In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌤 Columbia Weather - Partly cloudy w/ high of 57 / low of 51

🎁 Maury Regional's Holiday Hugs Program Marks Milestone of 11,000 Gifts to Children in Need

🎸 New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash

📌 Maury Alliance Annual Meeting

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Thursday, December 26th

• Singo Bingo at Grinder’s Switch - 7:00 PM

Saturday, December 28th

• Columbia Farmers Market - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Cat Show at Nashville Fairgrounds - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday, December 31st

• New Year’s Eve at Columbia Elks Lodge #686 - 5:00 PM - 12:30 AM

• Day Drinkers New Year’s Eve Party at The Rebel Bar & Grill - 6:00 PM

• Southern Gospel Singing at Northside Baptist Church - 7:00 PM

• New Year’s Eve Mule Drop - 9:00 PM

• New Year’s Eve w/ Rubik’s Groove at The Mulehouse - 9:00 PM

• Roaring 20’s New Year’s Eve Party at Tenn Pin Alley - 9:30 PM

Thursday, January 2nd

• The Battle of Stones River 162nd Anniversary Living History Event (Murfreesboro) - 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Maury Regional's Holiday Hugs Program Marks Milestone of 11,000 Gifts to Children in Need

Employees, physicians and volunteers at Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) and Lewis Health Center (LHC) once again spread holiday cheer to local school children through the annual Holiday Hugs gift program.

Originally called Christmas Steps, the Holiday Hugs program started in 1999 with Maury Regional Health facilities partnering with local school systems. Since its inception, the Holiday Hugs program has provided more than 11,000 gifts to children in need. This year, the program continued its legacy of generosity with 505 gifts collected at MRMC for Maury County Public Schools and 31 at LHC for Lewis County Schools, ensuring children received items like coats, sweaters and other winter clothing to stay warm this holiday season.

“We are truly blessed to have the annual Maury Regional Holiday Hugs program,” said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent Lisa Ventura. “The continued support from Maury Regional’s employees and volunteers makes an incredible impact on the lives of our families, and we are so grateful.”

MRH’s Volunteer Services Department works with the school systems each year to identify children in need at the districts’ elementary and middle schools. Gifts are collected, organized and delivered to each school with the help of MRH’s Supply Chain and Facility Services Departments as well as other team members and volunteers.

“Giving is the reason for the season and the Holiday Hugs program is one of the many ways we can give back to our community,” said Cindy Short, director of Volunteer Services. “This effort would not be possible without the teamwork of our employees and volunteers, and we thank everyone who helped make this year’s program a success.”

Holiday Hugs is one of the many seasonal giving initiatives across the Maury Regional Health system. Wayne Medical Center (WMC) employees collected gifts through the Angel Tree program, helping a total of 15 children. Marshall Medical Center (MMC) participated in Foster Care Christmas for foster children of Marshall County, donating a total of 129 gifts for children and also participated in a nursing home Angel Tree program, providing a total of 31 gifts for seniors. Lastly, MMC held a food drive where staff donated canned goods to Hope Town.

“The holidays remind us of the power of community and generosity, and it’s a privilege to give,” said CEO Martin Chaney, MD. “It’s heartwarming to know we can provide joy and support to families in our communities. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season from Maury Regional Health!”

New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash

Ring in 2025 with hours of live music, fireworks, and the iconic midnight Music Note Drop. The live show for Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park will be headlined and co-hosted by four-time GRAMMY award-winning artist Keith Urban, along with headliners Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, and more. Gates open at 5 p.m.

The concert is free and open to the public. The five-hour CBS special will air live on Tuesday, Dec. 31 (7 p.m. – 9 p.m. CT and 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. CT), and feature powerful back-to-back performances across multiple time zones live from Music City.

This marks the 16th annual New Year’s Eve concert and the eighth year at Bicentennial Park. The event will include the famed red Music Note, which will be dropped on a 138-foot tower at midnight to ring in the new year. This includes a 90-second fireworks display from the tower 350 feet in the sky and fireworks over 500 feet in the sky from Capitol Hill. CNN will broadcast the Music Note Drop at midnight CT.

As a live event, Big Bash generates as much as $39 million in direct visitor spending and attendance of 200,000+, with more than half being local residents.

Find more details on this event here.

Maury Alliance Annual Meeting

Join Maury Alliance on Thursday, January 30th for their annual meeting, their most anticipated event of the year as they celebrate their accomplishments for 2024 and recognize the transition of their volunteer leadership. 

This will be a lively night of entertainment and networking celebrating business and industry in Maury County with a social hour, dinner and live music! 

The event will take place at the Memorial Building, located at 308 W. 7th Street in Columbia. The event will begin at 5pm with a networking/cocktail hour and wrap up by 8pm. Purchase tickets now to guarantee a seat at Maury Alliance’s biggest event of the year! Get them by visiting here.

Registration will close January 20th at 5:00 PM. 

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, December 26th

Jim Huish, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito's Spring Hill, 6-9 PM

Friday, December 27th

Golden Soul Revue, Grinder's Switch, 7-9 PM
Los San Patricios, McCreary’s, 7:00 PM
David Isenberg Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Ballistic, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, December 28th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Johnny Jameson & the Empty Pints, McCreary’s, 7:00 PM
Lisa Law Trio, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
New Binge Music, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, December 29th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM