2019 Columbia Event Planning Guide by SC Biz News

EVENT PLANNING GUIDE | 2019

CONNECTING THROUGH TECH

Social media, software platforms help to engage, inform conference attendees

You’re Invited What: Event Planning Guide

Presented by: Columbia Regional Business Report Details: Our new guide is the go-to publication for those planning an event in the Midlands! Don’t miss: This guide includes helpful articles on various aspec planning, as well as useful checklists and direc ts of event torie Also, how to make your event uniquely Columbias. ! In this issue: How to attract and engage sponsors for your even t; dealing with the inevitable challenges for any event; how to plan the perfect tailgate for the big game.

About the cover: Dining On The Dam, hosted by the Greater Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center, is the one time each year when you can enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing while taking in the view from one of Lexington County’s most recognized landmarks, the Lake Murray dam. (Photo/Greater Lexington Chamber)

Event Planning Guide 2019

Contents | 2019 Sponsored by MIDLANDS NEWSROOM Editor - Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7542 Staff Writer - Renée Sexton rsexton@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7546 MIDLANDS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Senior Account Executive - Alan James ajames@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7540 Account Executive - Lucia Smith lsmith@scbiznews.com • 803.726.7547 LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Executive Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142

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Editor, Custom Publishing Division Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123 Research Specialist - Paige Hardy phardy@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125 Research Assistant - Anne Puckett apuckett@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3145 Senior Graphic Designer - Jane James jjames@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3118 Assistant Graphic Designer - Jessica Stout jstout@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3113 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Licia Jackson, Jenny Peterson, Barry Waldman

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Event Planning Guide 2019

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Columbia:

J u st t h e r i g h t s i ze f o r y o u r e v e n t

olumbia has landed in a sweet spot for metropolitan areas. It’s large enough to offer a variety of the usual amenities found in most cities, yet has retained an enviable level of affordability and quality of life often lost amid rapid growth. Columbia’s downtown has been buzzing with new developments and revitalization of old buildings. The BullStreet project, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the country, set about to transform the former mental hospital campus into a thriving, bustling center of commerce and entertainment. The centerpiece of the area is Segra Park, home to the Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball team. Since its opening in 2016, the ballpark has become an integral part of downtown and hosts concerts, fundraisers and many other events beyond Fireflies home games. BullStreet’s ultimate goal is to be an urban hub of retail, residential and commercial activity. Events at Segra Park and other venues in the revitalized district

will play a vital role in the success of that longrange plan. The Vista, an area on the banks of the Congaree River centered on Gervais Street, offers many excellent options for conventions, special occasions and other business or family events. River access and biking trails make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The district is home to a wide variety of unique restaurants, bars and cultural offerings. Among the most popular and well-known event spaces are the South Carolina Museum, Ed Venture children’s center and USC’s Colonial Life Arena. Millennials are quickly taking over as the dominant generation in the U.S. workforce. Much has been reported about how this generation is changing our culture and work habits. Walkable and livable downtown districts, flexible job hours and work-life balance are phrases we often hear when referring to millennial influences on everything from real estate trends to workforce recruitment.

By Steve McDaniel,

Editor, Custom Publishing Division

That effect also extends to event planning and execution. New technology to attract and engage attendees is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a generation that has a close, personal relationship with all things digital. Venues that go beyond the old, sometimes drab convention halls and meeting rooms to create a memorable experience are now essential pieces to complete a successful event. The back of the issue contains listings of everything you need to help stage a successful event from tent and table rentals to caterers and meeting spaces large, small and unique. We hope you find this a valuable resource for event planning in our state capital, and thanks for being a reader of SC Biz News’ Columbia Event Planning Guide, as well as a crucial part of our state’s economy.

Event Planning Guide 2019

Corporate Events & Retreats

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8. How to have smarter events: Using technology to connect attendees 10. Technical worksheet for events 11. Emergencies: Just everyday occurrences in event planning 12. Corporate event planning checklist 13. Attracting and engaging sponsors is a multilayer approach 6

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Event Planning Guide 2019

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The annual Dig South event in Charleston was an early adopter of technology and social media to better engage attendees. (Photo/Dig South)

HOW to have smarter events: Using technology to connect attendees By Jenny Peterson

ew and engaging technology has become commonplace at corporate events held in Charleston. No longer are attendees simply registering online and hoping that their paperwork will be waiting. Today, powerful information and marketing tools make sure they are not only registered, but that each participant remains informed, engaged, and matched with the right people and experiences at the event. Other technologies are also emerging and they are being used by event planners and caterers of all sizes, from those who handle large gatherings, such as Columbia’s Southern Way Catering, which is the in-house caterer for the University of South Carolina’s Harris Pastides Alumni Center and has catered events as large as Gov. Henry McMaster’s inauguration, to smaller companies like By Invitation Only, a Columbia-based wedding planner. “The biggest thing we’re seeing is that many events, such as weddings, are driven by social media,” Jesse

Event Planning Guide 2019

Bullard, vice president for Southern Way said. “Folks are getting on the internet for inspiration. They want an event worthy of being seen in a magazine and they’re literally trying to create that type of experience.” To that end, Southern Way uses a variety of technologies to help coordinate, plan and execute such events, he said. And because more people want to be more involved in the entire process, these technologies have to be user friendly to client and staff alike. Melanie Murphy, owner/CEO of By Invitation Only, concentrates mostly on weddings, but the same ideas apply, she says. “We are using more software for event spaces and CAD to draw out floorplans and room renderings so clients have more of a visual,” Murphy said. “We are also seeing an interest in Wedtext - a service that can keep your guest list informed of updates or changes close to the event date.” Vanessa Driscoll Bialobreski, founder/partner of Farm To Table

Productions, Management and Catering in Columbia, notes that these technologies, especially smart phone apps, have revolutionized virtually every aspect of the business, from the early stages of planning to management of her staff. Her event planners use an app called Gather, which allows them to handle every detail of an event by phone — from guest list management and food and beverage orders to event layout and design and billing. The company also uses Slack, which is a specialized online communication app, and Wunderlist, which her fulltime staff uses for a variety of tasks. They also use Eventbrite. “Basically, technology is a game changer,” she said. “It has allowed me to take a couple of months off to recover from surgery, yet still be able to manage and coordinate every aspect of my business from wherever I am. Twenty years ago, I would have probably had to shut down.” The Build Exchange event held recently in Charleston used several new software platforms to engage at-

tendees and enhance the overall experience. The conference brought 75 qualified purchasing decision makers to the Belmond Hotel in downtown Charleston for three days. Attendees met face-to-face with product and service providers in pre-arranged meetings, based on the needs of both purchasers and suppliers. The attendance list for those meetings were set by new conference technology. Sophisticated software coordinated presenters at the event and matched them to clients based on individual information and professional needs. “We use Converve software,” said Rob Ingraham, director of Exchange Events. He organizes Build Exchange conferences around over the country. “It’s the state-of-the-art technology used to match buyers and suppliers.” Converve software, using data from attendees, automatically sorts them into groups of participants with similar interests and needs. The platform can handle event

