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Posts Tagged ‘Greenville SC’

Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park Makes for a Perfect Afternoon Out

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Are you looking for information about Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park? If you want to know all the reasons this is a great park for kids, you’ve come to the right place. Local mom, Erika, has reviewed all of Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park’s amenities and is sharing why it is one of her kids’ favorite parks. 

Now is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, and what better way to do that than to check out one of the wonderful parks that Spartanburg has to offer?

One park worth mentioning, and well worth the trip to Boiling Springs, is Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park, located at 591 McMillan Blvd. Whether you have never heard of it before, or just haven’t had a chance to make it out there, there are multiple reasons to add this park to your “to-do-with-the-kids” list.

Watch! See the New Playground at Va-Du-Mar

parks and playgrounds spartanburg greenville

Want to explore other parks? Here’s a round-up of the best parks and playgrounds near Spartanburg, SC and Greenville, SC.

What’s so great about Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park?

How is the playground?  Great; but we’ll get to that part later. Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park offers a lot more than just a playground and a few swings. Seven different sports fields, with football goalposts and soccer goals, are located in this gem of a park, so bring your soccer ball along and let the kids run off some of their energy. The fields are well maintained with the grass kept short and fire ant mounds are sprayed frequently.

Inside the park, lies Shoally Creek Disc Golf Course. This 18-hole course sits on a “hilly” landscape, making it a bit more exciting, and most of the course is played through the woods. A course map is posted near the start, of course, giving you an idea of what to expect as you play. A wildlife sign is posted, so keep a lookout for the critters that call the woods home. The course is open during daylight hours and is free of charge, just be sure to bring your own discs.

If you’re a fan of Disc Golf, check out our list of more locations where you can play Disc Golf In Spartanburg.

Nestled in the back of the park, away from the noise of the playground, you will find a sand volleyball court, as well as a caged tennis court, with three courts located inside. You will also find a paved walking trail with “doggy bag” receptacles, so leashed pets are welcome on the trail.

Va-Du-Mar Mcmillan Park playgound toddlers

The playground is great too

What is a park without a playground? Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park offers a fenced-in, fun playground geared toward children ages two and up. Within the fenced-in area are two play structures: the smaller playground is designed for children age two to five and offers multiple height-appropriate slides, a steering wheel, a bridge, and multiple ways to climb onto the playground, such as stairs, an arched ladder, and a small ladder.

The playground is open underneath so your little one can run under it for added play space. With 6 swings total, two are kiddie swings for children four years old and under, two regular swings, and two swings for special needs, it’s not likely that your child will have to wait their turn for a swing!

The larger playground, geared toward children age five to 12, doesn’t lack space or fun! A large bridge connects two different parts of this awesome playground, and the bigger side includes a covered “treehouse-like” area.

Various slides, ranging from smaller ones with less of an incline to spiral slides that are high enough to include two spirals before you reach the bottom, sit on all sides of this playground. Multiple climbing walls, stepping stones, and staircases can turn this playground into a fun obstacle course, amongst other fun ways to enjoy it.

Neither of the playgrounds is made of wood, so no need to worry about pulling any splinters out at the end of the day. The ground of the playground area is rubber, so there’s soft padding when your child lands at the bottom of a slide.

Va-Du-Mar Mcmillan Park playgound swings

What else makes this park great?

Convenient options can make or break a park for parents, and Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park does not fall short in this category. Some of the most dreaded words a parent wants to hear 10 minutes after arriving at the playground are “I have to go potty!” only to realize that the closest bathrooms are all the way back home. This park has a men and women’s bathroom, located near the tennis courts, with multiple stalls and a changing table; and more importantly, these bathrooms are kept clean!

There are several benches throughout the playground area for parents to sit and relax while their children play. Shaded areas with picnic tables are easily accessible, so you can pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic with your family.

