Join S.C. neighbors for Famously Hot New Year this Thursday, Dec. 31 with Ms. Lauryn Hill

Answers to FAQs, transportation and accommodation details, give to One SC Flood Relief Fund

COLUMBIA, SC – Famously Hot New Year – South Carolina’s largest free New Year’s Eve celebration – takes place this Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, 6:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on S.C. Main Street, in front of the S.C. Statehouse at Main and Gervais, in the New Southern Hot Spot of Columbia, S.C.

In its fifth year, Famously Hot New Year (#FHNY) is free and open to all ages, encompassing a free, full-length concert by Ms. Lauryn Hill and three S.C. bands, a midnight countdown with Columbia, S.C., Mayor Steve Benjamin, the most colossal NYE fireworks display in the Carolinas, and a range of family-friendly events, attractions, and hospitality offerings within blocks FHNY.

FAQs for Famously Hot New Year
Q. Is Famously Hot New Year kid-friendly?
A. Yes! FHNY is family-friendly, with partnered events geared toward children like Main Street ICE and WOW! New Year’s Eve Carnival. Guests must be 21+ to purchase or consume alcohol.

Q. How much does it cost?
A. Famously Hot New Year is free for all ages! No tickets needed. This year, FHNY encourages attendees to donate to the Governor’s One SC Flood Relief Fund, online: http://onescfund.org, via text (“onesc” to 33923), or via check, cash or non-perishable goods at FHNY event gates.

Q. Where can I purchase tickets?
A. FHNY is encouraging guests to attend one of many pre-parties and VIP experiences being thrown by local restaurants and businesses before Famously Hot New Year. Explore opportunities online: http://www.columbiacvb.com/events/signature-events/new-years-eve/.

Q. Where can I park/stay?
FHNY encourages guests to take The COMET to and from FHNY. Guests can plan their FHNY, from transportation to accommodation, online: http://www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/plan.

Q. What time will Ms. Lauryn Hill take the stage?
Gates open at 6:30 p.m., with Ms. Lauryn Hill to play around 10:30 p.m. See the full schedule online: http://www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/schedule

Q. What if it rains or snows?
A. This is a rain or snow celebration. If it rains, bring a rain jacket, as umbrellas are prohibited.

Q. Can I bring a bag/blanket/chairs/my dog?
A. While guests are allowed to bring a small bag, light packing is encouraged to streamline the security checks at each entry gate. Chairs and pets are not allowed (service animals permitted).
Prohibited items at FHNY:
• Backpacks, containers, coolers or picnic baskets of any kind (small bags permitted)
• Umbrellas (bring a rain coat in case of inclement weather)
• Food, beverage and alcohol (food, drinks, beer, wine and champagne will be sold)
• Bicycles, skateboards, scooters or personal motorized vehicles (exceptions for people with mobility limitations)
• Pets (service dogs allowed)
• Chairs, tables, lawn furniture or other furniture
• Fireworks, sparklers and explosives of any kind
• Musical instruments and laser pointers
• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal substances
• Illegal vending (no unauthorized/unlicensed vendors allowed)
View more FAQs here: www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/faqs.

Support Flood Relief Online and at Entry Gates
The public is encouraged to donate to the Governor’s One SC Flood Relief Fund at www.onescfund.org or text “onesc” to short code 33923, and donations via cash and check will be accepted at any of the 10 giving stations at Famously Hot New Year entry gates. Guests can also bring non-perishable food items for Harvest Hope Food Bank; volunteers from the University of South Carolina’s Flood Relief (#UofSCRelief) initiative will staff the giving stations.

Transportation
The COMET
FHNY urges locals to utilize the affordable, clean and safe transportation system of The COMET for just $3 flat, with unlimited rides to and from FHNY via two options: visiting a local bus stop and hopping on one of 12 regularly-running routes, or driving to one of six easy park-and-ride locations. Buses will run across the Midlands beginning at 6:00 a.m. December 31, with the last pickup from FHNY at Sumter and Lady Streets at 1:30 a.m. the night of the event.

Alert Cab Discounts
Those who need a safe ride home can take an Alert Cab, in which the first $10 of each taxi cab fare is complimentary, thanks to sponsors KW Beverage and Budweiser. Catch an Alert Cab on Lady St., between Main and Sumter.

Parking
Eight downtown Columbia parking garages will be free as of 5:00 p.m. on FHNY, but street closures will be in effect starting Wednesday, Dec. 30, 8:00 a.m., and parking will be limited due to what is expected to be high demand. Guests who take a safe ride home via The COMET or Alert Cab can pick up their vehicles the following day.

Explore all transportation options online: http://www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/getting-to-FHNY-transportation-options.

