Wondering what not to miss this year? At Kidding Around we love sharing things to do in Greenville and the Upstate. To kick off our new year, and help you plan out yours, our contributors teamed up to share their absolute favorite, never-miss, already excited-about, must-go to events of the year. Get out your calendars.
Bookmark this list. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Upstate’s best events of 2026.
iMAGINE STEAM Festival
When: April 4th, 2026
Recommended By: Erin
What is it? A free, super kid-friendly event exploring science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics
Why you should go: The festival is located in Downtown Greenville on Main Street. The event is highly interactive, with dozens of demonstrations, opportunities to engage in play-based learning, robots, displays, and so much more! The event is engaging, and great for kids and families from young to old. There are moments of wow, awe, joy, and you will see the little gears in your child’s head turning as you explore the different stations set up by organizations throughout the Upstate.
Spring Means Babies
When: TBA usually in April
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? An annual event at Split Creek Farm in Anderson that features their baby goats, award-winning cheese, and local vendors
Why You should go: Because baby goats, of course.
Split Creek Farm review
Italian Heritage Festival
When: Not happening in 2026, hopefully will return in 2027
Recommended By: Maria
What is it? A free festival celebrating Italian American heritage with food, music, and dance spread out through downtown Fountain Inn, SC.
Why you should go: 2022 was the inaugural event and it was full of delicious Italian food and entertainment. It was an extremely well-attended event, and the last several years the festival just got bigger and better. Plus, Fountain Inn has a great little downtown area that’s perfect for festivals!
Duck Derby
When: May 2, 2026
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? A big, free event in downtown Greenville where rubber ducks race over the waterfall.
Why You Should Go: Because who doesn’t want to watch rubber ducks pour over a waterfall? There are tons of great vendors, music, and food.
Duck Derby review
Artisphere
When: May 8th-10th, 2026
Recommended by: Erin
What is it? A wonderful celebration of all forms of art!
Why you should go? There are tons of beautiful artists to explore, live demonstrations of art being created, performance art, a large kid’s station with arts and crafts at Kidsphere, and lots of fun visual, culinary, and performance art pieces. There is also live music, great food to eat, and the weather tends to be nice and not too hot.
Kidding Around Review of Artisphere
Greek Festival
When: May 15th – 17th, 2026
Recommended by: Kristina
What is it? A cultural festival celebrating all things Greek – food, music, arts
Why you should go: Because the baklava and gyros are amazing. And the music and dancing are a lot of fun to watch.
Kidding Around Review of the Greek Festival
Summer Adventure at RMSC
When: May 27th, 2026 – July 25th, 2026
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? You can explore June through July, their Summer Adventure programming, during which an exciting traveling exhibit is set up.
Why you should go: Tons of STEM activities. You can go through the butterfly experience and have butterflies land on you.
Kidding Around’s review of Summer Adventure at RMSC
Freedom Blast in Greer City Park
When: June 27th, 2026
Recommended by: Kidding Around Community
What is it? A festival dedicated to honoring our service members that made our freedom possible.
Why you should go: $5 wristbands for all you can ride amusement rides. The night ends with a firework display.
Freedom Blast in Greer City Park
Sunflower Festival
When: Usually mid-June through early July at Denver Downs Farm
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? Imagine fields and fields of sunflowers that are taller than most adults. Then imagine dozens of barnyard games, adult beverages, and even more sunflowers. That’s this festival.
Why you should go: Anything at Denver Downs is going to be fun but this festival is also just so incredibly visually stunning. I had never seen so many sunflowers in my life!
Fluor Field Reading All Stars
When: Usually in August
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? The Greenville Drive gives out tickets to children that participate in the Summer Reading Challenge hosted by the Upstates Library system.
Why you should go: It encourages your child to read with a fun reward at the end.
Flour Field Reading All Stars
Rising Above Cancer Hot Air Balloon Festival
When: Labor Day Weekend 2026
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? A hot air balloon festival where you can see dozens of hot air balloons flying (weather permissible) or even take a ride yourself. There are kids games, music, and vendors.
Why you should go: I loved seeing all the hot air balloons! They are so cool and as long as the weather cooperates, you will be able to see them floating in the air around Anderson. The festival is a lot of fun as well.