The playground area is fenced in, reducing the worry of your child running into the parking lot. Trash cans are situated throughout the park for your convenience and are frequently emptied to keep bugs away. Beverage vending machines are located near the fields closer to the park entrance, as well as a concession stand that is open during organized sporting events.

As with any public park, there are rules set in place for the safety of everyone.  Glass containers are not allowed, so keep that in mind if you decide to pack a lunch.  While leashed pets are allowed in certain areas of the park, they are not allowed in the fenced playground area; however, service animals are allowed in all areas of the park.

Va-Du-Mar Mcmillan Park playgound slide

The park is open 7 days a week, park hours vary throughout the year:
Nov. 1‐ Feb. 28: 7 am ‐ 7 pm
March 1 ‐ Oct. 31: 7 am ‐ 9 pm

You can view the full list of park rules here.

Do your kids love Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park as much as mine do?

The Shaved Ice That Will Ruin You for the Best is Right Here in Greenville, South Carolina

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Ever heard of Pinguinos Hermanos? Love a good shaved ice? A sure sign that warmer weather is on the way is the re-opening of the shaved ice establishments in Upstate. Of course, most people have their favorites. This is funny because, really, it’s all just the same. Some crumbled-up ice topped with sugary syrup. Right?

What if we told you the newest frozen obsession for a bunch of Upstate, SC residents were different than the rest?

What if we also told you that people stand in lines two dozen people deep waiting to get their hands on one of these “Instaworthy” desserts?

It’s TRUE. All of it!

Are you a fan of local food trucks? Check out our Guide To The Food Trucks Near Greenville, SC

chicken entree yum bai sc
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See the Best of Greenville, SC with Greenville Bike Taxi Pedicab Tour

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Ready to do something a little out-of-the-box with your family to see the best of Greenville, SC? Let us introduce you to Greenville Bike Taxi, where you’ll get treated like a VIP while exploring some of the coolest places near downtown Greenville.

Imagine being in the back of a pedicab – a bike with a comfortable cart that can carry four people – cruising around downtown Greenville, taking in the sights with your kids, enjoying a couple cool shops and playgrounds, and taking photos in front of iconic places like Unity Park and the Medusa Tree, then have we got just the thing for you to do. 

You may have already heard of Greenville Bike Taxi if you did the Earle Street Santas bike tour during Christmastime (wasn’t that fun?!), but if you haven’t, we will tell you all about them and their new Tikes on Trikes tour to some pretty neat places!

Greenville Bike Taxi tour
Stops along the way

Watch: The Tikes on Trikes Tour

About Greenville Bike Taxi 

Phil Gonzalez grew up in Greenville and moved to the coast to go to school. In Charleston, he ended up working for a bike taxi company and loved it. He peddled all over King Street and through the historic district, taking people to restaurants, markets, bars, and on shopping trips. Literally anywhere they wanted to go. 

When he decided to move back home to the Upstate, he wanted to bring that same experience to Greenville. So he did. After obtaining the necessary permits and navigating all the business paperwork, Phil opened up Greenville Bike Taxi in the spring and people have loved it. 

Unity Park sign
Unity Park sign

It’s easy to see why. It’s such a unique way to get around town and since Greenville is so beautiful and since there is lots to see, it’s far from a boring way to be stuck in traffic on Main Street. 

If you’re in town and want a bike taxi, you can book it right from the website. A standard ride is $7/person for 10 minutes. We’ll give you pricing info on the new kids tour below.

The Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour 

We got to collaborate with Phil on putting this tour together and we can confidently say it’s awesome because you’ll get a taste of some of the most iconic places in town that kids will absolutely love. 

Here’s where you’ll go on the Tikes on Trikes tour: 

  • Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
  • Poinsett Statue on Main Street
  • Linky Stone Park: The Children’s Garden
  • Unity Park
  • Falls Park
  • O.P. Taylor’s 
  • Mast General

You’ll start and end the tour with free gifts, too, which is fantastic. We absolutely love Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn and you’ll see why when you go because you’ll get a free sample of their delicious popcorn. At the end of the tour, you’ll also get a free gift from O.P. Taylor’s and Mast General. If you haven’t stepped foot in O.P. Taylors, it is an amazing little toy shop with a wide variety of not only the latest toys but some of the very best toys and games from the past few decades. And we are big fans of Mast General for their great outdoor clothing and gear selection and candy barrels.

