If you are planning to celebrate America’s 250th with family and fireworks, then this Heritage Park 4th of July celebration is where to go! The city hosts its annual Simpsonville Simply Freedom Fest at Heritage Park for their 4th of July celebration on Thursday, July 3rd, 2026!
For 2026, the city of Simpsonville will be hosting a free concert with performances by Parmalee, Edwin McCain, and DJ Shay in celebration of the 4th of July in addition to the spectacular fireworks! Simpsonville, SC looking forward to celebrating Independence Day with you!
Heritage Park 4th of July Celebration (Fireworks: Simpsonville, SC)
If you love a spectacular display of fireworks, Simpsonville, SC will be one of the biggest displays in the Upstate! The Independence Day Celebration is being held at the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park. The event proceeds 4th of July on Thursday, July 3rd, 2026 at 6 pm (gates open at 5:30 pm). Included in the festivities is a spectacular concert. There will also be post-concert fireworks. Entrance to the event and parking are FREE.
No outside food or drink is allowed (there will be food and drink vendors on-site)
Firearms and tents are also not allowed at the event
What We Recommend:
Be sure to arrive early if you need parking that is close to the entrance.
Bring noise-canceling headphones for children; fireworks can be loud.
Glow sticks are a great way to keep kids entertained. Your kids will also love running around the large, grassy space, so lay out a blanket and enjoy the music and fireworks!
Bring the whole family for an evening full of music and a fireworks spectacular.
Are you thinking about bringing the family to Greenville Rec’s Discovery Island Water Park for some summer fun? The park, located inside Southside Park in Simpsonville, SC, has a little something for everyone. Find out about each of the park’s attractions and all the details you need to know for a fun day at Discover Island.
Thank you to Greenville Rec for providing passes so we could bring this information to our readers.
Greenville Rec’s Discovery Island
Discovery Island is a few minutes off 385 in Simpsonville at Southside Park. There are playgrounds, soccer fields, and volleyball courts there, as well. But, to relieve the heat, head to the water park.
The water park features two large water slides, a zero-entry pool with a play structure featuring a small water slide, a climbing area, lots of sprayers, buckets, and water cannons, a lazy river, and the FlowRider.
Things to Know When Visiting Discovery Island
When you arrive you’ll likely need to wait in line to enter the park. The line for admission moves pretty quickly, but do keep in mind that once the park reaches capacity you will not be able to enter until others leave. Of course, weekends will fill up more quickly. We visited the park on Monday at about 10:45 am and there was plenty of room in the park.
Once inside, there are tons of chairs where you can drop your things, some of them are located under a large shade canopy. These, of course, go first. So get there right at opening if the shade is your goal. There are also lockers that you can rent to store valuables if you would like.
Life jackets and puddle jumpers are provided for kids. They are required for kids under 42 inches tall and are available for all.
The water park hosts birthday party rentals in huts and cabana rentals. Season passes are available to either one particular park or all of the Greenville Rec parks.
No outside food or drink is allowed in Discovery Island. We did bring in our water bottles without any problem, but they cannot be glass bottles. Clyde’s Cafe offers pizza and snacks or you can exit the park to enjoy a picnic and then re-enter. NOTE: If you leave the park when it is at capacity, someone else will take your spot and you will have to wait in line again before re-entering.
We visited the park for about two hours, which gave us ample time to do everything multiple times. On a more crowded day, we might have needed more time to play. The kids really could have stayed longer, but, I’m a fan of ending things on a high note before the kids get cranky.
Attractions at Discovery Island
While Discovery Island is not a huge park, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy. It’s perfect for a few hours of family water park fun without the long drive and expensive ticket price of the water parks at large amusement parks. Here are the attractions you’ll find at Discovery Island.
Lazy River
Grab a tube and float down the lazy river. It’s slow. It’s floating around in a vaugley oval shape. We’re not talking high adventure here. But, it’s perfect for grown-ups kicking back and relaxing or young kiddos who want to use the tubes.
And, if your older kids are on the slides, you can keep an eye on them from here. Whoever planned that out was smart. So smart.
We thought the clear tubes were pretty fun, too!
Water Playground at Discovery Island
Water Playground and Pool
In the center of a zero-depth entry pool is a playground structure with a small slide, sprayers, places to climb and mounted water cannons and sprayers kids can use. Note that one sprayer can actually reach a few of the lounge chairs, so, if you pick that as your spot, plan on some wet towels.
This area is definitely designed for younger kids, and they will most definitely have a blast here.
