From football to fireflies, here are 15 tips for living like a local in Columbia

Welcome to Columbia! Whether you’re new to the area, or just want to learn a little bit more about our capital city, these tips should help you feel more at home here.

From football game days to city traffic patterns to Southern culture and more, there’s a lot to learn about our “famously hot” city.

Will the real USC please stand up?

Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina (USC), which can easily be confused with the University of Southern California (also USC). This commonality has led to some friendly competition between the two schools over the years. It’s not uncommon to see the two schools engage in good-natured bickering online, particularly on their respective Barstool Sports sites. For the record, the University of South Carolina’s Barstool Sports Twitter name is “The Real USC.”

One thing is for sure, when in Columbia, “USC” refers only to the University of South Carolina. (It also feels worth noting the University of South Carolina was founded in 1801 and University of Southern Carolina in 1880, so we were here first.)

Saturdays in the South

You’ve probably heard the saying before, but experiencing it is a completely different experience. Football — and football tailgating — truly is a way of life in the South.

Tailgating, essentially partying from your car in the vicinity of the game being played, is a weekend-long event. Beginning well before the game and continuing long after its end, fans from all over the country flock to Columbia during football season to cheer on their favorite teams. The setups range drastically, from some coolers in the bed of a pickup truck, to the legendary Cockabooses. Expect lots of traffic, lots of people and an unforgettable weekend.

Bonus: Who is Willy-B?

The USC Gamecocks’ home football stadium is the towering Williams-Brice Stadium. With a capacity of more than 80,000 fans, the atmosphere of Williams-Brice during a game day is indescribable. (Sandstorm, anyone?) But around here, hardly anyone calls the stadium “Williams-Brice.” Instead, fans opt to attend games at Willy-B.

‘Only Wanna Be with You,’ Carolina

Legend has it Mark Bryan overheard Darius Rucker singing in the shower of the USC freshman dorm they shared and was impressed by his vocal ability. This was the beginning of Hootie & the Blowfish.

The group went on to become one of the best-selling bands of all time, win Grammy awards, and release numerous hit singles, including “Only Wanna Be with You,” “Let Her Cry,” and “Hold My Hand.” Darius Rucker, a South Carolina native, later went on to have a successful solo country music career, with songs like “Wagon Wheel” reaching number one on Billboard country charts.

Through it all the band hasn’t forgotten their South Carolina roots. The band’s most recent tour, the Group Therapy Tour, is named after the bar in Five Points where they played as undergraduates, and the tour concluded with three straight sold-out nights in USC’s Colonial Life Arena in 2019.

Fireflies

No, we’re not talking about the insects that glow in the dark (or the popular Owl City song from a few years back). The Fireflies are Columbia’s Minor League baseball team who compete at Segra Park in the BullStreet District.

Going out to the ballpark, a longtime American tradition, is a popular event in Columbia over the summer. There are promotions all season long (bring your pup for Wag-Along Wednesdays and enjoy $2 Bud Light pints and half-off draft beers and fountain sodas for Thirsty Thursdays) that make for a perfect night out. Be prepared to scream, “Let’s glow!” for the majority of the night.

Fireflies (Again)

Okay, this time we are talking about the insect — the Columbia Fireflies had to get their name from somewhere! For about a two-week period during late May/early June, visitors flock to Congaree National Park, just outside of Columbia, to watch the mesmerizing synchronous fireflies put on a show.

There are only three species of synchronous flashing fireflies that can be found in all of North America, one of which can be found here in Columbia. Visitors can experience an awe-inspiring display of synchronous flashing while the fireflies search for a mate.

Bonus: Congaree National Park

Congaree is South Carolina’s first national park, and there are a lot of other things you can do there when it’s not firefly mating season. Named after the indiginous southeastern Congaree people who lived in now-central South Carolina along the Congaree River, the park offers some great hiking trails, camping outposts and beautiful forest landscapes. Looking for other national park sites in South Carolina? There’s Reconstruction Era National Historic Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, both in the Lowcountry.

Columbia has a lot of nicknames

While you’re here, you’ll probably hear a lot of names for Columbia. The city’s tagline, “Famously Hot,” is synonymous with the city itself. It’s thanks to our incredibly hot summers and humid climate. (An old expression here: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 10 minutes.”)