Poppington's Gourmet Popcorn
Skyler Burkett at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn

At the statue of Joel Poinsett on Main Street, you’ll learn some neat tidbits about him and why in the world there’s a statue of him downtown. At Linky Stone Park, you’ll be transported to the world of Peter Rabbit. 

At Unity Park, you’ll get to ride past the wind chimes and get about 10-15 minutes of playtime. The splash pad opens May 1 so bring towels if you want to do that! 

At Falls Park, you’ll get to take a photo with the backdrop of the Reedy River Falls and iconic Liberty Bridge plus see the Medusa Tree. If you don’t know what that is, here’s a photo. 

Medusa Tree
Medusa Tree

Overall, we had such a great time on this bike tour. The novelty of the pedicab is a lot of fun and is a unique way to enjoy our beautiful city. I think this tour would be particularly fun for someone who wants to take their kid on a one-on-one date or families who want to do an outing together and something different. 

The bikes can hold up to four smaller adults or two adults and up to four kids. If you have more people than that, you can reserve two (or however many) bikes to accommodate everyone. 

Tips on Enjoying the Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour 

While the name is geared towards smaller kids, kids of pretty much any age will enjoy this. I took my daughters, ages 13 and 9, on the tour, and they really had a lot of fun – who doesn’t love free popcorn and Unity Park?

Since you will see a lot of the iconic places in Greenville, the tour goes by quickly. You’ll get time to enjoy each spot but not spend a lot of time so just prepare your kids, letting them know they cannot spend the entire hour playing at Unity Park. You can bribe them with the free gift at O.P. Taylors at the end of the tour!

Unity Park
Unity Park

The weather changes in Greenville a lot so be prepared with layers of clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. You can bring water with you also. 

If you want to allow your kids to use the splash pad, bring towels.

Booking Your Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour 

The cost for the tour is $40/adults and $30/kids. They are an hour long and run Sundays – Fridays 11 am – 3 pm. 

When you’re ready to book, use the button below.

Greenville Bike Taxi
864.293.3065 

Method Learning: Preparing Your Kids For College Admissions

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Our Kidding Around readers are like family—which means we’re here for the early and later stages of parenting. If you’re starting to think about college, Method Learning is a critical element when building your college prep toolbox! Don’t miss the amazing giveaway in this article & access to valuable free test prep and college admissions resources!


Win Method Learning Basic Advising + Test Prep Package Valued at $2,196!

Prize includes: 1:1 access to your advisor – 5 hrs dedicated advising time – Resume & personal essay editing – Unlimited access to resources & videos – Self-paced courses for ACT® & SAT® tests – Recorded versions of Power Classes for ACT® & SAT® – Access to live prep classes for ACT® & SAT®

Scroll down to enter the giveaway! Thank you Method Learning for sponsoring this article.


In the ever-evolving world of college admissions, navigating the path from high school to higher education can often feel like a daunting challenge. With numerous variables to consider and obstacles to overcome, students and parents alike seek reliable guidance and support to ensure a successful outcome.

Method Learning March 2024
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2024 Spring Kid-Friendly Festivals in Greenville, SC

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Planning your spring calendar and don’t want to miss any of the kid-friendly spring festivals in Greenville, SC this year? Pack up the kids because you’ve got some amazing options for great family memory-making. Here’s your ultimate list of the best kid-friendly spring festivals in the Upstate.

Anderson Hot Air Balloon Festival

See what’s going on this month with our calendar of events near Greenville, SC!