Just want to swim? There’s a pool area behind the water playground, between it and the water slides. You cannot bring the tubes here, but if you just want to practice a little swimming, this is the place. The pool area is 3 feet deep.
Discovery Island Water Slides
Water Slides
There are two larger water slides at Discovery Island. One is a tube slide which allows both single tube riders and double tube riders. The tube slide is pitch black for about half the ride and it’s really fun. A life guard will give you your tube at the bottom and then you’ll need to climb up three flights of stairs to get to the top of the slide.
Or, you can choose the yellow body slide, which of course does not require a tube. For part of the ride the slide is enclosed but not dark because of the lighter color of the slide. It’s a bit slower than the tube slide, but with most twists and turns.
Riders must be 48″ to ride the slides. People 47″ and under can ride the tube slide with someone who is 48″+ and at least 16-years-old.
FlowRider
The Flow Rider is a surfing and boogie boarding wave simulator. Kids have to be 4′ tall to ride the FlowRider and a waiver must be signed. New riders will get a little instruction from the life guard on duty at the bottom of the Flow RIder.
FlowRider at Discovery Island
My teens/preteens really enjoyed this attraction. My 13 year-old said he enjoyed it because it required some skill, not just a ride. There were decisions to make about steering as he tried to stay on the board. There were experienced riders at the park on the day we visited who were able to to do all kinds of twists and barrel rolls and stay on the FlowRider. It was pretty impressive.
Food
While we didn’t enjoy lunch at Discovery Island, we did check out the concessions offered. Clyde’s Cafe offers pizza, Uncrustables, candy, chips and other pre-packaged snacks. The pizza comes from Papa Johns.
Tips
For guests 42″ and under, they are required to wear life jackets, which are available for free at the park.
Riders must be 48″ to ride the slides. People 47″ and under can ride the tube slide with someone who is 48″+ and at least 16-years-old.
To ride the FlowRider, guests must be 42″. On Sundays, guests 48″ and taller can do stand-up surfing on it.
You cannot bring in any outside food or drink but may exit the park to eat and then come back inside. However, you may have to wait depending on the line to get in.
No outside water toys or floats may be brought into the park. No pets are allowed in the park.
You can rent a locker for your valuables for $7.25 at the park.
You can enjoy Discovery Island, too!
Rates $15.50- 48”+ $11 under 48” and seniors 2-years-old and under are free All tickets bought online are $15, no matter the height since they cannot verify virtually.
2025 Summer Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm Sunday: 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm Opens daily on May 23, 2026 through August 9, 2026 and then on weekends through Labor Day
Looking for a “dollar movie theater” or cheap summer movies? Greenville, SC and the Upstate have many theaters offer low-cost or free summer movie deals to keep the entire family entertained throughout the summer. So, find that “cheap movie theater near me” with the help of this list, then grab some delicious popcorn and escape the humid summer heat. These upstate movie theaters offer showings of popular movies at an affordable price.
These promotions are so cheap that even your kids might break open their piggy bank and treat you to a movie date!
With plenty of hot afternoons ahead and cranky kids to entertain, catching one of these movies would be the perfect way to spend your afternoon. This article has been updated for 2026, but please check with venues before attending, as information may change.
Have a Regal Cinema near you, and looking for a “dollar theater near me”? Regal Cinemas offers kid-friendly Regal Summer Movie Express all summer long! Regal offers these showings on Monday – Thursday for a $1 ticket price beginning June 1st – August 13th, 2026. What a deal! All movies are blockbusters that have either a G or a PG rating. They will also have snack packs that include popcorn, a drink, and fruit snacks. The highly anticipated summer program can sell out, so order tickets early.
Regal Cinema has two Greenville locations, two Spartanburg locations, and theaters in Anderson, Simpsonville, and Asheville.
Here’s the list of movies and dates at Regal Cinemas in our area. These are fairly consistent at all our local locations. Times this year will be at 11 am only. Dates for upcoming 2026 Summer Movie Express viewings include:
June 1st – June 4th: Sing or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
June 8th – June 11th: Kung Fu Panda 4 or David
June 15th – June 18th: KPop Demon Hunters: A Sing-Along Event or The Wild Robot
June 22nd – June 25th: The Bad Guys 2 or The Garfield Movie
June 29th – July 2nd: A Minecraft Movie or Sonic the Hedgehog 2
July 6th – July 9th: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 or How to Train Your Dragon
July 13th – July 16th: Scoob!