Corporate Events & Retreats design and branding, attendee registration, attendee management, matchmaking and even networking. It markets software for trade fairs, conferences, job exchanges, start-up events and industry summits. Attendees can browse the automatically generated participant and attendee list, or do an advanced search using keywords and free text fields to find exactly who they are seeking to contact at the event. They can â&#x20AC;&#x153;bookmarkâ&#x20AC;? speakers, exhibitors or individual sponsors, and even prioritize them for meeting scheduling.Â A messaging platform is built directly into the Converve system, allowing communication between attendees without the use of email. Other technologies are also emerging inÂ Charleston.Â The team at Dig South, which hosts theÂ annualÂ Dig South Tech Summit event, has long used technology as well as social media to reach attendees.Â This year, the organization has launched an online

membership platform in order to engage the thousands of attendees long after the event, all year long. The Tech Summit is one of the largest tech, business and marketing events in the South, which brings together 150 executive-level speakers from leading global brands, from fast-growth startups, and from members of the media and investors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dig South is super thrilled to roll out our new Dig Nation membership platform,â&#x20AC;?Â said Stanfield Gray, CEO of Dig South.Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dig NationÂ will enable year-round engagement and benefits, including essential business content, relevant podcasts, an online community, a jobs board, an event calendar, a resource guide, and much more.â&#x20AC;? The Dig South Tech Summit already uses technology during the event including the Bizzabo platform and app to manage the online agenda, the participant community, individual speakers. It features upto-the-minute updates.

Just the right music, venue, accessories Technological innovations have truly revolutionized event planning across the spectrum. Whether you are looking for fun and exciting special effects or want to hold your wedding reception in Venice, Italy, without ever having to leave Columbia, chances are, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a way to make it happen. Kevin Snow, owner of Events by Snow, uses a variety of technologies, including production mapping and cold spark fountains, to name a few, that can easily and dramatically transform a hotel conference room into an exotic location. Snow, who taught high school theater and public speaking for several years, started his business in 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started a DJ/karaoke weekend business, but over the course of the years it has taken off â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is all I do now,â&#x20AC;? Snow said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I focus primarily on weddings, but I also do a variety of events for all age demographics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; everything from elementary

schools to corporate events to nursing homes.â&#x20AC;? Technology has led to creative innovations in every aspect of event planning and execution, he said. For example, photo booths now can incorporate green screen technology, which can give virtually unlimited options for photo backgrounds. Even delivery options are much more diverse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can set it up so certain people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the bride and groom, for example â&#x20AC;&#x201D; receive all the pictures by email or social media, whatever they want,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They can literally have all their wedding pictures before they ever leave the reception.â&#x20AC;? Still, for those who want a classic, elegant location for their wedding, Snow also has a premier wedding venue, Twelve Oaks Estate. The property, located in Lexington, S.C., offersÂ 100 acres of property, a grand antebellum-style home, large pastures, stables and a private 5,000-square-foot airplane hangar.

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Technical Worksheet for Events Accounting for all the audiovisual needs for your meeting or event can be daunting. Use this form to help clarify your needs and communicate with your selected production company.

• Can you hang lighting from the ceiling or does it need to be ground supported? • If you rig from ceiling, what are the rigging policies? • Does the venue have a lift? Is so, are you allowed to use it? Is there a charge? • Are you planning entertainment that will require lighting? • If so, is there a rider available with entertainers’ specific needs?

Audio • • • • • • • •

Organization or individual name: • • • • •

What kind of event are you planning? How many people are expected? What is the event date? Where do you plan to hold the event? What is your audiovisual budget?

Event Details • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Load-in date and time: Rehearsal date and time: Doors open to guests: Show start: Show end: Does your event have a theme or color scheme? Do you have a show flow or timeline? Will the event take place in more than one location? At what times will you move from one location to another? Do you have a room diagram for the event? Does the venue provide staging? If not, do you need a stage? If so, what size? Is the venue a union house? If so, what are the rules?

Electricity • • • • •

What are your power needs? Do you have a band that needs to tie into a power distro? Are you familiar with the power available at the venue? If not, do you have a contact person at the venue? Does the venue charge for power?

Lighting • What elements would you like to use lighting for? • Do you have a logo for projection onto walls, floor or façade? • Do you need a stage wash for your speaker?

Event Planning Guide 2019

How many people will be speaking? What kinds of microphones will be needed? Wired HH/Quantity: Wireless HH/Quantity: Wireless LAV/Quantity: Wireless Headset/Quantity: Other: The speakers will address the audience from: (circle one) Wired mic stand Head table mic stand Upright podium Tabletop podium

Video • • • • • • • •

What is the purpose of having video as an element of the event? Do you already have content you would like to present in video? If so, what media and media source are used? (online/DVD/USB) Do you have a backup of your media? What size screen(s) would you like to use? If so, would you like front or rear projection? Should screens be ground-supported or suspended from ceiling? Do you have specific camera work needs for the event?

General Tips • Always strive to have a least one full rehearsal with all elements — it’s not a full rehearsal unless you run videos, have speakers, talent, etc. present. It’s your moment to shine — take the time to practice. • Use a reputable production company — would you trust your important event to an unknown or lowest bidder? You only have one shot to get it right — it’s live. • If you have multiple vendors — coordinate their load-ins/outs — nothing is worse than having vendors fighting over the loading dock or elevators. • When budgeting, always allow for unexpected extra costs. Things happen — the elevator is stuck, your talent is late for rehearsal, etc. There are many things that can increase your costs beyond your control.

