If you’ve lived in the Columbia area for more than 15 minutes, you’ve probably heard that it’s a great place to live because it’s easy to get out of.
“It’s only 2 hours to the mountains and 2 hours to the beach,” is a common refrain.
But in recent years, Columbia locals have been working to change that tune, hoping to get people more excited about all of the things you can do without leaving Columbia.
“Our identity problem comes from the fact that we’re always touting that we are close to everything else,” said Khali Gallman, a Columbia native who left the city to live in Florida and North Carolina before coming back home.
Now, Gallman is spearheading a citywide event that she hopes will help amplify Columbia pride and help new residents find community in the capital city.
She has organized an 803 Day event, named for the city’s telephone area code, to celebrate everything Columbia. It will be held, you guessed it, on Aug. 3, coincidentally the same day the city is expected to be flooded with Premier League soccer fans attending the special match between Manchester United and Liverpool.
Gallman said the idea to host a day of events to celebrate the city came to her when she saw how many other Southern cities have similar festivities.
“Atlanta does 404 Day, Miami has 305 Day. Birmingham has 205 Day,” Gallman said. “They all have a similar culture and pride in their town.”
The 803 Day event will include a 5k run and walk in Forest Acres, a citywide scavenger hunt, a free outdoor festival at the Robert Mills House and a group photo op at the State House. Halls Chophouse is providing $250 gift certificates to the winners of the 5K.
In addition to the planned events, Gallman is also asking restaurants and businesses around town to offer $8.03 specials. For example, the Columbia YMCA is offering an $8.03 join fee between July 28 and Aug. 3, which usually costs $50. East Bay Deli will offer its fan-favorite “The Citadel” sandwich for $8.03, and Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits will offer two mimosas or one bacon, egg and cheese biscuit for $8.03.
Gallman is a Realtor in Columbia and also has a background in public relations. Before spearheading 803 Day, she launched the Soda City Certified App, which provides information on different events happening around the city, restaurants to try, community meetings and more.
So far putting on 803 Day is costing roughly $28,000, Gallman said. Some of that is a personal investment by Gallman and some of it has been covered by local sponsors, she added.
Gallman hopes the festival, and just the notion of having a day to celebrate all things Columbia, can become a piece of the city’s identity in the future.
For more information about the planned festivities, visit 803day.org . The outdoor festival is free, but Gallman is asking people to RSVP ahead of time. Attendees can also register for the 5k run/walk on that site. Registration for the 5K is $45 before Aug. 3 and $55 day-of.
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