July 20th – July 23rd: Animal Farm or The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squidward
July 27th – July 30th: Dog Man or Paddington in Peru
August 3rd – August 6th: Charlie the Wonderdog or Despicable Me 4
August 10th – August 13th: The Sandlot or Muppets: Treasure Island
Cheap Movies in Anderson at Santikos- AmStar Anderson
You can enjoy Super Saver Tuesday at AmStar in Anderson, where a $5.99 ticket gets guests admission, which is much cheaper than a normal ticket. Tickets must be purchased at the box office on the day of, and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
The theatre will offer free summer movies in 2026! Their carefully curated, kid-focused summer entertainment options are Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10 AM, with FREE admission (first come, first served), and a $6 Summer Kids Combo available 9–11 AM with popcorn + 16 oz drink.
2026 Movie Lineup • June 2–3: The Wild Robot • June 9–10: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 • June 16–17: K-Pop Demon Hunters • June 23–24: Minecraft • July 7–8: How To Train Your Dragon • July 14–15: The Bad Guys 2 • July 21–22: Dog Man • July 28–29: SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants • August 4–5: Minions: The Rise of Gru
$5 Movies In Gaffney, SC at The Big E
The $5 Summer Movie Series at The Big E in Gaffney returns on May 26th, 2026. The promotional series will run from May 26th to August 8th, 2026. Movie showings occur Monday-Saturday at 10:30 am.
More than just a movie ticket! The $5 E Summer Package includes one summer series movie viewing, a junior-sized drink, snack-sized popcorn, and a $2 game card.
Take your kids to “summer camp” at NCG Spartanburg! They will be offering $2 movies for kids all summer long (parents can join too, of course). You can purchase a Kids Mini Combo for $5 (1 per ticket). Movie titles include motion pictures like Hotel Transylvania 3, The Bad Guys, GOAT, and more! This family-friendly summer movie series sells out pretty quickly, so book ahead of time if possible.
FREE Summer Movies! Movies in Easley, Seneca, & Greenwood
Premiere Cinemas in Easley, Seneca, and Greenwood will offer FREE kids movie deals all summer long. Showings of movies on Wednesday and Thursday at 10 am and 11 am, with a wonderful lineup of family-friendly movies. The 2026 Summer Kid Series titles include several favorites, including The SpongeBob Movie, Dog Man, Minecraft Movie, and more.
2026 Premiere Cinemas summer movie lineup includes:
June 10–11: The Bad Guys 2
June 17–18: SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants
June 24–25: How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action)
July 1–2: Pets on a Train
July 8–9: Dog Man
July 15–16: Smurfs
July 22–23: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
July 29–30: Night of the Zoopocalypse
August 5–6: A Minecraft Movie
Have you been eagerly awaiting these Summer movie deals?
Wondering about Simpsonville Christmas events and holiday happenings? You’ve come to the right place because we’ve got all the info for the Simpsonville, SC Christmas Parade, Heritage Park Christmas Lights, and more! KAG contributor Kristina Hernandez has all the information about holiday activities, shopping, events, and celebrations in Simpsonville, South Carolina!
Just outside Greenville, about 20 minutes away is the town of Simpsonville, with a vibrant downtown that runs alongside railroad tracks with small businesses that are frequented by locals and visitors alike. The Ice Cream Station is a favorite year-round to satisfy the sweet tooth. The Slice makes even the most homesick New Yorker happy. And Carolina Olive Oil and The Exchange Co. serve unique and local goods.
But when Christmas comes, Simpsonville becomes just a bit more magical. If you’re looking to enjoy the town because you happen to live there or are just looking to expand your horizons beyond Greenville, this is the place to go. Here are all the great things to do when spending the holidays in Simpsonville.
Holiday Fun: Simpsonville Christmas Events
Simpsonville Tree Lighting
You won’t want to miss theSimpsonville Tree Lighting Ceremonyon December 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm outside on the Great Lawn of Gracely Park. This event features the lighting of a 26.5-foot Christmas tree, a sing-along with Christmas melodies, hot chocolate, and more!
Breakfast With Santa
This event sells out fast, so get your tickets for a delicious Breakfast with Santa on December 6th, 2025 from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. You must purchase tickets in-person at theSimpsonville Activity & Senior Center.
Simpsonville Christmas Parade
The AnnualSimpsonville Christmas Parade is a huge event in town. It happens this year on December 7th, 2025 at 3 pm. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland”!