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Emergencies

just everyday occurrences in event planning By Barry Waldman

f you plan events, one thing you know is that something will go wrong. More likely, multiple things. Good event planners have back-ups to their back-up plans. Weather is always a wild card, even for indoor events. People have to get there and walk to the door, often dressed to the nines. At one wedding catered by Dupre Catering and Events in Columbia, the person delivering the wedding cake dropped it, breaking it in half. His staff rescued the good half, cut it up and placed the slices on plates. He met the bride as she arrived. “We said ‘everything is beautiful but the cake.’ We showed her the plated slices. She broke out laughing and said ‘don’t worry about it,’” he said. The vendor charged her half. “If the bride smiles everyone is

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happy,” he said. Weather wreaked havoc on a black-tie event organized by Carolina Event Consultants in Columbia. Owner Nancye Bailey had arranged for a valet company, but only two valets showed up for 500 people. Cars were backed up around the block. Among those stuck in the line were the night’s honorees, so Bailey sent staff to park their cars for them and give them umbrellas

for the walk inside. Weather isn’t the only variable. Lisa Thomas and her crew at Ooh! Events in Charleston discovered three hours before an event that the building’s power wasn’t accessible. The band, caterer and others needed electricity. But she knows area vendors and quickly arranged for generators. Guests never knew the difference. “You fix the problem and sort it out later,” she said.

Ben Toy’s On Purpose Adventures on James Island specializes in adventure-based events. “You mitigate the risk by being ready,” he said. They planned a 90-person teambuilding event outdoors when the ice storm of 2014 hit. Because the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition was underway, they couldn’t find an unused hotel ballroom. High school basketball had every local gym tied up. The team scrambled to move the event to the loading docks of Striped Pig Distillery in Charleston. Protected from the wind, rain and ice, the event went on with an hour of preparation. Some parts of the original event had to be scrapped, but others were added. “People were none the wiser, and they had a blast,” Toy said. “Now we have that idea in our toolbox.”

Event Planning Guide 2019

Corporate Events & Retreats

Corporate Event

Planning Checklist Before the event o Determine event goals and objectives. This is especially important with client events and sales meetings, as it will help you stay on track. o Identify possible dates for the meeting. Thinking ahead and checking with others on possible conflicts can limit the inconvenience for all parties. o Prepare a preliminary agenda and guest list to help set the criteria for the venue. o Prepare a preliminary budget. Unless you manage your corporate event closely, the budget can grow unexpectedly. Send meeting requirements to selected sites with requests for o written proposals.

Pro tip: Communication is a huge key to your event’s success. Strive for clear communication with attendees, sponsors, vendors and the venue representative.

o Conduct site visits as required. This is important when you’re using the facility for the first time. o Negotiate hotel rates and blocks. If you use hotel meeting rooms for the event, you could get a significant discount on sleeping rooms. o Determine preliminary food and beverage requirements and negotiate menus and prices. o Add any deadlines and other requirements to the timetable.

Pro tip: Plant the seeds of social media early by promoting a hashtag before the event to generate buzz.

60 to 90 days before the event o Form committees as required. Organizations that have regular events should consider forming standing committees that meet regularly. o Develop a promotional strategy. o Do some public relations for the event. Calendar notices, press releases and interviews may all be appropriate. o For nonprofit or charity events, line up sponsors. o If you are charging admission to the event, establish

Event Planning Guide 2019

registration fee structures and policies, and be sure to include clear cancellation policies. o Invite and confirm key speakers. This includes people within your organization. o Obtain audiovisual needs from speakers and presenters, and order all necessary equipment. o Review, update and confirm final event budget. o Identify and communicate on-site responsibility areas for committees and volunteers. Set up training for volunteers and educate them about your expectations. o Select and order speaker gifts and awards. o Order special decorations for the event. o Prepare and order signs. This is another opportunity to build your brand. o Arrange for travel and housing of all staff and VIPs.

The day of the event o Have a staff and volunteer meeting to review responsibilities, procedures and overlap areas such as registration. o Confirm and monitor pickup of all rental equipment and supplies.

Pro tip: Use your leverage to get the best out of your vendors. Explain that the event’s audience is invaluable to their business. “Here is what I am bringing you.”

Immediately afterward o Pack and inventory all material. Many of your collateral materials are reusable — and they’re a big investment. o Do financial reconciliation. Gather the invoices and make sure you have been billed correctly and that you pay in a timely fashion. Watch expense reports for other costs. o Write and mail thank-you letters. o Collect and organize data for final meeting reports. Get evaluations from staff, volunteers and consultants to determine what went right and what needs improving.

Pro tip: Address any problems that need to be handled after the event is over. Take notes for future events if there are things that need to be done differently.

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Attracting and engaging sponsors is a multilayer approach By Steve McDaniel

vents typically can’t happen without the financial support of sponsors. Whether it’s a charity fundraiser, a milestone celebration, a corporate convention or anything in between, sponsorships are vital to ensuring a successful event. Showing a potential sponsor the value of attaching their brand to your event is the most important part of the negotiation. Businesses are increasingly aware of the importance of aligning themselves with worthy causes and important issues, and event sponsorship is an ideal way to get a company’s name in front of a lot of people quickly. Rick Jones is CEO of FishBait Marketing in Charleston. With clients that include the Atlantic Coast Conference, Werner Ladders and Capital One, Jones has plenty of experience finding partners for various events and causes. His team has a detailed ap-

proach to finding sponsors that are the best fit for a particular event. “We go through an extensive, comprehensive, 12-step process for selling sponsorships,” Jones said. “We identify perfect fits for each property, with specific prospect targets and ideas for activation for each targeted prospect to solve a business problem or maximize an opportunity for the prospect.” Once viable candidates for sponsorships are identified, Jones says it’s important to find the key decisionmakers within those companies. He typically tries to find a mutual contact who can help set up an introduction, and will get in touch with the decisionmaker through an email. Getting a foot in the door is just the first step, however. A potential sponsor must be convinced to attach their name and brand to an event,

something Jones says is primarily a case of matching the prospect with an audience that will find mutual value in the partnership. “It’s no longer about names and identification,” he said. “But rather why the audience is important to the prospect and how to meaningfully engage with that audience through a partnership with the event or property.” Once a sponsor is on board, it’s important to keep them in the loop during the planning and implementing stages of the event. An open line of communication during the planning stages of an event is crucial. “You must build in planning as part of the process,” Jones said. “Planning starts with the sponsor identifying the end goals of the partnership and then building a plan to reach that finish line.”

