7 Things You Need to Know Before You Visit the Columbia Theatre
- ashtonpersick
- Feb 27
- 4 min read
The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts offers a colorful variety of performances throughout the year. You name it and they've done it: movie screenings, musicals, plays, operas, pageants, murder mysteries, ballets, and concerts, all have been performed within the historic building.
Needless to say, there's something for everyone and you are sure to find something that interests you. But, before you go, here are the top seven things you need to know before visiting the Columbia!
Double Check Where You Buy Your Tickets
No matter what show you are seeing at the Columbia Theatre, make sure you purchase tickets on their official website. Many people have accidentally bought tickets from scam websites so make sure to double-check before you give your financial information!
If you want to be extra safe, you can also buy tickets by calling their box office Monday through Friday, 11AM-4PM at 985-549-2787.
Arrive Early to Find a Good Parking Spot
One of the things that makes Downtown Hammond so charming is how intimate and tight-knit it is. The con of this charm, however, is there is very limited parking surrounding the Columbia, especially on weekends. The scant parallel parking spots and scattered small parking lots within eye-line of the Columbia fill up incredibly fast, so get there early enough to account for playing a game of Where's Waldo trying to find a place to park within walking distance of the theatre. If you want more information about parking in the area, here is a resource.
I recommend getting there 30 minutes before the show starts, at the latest, because I've known people in the past who have missed the first 20 minutes of a performance because they got there 10 minutes before the start and couldn't find parking.
Find the Correct Theatre You Are Meant To Be In
Remember when I said that the Columbia had something for everyone? Well, I meant everyone because the Columbia technically has two theaters within its building. Hainkel Hall is the main theatre, positioned closest to the corner of Thomas Street, where events like musicals, pageants, and concerts are usually held. The Studio Theatre, located at the rightmost side of the Columbia building, is the newer addition that acts as a black box theatre where smaller-scale performances, murder mysteries, and intimate music events are held. So make sure when you purchase your ticket to double check which theatre it is held in, because it is very easy to accidentally end up in the wrong one.
Finish Up Your Drinks and Snacks in the Lobby
Once you walk through the lobby doors (after hopefully getting a good parking spot), more often than not you will be greeted by an array of concessions you can buy before the show. Student organization Alpha Psi Omega and local businesses Purrfectly Sweet by Fort Feline and Red White and Brew are consistent vendors of snacks and bevs for Columbia Theatre performances. However, in order to preserve this historical theatre and to keep it as clean as possible, open drinks and food are strictly prohibited within the theatre and you will be asked to throw it away before you enter. So whatever goodies you purchase must be eaten or drunk in the lobby, unless it is in a closed package or bottle, then you can store it in a bag.
There are exceptions for special events like when they screen films, where they offer free popcorn and candy with your ticket purchase. Water bottles with screw-on caps are also allowed. Other than that, there is really only one other exception and that is to….
Buy a Columbia Tumbler to Get Your Drink On
If you don't feel like chugging your glass of Merlot before the show, you're in luck because the Columbia offers an approved, sealed-lid tumbler cup for $10. Not only can any canned soft drink or an alcoholic beverage from the Red, White, and Brew kiosk you purchase be poured into this Columbia Theatre-approved tumbler, but you can bring and use it for all future visits to the Columbia!
Silence Your Phone
You should know the drill by now. Phones that go off during shows can be extremely distracting to the performers and the crew, and can diminish the audience experience as well. No one wants to hear your “Bye Bye Bye” ringtone go off in the middle of Romeo and Juliet, so make sure to silence it or just turn it off to be safe.
Also, this is implied, but don’t be on your phone during the performance either. Whether that’s to record your bestie on stage or doom scroll TikTok, it’s disrespectful to the people on stage who are giving their all to present you the best show they can, and more often than not you will be told to put it away by an usher anyway.
Enjoy the Show!
Now that you are officially a Columbia Theatre professional, it's time for you sit back, relax, be good audience members, and enjoy whatever spectacular show the Columbia Theatre never fails to put on. Let the chaos of the outside world disappear, and let the performers bring you into a world they have created just for you.
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