“Kidding Around is my go-to source for all things kids and family. It is an invaluable resource and asset to the community!” ~ Kidding Around Greenville reader
If you’re interested in connecting with local families in the Upstate, showcasing your business, event, or service, you’ve come to the right place. Kidding Around Media is an established entity with a highly engaged audience and readership.
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Kidding Around Greenville stands out in the Upstate with its strong social media presence on both Facebook and Instagram. Our pages are known for their strong engagement, creative content, and thriving audiences.
What Sets Kidding Around Media Apart in the Upstate
Our Content Is Local, Comprehensive, and Unique
Our content is more than lists, reviews, and guides. All our writers are local parents. We write about what we love, what our kids love, and all the wonderful places to make memories together to last a lifetime. We are competitive, knowledgeable, and experienced and love nothing more than to show our readers all the cool things to do in town, write about the unique offerings of local businesses, and pass on our experiences to locals and visitors alike.
“Awesome site for comprehensive information about events, family friendly businesses, and things to do in Greenville.” ~Kidding Around Greenville Reader
Your Ads Directly Reach Parents that Live in Upstate SC
Stretching your dollars matter. And with Kidding Around Media, your ad budget will go further than anywhere else because you’ll be reaching your target customers and making meaningful and lasting connections with them.
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Is your business regional? We’d love to partner with you as well! We have done dozens of reviews of kid-friendly businesses, including hotels, attractions, and adventures, within driving distance in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. See our Travel page for a sampling of places we like to visit and write about!
We Work with Over 100 Local Partners Every Year with a High Retention Rate
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Looking for Greenville, SC consignment sales? There is just no better bang for your buck on kid’s clothing and gear than local consignment sales. We have all the local consignment sale details for sales in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, SC so you won’t miss a thing!
It’s a Greenville tradition of 50+ years to pick up a Pepsi birthday Party Pack! Have a little one turning 6 this year? One thing that I love about raising my family in the same city that I grew up in is the shared experiences that my kids and I have from our childhoods.
The free Pepsi Party Pack is one of those special experiences that crosses both of our generations. I remember our excitement as kids when each of us received our Pepsi Party Pack at age 6. Watching my own 6-year-old experience the same excitement was double fun!
Pepsi of Greenville is a Kidding Around Greenville Sponsor.
What is the Pepsi Party Pack?
When a child turns 6 in Greenville or Laurens counties, the Pepsi Plant in Greenville awards that child with a FREE Pepsi birthday party pack, which comes in a cool box and includes:
12 Pepsi Cans
12 Pepsi Balloons (not inflated)
12 Pepsi Pencils
12 Pepsi Tattoos
A Pepsi party birthday certificate
These items could be used for a party or just a fun treat for your kids!
How do you get your Party Pack?
It’s easy to pick up your Pepsi Party Pack in Greenville, SC. Just bring your child’s birth certificate to the office located at 751 State Park Road, Greenville, SC 29609.
Pepsi Party Packs are available the month of or the month after your child’s 6th birthday.
The Party Packs are available during the first full week of the month between 1–5 pm, M-F.
Park in front of the building and enter through the front office.
Dates for 2024 Pepsi Party Pack: Greenville, SC Location
January 2nd-5th, 2024
February 5th-9th, 2024
March 4th-8th, 2024
April 1st-5th, 2024
May 6th-10th, 2024
June 3rd-7th, 2024
July 1st-5th, 2024(Closed Independence Day, July 4th)
August 5th-9th, 2024
September 3rd-6th, 2024
October 7th-11th, 2024
November 4th-8th, 2024
December 2nd-6th, 2024
If you have any questions, call the Pepsi Bottling Plant at 864.242.6041.
Have your kids picked up a Pepsi Birthday Party Pack? What did you think?!
Are you looking for things to do this winter with your kids in Greenville? You can find all the information that you need and more here on Kidding Around Greenville. We have free things to do from hikes to museums, winter markets, places to hit the slopes, things to do indoors and so much more!
We love free things to do in Greenville and we know our readers do, too! Here’s a list of things to do in Greenville that won’t cost a dime. And, we’ve included a section of some low-cost things to do. These are things that will cost a family of 4 $20 or less to do.
Downtown Greenville’s outdoor ice skating rink, Ice on Main is open through January 15th, 2024. Rent some skates and enjoy this time-honored winter activity in beautiful Downtown Greenville, SC.