Tips on engaging event sponsors From Rick Jones, CEO, FishBait Marketing in Charleston

WHAT TO DO: Identify perfect fits for each event with specific prospect targets Find and contact the key decision-maker or makers within a company Make clear to prospects how important the event’s audience is to them Build in event planning as part of the sponsorship process Schedule followup meetings immediately after the event WHAT NOT TO DO: Put a sponsor with the wrong audience Fail to provide real value to the event’s audience Fail to provide adequate resources to allow the sponsor to actively market the event from their point of view

Event Planning Guide 2019

Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers

Photo/Marc Babin

16.

Make your next event shine with a unique venue

19.

Tips for planning a successful fundraiser

Event Planning Guide 2019

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Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers

Event Planning Guide 2019

Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers

Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia has event space on the zoo grounds, including an indoor lodge and a meeting room in the botanical gardens. (Photo/Riverbanks Zoo)

Make your next event shine with a unique venue

magine looking out the window of a meeting room during a corporate event and seeing a lion sunning on a rock or baseball players warming up for a game. It’s possible with the unique corporate event venues in Columbia and elsewhere. “It’s not your typical meeting space, but in all honestly, it’s an ice breaker,” said Morgan Schau, Director of Private Event Sales with Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens in Columbia. “It keeps people active and interacting with one another and they aren’t just sitting in the same room drifting off.” The zoo has been offering corpo-

Event Planning Guide 2019

By Jenny Peterson rate event rooms for more than five years, and lucky attendees are able to peek at exotic animals like meerkats from the indoor lodge space. Coming in 2020 — a rhino enclosure right next to the meeting space. There’s more. The price of the room includes zoo admission for everyone, so attendees can roam the grounds during a break or after the meeting is over. “It’s great for when there’s a teambuilding segment. Sometimes people have had meeting breaks and walk around the zoo with their co-workers,” Schau said. There are two corporate event spaces available: an indoor lodge

and a large room in the botanical gardens. Both rooms include tables, linens and a catered lunch along with WiFi access. There’s also a sound system for an A/V hookup, and half-day and full-day rental options are available. “We get a lot of great feedback,” Schau said. Segra Park, built in 2016 as the centerpiece to the large BullStreet project in downtown Columbia, is the baseball stadium complex that is the home to the Columbia Fireflies, a minor league team affiliated with the New York Mets. The facility features 10 unique event and meeting spaces with amenities that include WiFi, in-

house catering, large screen HDTV televisions and batting cages, Allison Abercrombie, Director of Special Events, said. “Another great feature that Segra Park can offer their guests is the option to use our video board to highlight their group or scroll sponsors that have helped with the event,” Abercrombie said. “We also have nine inter-linked HDTVs available for use, along with a Media Wall.” The park’s Club Lounge is the most popular event space, with 74% of events held in that space, Abercrombie said. The Club Lounge features 7,000 square feet of contiguous space, with floor to ceiling windows

Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers that overlook the baseball field on one side and the grand entry plaza on the other. The Club Lounge also boasts a full-service bar and a fully equipped commercial kitchen, ensuring that food and beverage service are always at hand, she said. “The beauty of this venue is that we can deliver any type of experience our clients would like,” Abercrombie said. “We have developed relationships with numerous vendor-partners that can help us add anything that our clients desire – from low-tech to high-tech.” Some of the more unique events that have been held at the park include a Bocce Bash, featuring some 60 teams playing on 28 courts on the baseball field, casino-style nights, a fundraising concert featuring Darius Rucker, and a high school prom, to name a few, she said. The park has even been a featured stop on a citywide scavenger hunt, she added. In Charleston, the Riley Park

The Riley Park Club at Joe Riley Jr. Park in Charleston is a meeting space that overlooks the outfield of the baseball stadium along the banks of the Ashley River. (Photo/Joe Riley Jr. Park)

Club within the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park has been a popular corporate event location. The ballpark is home to the minor league Charleston Riverdogs baseball team and sits along the banks of the Ashley River. “It’s a unique venue and has a great viewable marsh on one side

of the ballpark,” said Graham Ervin, director of sales for the Cedar Room, Mercantile and Mash and the Riley Park Club. “It’s great for groups that want something different that’s definitely not in a hotel.” Columbia’s Vista district that runs along the banks of the Congaree River offers a variety of interest-

ing event spaces. A kayak launch provides access to the river for kayakers, canoers and paddle boarders, and the Vista Greenway offers a scenic bike trail as well. Two popular Vista venues – located pretty much side by side - are the S.C. State Museum, which is housed in the historic Columbia Mills building on Gervais Street, and its next-door neighbor, Ed Venture Children’s Museum, home of the world’s largest child, Eddie. Both museums offer a variety of options in venue spaces for rent, from meeting rooms to larger spaces. Both allow outside catering and alcohol, although in the case of Ed Venture, alcohol cannot be served during hours the museum is open to the public. The S.C. State Museum offers spaces from meeting rooms to the entire building. In fact, not only can the entire building be rented for an event, but customers can

Event Planning Guide 2019

Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers

Segra Park in downtown Columbia is the home of the Columbia Fireflies baseball team and hosts numerous fundraisers and corporate events throughout the year. (Photo/Segra Park)

incorporate and access features of the museum, including the telescope, planetarium and 4D theater. A few blocks away, in downtown Columbia’s up-and-coming BullStreet district, are two interesting and unique venues, Central Energy and Segra Park. Central Energy, a historic building offering some 8,000 square feet

Event Planning Guide 2019

of event space, is named for its original purpose: it once supplied all power that ran the campus of the former state mental hospital located at Bull Street. Today, the hospital property and the surrounding area is undergoing a major revitalization effort. The Central Energy building, which underwent significant renovation, opened to the public in Janu-

ary 2019. It currently serves as the home of a local church on Sundays and is available for events six days a week.

Wedding venues go corporate For a unique corporate event, think about venues that are traditionally used for weddings.

“If you think about wedding venues, they usually sit empty Monday through Thursday,” said Caroline Cook, owner and lead designer and planner for Birdie and Boe events based in Charleston. Moving into corporate events has certainly been the case with the Cedar Room at Mercantile and Mash, another space Ervin coordinates for events in downtown Charleston. Housed in a former cigar factory, the tall brick space is a favorite for Lowcountry brides. But there have also been a number of daytime events, Ervin said. “We’ve always hosted charity events and do events with schools like MUSC,” Ervin said. “A lot of out-of-town conferences have used the space for evening parties, happy hours, off-site dinners or award ceremonies.” To find a great space, it’s all about creativity.

