Augusta, GA
Downtown bars gear up for early New Year’s Eve celebrations
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Sunday alcohol sales are off the table for Augusta bars thanks to a Georgia law limiting sales to just one Sunday a year.
However, our local businesses are getting creative.
Commissioners say it was a quick decision to pick the Super Bowl but hope to change that for businesses on Broad Street and across Richmond County next year.
For now, it’s about staying positive going into the weekend.
While the effort for collective bar owners’ downtown is to change the city’s current ordinance on Sunday sales next year, they’re still trying to turn things around this weekend.
General Manager Chris McCarthy is gearing up Joe’s Underground for New Year’s Eve’s Eve.
He’s planning on live music, champagne, and even a countdown if customers want it, hoping people will still come out a day early to bring in 2024.
“I don’t particularly give a crap if we’re open for Super Bowl Sunday or not for the Super Bowl. But St. Patty’s Day is one of the biggest days for us in the year and would put us in the black for three months. Cinco de Mayo is huge for us,” said McCarthy.
Local liquor stores like Stevens Creek Wine and Spirits are starting to see their customers hit the shelves early ahead of the big weekend.
The manager says some are stocking up on their home supply with nowhere to go on the night of December 31.
“Some customers come in with sad faces, and when they go, they have smile faces,” said manager Noor Singh.
The commission plans to try and reverse their decision on the 2024 Sunday sales being on Super Bowl Sunday their first meeting of the year.
In the meantime, bars are raising a toast to New Years Eves Eve.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
MR. EDDIE JAMES RAMSEY, age 81, of Dearing, GA passed on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the PruittHealth-Augusta Hills in Augusta, GA. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later. Family members and friends may call at the funeral home. THOMSON FUNERAL SYSTEM, Thomson, GA oversees all arrangements.
MR. EDDIE JAMES RAMSEY, age 81, of Dearing, GA passed on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the PruittHealth-Augusta Hills in Augusta, GA. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later. Family members and friends may call at the funeral home. THOMSON FUNERAL SYSTEM, Thomson, GA oversees all arrangements.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Dry weather returns to the CSRA for the week ahead with temperatures warming up each day.
After a foggy start Sunday, we should see at least a few breaks in the clouds with highs near average in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Winds will be light from the southeast.
Sunday night looks partly cloudy and cool with overnight lows near 40 degrees. Wind will be calm.
Monday will be a partly sunny and mild day with highs in the middle 60s. Wind will be southwest at 2 to 6 mph.
Tuesday through Thursday…Partly sunny each day and partly cloudy night. Highs will be near 70 Tuesday, warming into the lower to middle 70s Wednesday and Thursday.
Clouds increase a bit Friday, and there could be a shower or two late in the day. Highs Friday will be in the lower to middle 70s.
Keep a close eye on the forecast if you have outdoor plans next weekend, because a frontal system moves in with a decent chance of rain Friday night into Saturday. Highs will be a touch cooler Saturday in the middle 60s.
Keep it here for regular updates and be sure to Download the WRDW First Alert Weather App to have the latest information in the palm of your hand whenever and wherever you need it.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Businesses downtown are reflecting on the past and setting new goals as the new year has arrived.
2025 was a busy year for many businesses on Broad Street, as they had to contend with construction, as well as a new sheriff seeking to make the streets safer.
Art on Broad spoke about what they’re looking forward to this year.
“We are just looking forward to putting all of the madness of the holidays behind us and continuing to see our everyday regular patrons, and then the new customers that come in, because they’re here for a convention or maybe they’re passing through on a road trip. And I feel confident that we’ll continue to see good business throughout the year,” said Catherine Alexander, business manager for Art on Broad.
Coming up at News 12 at 11 p.m., we’ll talk to more businesses about what they are looking forward to in the new year, as well as what worked for them in 2025.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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