Winter is a great time to go for a hike near Greenville! Avoid the unpleasant heat and humidity of a summer hike, and discover the views hiding behind the leaves on the trees now that they’ve fallen to the ground.
Ever wonder what it is like to ice skate on the same rink as professional hockey players? This is your chance! On select dates throughout December, you can lace up your ice skate and skate on the rink at Bon Secour Wellness Arena! They also have Skate Roll and Stroll ADA sessions available twice in December.
While there might not be snow on the ground here in Greenville, nearby there are several places where you can enjoy winter on the snowy slopes for tubing and skiing.
Hunt out some frozen waterfalls in nearby Western North Carolina. Make a day of it with this Waterfall Driving Tour of WNC. See all these waterfalls without any hiking. This tour is a Kidding Around staff and reader favorite day trip adventure.
Visit a Park with a Sunny Playground
Sunny parks are ideal for winter fun and helping burn off energy. Here’s a list of Greenville’s Sunny Parks. They’re bright and sunny, so they’re great when the weather is a little cool.
It may be winter, but there are still lots of fresh veggies, meat, dairy products, and more available in the update. Visit the Toast Farmer and indoor farmer’s market for your winter supply of local foods straight from the farmer.
Wintertime consignment sales are your chance to prep your child’s closet for warmer weather. Here’s a list of Greenville area consignment sales to put on your calendar.
Book one of these cozy mountain vacation rentals. Bring some hot cocoa, and a good book, and maybe you’ll even get some snow. With all the amenities at these rentals, like fireplaces, pool tables, and hot tubs, we don’t think you’ll mind getting snowed in!
If you’re looking for something to do indoors in Greenville, you’ve just hit the jackpot. Here’s our giant list of things to do indoors in Greenville. No matter the weather, these are great options.
There are a lot of things to do indoors, but sometimes when you have a little one in tow, choosing an appropriate activity can be a little challenging. Here’s a list of things to do indoors in Greenville for families with preschool-aged kids.
Looking for special times at your favorite venues just for little ones to roam? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a round-up of local tot time programs including local gyms, trampoline parks, art studios, and more!
One place to hide away from the rain or cold is a great gym. The gyms in this list are reader-recommended for being family friendly with features like child care, parent and child classes, pools, parent’s night out, and more.
What is your favorite thing to do during the winter in Greenville?
Need ideas for things to do this winter break? Greenville and Upstate students are out of school for the next couple of weeks, so we’ve put together a huge list of over 50 things in the Upstate that you can do with your kids during the winter break. You’ll find fun activities, day trip ideas, and ways to have a great time while keeping your kids busy while school is out.
If you have any more suggestions for ways to keep your children busy while school is out let us know in the comments! This list contains affiliate links and may include non-paid mentions of KAG sponsors.
SOLD OUT: The Biggest Birthday Party Bash in Greenville is sold out. We look forward to seeing all of you who purchased tickets. A ticket is required for entry, and we will not sell tickets at the door.
Please be aware that scammers will immediately be offering to resell tickets. We will not be able to accommodate fake tickets due to space restrictions. Please be cautious of these scams. We will not allow any offers of ticket sales on our pages in an effort to decrease scams.
We look forward to seeing so many of you Friday night. We will send an email with full information for the event tonight. Be sure to read the email and have your tickets with you on Friday.
Happy Birthday! Kidding Around is turning 11 this year and we are inviting you to celebrate with us and our 2024 KABOOM winners.
What is the Biggest Birthday Party Bash in Greenville?
Our annual birthday party celebrates Kidding Around, our KABOOM winners and Kidding Around partners, and every family that follows Kidding Around!
Your ticket includes 2 hours of fun in The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, fun activities with our KABOOM winners, giveaways with our KABOOM winners, and birthday surprises!
What to expect:
Fun birthday themed party where every kid gets to be the birthday kid for the night!
2 hours of play in the many exhibits of the museum
Birthday Gifts (AKA door prizes) for lucky winners
Birthday games & favors from our many partners
A chance to meet our KABOOM 2024 winners in person and learn about their offerings
Meet and get your photo with guests from Once Upon a Dream Parties including Rapunzel, Belle, Elsa, & Olaf! This year we will also have Reedy Rip’It from the Greenville Drive & Bubbles from Goldfish Swim School at our event
See below for a full list of activities including free cupcake decorating for the kids, free face painting with My Heart’s Desire Photography and more!
NEW: Each kid gets a free certificate for a kids’ meal at Habit Burger Grill!
