Famously Hot New Year opts to be safe

For a decade, Famously Hot New Year, a nonprofit organization since 2016, has brought visitors, residents, businesses, and community and civic leaders from diverse backgrounds together for South Carolina’s largest free New Year’s Eve party in downtown Columbia.

Given the continued concerns around COVID-19 and its variants, the nonprofit’s board has concluded that hosting an event on December 31 would not be in the best interest of the community. However, visitors and locals are encouraged to make plans to enjoy the Columbia region’s year-round amenities, from outdoor recreation to nationally-ranked attractions, walkable entertainment districts, charming hotels and an international, chef-driven restaurant scene.

“This was a tough call to make, but our region is resilient,” said Debora Lloyd, vice president of the Famously Hot New Year board of directors. “Every year, we look forward to bringing visitors from outside of the Midlands together with locals to showcase all that the City of Columbia, Richland County and the region have to offer. We need to prioritize the health and safety of our community based on the information we have today. While we will not be hosting an in-person or virtual event this year, we encourage travelers to make plans to visit the Real Southern Hot Spot.”

Famously Hot New Year has operated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization since 2016.

Learn more at www.famouslyhotnewyear.com.