Spring Festivals Greenville SC

Spring Festivals Planned for 2024 Near Greenville, SC

Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Saturday, March 16, 2024 | NOMA Square | 10 am – 8 pm
Lots of wonderful Irish entertainment is planned and the festival is for all ages. The parade starts at 10 am. FREE
Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Festival

Hub City Hog Fest

Friday, April 12 – Saturday, 13, 2024
Friday 12 pm – 11 pm | Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm

During the festival, teams will be competing in categories including brisket, ribs, wings, and butts. The food prepared by the competition teams can be sampled at different times, while supply lasts. There will also be live music and regional food trucks to enjoy.

iMAGINE Upstate

Saturday, April 6, 2024 | 11 am to 5 pm
The iMAGINE Upstate Festival is one of the most popular spring festivals. This event centers around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities that would make the biggest nerd – a fun one of course – jealous. There are high-tech gadgets and 3D printers, drone races, robots, rocket launchers, and virtual reality exploration, and more. Add live music and food and it’s a day well-spent with the family. FREE
iMagine Upstate Kidding Around Review
iMAGINE Upstate

Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee

Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Sunday, April 7, 2024 | Village Green
Local vendors, music, art and family entertainment. FREE
Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee

Happy Cow Spring Shindig

Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Happy Cow Creamery
Celebrate Happy Cow and local vendors at this inaugural festival from 9 am – 4 pm. There will be giveaways, vendors, food trucks, and music.
Spring Shindig

Cornbread & Collards Festival

Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Fountain Inn | Noon-6 pm
Enjoy a free concert from Mac Arnold and the Plate Full of Blues and enjoy the traditional Southern food of cornbread & collards in lots of different ways. The event will also feature a spring market.
Cornbread & Collards Festival

Spring Means Babies

Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Split Creek Farm
Love baby goats? This is the festival you need to attend! Split Creek Farm will have samples of their award-winning cheese and amazing goat milk fudge plus lots of local vendors and of course, baby goats. $8/adults, $5/kids, free/kids 2 and under.
Spring Means Babies

Baby goat at Split Creek Farm

Spartanburg Spring Fling

Friday, April 26, 2024 – Sunday, April 28, 2024
Friday 5 to 10 pm | Saturday 11 am to 9 pm | Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm
Lots of live entertainment, food, and vendors plus a Family Fun Zone and cycling race. FREE entry, cost of food and entertainment extra.
Spartanburg Spring Fling

Greer Goes Global: International Festival

Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Greer City Park | 11 am to 4 pm
The highly attended annual international festival is celebrated in downtown Greer. Event-goers will have the opportunity to learn about more than 40 different countries and get a taste of their country’s cuisine from vendors and food trucks! There will be a children’s area, that will include arts and crafts from different cultures. FREE
Greer Goes Global: International Festival

Italian American Heritage Festival

Saturday, April 27th, 2024 | Downtown Fountain Inn | 12 pm – 6 pm
Embrace and celebrate Italian heritage at this festival! There will be lots of delicious food, beer & wine, food demonstrations, Italian memorabilia, crafts, and games for the entire family to enjoy.
Italian American Heritage Festival

Pickens Azalea Festival

April 26, 2024- April 27, 2024 | Pendleton Street downtown
Hundreds of local artisans, vendors, food and family entertainment happen at this festival that has been going on for 30 years.
Pickens Azalea Festival

Duck Derby

Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Falls Park | 2:30 pm
Seeing 10,000 rubber duckies racing down the falls at Falls Park is quite the spectacle. The festival is actually a big event to raise money for local charities and incorporates food, a giant duck mascot wandering around taking photos with kids, fun crafts for the little ones, and music. Here’s KAG’s story on the Duck Derby, which explains how it all works. FREE
Duck Derby

duck derby Greenville, SC

Rhythm on the River

Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Dolly Cooper Park, Powdersville | 12-8 pm
This event sounds like it is going to be a blast! Dolly Cooper Park, in Powdersville, is nestled at a bend in the Saluda River–hence the “Rhythm on the River!” There will be live music from The Fortunate Sons, as well as food trucks, local vendors, and a kid’s zone. FREE
Rhythm on the River

