The COMET partners with Dante Lewis, Harvest Hope for Holiday Mobility, Community Giving, and Live Music

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) is partnering with renowned South Carolina saxophonist Dante Lewis to celebrate the holiday season with free transit access, charitable giving, and live music, centered on his annual “Christmas with Dante Lewis” concert. The event takes place Friday, December 18, 2026, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, and features musical guests Mike Stone and the Reggie Sullivan Trio.

The concert runs from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A VIP Pre-Reception Meet & Greet will be held beforehand, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., for sponsors and guests with VIP tickets. The holiday initiative is supported by media partner WACH Fox 57, who will help share information about transit access, community giving, and holiday programming throughout the Midlands. Cynthia Hardy is the event’s emcee.

Dante Lewis

Holiday Giveback

A Symphony of Giving: Dante Lewis & The COMET for Harvest Hope

Concertgoers and community members are invited to bring canned goods or other shelf-stable food items to donate on December 18. A COMET bus will be stationed near the Convention Center’s main entrance to collect donations from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Lewis, his band, and media partners will be onsite from 10:00 a.m. to noon to greet donors and hold a prize drawing. 

Shuttle Service

The COMET will operate complimentary shuttle service on its Soda Cap 1 arts & entertainment circulator route, running from

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. before the concert and 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. afterward, carrying riders from the Park Street Garage at 1007 Park Street to the convention center. The shuttle service is open to the public and is designed to move people safely through downtown traffic and improve access to holiday events. RATP Dev, The COMET’s operating contractor, will provide golfcart shuttles from the VIP/Sponsor parking lot directly to the venue entrance for those needing assistance.

Holiday Appreciation Drawings

• Symphony of Giving Donor Drawing: Anyone who donates food at the December 18 collection site may enter a drawing for a pair of concert tickets. The drawing will be held at noon, at the collection site outside the Convention Center.
• COMET Rider Appreciation Drawing: From October 12 through December 7, riders and community members may enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the December 18 concert. Entries can be submitted at COMET Central (Laurel & Sumter Streets) or by scanning QR codes posted on select buses. One winner will be drawn at noon on December 7.
• Holiday Prize Pack Drawing: Two prize packs featuring COMET merchandise, items from media partners WACH Fox 57 and music from Dante Lewis will also be raffled.

“This partnership reflects how The COMET supports mobility, community, and culture, especially during the holidays,” said COMET CEO/Executive Director Maurice Pearl. “By offering free shuttles, community appreciation opportunities, and inviting participants to stuff the bus with food items, we’re making it easier for people to come together and give back.”

“We are thrilled about this partnership and the opportunity to work with Dante Lewis and The COMET using the power of music and transportation to bring our community together! We are incredibly excited to be part of the Symphony of Giving Food Drive and help turn this amazing event into an even greater impact for our neighbors,” said Cristen Aiken, Community Engagement Manager for Harvest Hope.

“The holidays are a reminder that our greatest gifts aren’t the ones we receive, but the ones we share,” said Lewis. “I’ve always believed that music has the power to unite people, but true impact happens when that unity is transformed into service. This partnership with The COMET and Harvest Hope is about creating a movement of generosity that reaches far beyond the stage. Together, we’re connecting people through music, community, and purpose while helping provide food and support to our neighbors who need it most. My hope is that this effort inspires others to give more, serve more, and lead with compassion, and reminds us all of the difference we can make when we come together.”

Signature Sound Collaboration

Earlier this year, The COMET launched its new Signature Sound, composed by Lewis, which has aired since April as part of COMET Chat vignettes and Midlands on the Move segments, along with local radio programming. The collaboration reflects how creative talent can help shape the rider experience across transit communications.

Event Details

• Event: “Christmas with Dante Lewis”
• Date: Friday, December 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Location: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
• Free Shuttle Service: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• A Symphony of Giving Food Collection: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Tickets & Info: DanteLewis.eventbrite.com

For more information about The COMET and its programs, visit CatchTheCOMETsc.gov.

About The COMET

The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, providing countywide public transit on 34 fixed routes, USC Transit, OnDemand/ReFlex service, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft, DART transportation to grocery stores and at night, and ADA complementary paratransit throughout Richland and eastern Lexington counties.

The COMET transports approximately 2.1 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses and vans. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, and Uber. For more information, call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email [email protected], or visit www.catchthecometsc.gov.

Catch The COMET…We Will Take You There!