Columbia is also often referred to as “Cola” which, in turn, inspired “Soda City.” Every Saturday, a portion of Main Street is blocked off for the “Soda City Market,” and the city’s latest effort to provide free public transportation downtown is called the “Soda Cap Connector.”

Columbia also has a lot of art

The art scene is huge in Columbia. Lots of local artists call the city home, the Columbia Museum of Art is located in the heart of Main Street, murals are frequently emerging throughout the city, and so much more.

Columbia is home to the world’s largest fire hydrant, a 40-foot tall, three-ton sculpture called “Busted Plug” by well-known artist Blue Sky that was built to be able to withstand a tornado. Blue Sky is also the man behind the iconic “Tunnelvision” mural on Taylor Street (right behind “Busted Plug”) and one of the city’s newer murals, near Groucho’s in Five Points. You’ll find more of his work scattered across the city and various places in South Carolina.

‘Cocks by 90

If you’re not a South Carolina native, this one might come with a shock. The USC Gamecocks really love their school, and they aren’t afraid to show it. Gamecock apparel is everywhere, and you shouldn’t be surprised to see someone walking around downtown with the truncated “Cocks” printed on their T-shirt or hat.

Other popular phrases include “Cocks on top” and “Cocks by 90,” which were popularized by USC’s Barstool site and are now commonly shouted on game days. It’s funny, relatively harmless, and something you’ll quickly grow accustomed to — but will probably get you some funny looks beyond state lines.

Who or what are Huger and Gervais, and how do I say them?

Mispronouncing two of Columbia’s busiest roads will quickly give you away as an out-of-towner. The names are admittedly challenging to get right on the first attempt.

Huger Street, pronounced “You-gee,” is named for General Isaac Huger, a notable Revolutionary War vetern. Gervais Street, pronounced “Ger-vay,” is named for John Lewis Gervais, who was instrumental to Columbia’s founding.

‘Sorry I’m late. I got stopped by a train.’

Get used to hearing this and saying this, because in Columbia this (unfortunately) happens a lot. If you thought traffic was only bad in Columbia on game days, think again. Trains can be a nuisance to commuters, officials and even service vehicles. They routinely block Assembly and Blossom streets and seem to always appear when you need to get somewhere quick. Rush hour traffic is never fun, but even less so when you add trains to the mix.

‘What’s up, y’all?’

Some of the most common Southern slang terms are “y’all” (short for you all) or “all of y’all” (its plural form). Both are used commonly and unironically in Columbia. Only locals or other Southerners feel comfortable — or sound natural — using these expressions, so when you hear it, it’s the sound of a true Southerner. These folks can point you in the direction of good barbecue, a cheap drink and back road directions to anywhere.

‘Bless your heart,’ is not as friendly as it sounds

“Bless your heart” is a bit of a double-tongued expression. On the one hand, it could be a term of endearment to offer sympathy or compassion for someone handling a tough situation. On the other hand, it’s like saying, “I’m going to pray you get some common sense,” followed by an explanation of something deemed rather sensible. We trust you’ll figure out the difference right quick.

Pimento cheese is a thing (a very, very good thing)

Pimento cheese is a traditional Southern spread made with cheese, mayonnaise and pimento pepper, and -- spoiler alert -- it’s delicious. Colloquially, many people refer to it as “Carolina caviar” or “the caviar of the South.” Its uses are basically limitless: as a spread for crackers, as an addition to sandwiches, as a garnish to burgers, and so many more.

You can check out this article for some of our favorite places to get pimento cheese in Columbia.

Cockroaches are called ‘Palmetto bugs’

“Palmetto bug” is an umbrella term used to describe several species of cockroaches found in South Carolina. These bugs have wings and love to make homes in palm trees and humid climates, so it’s no coincidence they love the Palmetto State.

These roaches have become an unwanted staple in many residences in Columbia. While they don’t pose any immediate threats, they can be pretty stomach turning. Save yourself a panic attack by checking out these tips for getting rid of these pests, and if you haven’t already, contract an exterminator. You’re welcome in advance.

This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 3:50 PM with the headline "From football to fireflies, here are 15 tips for living like a local in Columbia."