Artisphere

May 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024
Probably the most anticipated spring festival in Greenville, Artisphere lives up to its reputation as one of the very best events in the Southeast. But it’s awesome for kids too! They have an entire area aptly called Kidsphere full of kid-friendly activities, building blocks, and STEM-related and hands-on exhibits. There are also several performing artists that are exciting to watch for all ages. FREE
Artisphere

Artisphere Greenville SC

Greek Festival

May 17, 2024 – May 19, 2024 | St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Greenville
I have a slight obsession with Greek pastries, especially the honey-drenched baklava, so I was more than happy to go to the Greek Festival last year and search it out. I was not disappointed. Not only was the baklava sweet and delicious, but the music, food, and kids area were enjoyable and entertaining. This festival immediately went on my to-do list for the spring of this year. The food is amazing – oh hi, tasty gyros! – and the music was lively. There is an admission charge and we’ll update it when it’s announced.
Greek Festival

Greek Festival Greenville SC

Gallabrae

Great Scot! Parade | Friday | May 24, 2024 | Main Street, Greenville | 6 pm
Greenville Scottish Games | Saturday | May 25, 2024 | Furman University, Travelers Rest
The Scots are back in full force and will keep you busy during Memorial Day Weekend! Join in on the fun, wear your tartans, and immerse yourself in Scottish culture including Celtic Music, Military Salute, Border Collie exhibition, British Classic Car Show and lots of more. This is a ticketed event.
Gallabrae

Do you have a favorite Upstate Festival? Let us know in the comments.

Everything you need to know for spring in Greenville, SC

Need more fun this spring?

Check out the Upstate’s Guide to Spring! It’s full of things to do and family fun.

Check out this list of spring festivals in Spartanburg, SC!

Spring Fling in Spartanburg

Don’t Miss the Reedy River Duck Derby in Greenville, SC

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Have you seen the Duck Derby in Greenville, SC? No, it’s not a giant bathtub with thousands of rubber duckies – it’s the 20th Annual Reedy River Duck Derby! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville, it is certainly a bucket list item if you live in the Greenville area. The 20th Annual Reedy River Duck Derby is set for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 2:30 pm. The entire event is from 11 am – 4 pm with the duck race starting at 2:30 pm.

The Duck Derby is not only a fantastic way to spend an afternoon but it’s also a great way to support wonderful charities.

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Huge New Indoor Play Area and Cafe Now Open in Greenville, SC

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Play Cafe at Judson Mill in Greenville, SC is about to make every parent of little kids’ dreams come true with their huge indoor play area and cafe.

Austin Motes and Daniel Kingsbury are both dads with little kids. They acutely understand the challenge of finding fun, safe, and affordable places for their kids to play indoors but not at the expense of the sanity of the parents. And with Greenville growing so fast and so many new families coming to put down roots here – many of whom work from home – they also saw the need for a massive indoor space that allows parents to work but where their kids can get out energy and play.

Inside of play cafe
Play Cafe at Judson Mill

They started dreaming up something big. Like really, really big. Enter the new Play Cafe of Judson Mill, a massive new indoor play space with structures up to three stories tall and a cafe and comfortable tables and chairs for parents to get some work done.

It took over a year to make their dream come true and now, as of mid-March 2024, they are making it happen.

Watch! See inside Play Cafe!

About the Play Cafe

Austin Motes works in construction and has extensive knowledge of what it takes to navigate building codes and permits. Daniel Kingsbury owns SC Party Rentals so his expertise lies in entertainment. These Greenville natives are the co-owners of the Play Cafe and it’s their experience as parents and their knowledge of their respective industries that will make this new business venture appealing to families in Greenville (and beyond).