Christmas Lights in Simpsonville for 2025
Nights of Lights at Heritage Park
Take a walk through one of the best Heritage Park Christmas events,Nights of Lights at Heritage Park, from November 21, 2025 – December 31, 2025. There will be ice skating, a petting zoo, animal rides, carnival rides, and photos with Santa! You can visit Sunday – Thursday from 5 pm – 9 pm. Friday and Saturday hours are 5 pm – 10 pm. If you bring 5 canned goods on Monday or a toy donation (must be a new toy), Tuesday you can gain free admission with 1 item for local animal shelter. Senior citizens, military members first responders, and teachers can can free admission on certain dates. Ages 4 and under are free, and tickets are $12 – $15 per person.
Residential Christmas Lights to Check Out
Christmas on Kwikaway (6 Kwikaway Court, Simpsonville) 2025 lights plan to be opening Friday after Thanksgiving.
Both Gilder Creek and Hollington subdivisions in Simpsonville have been known for great Christmas light displays if you want to drive around with some popcorn and check out the lights.
Inside: Local parents share details about playing at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC.
Looking for a family-friendly way to beat the heat but still enjoy all that Greenville has to offer outdoors? Head out to Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC, located right off 385 S! There you’ll find tons of room to explore, a shaded playground, a giant picnic shelter, and more. You’re sure to love it!
Discover Heritage Park
I was simply thrilled at the amount of shade there was at the playground my daughter and I discovered around 9:30 am Monday morning. It was our first time there so we had to navigate through the “campus” that is Heritage Park!
There is only one main road, so it’s not confusing, it’s just so large! We passed by big fields and walking/biking trails, many covered picnic shelters, the Charter Amphitheater, a miniature train station and then finally saw the playground right before the baseball fields.
Safety is always at the top of my radar when I’m out alone with my 2-year-old daughter. I immediately felt at ease with all the people around and the two policemen on bikes who continuously rode the trails. We probably saw them ride by three times in the hour we were there.
About the playground
The playground we found was toddler friendly and low, but had some taller, more challenging parts. The entire playground is fenced in, along with a sidewalk that circles it for parents that want to get in some extra steps while watching kids play. There were also park benches and swings along the perimeter.
We felt like we were really surrounded by nature with all the trees and bushes! My daughter spent half as much time exploring, watching squirrels and birds, as she did playing!
The train at Heritage Park
Heritage Park offers a mini replica steam engine available for rides through the park. The ride is about 6 minutes and the train runs Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 6 pm. The cost is $3 per person (cash or check only- no ATMs on site). Kids 2 and under ride free. But tickets at the train depot.
More amenities at Heritage Park
The park was very clean. There are plenty of trash cans around along with restrooms and a covered area right by the playground. Check out the Heritage Park website for all the events that are held at Heritage Park.
If you are looking for a place to beat the heat but still enjoy the great outdoors, I highly recommend you check out Heritage Park! It is one of the MANY outdoor spaces that Greenville, SC has to offer!
Libraries are great. They have free Wi-Fi, story time, free DVDs to rent, and you can read until your heart’s content. But all libraries are not created equal. The Five Forks library branch of the Greenville County Library System made all the other libraries jealous. Here’s why.
What makes the Five Forks library branch so great?
With it’s 28,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling windows, bright colors and inviting decor, a fenced-in play porch for the little kids, a quiet room that is as peaceful as a spa, and a teen room with giant bean bag chairs, this library is incredible.
Kids Area
When you walk into this gorgeous glass-walled and colorful building, make a left and go straight to the massive kids’ area. Sectioned off by age group in the main space are reading tables, computers with games and headphones, and play tables with toddler games. Attached to the kids’ space is an entirely other room for story time, complete with enough space for kids to run circles around each other and parents to sit on the side benches and watch.
Off the kids area is also an outdoor play porch with stackable cubes and picnic benches. There is also a family bathroom and a nursing room.
*High-five* Greenville Library system.
Teen Room
Next to the kids’ space is an enclosed teen room that overlooks a field next door and is outfitted with private cubicles and giant bean bag chairs. There is art on the wall by local students and all the latest books that teens care about.
And it says “TEENS” on the door, so it’s cool.
Main Space
The Five Forks Library has a huge meeting space for local groups to rent out plus an enclosed room on the other side of the library that can be used for crafts or homeschool groups (the floor is waterproof because….crafts).
You can bring your coffee and relax in the designated space near the front of the library where drinks other than bottled water are allowed and read or work. If you need a laptop, rent one out with your library card. You can use it throughout the building.