Kidding Around Review of the Hot Air Balloon Festival
Upstate Renaissance Faire
When: September 18–20, 2026
Recommended By: Erin
What is it? A two-day celebration of all things medieval and mystical with lots of cosplaying and great food!
Why you should go: The event moved last year to the Piedmont Fairgrounds and there are tons of people dressed up in character costumes like Vikings, fairies, mystical monsters, and more! There are also live demonstrations with swords, musicians playing, and a large vendor market of super cool and unique items, and it is a lot of fun. It is not longer free, but worth the price.
Kidding Around Review of the Upstate Renaissance Faire.
SOOIE BBQ Cook-Off
When: Usually the third weekend in September
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? A supremely delicious festival where you can taste awesome BBQ and vote on your favorite. They also have bounce houses and kids activities
Why you should go: To eat amazing, local BBQ.
SOOIE BBQ Festival
Hampton Pinckney Porchfest
When: October 18th, 2026
Recommended By: Claire
What is it? Centrally located within the historic residential district of downtown Greenville this festival has, various porches that will host various artists throughout the afternoon. Staggered at different times from 1 pm-6 pm.
Why you should go: Not too crowded. Some vendors and food trucks but mostly about the music and atmosphere.
Hampton Pickney Porchfest
Boo in the Zoo
When: Usually last 2 weekends in October
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? Boo in the Zoo is a non-scary annual Halloween event for children 12 and under the last two weekends in October. Kids get to wear costumes and carry their trick-or-treat bag through the zoo and receive treats from local businesses.
Why you should go: Enjoy the safe trick-or-treating atmosphere, the chance to see the animals, and cute Halloween decorations with photo ops.
Kidding Around review of Boo in the Zoo
Boo!seum Trick or Treat at TCMU
When: A Saturday in late October
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? A day for kids to dress up and walk through either TCMU location and collect candy while they get to play.
Why you should go: Safe, Dry, Warm. Check all the boxes with ease and your kids love it too.
Boo!seum Trick or Treat at TCMU
Native American Festival
When: Third Saturday in November at Hagood Mill Historic Site
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? A festival celebrating all things Native American with cultural dances, vendors, activities, and food.
Why you should go: It is a lot of fun to watch the dances and learn about Native American customs and culture. It’s both fun and educational.
Native American Festival
Yuletide Unicorn Festival
When: Usually Nov-Dec
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? It is Christmas festivities that our young kids had so much fun with meeting Santa, riding ponies, roasting s’mores, and cruising around the farm in barrels pulled by a lawn mower driving elf!
Why you should go: During the holiday season, the unicorns steal the show. It’s the perfect mix of fantasy, hands-on animal care, and magical holiday wonder, plus absolutely adorable photo ops.
Kidding Around Review of Yuletide Unicorn Festival
Lights of Love
When: Usually early December
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? A heartwarming event offering comfort, joy, and hope to families facing serious childhood illness during the holidays.
Why you should go: An event that really captures the holiday season magic. You’ll have crafts, visit with Santa, and holiday treats.
Lights of Love
A Dickens of a Christmas
When: Usually early December
Recommended By: Sarah
What is it? This is a free Victorian holiday extravaganza. Strolling carolers dressed in Victorian outfits, live nativity scenes, children’s choirs from local schools, and other entertainment is sprinkled throughout downtown. Crafts, smores, and more will be offered to guests of the event.
Why you should go:
Kidding Around review of A Dickens of a Christmas
Holiday Fair benefiting the Rotary Club of Greenville
When: Usually early December
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? A Holiday fair with hundreds of vendors
Why you should go: Tons of kids activities. You get to meet Santa and play on the souths largest indoor snowball field all while getting your Christmas shopping done.
Holiday Fair benefiting the Rotary Club of Greenville
The Nutcracker
When: December 2026
Recommended By: Kristina
What is it? The Nutcracker is a famous ballet and the music is provided by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.
Why you should go: The performance is outstanding, even if you don’t know the story! The dancers and the music are amazing.
Noon Years Eve at TCMU
When: December 31st, 2026
Recommended By: Kidding Around Community
What is it? A New Years Party for your little ones
Why you should go: Perfect for your kids to feel included and it’s all before noon. Kids love the balloon drop and the DJ playing their favorite songs.
Noon Years Eve at TCMU
You’ll always know what fabulous events are coming up when you follow the Kidding Around Event Calendar.
What’s your family’s favorite Greenville event?