Business Events & Nonprofit Fundraisers

Tips for planning a successful fundraiser Know your community. Understand what causes people in your area are likely to support and the types of events they like to attend. Determine your goal. Are you raising money for one specific project or are you simply trying to build awareness of your cause and mission? Set up committees and subcommittees of volunteers to help with sponsorship, marketing or dĂŠcor. For especially large events, it may be prudent to hire a professional event planner to manage the logistics. Use volunteers, but make sure you have a large pool of them in case someone gets sick or is unable to help during the event. Always look for new sponsors. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to the same donors or sponsors for every event. When approaching sponsors for a donation, ask how you can help in return. Start the planning process early. As soon as the event is over, have a debriefing meeting and determine what worked well and what changes should be made for the next year. For large events, such as galas, start planning at least 10 months in advance. Tips from Jacqueline Bouvier Lee, director, R2i2 Conference Center

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lifestyle & Sports

Photo/Priscilla Du Preez

22. Catering to millennials: Capturing the attention of a younger population at corporate events 24. Midlands style: 10 ideas to make your event truly Midlands 25. How to plan the perfect tailgate

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Lifestyle & Sports

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Catering to millennials Capturing the attention of a younger population at corporate events By Jenny Peterson

illennials are shaking up the American corporate workplace with unique needs and demands. That shakeup is extending to corporate events as well, according to local event planners. Today’s younger employees aren’t motivated or even impressed by a stale corporate event held in a hotel ballroom. What do millennials want when it comes to big corporate events? Certainly not sitting down along with several hundred other employees in a cavernous room listening to a guest speaker high on a platform. Listening, taking notes and having the same boring food their parents ate at conventions is not what this generation considers engaging or motivating.

Event Planning Guide 2019

Foodie trends Food has become more of a focal point for corporate events in recent times. No longer are millennials satisfied with a long table, white linen, small round plates, and chafing dishes full of their grandparents’ hors d’oeuvres. They want more. And, yet, some trends popular with millennials benefit everyone at an event. Variety, presentation, nutrition — indeed, the overall experience — are important factors to this age group and catering companies are paying attention. “Catering used to be pretty much cut and dried — chicken tenders and barbecue, chafing dishes,” Jesse Bullard, vice president of Southern Way Catering in Columbia. “Now, it’s more of a chef-centered event.

You have chef action stations — they want interaction, they want to see what the chef is creating. And there are more special requests, at any size event, whether it’s a small gathering of 20 people or a major event, they are looking for something different. We see a lot more specialized dietary requests — gluten free, vegan, paleo — and that comes out in corporate events as well as weddings and private parties. Corporate event planners are much more concerned with menu variety, special dietary needs and presentation than they were in years past.” What’s the most unusual request Bullard has seen of late? “Deep fried deviled eggs,” Bullard said. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”

But, odd special requests aside, younger attendees are driving healthier options. Vanessa Driscoll Bialobreski, founder/partner of Farm To Table Production, Management and Catering, a Columbia-based catering/event planning company, said her business is in large part based on the idea that people, especially millennials, are interested in what they eat. It’s important to have a visually appetizing display of the food, while making dining a fun experience, she noted. For example, setups such as chef action stations and grazing tables are very popular among the millennial group, she said. “Basically, they want good food, and they want options,” she said. “No longer is it just white and black linen,

Lifestyle & Sports white china, chafing dishes, and the same old somewhat colorless food choices. Now, the color palette, the shapes and sizes of dishes, the ingredients themselves, even how each item is prepared - they want to see the chef preparing it – are all quite varied.”

Smaller is better

In big corporate events today, it’s all about “breaking out into smaller groups for more one-on-one attention and interaction,” says Caroline Cook, owner, lead designer and planner for Birdie and Boe events based in Charleston. This arrangement is similar to how this younger population thrives in the workplace. Cook handles corporate events for clients nationwide and has seen a trend for more engaging sessions. “A lot of conferences are trying to change up the formula for the overall flow,” Cook said. “Everything has changed in the meeting world; it’s not the same old, same old. People are trying to break out of the big

Photo/File

ballroom.” That usually includes smaller breakout groups for attendees rather than large presentations. “There are lots more workshops and breakouts,” Cooks said. “There are hardly any general sessions anymore; instead, there’s a full day of breakouts with more one-on-one education, and a lot more shared education between smaller groups.” Beyond the actual event, Cook said many event planners are allowing attendees time to explore the city after the event is over. “It’s allowing more time to experience a city rather than keep them

completely in a space the whole time. That formula has changed, and there are a lot of trends with cities hosting conferences having additional activities for participants to get out into the cities.”

Instagram is king

A “shared” event on social media is also a successful event for this younger, connected population. Corporate events have now embraced presentations with color combinations and themes. There are a lot more “swag bags” to entice attendees, Cook said. Often, a corporate event geared toward a younger

audience will have its own hashtag that can be shared across all social media platforms. “I’ve seen more ‘mocktails’ and fun cocktails that are incorporating their theme or their color; it ties it all together,” Cook said. “Anything ‘photographable’ should be put up somewhere.” Instagram is so important and popular that at one fashion blogger conference she planned, Cook said attendees wrote their Instagram handle on their name tags rather than their actual names. While the millennial and younger attendees in corporate events appear to be fussy about their needs, Cook said the overall desire is to have a more connected, thoughtful event. “Everybody talks about who they’ve worked with in these types of conferences. Event planners report that everybody is trying to help everybody; these are very much experiences about learning with and from one another,” Cook said.

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lifestyle & Sports

Midlands Ten ideas to make your event truly Midlands

Style

2 Serve local wine, craft beer or spirits

1 Skip the flowers and go for local foliage. Use palm, oak, or pine branches to line long table scapes. Add pine cones or acorns for accent.

3 Customize your assecories like cufflinks with the state flag. Style is in the details. Add in a bowtie to complete the look!

