News and Events - The LocaL

The Excitement of the Columbus Cup Returns to Waveshaper Island

Posted on April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Ride the Waves The Columbus Cup, a hallmark event for the region’s sporting community, returns on April 12 and 13, promising a weekend of intense competition and spirited community engagement. This annual event, set against the backdrop of the Chattahoochee River, showcases over $10,000 in cash prizes and attracts top freestyle kayakers from around the globe, all vying for their moment in one of the world’s premier paddling locations. Waveshaper Island, a natural amphitheater for…

A Muscogee Homecoming: Springer Opera House Unveils Powerful Stories of Resilience and Sovereignty – Updated Dates!

Posted on April 1, 2025April 2, 2025 by Editor - the Local

April at the Springer Opera House marks a significant homecoming, celebrating the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the original inhabitants of this land. With the world premiere of “The Mvskoke Project” and the compelling one-woman show “On the Far End,” the Springer invites the community to witness stories of resilience, sovereignty, and the enduring spirit of a people whose legacy resonates in our very language. Before European contact, the Muscogee (Creek) people thrived in the Southeast, their…

Keni Thomas: A Hometown Hero’s Musical Homecoming

Posted on April 1, 2025April 24, 2025 by Editor - the Local

The air crackles with anticipation, and a familiar tune hums in the background, as Columbus prepares for a return that promises to reignite the local music scene. Country star and Army veteran Keni Thomas, with his band, Cornbread, is set to perform at The Loft on April 12, in a show that captures not only the spirit of his musical journey but also the deep connections that have shaped his life. This night at the…

Howard Finster: Man of Visions – At The Do Good Fund Thru May 17

Posted on March 10, 2025April 1, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Sometimes the inspiration for art is divine. For reverend-turned-artist Howard Finster, the calling to create was unmistakable. Alabama native Howard Finster experienced supernatural visions as a young child which continued into adulthood. Inspired by his faith, he became a minister passionate about sharing the message of God’s love. Although he had created art throughout his life, it wasn’t until the 70’s that Finster received a message from God to use his art to spread the…

Funny Bones

Posted on March 7, 2025April 1, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Jerry Farber Celebrates His 87th Birthday at the Loft, March 20 By Frank Etheridge Stand-up legend Jerry Farber looms large as a comedy icon. It’s no easy feat to be a living legend in the world of stand-up comedy, but Jerry Farber has taken the challenge in stride, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that age is just a number—and a punchline. Mark your calendars for March 20, because the comedy world is coming…

Rock Meets Revival: Springer’s Jesus Christ Superstar Set to Steal the Show

Posted on March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 by Editor - the Local

(Columbus, GA) – Hold onto your hats and prepare your vocal cords because the Springer Opera House is about to get a serious upgrade with the much-anticipated revival of Jesus Christ Superstar! Opening Friday, March 7, at 7:30 PM, this thrilling rock opera isn’t just another run-of-the-mill performance; it’s a modern spectacle that fuses gut-wrenching drama, gravity-defying choreography, and a set that will leave you questioning if you’ve wandered into a music festival instead of…

Riding the Rail

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Annual Opelika Songwriters Festival showcases top musical talents and the good times to be had in the sleepy railroad town. By Frank Etheridge Downtown Opelika sure is a sweet lil’ bubble to be in. Bordered by two bridges and bisected by railroad tracks, the charming historic corridor dates back further than the town itself, as the Montgomery and West Point Railway Co. line arrived in 1848 — six years before Opelika (the Muscogee term for…

Grand Funk Railroad

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Is Rolling Into Columbus By David Turner It was July 9, 1971, and all of Shea Stadium was shaking. Staff engineers were afraid the building might collapse. Whole sections of seating rode up and down as tens of thousands of screaming fans rocked to the music booming from the stage. The band and the crowd in the jam-packed stadium were locked together in the pure celebration called rock and roll. It took The Beatles three…

From the Bottom to the Top

Posted on January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 by Editor - the Local

By Frank Etheridge Talk about a glorious full-circle moment. When the raucous, untamed spirit of Ma Rainey takes the same Springer stage where the “Mother of the Blues” first performed 125 years ago at age 14, she rightfully returns as a now-iconic genius finally given her due. While Columbus native Gertrude Pridget (1886-1939) has long enjoyed critical acclaim, it wasn’t until America’s Cultural Reckoning of recent years, which allowed for new voices such as Black…

January Event Calendar

Posted on January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 by Editor - the Local

Around Town Birds of PreyA must-see since its debut in 2000. During suitable weather, these magnificent creatures – which cannot be released into the wild, due either to injury or having developed an unnatural association with humans known as “imprinting” – demonstrate their strength, speed, and natural instincts in daily flighted programs. Several birds appear at each program, swooping overhead and giving guests an up-close look “on the glove,” while our raptor experts explain how…

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