-based market is back in all its sipping and shopping glory. Grab a pint and duck into The Armory to peruse the participating vendors.
75th Anniversary Gala at Columbia Museum of Art | Jan. 16
Get glam and traverse the globe by way of the museum’s newly reopened galleries, which are filled with art representing cultures and destinations from all over the world. Your ticket transports you to the far reaches of the Earth all while celebrating an important milestone for this community gem.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Columbia Museum of Art | Jan. 19
Return to the museum on Monday for free admission and programming commemorating the life and legacy of Civil Rights Activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Line dancing on the plaza, an afternoon of storytelling boasting themes of freedom, justice and belonging and access to the refreshed CMA Collection will leave you feeling inspired and empowered.
The Music Man at Koger Center for the Arts | Jan. 20 – 22
The legendary musical marches its way onto the Koger Center stage this month. We see your River City and raise you three rivers and an already well-established music scene. Your move, Harold Hill.
Columbia Punk Flea Market at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | Jan. 24 – 25
Come see what calls to you at this one-stop-shop for the trinkets and treasures you can’t get just anywhere. Vintage clothes, vinyl, taxidermy, curiosities, retro media, memorabilia and so much more fill the stalls at this two-day shopping event for those who seek the strange and unusual.
Community Campfire at Saluda Shoals Park | Jan. 30
Close out the month with a cozy evening spent under the stars and within the fire’s warm glow. Roast hot dogs over the flames, swap stories, go on a night hike and enjoy all the fun of camping while still getting to go home to your own bed.