4 Treat your guests with a take-away southern classic, pineapple upsidedown cake.

Have USC’s Cocky mascot make an appearance

Decorate with the S.C. palmetto and moon and colors

Use a ‘Famously Hot’ theme

Hold the event at a historic home or plantation

5 Have a bluegrass band or banjo player give a live performace.

6 Can’t decide on food? Cater your entire event with a variety of local food trucks like Pawleys Front Porch.

Event Planning Guide 2019

HOW

to plan the perfect

tailgate By Licia Jackson

ailgating before football games in Columbia is a great way to network for business, entertain your clients or just get together with friends and family. It’s a tradition that combines the need for sustenance with the pure joy of being outside on a beautiful fall day. Who wouldn’t want to party under such circumstances? If your event involves more than your immediate family, you’ll want

Photo/File

to do some planning to make the day go smoothly — and to take some of the work out of it for you. But you can’t forget those traditions, or someone will be disappointed. For example: the food. At the University of South Carolina, chicken fingers are a must, according to the folks at the USC Alumni Center, who coordinate tailgates for homecoming and bowl games. Other favorites are barbecue sliders, fried green tomatoes with

toppings and Tex-Mex dips, as well as popcorn, boiled peanuts and cookies on the side. USC tailgates include a visit from mascot Cocky and the cheerleaders, with beach music for atmosphere. The decorations are also important — everything garnet and black, from linens to balloons. Also lots of feathers extend the Gamecock theme. Football tailgates are generally held outside under tents, but

the Alumni Center also hosts pregame events for Gamecock basketball games at nearby Colonial Life Arena. If you’re in charge of your tailgate, you’ll want to remember to plan for several hours outside. Have comfortable seating and protection from the weather. Take along plenty of sunscreen. Also plan some games or other activities, especially if children or teens are included.

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lists & Directories

Photo/Nils Stahl

27. Event Rentals 27. Exhibition and Conference Centers 28. Full-Service Caterers 29. Alternative/Outdoor Event Venues 30. Hotels with Meeting Facilities 31. 2020 Event Calendar 26

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lists & Directories

Event Rentals Listed alphabetically

1-2-3 Jump! 809 Idlewilde Blvd., Suite A Columbia, SC 29201 803-609-8318 123jumponline.com

Crisp Event Rentals 1108 Pineview Drive Columbia, SC 29209 803-661-8435 www.crisprental.com

Party Reflections 196 Shop Grove Drive Columbia, SC 29209 803-794-0010 www.partyreflections.com

AARO Rental Center Inc. 2246 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29204 803-256-8220 www.aarorentalcenter.com

Event Rentals 300 Catawba St. Columbia, SC 29201 803-814-4564 www.event-rentals.com

Party-On Rentals 305 Veterans Road Columbia, SC 29209 855-468-7217 www.party-onrentals.com

Bouncer World 334 Broad St. Sumter, SC 29150 803-778-9999 bouncerworldsc.com

Lake Murray Event Rentals 1308 Peace Heaven Road Chapin, SC 29063 803-345-0054 www.lakemurrayeventrentals.com

ShutterBooth 701 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201 888-780-8837 www.shutterbooth.com

Covered Events 2601 Read St., Suite I 2C Columbia, SC 29201 803-576-0045 www.acoveredevent.com

Laugh â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;N Leap Amusements 3125 Bluff Road Columbia, SC 29209 803-647-9601 www.laughnleap.com

Supreme Bouncers 1971 Legrand Road Columbia, SC 29223 803-609-4000 www.supremebouncers.com

Exhibition and Conference Centers Ranked by Maximum Capacity

Capacity / Meeting Rooms

Meeting / Event Space (sq. ft.)

Indoor / Classroom / Theater Capacity Description

Company

Phone / Website

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Segra Park 1640 Freed St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-726-4487 www.segrapark.com

John Katz 2016

15,000 20

7,500

400 -

803-545-0001 www.columbiaconventioncenter.com

Bill Ellen, Cheryl Swanson 2004

2,600 19

58,900

1,200 2,072

803-799-3387 www.scstatefair.org

Nancy L. Smith 1869

2,160 9

147,965

803-731-0300 www.columbiasouthcarolina.doubletree.com

Vladimir Pipa 1983

1,500 16

23,000

700 1,600

Flexible meeting space, including a 10,400- square-foot ballroom and two additional ballrooms that subdivide; special-events facilities; two private dining rooms

S.C. State Museum 301 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-898-4921 www.scmuseum.org

Willie Calloway 1988

1,325 12

47,980

125 160 200

Housed in an 1894 historic textile mill; appropriate for meetings or weddings; comprised of 12 meeting rooms with spaces small enough for corporate lunches and large enough for galas and special events

R2I2 Conference Center 763 Fashion Drive Columbia, SC 29229

803-738-8481 www.richland2.org

Jacquie B. Lee 2016

1,200 8

37,000

50 -

Spacious conference center location to host conference, trade show or wedding

Aeolian Hill Plantation 295 Old Number Six Highway St. Matthews, SC 29135

803-456-0893 www.aeolianhill.com

Donald Murney 1872

1,000 3

2,500

50 30 -

A historic plantation great house sitting on 200 acres of ancient oaks, magnolias, gardens and pecan groves providing a variety of choices for intimate or grand events; overnight business retreats in a private setting; sporting options available

The Brookland Banquet and Conference Center 1066 Sunset Blvd. West Columbia, SC 29169

803-744-7956 www.brooklandbaptist.org

Stephany Smith 2005

1,000 7

11,000

800 700 1,000

The River Center 5605 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29212

803-213-2015 www.icrc.net/ssp-river-center

Mark Smyers, Christine Morris, Mark Baker 1999

400 6

5,000

0 240 400

Over 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can be subdivided into up to 6 rooms; equipped with sound system, LCD projection, drop-down screen and WiFi; 2-story stone fireplace, elegant architecture and wedding gazebo

Wavering Place 427 Adams Hayne Road Eastover, SC 29044 Lourie Center 1650 Park Circle Columbia, SC 29201

803-432-0311 www.waveringplace.com

Weston Adams III 2014

400 1

2,400

Pavilion is 2,400 square feet; the extended grounds are over 100 acres

803-779-1971 www.louriecentersc.com

Sandra K. Owensby 1985

300 9

10,000

300 300 300

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center 1101 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201 S.C. State Fairgrounds 1200 Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC 29201 DoubleTree Hotel and Conference Center by Hilton 2100 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29210

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. View the full list online at www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

A multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue which seats about 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for concerts; the venue has 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot club lounge to host any event Downtown convention center in South Carolina; located in the heart of Columbia, walking distance from shops, restaurants and galleries; bright and modern facility, flexible meeting rooms and an accommodating staff Buildings and rooms range from 3,700 to 40,000 square feet

Wedding receptions; business meetings; family reunions; weddings

Located in downtown Columbia adjacent to Maxcy Gregg Park; flexible, modern space for most any event; two large ballrooms and six classrooms can fit 20-300 people; rental fees are per hour Researched by Business Report staff