Where to Dine, Drink, Stay and Shop
Famously Hot New Year encourages the public to support local businesses and restaurants who are offering their own VIP experiences and pre-parties for New Year’s Eve on Main Street and in other close by hospitality districts. Additionally, several hotels throughout the Midlands are featuring special deals for Famously Hot New Year weekend, at which guests are encouraged to make plans as soon as possible.

Guests can explore hospitality offerings online: http://www.columbiacvb.com/events/signature-events/new-years-eve/.

Where to Visit During the Street Party
• Enter through any 5 entry gates: on Lady St. at Assembly St.; Lady at Sumter; Gervais at Assembly; Gervais at Sumter; and Main at Washington
• #SCStrong Wall, where guests can voice their hopes, wishes and visions for S.C. in 2016, on Main St. at the corner of Lady St.
• “Comfort Zone” seated space to enjoy food and drink from vendors with street buskers and entertainers, at the corner of Main and Lady
• Main Street ICE rink at Boyd Plaza in front of Columbia Museum of Art, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
• WOW! New Year’s Eve Carnival, 6:00 p.m.—11:00 p.m. at Main and Hampton
Map out your FHNY experience online: http://www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/fhny-event-map.

FHNY Celebration Schedule
12 p.m.—12 a.m. | Main Street ICE rink at Boyd Plaza (Main at Hampton streets)
6:00 p.m.—11:00 p.m | WOW! New Year’s Eve Carnival (Main at Hampton streets)
6:30 p.m. | Concert gates open
7:00 p.m.—7:45 p.m. | Dead 27s perform
8:00 p.m.—8:30 p.m. | ColorBlind performs
9:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m. | SUSTO performs
10:30 p.m.—11:55 p.m. | Ms. Lauryn Hill performs
11:55 p.m.—12:10 a.m. | Midnight festivities & fireworks
12:10—12:30 a.m. | Headliner finale and dancing
12:30 a.m. | Beer, wine and champagne sales end
1:00 a.m. | Celebration ends

Ms. Lauryn Hill in Concert With Three S.C. Bands
Ms. Lauryn Hill, iconic GRAMMY-winning R&B recording artist (“Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” “Everything is Everything,” “Killing Me Softly”) will headline the free concert at Famously Hot New Year. Ms. Hill will be opened by three South Carolinian support acts: Charleston vintage rock group, Dead 27s; “folk-hop” project ColorBlind, Justin Smith, FatRat Da Czar and DJ Shekeese the Beast; and award-winning, Charleston-based alt-country band SUSTO.

Live Broadcast, Celebrity Emcees and Co-Chairs
The event will be live broadcast on TV by WLTX News 19 and via radio by Alpha Media stations The Big DM 101.3/WWDM and Hot 103.9/WHXT. WLTX anchor Darci Strickland, three-time Emmy-award winning journalist and University of South Carolina alum, will co-emcee FHNY, along with Big DM DJ and Operations Manager Chris Connors, multi-award winning radio host. Famously Hot New Year’s co-chairs and official spokespeople are Jill Armbruster, marketing director at UCI Medical Affiliates and Amos Disasa, pastor of Downtown Church.

Major Sponsors
City of Columbia and Richland County hospitality tax provide close to 40% of funding, while more than 60% of funding is provided by corporate citizens. Presenting Sponsor: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (#LiveFearlessSC); Gold Sponsors: Aflac, WLTX; Healthy Living Sponsor: Palmetto Health and the Walk for Life, Jan. 9, 2016; Fireworks Sponsor: SCE&G; Silver Sponsors: Hub at Columbia, Colonial Life, Pepsi of the Carolinas, Alpha Media and Budweiser/KW Beverage.

About Famously Hot New Year
Set on South Carolina’s Main Street, Famously Hot New Year is the Palmetto State’s largest New Year’s Eve party, with a free, live outdoor concert by Ms. Lauryn Hill and the most colossal NYE fireworks display in the two Carolinas. In its fifth year, Famously Hot New Year extends its mission of bringing diverse communities together by supporting the One SC Flood Relief Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation, with the hope of ringing in a new year of strength and renewal for our #SCStrong state. Last year, Famously Hot New Year drew a diverse crowd of more than 28,000 guests from across the region and nation to enjoy the free concert and fireworks; regional food vendors; plentiful cash bars with beer, wine and bubbly in a festival atmosphere; a family-friendly street carnival and ice rink; free parking and more in vibrant downtown Columbia, S.C., the “New Southern Hot Spot.” Plan your #FHNY and donate to #SCFloodRelief at www.famouslyhotnewyear.com.

SOCIAL Facebook: Facebook.com/FamouslyHotNewYear
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YouTube: YouTube.com/FamouslyHotNewYear
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HASHTAGS #FHNY | #FHNYinfo | #GiveAToast