• What's Up Columbia!
  • Posts
  • New Southern Regional Technology Center to Open With Music and 300-Drone Light Show

New Southern Regional Technology Center to Open With Music and 300-Drone Light Show

Issue #793

August 13, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Partly sunny & very hot w/ high of 100, low of 74

📰 New Southern Regional Technology Center to Open With Music and 300-Drone Light Show

👉 Help First Responders Help You Before an Emergency Happens with Community Connect

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

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

New Southern Regional Technology Center to Open With Music and 300-Drone Light Show

Columbia State Community College, alongside partners, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology - Hohenwald and Pulaski, will host a grand opening and drone show for the new Southern Regional Technology Center on Friday, Aug. 21.

The community is invited to attend this celebration, which will be packed with innovation, live music and a spectacular 300-drone light show over the Columbia Campus.

“The SRTC reflects what can happen when communities come together around a shared purpose,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “This facility will serve students across southern Middle Tennessee while bringing together Columbia State and our TCAT partners under one roof to create unprecedented opportunities for technical and workforce education. The impact of this investment will be felt for generations through stronger families, stronger businesses and stronger communities.”

The new SRTC will serve as a regional hub for hands-on training and career education in high-demand fields like nursing, welding, HVAC, automotive technology, respiratory care, engineering systems technology and more.

“TCAT Hohenwald is delighted and honored to be joining the Columbia State SRTC to offer Automotive Technology and Practical Nursing to our region,” said Dr. Kelli Kea-Carroll, TCAT Hohenwald president. “Both TCAT programs are defined as ‘in-demand’ career occupations programs, which offer the competencies, certificates and industry credentialing necessary for student completion and student success to contribute to our southern Middle Tennessee workforce development needs associated with business and industry.”

Built through a partnership between Columbia State, TCAT Hohenwald and TCAT Pulaski, the center is designed to strengthen workforce development across the region.

“The SRTC represents a transformational partnership that expands access to workforce training where students need it most,” said Mike Whitehead, TCAT Pulaski president. “By bringing TCAT Pulaski's Welding and HVAC/R programs to Columbia, we're removing barriers to education while strengthening the skilled workforce across southern Middle Tennessee.”

The evening will feature:

• Live music by Merchants of Cool

• Open house tours of the new facility

• Celebratory drone light show

Event schedule:

• 6:30 p.m. — Grand opening ceremony and ribbon cutting

• 7–8:15 p.m. — Explore the new center, enjoy live music and learn about the exciting career programs coming to our region through this partnership.

• 8:30 p.m. — Evening ends with a 300 drone light show celebrating the grand opening, Columbia State's 60th Anniversary and America's 250th birthday!

Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets and are welcome to bring food, as they celebrate a special evening that marks a milestone for the region.

Help First Responders Help You Before an Emergency Happens with Community Connect

Help First Responders Help You Before an Emergency Happens!

Columbia residents can now take an important step to help first responders arrive better informed and better prepared with Community Connect.

  • Share important property or access information

  • Let responders know about pets in your home

  • Provide mobility or special-needs information

  • Share medical information that could matter during an emergency

Take action today. Sign up for Community Connect.

Make It Make Sense

You've felt it. Skimming a headline and understanding nothing. Morning Brew fixes that: news explained like a smart friend would, minus the boring parts.

See why it’s the go-to for over 4 million people daily. Takes just 15 seconds to sign up.

Upcoming Local Events

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

Friday, August 14th

Saturday, August 15th

Sunday, August 16th

Monday, August 17th 

Tuesday, August 18th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, August 13
Todd Ciprian - Tito's, 6-9 PM

Friday, August 14
Shannon & The Harpeth River Boys - The Spot: Burgers & Beer, 5-8 PM
Ryan Keeler - Buck & Board, 6-8 PM
Open Mic - Grinder's Switch Winery, 6-8 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Zachariah Smith - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Escape - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, August 15
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 2-5 PM
Nick Bentley - Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Carson Phillips - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints - McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Taylor Hughes - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Gritz & Glory - The Boondox, 8 PM
Bonus Track - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, August 16
The Cliftones - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk