Columbia Lights Up Main Street With New Downtown Lanterns
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | September 9, 2026
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Downtown Columbia got a little brighter Wednesday night as city leaders, the Main Street District and The Boyd Foundation officially switched on a new lighting project stretching along Main Street.
With a countdown of “5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann called out, “Light it up!” as the new fixtures began illuminating Main Street block by block.
The project adds large circular lanterns suspended from trees at intersections along Main Street from Gervais Street to Laurel Street. The fixtures are wrapped in grapevine, allowing them to blend with the district's mature oak trees during the day before becoming a new visual feature at night.
The trees themselves are also being illuminated from below, adding light throughout the tree canopy.
According to Main Street District President and CEO Matt Kennell, the goal is about more than appearance.
“We wanted this project to not only provide some much-needed lighting, but also play into the street’s natural assets,” Kennell said in announcing the project.
Wednesday night's ceremony marked the completion of the first phase of what organizers describe as a longer-term lighting project.
Kennell told those gathered that the new lights will automatically come on at sundown and remain illuminated until midnight each night.
From a Dark Main Street to a Downtown Destination
George Bailey of The Boyd Foundation used the unveiling to reflect on just how much downtown Columbia has changed.
A lifelong Columbia resident, Bailey recalled a time when Main Street was packed with shoppers before suburban development contributed to downtown's decline.
He remembered later being able to come to his office in the Meridian Building at night and find Main Street virtually empty.
“Fast forward to today. Where are we now? You can't get a parking space anywhere close to Main Street,” Bailey said. “We are a vibrant town now. We are on a roll.”
The Boyd Foundation funded the lighting project, while the City of Columbia provided support and technical assistance through its Public Works Department. Carolina Landscape Lighting handled installation.
The partnership follows the popularity of the existing “Ceiling of Lights” installation on the 1600 block of Main Street, but expands decorative lighting beyond a single block.
More Lighting Is Coming
The work isn't finished.
Bailey confirmed Wednesday that the current installation represents phase one and said The Boyd Foundation expects to participate in a second phase.
According to project organizers, phase two is expected to focus more heavily on lighting mid-block areas and sidewalks, improving visibility and the pedestrian experience between intersections.
For Rickenmann, the project is another piece of the larger transformation taking place downtown.
The mayor pointed to the restaurants, residents, development and growing activity that have returned to Main Street since he first came to Columbia in 1988, when he joked, “you literally could hit a golf ball down Main Street.”
“Now there are people everywhere,” Rickenmann said, crediting partnerships and investment for helping rebuild downtown.
And shortly after his countdown Wednesday night, the difference was visible.
One intersection lit up, then another.
Within minutes, the glowing lanterns could be seen hanging among the trees as Main Street illuminated block by block.
Comments