Near the giant windows is plenty of seating to work or read or ponder life. The quiet room has several tables and chairs with ottomans where guests can read quietly away from the rest of the library. It is decorated with really cute wallpaper and relaxing yellow and green colors. It’s my favorite room.
The Return of the Books
Returning books to the library is not usually exciting. It is at the Five Forks Library though. Head inside and immediately to your right is the cool returning-your-books contraption. Place your book in the slot and watch it go up a conveyor belt, be read by a machine, and then onto another conveyor belt where it is dumped into a giant bin of its friends where it will be returned manually to its proper place in the library.
Kids love watching this. Adults love watching it. And it gives you an incentive to return books that you should be returning anyway to avoid late fees.
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 9 pm Friday -Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm Sunday: 2 – 6 pm
Five Forks Library 104 Sunnydale Drive, Simpsonville 864.234.4904
Simpsonville City Park is now the brand-new Gracely Park! The park opened over Thanksgiving break in 2024 and is a wonderful upgrade to the former park. Find out what all we explored and loved.
The brand-new park currently offers a great shade/sun playground that features woodland themes throughout. You’ll have a blast exploring and finding hidden forest creatures built into the play structures.
Top Attractions at the Playground
After checking out the zip line, which features two tracks (one of which has a seat-style chair), we headed straight to the park’s most popular feature, the hillside slide. But this isn’t just any slide, it is a slide that is made up of rotating cylinder tubes that gently move your kids down the hillside, giving them a little jiggle as they go. My toddler and five-year-old loved it, and there was a consistent stream of kids going down it throughout our visit.
At the park, there are two play structures, one for toddler ages and one for big kids. The structures have some pretty unique features, including an interactive rotating sand toy (hourglass style) in the toddler section that my toddler couldn’t get enough of. The big kid play area had a couple of fantastic additions, including a periscope that works, and a rope bridge that is the perfect balance of challenging for the kid and not too scary for the parents watching.
You’ll also find swings, a hillside made of turf for climbing and sliding, and additional play equipment to explore during your visit.
What is new for Gracely Park in 2025
The playground has a misting station that is wonderful for cooling off during the summer. There are also basketball courts, restrooms, several quality picnic shelters to choose from, and large green spaces that are perfect for relaxing.
Want to go?
Gracely Park 403 E Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC Can be accessed from East Curtis Street between the South Greenville Summary Court and Simpsonville Fire Department.
Are you looking for a kid-friendly race in Greenville this season? Check out this list of some of the fun races for the whole family.
Greenville is a great place to go for a run, a jog or a walk. The weather is fairly cooperative, even during the colder winter months, to run outside all year round. But as the trees bloom and the milder temperatures are more predictable, getting in daily exercise is pretty easy and enjoyable. If you have little ones and a jogging stroller, running is a great way to get in a workout and entertain your kids. While you may not be as fast as you are without the jogger, entering a local race is a fun way to enjoy the great weather, meet other runners, and run your way around Greenville.
Looking for movie theater in Greenville, SC? Fun for the family, fun with friends, or a great date night, whatever the reason, a movie at the theater is great entertainment. For the next time you are wanting to head to the theater, we have a list of the movie theaters in Greenville to help you find the best place to watch a movie.
If you want something fun to do with your kids, seeing a movie is always a hit. Rain or shine, seeing a movie on the big screen is fun for all ages. We recently took my 3-year-old daughter to her first movie, and it was a blast.
We loaded up this list of movie theaters in our area with some of the extra activities and amenities they offer.
Pro-tip: If you’re a member of a warehouse store such as Costco or Sam’s Club, check their web site or store for discounted tickets!
Located at 1029 Woodruff Road in Greenville, this theater has a lot to offer. It is situated close to several shopping centers and restaurants for a complete night out. This is one of the busier theaters in Greenville, so buy tickets in advance if you are seeing a new release and get there early for a parking space close to the box office.
Tickets can be purchased at the box office, printed at home, sent to your mobile phone, or purchased from a kiosk at the theater. Amenities include digital projection, 3-D movies, a game room, listening devices, stadium seating, concessions, and reserved seating.
The Regal Crown Club Rewards program offers reward credits just for going to the movies. Credits are earned by purchasing tickets and concessions, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including free movies and concessions.