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lists & Directories

Full-Service Caterers Ranked by No. of People at Largest Event in 2018 Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Seawell's Food Caterers Inc. 1125 Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC 29201

803-771-7385 www.seawellscateringsc.com seawellscatering@gmail.com

Carroll O. Seawell Jr. 1946

4,000 35 $35

Full-service on site with china/glassware; all types of menus available from formal plated dinners, buffet meals and stations with heavy hors d'oeuvres; off-site catering available as well

Maurice's Piggie Park 1600 Charleston Highway West Columbia, SC 29169

803-791-5887 www.piggiepark.com mail@piggiepark.com

Chris M. Bennett 1953

2,500 175 $14

Cater parties, business luncheons, church events, weddings, rehearsal dinners; small or large, casual or elegant

Blue Marlin Signature Catering 991 First St. South Columbia, SC 29209

803-227-3360 www.signaturecateringsc.com dteam@signaturecateringsc.com

John Chiles 2009

2,000 20 $17

Full breakfast, lunch, dinner & hors d' eouvres selections

Dupre Catering 316 Senate St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-748-4144 www.duprecatering.com info@duprecatering.com

Robert Percival, L. Dupre Percival, Sondra Sieradzki 1989

2,000 40 $28

Corporate, social, and wedding catering on and off site; full service and express catering

Little Pigs Barbecue 4927 Alpine Road Columbia, SC 29223

803-318-6682 www.littlepigs.biz champ@littlepigs.biz

Champ McGee 1962

1,800 28 $11

Sit-down dinners, buffets and finger food receptions

Loosh Culinaire Fine Catering 2030 Gregg St., Suite A Columbia, SC 29201

803-787-0044 www.looshcatering.com crawford@looshcatering.com

Crawford Pressley 2003

1,200 40 $50

Catering for corporate events, dinners, cocktail parties, receptions and galas

Billy G's Carolina BBQ - GAUSE Catering & Events 4135 Rockbridge Road Columbia, SC 29206

803-256-2694 www.gausecatering.com bill@billygsbbq.com

Bill Gause 2004

500 2 $20

Full-service BBQs, oyster roasts, cocktail receptions, weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, business luncheons, beverage service, plated and buffet dinners

Southern Gourmet Catering 104 Rock Springs Road Columbia, SC 29223

803-865-7769 www.southerngourmetcatering.net info@southerngourmetcatering.net

Marie Whittworth 2000

500 2 $14

Weddings, luncheons; corporate, nonprofit, church, school and holiday events, receptions

F2T Productions, Management and Catering 1005 Airport Blvd. Columbia, SC 29205

803-553-2726 www.f2tproductions.com info@f2tproductions.com

Vanessa Bialobreski 2011

350 30 $85

Turn-key event design and production with full catering capabilities, so all you have to do is show up; our expert chefs create signature farm-driven menus for all occasions

Largest Event 2018 / Employees / Avg. Meal Catering Services

Company

Event Planning Guide 2019

Researched by Business Report staff

Lists & Directories

Alternative / Outdoor Event Venues Ranked by Maximum Capacity

In-house Catering? Outside Caterers Allowed? Tents Allowed?

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Maximum Capacity Description

Segra Park 1640 Freed St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-726-4487 www.segrapark.com info@columbiafireflies.com

John Katz 2016

15,000

Y N Y

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden 500 Wildlife Parkway Columbia, SC 29210

803-602-0900 planyourevent.riverbanks.org planyourevent@riverbanks.org

Thomas Stringfellow 1974

5,000

From meetings and company picnics to holiday parties and exclusive park buy-outs, Riverbanks has a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to suit the most unusual of needs

Y N Y

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center 1101 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-545-0001 www.columbiaconventioncenter.com sales@columbiaconventioncenter.com

Bill Ellen, Cheryl Swanson 2004

2,600

Downtown convention center in South Carolina; located in the heart of Columbia, walking distance from shops, restaurants and galleries; bright and modern facility, flexible meeting rooms and an accommodating staff

Y N Y

S.C. State Fairgrounds 1200 Rosewood Drive Columbia, SC 29201

803-799-3387 www.scstatefair.org geninfo@scstatefair.org

Nancy L. Smith 1869

2,160

Buildings and rooms range from 3,700 to 40,000 square feet

N Y Y

S.C. State Museum 301 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-898-4921 www.scmuseum.org facilityrental@scmuseum.org

Willie Calloway 1988

1,325

Y Y Y

Aeolian Hill Plantation 295 Old Number Six Highway St. Matthews, SC 29135

803-456-0893 www.aeolianhill.com Info@aeolianhill.com

Donald Murney 1872

1,000

Y Y Y

The Brookland Banquet and Conference Center 1066 Sunset Blvd. West Columbia, SC 29169

803-744-7956 www.brooklandbaptist.org ssmith@brookland.cc

Stephany Smith 2005

1,000

Wedding receptions; business meetings; family reunions; weddings

Y N N

The River Center 5605 Bush River Road Columbia, SC 29212

803-213-2015 www.icrc.net/ssp-river-center cmorris@icrc.net

Mark Smyers, Christine Morris, Mark Baker 1999

400

Over 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can be subdivided into up to 6 rooms; equipped with sound system, LCD projection, dropdown screen and WiFi; 2-story stone fireplace, elegant architecture and wedding gazebo

N Y Y

Senate's End 316 Senate St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-748-4144 www.duprecatering.com info@duprecatering.com

Bob Percival 2007

400

3 different buildings on property each offer unique event spaces; small gatherings to large events; secluded property by the river; ample parking a few blocks from The Vista

Y N Y

Wavering Place 427 Adams Hayne Road Eastover, SC 29044

803-432-0311 www.waveringplace.com info@waveringplaceplantation.com

Weston Adams III 2014

400

Pavilion is 2,400 square feet; the extended grounds are over 100 acres

Y Y Y

Researched by Business Report staff

Event Planning Guide 2019

Lists & Directories

Hotels with Meeting Facilities Properties in the Columbia Ranked by Total Square Footage of Event Space Hotels withArea,Meeting Facilities Properties in the Columbia Area, Ranked by Total Square Footage of Event Space Event Capacity

Company

Phone / Website / Email Phone / 803-252-8700 Website / Email www.columbiagreystone.embassysuites.com