The vision behind the Play Cafe, they both told me, was to have a fun and relaxing place for kids to play safely but also to make sure parents didn’t need a vacation after spending a couple of hours there with their kids.

smaller playground at Judson Mill
Smaller play area at Judson Mill

To that end, there is no arcade, no loud air blowing through inflatables, and no musical aspects. Of course, kids will be loud but none of the play structures will add to that noise.

The Indoor Playgrounds

Austin and Daniel have quite literally scoured the world to find the coolest indoor play structures to bring to Greenville. They have gone to the biggest convention of theme park operators and inventors to find unique aspects to bring to the Play Cafe. This is no small deal to say the least.

The entire Play Cafe occupies more than 14,500 square feet, which is enormous.

There are two huge play structures, one of them two stories high and the other three stories high. They are netted, and have several slides, climbing structures, balls to throw and play with, tunnels, ladders, and other surprises.

Bridge at the playground at Judson Mill
Bridge at the smaller playground

Smaller kids will have an enclosed area to play apart from the bigger kids as well as a sensory area to explore. One side of the enclosed space has a bartop counter where parents can sit with their coffee and laptops and watch their kids.

The Play Cafe is designed for toddlers through around middle or early high school and while kids can play on any structure they’d like, one structure will be geared more for younger kids and the other for older kids.

It’s obvious two dads and their wives planned this space, which I so appreciate!

Imagination Stations

For kids who may not want to play on the larger structures, the Play Cafe has several Imagination Stations. These are small areas that are themed where kids can use their imaginations to become whatever their little hearts desire.

imagination stations
Imagination stations

Some of the themed Imagination Stations are a veterinarian’s office, a fire station, a taco truck, and a doctor’s office.

Safety at the Play Cafe

Safety is, of course, of utmost importance at the Play Cafe. All the play structures are sturdy, strong, and basically indestructible. These aren’t flimsy structures.

Additionally, when parents and their kids come to play, they will be given wristbands. To exit the facility, the kids must have the same wristband as their parents or they cannot leave. And there is only one entrance and exit so parents don’t need to worry about their little escape artists wandering off.

The Cafe

The Cafe has comfortable seating throughout the space and service coffee, smoothies, pizza, and sandwiches (this will come a bit later after their opening but they will initially have snacks, drinks, and coffee). The Play Cafe will also be working with Feed & Seed, also located at Judson Mill, to offer healthier options if parents want to choose those.

Working parents at Judson Mill playground
You can work at the Play Cafe

And working parents, this is your place to bring the kids so you can get some work done. There is plenty of space to bring your laptop, connect to the Wifi, and let your kids get some energy out while you meet your deadlines. In fact, parents will be able to rent out the party rooms during the week to have meetings and get work done while their kids play. I nearly jumped up and down when I heard this. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.

There are high top tables surrounding the toddler area and next to the huge play area for the smaller kids. There are also plenty of outlets for phone charging and laptops.

Birthday Parties & Special Events

The Play Cafe at Judson Mill offers several different birthday party packages for guests, ranging from a more budget-friendly version to an all out turnkey event where the parents only need to reserve the room and everything else will be handled for them. Um, yes please. Party packages range from $249 up to $599.

There are seven birthday party rooms – yes, seven. So if the weather looks bad for your outdoor party, you have a pretty good chance of snagging one of the birthday party rooms here at the Play Cafe. The party rooms are separated by beautiful barn doors so if you wanted to rent out several, that’s an easy desire to make a reality.

Birthday party rooms at Play Cafe at Judson Mill
Birthday party rooms at Play Cafe at Judson Mill

Additionally, all the party rooms will be the same with the option of projecting a theme throughout the room. Think a princess castle or jungle full of dinosaurs.

Play Passes & Memberships + Cool Employee Perk

An all day play pass is $12/child Monday-Friday and $15/child on Saturday & Sunday. For kids two years and younger, there is no cost if they come with paid sibling. A monthly membership is $29.95/child and kids can play for an unlimited amount of time during operating hours.

