Annual Palmetto Boys and Girl State Parade to Impact Traffic in Downtown Columbia

For Immediate Release
June 15, 2023
Contact: Kyle McGahee, Office of Public Affairs, 803-896-8747

Motorists in Columbia should be aware that several roads will be closed from approximately 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, June 16, in the downtown area to accommodate this year's Palmetto Boys and Girls State parade and rally.

The annual Palmetto Boys and Girls State youth leadership event will bring approximately 40 police-escorted buses and a parade through downtown Columbia, culminating with a rally at the State House. The SC Bureau of Protective Services (BPS), with assistance from the SC Highway Patrol (SCHP) and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), will help with the bus escorts and parade.

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street at the intersection of Main Street and Blanding Street and end at the State House. The rally will begin at 11 a.m. on the State House grounds, immediately following the parade.

Downtown traffic will be impacted from at least 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the following areas:

• Intersection of I-126 and Elmwood Avenue
• Intersection of I-126 and Huger Street
• Intersection of Huger Street and Laurel Street
• Intersection of Laurel Street and Gadsden Street
• Intersection of Laurel Street and Assembly Street
• Intersection of Assembly Street and Blanding Street

Roads closed to thru traffic from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.:

• 1100 - 1200 blocks of Blanding Street, between Assembly Street and Sumter Street

Roads closed to thru traffic from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.:

• Main Street, from Gervais Street to Blanding Street
• 1100 & 1200 blocks of Gervais Street

SCDPS and BPS will be sharing this information on social media if you would like to re-share.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.