What Makes Columbia Special? City Wants Your Input

Issue #808

September 03, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☀️ Columbia’s Friday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 95, low of 73

📰 What Makes Columbia Special? City Wants Your Input

👻 Miller’s Thrillers Holding Auditions for Actors and Staff Ahead of Halloween Season

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

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

What Makes Columbia Special? City Wants Your Input

The City of Columbia is inviting the community to share what makes Columbia unique through a new community perception survey, the next step in the City’s community branding initiative. The survey will be available September 2 through September 16.

The quick, 10-minute survey gives residents and others familiar with Columbia an opportunity to share what they value about the community and the qualities they believe help define Columbia.

Community branding is about more than a logo or tagline. A community’s brand reflects its identity, reputation and what distinguishes it from other places. A strong, authentic brand will help tell Columbia’s story, strengthen community pride and support efforts to attract visitors, businesses, investment, talent and new opportunities.

The City selected Chandlerthinks to lead the branding initiative. The process has already included extensive research, including a public meeting and stakeholder interviews, along with market research and strategic analysis.

Feedback gathered through the community survey will add another important perspective to that research and help identify the characteristics and perceptions that should inform Columbia’s brand. The goal is not to create a new identity for Columbia, but to develop a brand that authentically reflects the community and what makes it distinctive.

The City encourages anyone with a connection to Columbia to participate and help shape how Columbia’s story is shared for years to come.

Residents may also complete the survey in person at Columbia Fire & Rescue Station No. 1, located at 1001 S. High Street, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Those completing the survey in person should park behind the fire station and ring the bell at the side door.

Miller’s Thrillers Holding Auditions for Actors and Staff Ahead of Halloween Season

Miller’s Thrillers is getting ready for another Halloween season, and the popular haunted attraction is looking for actors, entertainers and behind-the-scenes workers to help bring its attractions to life.

Auditions and information briefings for prospective employees will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Miller’s Thrillers. The attraction draws visitors from across Middle Tennessee each year with its haunted woods, zombie-themed attractions and entertainment.

This year’s lineup includes the newly revamped Zombie Hayride Reloaded, where guests travel through the woods on military trucks while shooting at zombies, along with Hillbilly Hollar, an outdoor haunted woods attraction built around a fictional story of an abandoned phosphate mining community in Maury County.

The entertainment zone will also feature stage shows, concessions, photo opportunities, fire performers, stilt walkers, jugglers, a zombie drumline, lasers, fireworks and other live entertainment.

But before the gates open, Miller’s Thrillers needs the people who will make all of that happen.

The attraction is looking for actors, zombies, parking attendants, ticket takers, rule givers, entertainers, photographers, carpenters, army truck drivers, MC hype men and people with other special talents or skills that could fit into the operation.

Prior acting experience is not required. Miller’s Thrillers says it is looking for people who are dependable, energetic, personable and willing to learn.

Those auditioning for paid positions should bring a calendar showing which weekends in October they are available and unavailable to work. That information will be used to create the staff schedule for the season.

Miller’s Thrillers will be open Sept. 26 and then every Friday and Saturday night in October, with the exception of the first Friday. Two training days are planned for Sept. 12 and Sept. 19, depending on the position.

Paid positions are available for applicants age 16 and older for the haunted woods and age 15 and older for hayride actors. Some 15-year-olds with special talents and significant theater experience may also be considered for positions in the woods.

Fourteen-year-olds may volunteer, but must have a parent or adult present and responsible for them at all times and must complete the attraction's interview process.

Compensation ranges from minimum wage and up, depending on experience and skill level. Those who are selected will be assigned one or more characters or stations and will receive training to help develop their interactions with guests.

Miller’s Thrillers says employees should also plan to have reliable transportation, as staff typically finish their shifts between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.

There are a limited number of paid positions available, with others welcome to participate as volunteers.

Those interested in auditioning can attend the Sept. 5 session or read the full details and requirements from Miller’s Thrillers here.

Miller’s Thrillers is located just west of Spring Hill at 1431 Carters Creek Pike.

Upcoming Local Events

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

Friday, September 4th

Saturday, September 5th

Sunday, September 6th

Monday, September 7th - LABOR DAY

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

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, September 3
Todd Ciprian - Tito's, 6-9 PM
Tommy Wheatley - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM

Friday, September 4
TBA - The Spot: Burgers & Beer, 5-8 PM
Sam & Maria - Buck & Board, 6-9 PM
First Fridays with Troy Kemp - Puckett's, 6:30-8 PM
Scott Burt Big Band - Riverwalk Pavilion, 7-8:30 PM
Yonder Grove - Grinder's Switch Winery, 7-9 PM
Pride of the North Bank - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30-9 PM
Live on the Square - Wentzel Brothers Band - Puckett's, 8:30-9:30 PM

Saturday, September 5
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 2-5 PM
Sean Carson - Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Box of Rox - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Labor Day Barn Bash - The Barn at the Phelps Farm, 5 PM
422 West - Hampshire Hills Distillery, 5-9 PM
Yonder Grove - Twisted Copper, 7-10 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Jake Leg Stompers - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM

Sunday, September 6
TBA - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM
Covered Wagon Band - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 7 PM

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