Sibling discounts will be 20% off for three or more kids and kids ages two and under are free with a paid child. All packages and discounts are available on their website.

Grip socks must be worn on the play areas. The Play Cafe will sell them but you can also bring your own.

Tot times and special needs hours will also be part of the new Play Cafe at Judson Mill.

For parents who work at the Play Cafe, the owners will allow them to bring one child per shift.

NEW: OPENING DAY IS MARCH 20, 2024

We’ve seen this place right from the beginning when it was just a big, empty warehouse and whoa, they have done a ton of work to make it a place that families can really enjoy!

Flooring

An inch-and-a-half padded flooring covers most of the floors. It’s super soft and fluffy.

Playground for smaller kids and tots area

The playground for the smaller kids is about 18 feet high with multiple slides and tunnels. There is also an adjacent, enclosed area for kids about age one and under. The high top tables surround this area so parents can work, chat, or just enjoy their coffee while their kids play.

High top tables surrounding tot play area

Large Playground

The equipment for the bigger playground is up and it is enormous. It’s 22 feet high – almost three stories. There are slides, several entrances, a huge tower in the middle, and lots of nerf guns that will shoot balls. The nerf guns were a favorite for our kids. Good luck trying to get your kids to leave.

Three story play area
Three story play area

Bathrooms & Full Body Changing Table

The bathrooms are just off the main play area and get this: there are baby changing stations in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. Yay. There is also a larger changing table in the women’s restroom, normally used for children with special needs.

Women's restroom at Play Cafe at Judson Mill
Women’s restroom at Play Cafe at Judson Mill

Frequently Asked Questions

Opening day is March 20, 2024 at 10 am. Drinks and snacks will be able to be purchased but the more substantial food and drinks won’t be available until later.

Follow Play Cafe on Facebook for the latest updates and special events.

Here are a few questions you may have with answers:

When will the Play Cafe open? March 20, 2024

When will the cafe part of the Play Cafe open? Hopefully a few weeks after the Play Cafe at Judson Mill opens. Drinks, coffee, and snacks will be available for purchase at opening.

What ages is the Play Cafe designed for? The Play Cafe is designed for crawlers and toddlers through around middle or early high school and while kids can play on any structure they’d like, one structure will be geared more for younger kids and the other for older kids.

Do special socks need to be worn? Yes. The Play Cafe sells them or you can bring your own.

How do I get there? The Play Cafe is in a big warehouse with other businesses. If you walk into the front of the building, Feed and Seed will be on your right and BlocHaven will be on your left. Walk straight and then when you get to the bathrooms, make a left. Play Cafe will be on your right.

Will the Play Cafe be booking birthday parties soon? You can use their booking feature on their website.

Will the Play Cafe have WiFi and areas for parents to work? Yes, indeed. This will be a great place for working parents.

What are their hours? Monday – Friday from 10 am – 7 pm, Saturdays from 9 am – 8 pm, and Sunday from 10 am – 6 pm.

Play Cafe at Judson Mill
701 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville
864.203.0330
Play Cafe Facebook

Here’s Where You can Purchase Summer Pool Memberships near Greenville, SC

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Searching for pool memberships in Greenville? We get it. Luckily there are plenty of family pool memberships near Greenville, SC for you to choose from. And Kidding Around has done the work for you! Here’s a list of local pool memberships, along with the hours and amenities they offer.

Where to go swimming and play in splash pads near Greenville, SC.

Looking for other places to cool off this summer? Here are all the best places to swim in Greenville, SC!

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Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo Coming to Greenville, SC

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A Cirque Du Soleil show, Corteo, is coming to Greenville, SC at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena! We talked to the director of the show and have all the details on what it’s like + a review of our own.

Coreto, a Cirque Du Soleil show, is coming to Greenville, SC and we’re here for it. The last time a Cirque show came to Greenville was many years ago and wow, I still remember the awe I felt watching the artists. The costumes were fantastic and the entire show just transported the audience to another world. 

