Transportation Options
Several transportation options make getting to FHNY easy. The 2019 transportation options include:
- The COMET Bus Routes - FREE after 8 p.m. on Dec. 31
- Park-and-Ride Locations with The COMET - FREE after 8 p.m. on Dec. 31
- Alert Cab - first $10 of your fare free
- Parking Garages
- Street Closures
Getting to downtown Columbia, SC from out of town for NYE weekend? Here are some driving directions from nearby big cities.
The COMET Bus Routes - FREE after 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2019
It’s New Year’s Eve. Park your car and leave the driving to us! We’ll get you there safe and sound and return you at your convenience to your car without the hassles of traffic and parking. See below for bus routes that will be running during FHNY and download The COMET app to track your bus route in real-time.
You will be able to take unlimited rides on The COMET buses to and from FHNY. Buses will be operating beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1 at Sumter St. and Lady St.
How to get your COMET bus pass:
- On your first bus of the day, you can purchase a pass. Note: cash only is accepted on the bus, and you must have exact change!
- On the Catch The COMET smartphone app here.
- At COMET Central, the main downtown Transit Center at the corner of Sumter and Laurel Streets. Cash, checks and major credit/debit cards are accepted there.
We're expecting thousands (including you) to join us in downtown Columbia for Famously Hot New Year. Downtown Columbia will have plenty of parking in our garages, but there is no annual event as large as #FHNY. Take the less stressful route to the street party of the year and hop on The COMET.
The bus will run routes across the Midlands beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1. The COMET leaves Sumter St. and Lady St. at the bottom of the hour – on the 30 minutes. Use the app to see when it's coming to your closest bus stop.
Check what time each bus route will pick you up by following the link for each route listed below. Download The COMET app to track your bus in real-time and for more specific, accurate timing. Routes include:
101: North Main
21: Rosewood
401: Devine (stops near Whole Foods on Crowson)
45: Leesburg-Hazlewood
61: Shop Road/Olympia Area
301: Farrow Road
55: Sandhills
501: Two Notch Road
701: Forest Drive
801: Broad River
75: Parklane/Decker
91: Springdale/Cayce
Note: While all normal stops will be visited, The COMET will not come to a stop unless there are guests waiting.
Not near one of these bus routes? Check out these park-and-ride locations below.
Park-and-Ride Locations with The COMET - FREE after 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2019
You will be able to ride any of The COMET buses to and from FHNY. Buses will be operating beginning at 6:00 p.m. December 31, with the last pickup at 1:30 a.m. January 1 at Sumter St. and Lady St.
How to get your COMET bus pass:
- On your first bus of the day, you can purchase a pass. Note: cash only is accepted on the bus!
- On the Catch The COMET smartphone app here.
- At the main downtown Transit Center at the corner of Sumter and Laurel Streets. Cash, checks and major credit/debit cards are accepted there.
Park-and-ride locations are stops on the bus route listed below. Download The COMET app to track each bus in real-time.
Park-and-ride locations include:
Harbison Area: Near the Harbison Walmart parking lot near Sam’s Club gas station; Follow bus route 34 to track
Northeast Columbia: Village at Sandhill near Fashion Drive; Follow bus route 55X, Sandhills to track
Two Notch Road: Columbia Place Road near Faust Avenue; Follow bus route 16, Two Notch to track
Forest Drive: Park at Trenholm Plaza, board across the street near the Forest Acres clock; Follow bus route 15, Forest Acres/Decker to track
Alert Cab Discounts
It's NYE. Have a good time, but be responsible. If you've had a few drinks, leave your car behind and let us get you home safely.
KW Beverage, a locally owned and operated beer distributor, and Checker Yellow Cab have once again partnered to offer a safe, free ride from the event. Through the “Alert Cab” Free Ride Home Program, individuals can get home safely by receiving $10 off their ride home with Checker Yellow Cab. The designated area for cab service is on Lady St. at the corner of Sumter St. Please call 803-799-3311 and let them know that you're an Alert Cab rider. Please note that some restrictions may apply.
Parking Garages
Public parking is complimentary at all City of Columbia downtown parking deck facilities from Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. until Jan. 2 at 3:00 a.m.
Citywide on-street meter operations will also be complimentary after 6:00 p.m. on the 31st and all day on Jan. 1.
Guests are encouraged to take a safe ride home via special COMET bus service, Alert Cab sponsored by Budweiser and KW Beverage, or other means and may leave their vehicles overnight in the above mentioned City of Columbia garages for pickup on New Year’s Day.
Plan to bring cash for parking at other City of Columbia garages.
Famously Hot New Year takes place on the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Main St., between Gervais St. and Washington St. and extends to the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St. between Assembly and Sumter St. and the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Lady St.
City of Columbia parking garages include the following:
- Lady Street Garage, 1100 Lady St.
- Washington Street Garage, 1100 Washington St.
- Taylor Garage, 1101 Taylor St.
- PJ Cannon Garage, 1227 Taylor St.
- Sumter Street Garage, 1415 Sumter St.
- Lincoln Street Garage, 820 Washington St.
- Arsenal Hill Garage, 1812 Lincoln St.
- Park Street Garage, 1007 Park St.
Street Closures
Driving to FHNY? Be sure to note the following before you head downtown so you don't get caught up by a street closure. Here is a list of street closures:
Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 Closures
8:00 a.m.
- 1200 block of Gervais St.
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019 Closures
7:00 a.m.
- 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St.
- 1200 block of Main St. south of the entrance to the NBSC parking garage to allow for ingress and egress
9:00 a.m.
- 900 block of South Main St., from Pendleton St. to College St.
4:00 p.m.
- Remainder of 1200 block of Main St.
11:30 p.m.
- 1100 and 1200 blocks of Pendleton St.
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020 Reopenings
12:30 a.m.
- 1100 and 1200 blocks of Pendleton St.
2:00 a.m.
- 900 block of South Main St., from Pendleton St. to College St.
8:00 a.m.
- Half-block area of the 1200 block of Main St. north of the entrance to the NBSC parking garage to allow for ingress and egress
9:00 a.m.
- 1100 and 1200 blocks of Gervais St.
- Half block area of 1200 block of Main St. south of the entrance to the NBSC parking garage
About The COMET:
The COMET is our fabulous regional transit system which has extended its operating hours for transporting Famously Hot New Year attendees. They will operate routes and pick up and drop off at park-and-ride lots throughout the Midlands the night of the event. Want to know more about The COMET transit system? Check out their website. Even better, download their app and track your bus route in real-time!
To provide a safer, more enjoyable environment for all attendees, Famously Hot New Year is implementing a mandatory clear bag policy. This policy is similar to those implemented throughout Columbia, S.C. and the country, complying with a new level of security expected of large, heavily attended events. The new policy will allow for a more efficient entry for FHNY attendees by limiting the size and type of bags that may be brought into the festival. For more information, visit our website: https://www.famouslyhotnewyear.com/faqs#Clear%20Bag%20Policy