Membership is free, so make sure to ask the next time you visit or check the Regal Crown Club Rewards website. Special events can be held at this facility such as birthday parties, meetings, and private screenings. Also featured at this theater is My Way Matinee, a regularly -scheduled sensory-friendly movie program that features films with lower sound and brighter lights.
Camelot Cinemas
Located at McAlister Square, 48 E Antrim Drive in Greenville, this independent, locally owned theater is quite a bit smaller than some of the others in the area. It features concessions (which include beer and wine), clean facilities, and friendly staff.
The facility is also available for special events such as birthday parties, group events, fundraisers, corporate functions, and spirit nights. There is rarely a long line to purchase tickets or concessions, and there is ample parking. Camelot Cinemas also has the cheapest ticket prices around!
Regal Cherrydale Stadium 16
This theater is located at 3221 Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville and is in close proximity to some excellent restaurants and shopping. They offer mobile tickets, print-at-home tickets, and a ticket kiosk in the lobby. Movies can be viewed in standard format, RPX, or 3D.
This theater also offers the Regal Crown Club Rewards program which gives rewards for going to the movies. Credits are earned by purchasing tickets and concessions and can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including free movies and concessions.
Membership is free, so make sure to ask the next time you visit. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, printed at home, sent to your mobile phone, or purchased from a kiosk at the theater. Amenities include digital projection, 3D movies, and concessions. Special events can be held at this facility such as birthday parties, meetings, and private screenings.
Regal Simpsonville Stadium 14 & IMAX
This theater is located at 780 South Street in Simpsonville. If you haven’t seen a movie at an IMAX theater, you are missing out! The booming sound, huge screen, and overall experience are incredible. The theater is situated close to several shopping centers and restaurants in town so there is plenty to do for several hours of fun.
Tickets can be purchased at the box office, printed at home, sent to your mobile phone, or purchased from a kiosk at the theater. Amenities include a game room, listening devices, mobile tickets, a party room, print at home tickets, reserved seating, stadium seating, 3D and IMAX viewing options, and wheelchair accessibility.
The Regal Crown Club Rewards program offers rewards for going to the movies. Credits are earned by purchasing tickets and concession and can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including free movies and concessions. Special events can be held at this facility such as birthday parties, meetings, and private screenings. See theater management or click here for more details.
NCG Cinema
While it is about a 40-minute drive from Greenville, the NCG Cinema in Spartanburg—and its reclining seats—might be worth your while! Located at 1985 E. Main Street in the Hillcrest Shopping Center, NCG Cinema gets consistently high marks for its comfortable theater, quality snacks, and friendly staff.
While my family usually foregoes concessions, NCG offers free refills on sodas and popcorn! That’s a game-changer!
The NCG Rewards program yields you points for every dollar spent at the theater, which can then be used to earn free concessions. Their Sensory Friendly movie series is at 10 am on select days, during which the volume of the movies is lowered, the lights are up, and moviegoers are welcome to walk around, talk, or even shout if they want to.
Summer Movies
Don’t forget the summer movie deals that happen at several theaters throughout the Upstate.
Until a few weeks ago, I had not heard of College Street Park. I had no idea what to expect. I googled the address and found that it was located in the middle of an older neighborhood in Simpsonville. “This won’t take long,” I thought to myself. How big could the park be?
The boys and I hopped in the van and headed down the road. I was impressed with Simpsonville’s Main Street, lined with small-town restaurants and shops. Our destination was only a few blocks off Main.
The park is pretty small, but there are several things I really liked about it.
What I loved about College Street Park
There is a basketball court. While this may not appeal to the younger crowd, it’s perfect if you have older kids who may have outgrown the monkey bars (or maybe you have a child like mine who just doesn’t like monkey bars). Obviously, you’d have to bring your own ball.
There are also 4 pickle ball courts for all of you pickle ball loving fans!
There are two blue see-saws. I was most excited about this! I can’t tell you the last time I saw one of these. In fact, I had to teach the kids how to use it because they had no idea what it was.
There’s also a swing set, jungle gym, slide, and merry-go-round.
The grass is perfection. This may not be a big deal to anyone except me, but it was one of the first things I noticed when I got out of the car. The entire park is well manicured. It would be a beautiful spot for a picnic, but keep in mind there is very little shade.
In addition to the see-saws and basketball court, you’ll find swings, different types of monkey bars and a slide. College Street Park was a hit with the boys. The neighborhood was older and the playground isn’t fancy, but both had character and charm.
The equipment will get very hot on a sunny summer day, so we will make plans to return in the fall after the cooler weather rolls in.
