Enormous Crowd Rings in 2016 at Famously Hot New Year in Downtown Columbia, S.C. on Dec. 31, 2015
January 6, 2016
Ms. Lauryn Hill rallied visitors and locals alike in the New Southern Hot Spot of downtown Columbia, S.C. on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 to ring in a New Year at Famously Hot New Year, South Carolina’s largest free New Year’s Eve celebration.
Revelers from near and far gathered to celebrate a new year of strength and renewal in South Carolina after a tough year for the Palmetto State in 2015. Famously Hot New Year attendees rose to the occasion by bringing cash and check donations for the Governor-endorsed One SC Flood Relief Fund, and non-perishable and canned goods for Harvest Hope Food Bank, a major resource of families in need post-SC flood.
The most colossal New Year’s Eve fireworks in the two Carolinas rained over the historic S.C. State House in a brilliant aerial show mastered by Pyrotecnico and sponsored by SCE&G.
Ms. Lauryn Hill, iconic five-time GRAMMY-winning R&B performing artist, headlined the free concert at Famously Hot New Year, singing some of her greatest hits from her debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill including “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” “Everything is Everything,” as well as some well-known covers, such as “Killing Me Softly,” and some new tracks like the Christmas Day 2015-released “A Cradle in Bethlehem.”
Three S.C. homegrown bands provided support for Ms. Hill at Famously Hot New Year: award-winning, Charleston-based alt-country band SUSTO, Columbia’s “folk-hop” project ColorBlind feat. Justin Smith, FatRat Da Czar and DJ Shekeese the Beast; and Charleston-based vintage rock group, Dead 27s.
In its fifth year, Famously Hot New Year thanks its government and corporate 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.
Photo by Jeff Blake
