Two local cities are pushing back on reports that permit issues are behind the cancellation of the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner in October.
Organizing nonprofit Carolina Together announced this week that the event — which was established in 2015 and annually closes down the iconic and historic bridge between Columbia and West Columbia for an upscale dinner and music — would not proceed as planned Oct. 13.
In announcing the cancellation, the event said in a statement, “Unfortunately, ongoing delays in obtaining necessary permits and approvals from various governmental bodies have created insurmountable challenges. These delays, compounded by inflationary pressures affecting costs, have made it nearly impossible to deliver the high-quality event our attendees expect and deserve!”
Due to the event happening on a bridge between Columbia and West Columbia, permits from both cities are required.
But a spokesperson for West Columbia said, “The Gervais Street Bridge Dinner received the proper permitting from the City of West Columbia for the event prior to their announcement.”
West Columbia wouldn’t provide the exact timing for when the permits the dinner needed on that end were received without a reporter filing a Freedom of Information Act request, which can take 10 days to process.
And Harold Reaves, Columbia’s special events coordinator, said the dinner applied for its special events permit Aug. 22 and was approved the next day. That was also when the event submitted a traffic detour plan for the event, with the city submitting on Sept. 3 a request to the S.C. Department of Transportation to close the bridge, with the approval coming Wednesday — the same day the dinner announced its cancellation.
Reaves said that as far as he knows, the dinner got all the permits it needed to proceed and the timing of the event receiving necessary approvals on Columbia’s end, which were all in place a month and two days before the previously scheduled date, was roughly the same as in years past.
“We fully support this event,” Reaves said. “Our staff did everything reasonably possible to assist them with getting the appropriate permits and approvals that were needed.”
“Tickets for the event had not gone on sale yet,” said Neil Boone, director of marketing and communications, refusing to comment further. “We are deeply saddened by having to cancel and it was a decision that did not come lightly.”
Prices — $148 for a single ticket, $375 for a couples table, $1,675 for a VIP table of eight — had already been announced. Proceeds from the event go to local charities, with the dinner having announced 11 beneficiaries for 2024.
Nonprofit fell behind in tax payments
Carolina Together first purchased the rights to the dinner in 2020 and put on the dinner in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Tax records show Carolina Together has had trouble keeping up with its admissions tax obligations, charged at 5% to all ticketed amusements in the state. The S.C. Department of Revenue’s tax lien registry details that the group fell behind paying the tax in 2022 and 2023, although the liens have since been satisfied, records show.
The nonprofit, which states as its mission “to bring the community together through premier events that benefit the charities and community within,” has put on other events in the past — the Lake Murray Charity Run (which is last indicated to have taken place in 2022), a celebrity golf tournament and an NYE on the River celebration in West Columbia (both of which are last indicated to have taken place in 2021).
In announcing the cancellation of the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner, which lists an annual attendance in excess of 1,000, organizers called it “the largest dinner atop a bridge, in arguably all of the United States.”
“We understand the disappointment this news may bring to our valued guests, sponsors, beneficiaries and community members,” the event said in its cancellation announcement. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their unwavering support and commitment. Your generosity and enthusiasm have been vital in bringing this unique experience to life, and we deeply appreciate your understanding during this time.
“We remain hopeful that we will have the opportunity to celebrate together in the future and will keep you updated on any developments,” the announcement continued. “Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
Local News