You can expect more of that trademark, otherworldly experience when Corteo takes the floor of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena from March 21-24, 2024. 

I got to talk to Michael Veilleux, the Cirque Du Soleil Corteo Tour Director, ahead of the show here in Greenville and he is thrilled to be in town and excited for audiences to experience the magic of the show. 

Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.
Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.

About Corteo 

In Italian, Corteo translates to “a joyous procession.” In this show, the joyous procession is a funeral procession. If that doesn’t sound fun, trust the reputation of Cirque Du Soleil and know that it’s going to be amazing. 

“The theme is very joyous and playful,” said Veilleux.” It’s not serious but it’s also mysterious and full of imagery.”

The main character is a clown – not a scary one – named Mauro, who dreams about his funeral but the story isn’t so much about death but about celebrating the life he lived. 

“The setting is so rich visually,” said Veilleux. “It’s this joyous procession with Mauro’s friends and family and you have all these different characters. The audience will see some pretty unique things they have likely never seen before like a beautiful acrobatic number with chandeliers. Other acts involve dancing, suspended poles, and a teeterboard. The show is divided into earthly and heavenly acts.” 

Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.
Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.

In total, there are 53 artists. The entire show is moved from city to city by 21 trucks. It’s massive. You’ll probably see them lined up near the arena. 

Corteo is directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca and first premiered in Montreal in April 2005. Since its creation, the show has amazed over 10 million spectators, in 20 countries, and on four continents.

Family-Friendly Aspects of Corteo

Of course, I needed to know if Corteo was family-friendly, which Veilleux enthusiastically agreed it is. 

“It will amaze the whole family – there are so many things happening at the same time,” said Veilleux. “Adolescents will enjoy all the acrobatics. Older people will appreciate the quality of the music.”

He suggested Corteo would be good for ages 4 and up, mostly just because of the louder music and lighting. He said it may be too jarring for smaller kids. Overall, if a family brings kids, he said that there is so much going on that they will enjoy it. 

The show is divided into two 50-minute acts with a 25-minute intermission. 

Costumes and Makeup in Corteo 

If you’ve ever been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, you know how beautiful the costumes are. Corteo is no different except that there are just more costumes in this show, over 2,000 in fact. 

Corteo is an Italian creation so you can just imagine the details,” said Veilleux. “This is one of the shows that have the most detailed costumes. There will be some beautiful handmade costumes that are very rich in color.”

Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.
Corteo. Photo provided by Cirque Du Soleil.

I also needed to know about the clowns and their makeup. While I don’t have any issues with clowns, some people are terrified of them. But in Corteo, Veilleux assured me that the clowns aren’t scary and their makeup is very light, reminiscent of the 1800s where only slight powder and a little lipstick were used to accentuate a person’s natural features. 

Mom Review of Corteo

I got to see Corteo on opening night and Greenville and was awestruck the whole time. The music and costumes transport you to another time and the stage is small and intimate so you don’t feel like you’re at this huge production (even though you are).

Parts of the show were hilarious and right from the start, the action happens in the air with artists literally swinging from chandeliers. My 9-year-old asked me if those were real and I could see the wheels turning in her head as contemplated where she could find a chandelier to swing from. The next scene was with two trampolines disguised as beds so, of course, the same kid was already envisioning jumping on her bed.

My kids, ages 9 and 13, absolutely loved it. We saw a lot of other kids there as well. This was probably one of the very best shows I’ve seen at the Bon Secours Arena. I was so impressed with the movements of the artists and the emotional music and absolutely recommend to our readers.

Corteo Shows in Greenville, SC 

There are five shows in Greenville at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena: 

Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 pm
Friday, March 22nd at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 23rd at 3 pm and 7 pm
Sunday March 24th at 1 pm

Tickets start at $65 and can be bought online or at the box office.