Sales Director / Year Founded Sales Director / Joy Bryant Year Founded

Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia Company 200 Stoneridge Drive 1988 Columbia, SC 29210 803-252-8700 Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia Joy Bryant www.columbiagreystone.embassysuites.com 200 Stoneridge Drive 1988 -803-799-7800 Columbia, Courtyard SC by 29210 Marriott Downtown at USC Holly P. Boozer www.downtowncolumbiaschotels.com 630 Assembly St. 2007 Columbia, SC 29201 803-799-7800 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown at USC Holly P. Boozer www.downtowncolumbiaschotels.com 630 Assembly St. 2007 -803-407-6640 Columbia, SC 29201 Hilton Garden Inn Columbia/Harbison Ashley Unrue www.columbiaharbison.hgi.com 434 Columbiana Drive 2006 caeco-salesadm@hilton.com Columbia, SC 29212 803-407-6640 Hilton Garden Inn Columbia/Harbison Ashley Unrue www.columbiaharbison.hgi.com 434 Columbiana Drive 2006 caeco-salesadm@hilton.com Columbia, 29212 Columbia/Lexington 803-957-5000 Wingate bySCWyndham Nija S. Graham www.lexingtonwingate.com 108 Saluda Pointe Court 2008 ngraham@lexingtonwingate.com Lexington, SC 29072 803-957-5000 Wingate by Wyndham Columbia/Lexington Nija S. Graham www.lexingtonwingate.com 108 Saluda Pointe Court 2008 ngraham@lexingtonwingate.com Lexington, SC Columbia 29072 803-788-4901 Hampton Inn I-20/Clemson Road Pam King Nance www.columbiai20clemsonroad.hamptoninn.com 1021 Clemson Frontage Road 2008 Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4901 Hampton Inn Columbia I-20/Clemson Road Pam King Nance www.columbiai20clemsonroad.hamptoninn.com 1021 Clemson Frontage Road 2008 -803-749-7575 Columbia, ResidenceSC Inn29229 Columbia NW Harbison Kelly Ringley wwww.marriott.com/caehb 944 Lake Murray Blvd. 2013 kelly.ringley@marriott.com Irmo, SC 29063 803-749-7575 Residence Inn Columbia NW Harbison Kelly Ringley wwww.marriott.com/caehb 944 Lake Murray Blvd. 2013 kelly.ringley@marriott.com Irmo, SC 29063 Harbison 803-407-6166 Aloft Columbia Caroline Wix www.marriott.com/caeah 217 Lanneau Court 2018 mhrs.caeah.gm@marriott.com Columbia , SC 29212 803-407-6166 Aloft Columbia Harbison Caroline Wix www.marriott.com/caeah 217 Lanneau Court Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. View2018 the full list online at mhrs.caeah.gm@marriott.com Columbia , SC 29212 www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com. Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. View the full list online at www.scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com.

Event Planning Guide 2019

Event Space / Meeting Rooms Event Space / 18,000 Rooms sq.ft. Meeting 15

18,000 sq.ft. 15 5,000 sq.ft. 2 5,000 sq.ft. 2 3,800 sq.ft. 3 3,800 sq.ft. 3 2,000 sq.ft. 3 2,000 sq.ft. 3 1,200 sq.ft. 2 1,200 sq.ft. 2 740 sq.ft. 1 740 sq.ft. 1 620 sq.ft. 1 620 sq.ft. 1

Event Capacity Reception

Banquet

Theater

Classroom

Reception 1,300

Banquet 750

Theater 1,500

Classroom 725

1,300

750

1,500

725

400

288

400

200

400

288

400

200

225

176

250

150

225

176

250

150

160

117

200

100

160

117

200

100

Researched by Business Report staff Researched by Business Report staff

Lists & Directories

2020 Event Calendar If you want to make your event a success, you need to be aware of other things going on at the same time. With this in mind, here is a calendar of some events and happenings throughout the year.

January

S.C. General Assembly: Session begins the second Tuesday in January, which means luncheons and receptions all over town.

February

Black History Parade and Festival: www.fundsinc1.org World Beer Festival: www.allaboutbeer.com

March

Palmetto Sportsman’s Classic: www.dnr.sc.gov/psc St. Pat’s in Five Points: www.stpatscolumbia.com Carolina Cup: Horse racing and socializing event in Camden is a longstanding Midlands tradition. www.carolina-cup.org USC baseball: Home games at Founders Park through May. www.gamecocksonline.com

April

Artista Vista: www.vistacolumbia.com Indie Grits Festival: www.indiegrits.com HipHop Family Day: www.lovepeacehiphop.com Columbia Fireflies: Class A affiliate of the New York Mets play at Segra Park through late August.

May

Black Expo: www.blackexposouth.com Governor’s Cup: www.carolinamarathon.org Rosewood Crawfish Festival: www.rosewoodcrawfishfest.com USC graduation: Ceremonies through the first half of May. www.sc.edu

June

High school graduations: Begin in late May, and many are held at Colonial Life Arena. www.coloniallifearena.com Columbia Style Week: www.columbiafashionweek.com Southern Guitar Festival: www.southernguitarfest.com

July

Lexington County Peach Festival: www. lexingtoncountypeachfestival.com

August

Main Street Latin Festival: www.mainstreetlatinfestivalsc.com Brew at the Zoo: www.riverbanks.org USC move-in day: Starts the third week of August, filling up restaurants, hotels and stores. www.sc.edu

September

Columbia Greek Festival: www.columbiasgreekfestival.com Eau Claire Unity Festival: www.facebook.com/EauClaireFest

Irmo Okra Strut: www.okrastrut.com USC football: The Gamecocks take the field at Williams-Brice Stadium through November. www.gamecocksonline.com

October

Boo at the Zoo: www.riverbanks.org Oktoberfest: www.oktoberfest columbia.com S.C. State Fair (12 days): www.scstatefair.org

November

University of South Carolina basketball: Season is underway at Colonial Life Arena through March. www.gamecocksonline.com Vista Lights: www.vistacolumbia.com Holiday Lights on the River: www.icrc.net Riverbanks Zoo Lights Before Christmas: www.riverbanks.org

December

Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade: www. carolinacarillon.com Junior League of Columbia Holiday Market: www.jlcolumbia.org Famously Hot New Year: www.famouslyhotnewyear.com This is just a sampling of events in and around Columbia and the Midlands area. For a detailed calendar with specific times, dates and other information, visit these websites: www.ExperienceColumbiaSC.com and www.lakemurraycountry.com. Event Planning Guide 2019

Event Planning Guide 2019