The One Thing to Do in South Carolina Before the End of the Year

As the year winds down and the holidays approach, it’s easy to feel like time has slipped away. Maybe there are experiences you’ve been meaning to have, sights you’ve been hoping to see, or local gems you’ve promised yourself you’d visit. The good news? There’s still plenty of time. With a few weeks left in the year, now is the perfect opportunity to check off those must-do activities, soak in the season, and make memories before the calendar turns. And if you need a place to start, there’s one spot in South Carolina that I think should top your list.

Finlay Park’s Grand Return: A New Heart for Downtown Columbia

After two years of construction and a roughly $25 million renovation, Finlay Park has officially reopened, and it may be the most essential “must‑do” in South Carolina before 2025 ends. The long‑awaited grand reopening took place on November 15, 2025, complete with a ribbon‑cutting ceremony, live music, food vendors, and crowds of city residents eager to see the transformed space.

What’s New: From Water Features to Playgrounds

The revitalization preserves what longtime Columbia residents loved about Finlay Park, most notably its iconic spiral fountain, but enhances it with modern amenities and upgrades. The fountain now feeds a newly renovated central pond and cascading water features that flow through amenity streams, a design change intended to revive the visual and natural character of the park while improving drainage and sustainability.

Beyond renewed water features, the updated park includes a brand‑new band stage, a splash pad, and a destination playground built into a hillside, complete with a grassy astroturf slide and modern play structures for kids. For those seeking a little bit of outdoor fun, there are pickleball courts, a nine‑hole disc golf course, an outdoor gym, and more than three miles of sidewalks and five miles of walking trails winding across the 17‑acre park.

The upgrades also add strolling gardens, new walkways, an overlook plaza, shade shelters, public restrooms, and contemporary public‑art installations, eight sculptures to start, with rotating art planned every two years.

A Vision for Safety, Accessibility & Community

A driving motivation behind the overhaul was to make Finlay Park safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone, something many longtime residents hoped for. To that end, planners included improved lighting, open sight lines, security cameras, emergency call boxes, and a dedicated on‑site ranger station. Accessibility upgrades and enhanced parking and circulation make it easier to visit, while the reconnecting of nearby streets and districts aims to weave the park back into the fabric of downtown Columbia neighborhoods.

Why You Should Visit Finlay Park Before the End of the Year

Finlay Park’s reopening couldn’t come at a better time. As the city heads into winter and the holiday season, the new green space offers a free, beautiful, and dynamic destination where families, friends, and visitors can gather, relax, and celebrate community. So if you’re drawn to water‑side serenity, playground laughter, casual exercise, or outdoor concerts, the revitalized Finlay Park delivers all of it in one place.

Moreover, the park’s rebirth signals a renewed commitment to public spaces and community investment, a reminder that vibrant civic life is rooted in accessible, shared places. For Columbia, South Carolina, and its visitors, Finlay Park isn’t just a park reopening; it’s a revival of public space, community energy, and downtown connectivity.

If you’re in the Midlands or planning a visit before the year wraps, consider Finlay Park. Between the restored cascade fountain, acres of green space, modern amenities, and safety‑first design, there may be no better time to experience South Carolina’s renewed urban gem.

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