NEW: Kona Ice of Greenville is providing free Konas to our guests outside from 6-7 pm (Konas must be eaten outside the museum.)
Cost: $10/person
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 2 are free but must have a ticket.
Massive Giveaway Event with Approximately $5000 in prizes
Purchasing a ticket to the Biggest Birthday Bash in Greenville allows you to opt into our massive giveaway at the event. Many of our vendors will offer special door prizes during the event listed below! See our Kidding Around Greenville terms & conditions page for our full giveaway rules.
To enter, all you have to do is opt-into our massive giveaway event when you purchase your tickets. We will pick a winner for the limo ride one week before the event. Other prizes will be chosen after midnight on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Terms & Conditions apply and the ride must be under 30 minutes from The Children’s Museum of the Upstate.
KABOOM Winners that will be at our event:
One lucky attendee of our party will win a free limo ride for their party (up to 10 people) from GVL Limo to and from the Biggest Birthday Party Bash in Greenville. The winner will arrive in style right up to the front of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate where they will be escorted by one of our royal guests with Once Upon a Dream parties (weather permitting) from the limo to the very front of the line. The limo will also be scheduled to pick up our winner when the party ends at 8:30.
Visit each of our winners for chances to win prizes, get party favors, and play games! Check out the vendors you’ll see and some of the amazing prizes you can look forward to potentially winning:
Cherry Orchard Pediatric Dentistry & Cherry Orchard Oral Surgery PRIZE: Family Movie Night Bucket- multiple types of popcorn and popular candy along with a $25 Amazon Gift Card for movie purchases or rentals. AT THEIR TABLE: color & get fun goodies for the kids
Children’s Art Classes PRIZE: Free Summer Session valued at $125.
Dance Without Limits PRIZE: Free Half-day Summer Camp- Camps are for ages 3-6 and 6-10 with fun themes including Barbie, Taylor Swift, and Trolls. Camps include dancing, a themed craft, and a snack each day. We have a performance for parents at the end of each camp AT THEIR TABLE: an obstacle course for kids with a mini trampoline, hula hoops, cones, and a small wedge mat
Davis Orthodontics PRIZE: $500 off braces or invisalign AT THEIR TABLE: a prize wheel and will give away t-shirts, glow-in-the-dark bracelets, temporary tattoos, color-changing cups, and more!
Dr. Tom’s Orthodontics PRIZE: Gift certificate for $250 off orthodontic treatment AT THEIR TABLE: a prize wheel
Greenville Drive PRIZE: Greenville Drive Prize Pack – including tickets to a 2024 Drive game, Drive branded merch, and a special welcome shoutout for your group at the game AT THEIR TABLE: Reedy Rip’It will be there! Plus crafts and fun giveaways.
Greenville Martial Art Center PRIZE: GMAC merchandise and a certificate for a month of free classes ($145) AT THEIR TABLE: Experiment with Makey Makey and Energy Sticks.
Giggles Drop-in Childcare PRIZE: A date night package good for 4 date nights for up to 4 hours each, including dinner. AT THEIR TABLE: Glitter Tattoos and birthday party goody bags
Girl Scouts Mountains to Midlands
Goldfish Swim School PRIZE: Goldfish Swim Bag stocked with a FREE month of swim lessons, FREE month of Friday Night Family Swim, goggles, towel, book, & toy. AT THEIR TABLE: Get your photo with Bubbles the Goldfish Swim School Mascot and then join a scavenger hunt with the Bubbles and Friends mat in the Waterworks exhibit. Plus a prize wheel.
Ignite Learning Center PRIZE: Free week of STEAM camp AT THEIR TABLE: playdough and LED lights to experiment with circuits
Kids Play and Cafe PRIZE: 2 weekend passes and $10 at the cafe ($50) AT THEIR TABLE: decorate birthday cupcakes
My Heart’s Desire Photography PRIZE: Cake Smash Session with 10 digital images ($365) AT THEIR TABLE: face painting
Palmetto Gymnastics PRIZE: Free week of Summer Camp ($175 Value). One full week, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm with lots of gymnastics play plus a craft project each day. Snacks provided. For ages 5+ AT THEIR TABLE: to be announced
Parkkonen Photography PRIZE: A free photo session and 11×20 canvas values at $250 AT THEIR TABLE: A free photo session and 11×20 canvas values at $250
Piano Central Studios PRIZE: Two $50 gift cards which may be used towards any new enrollment with Piano Central Studios. AT THEIR TABLE: an instrument petting zoo
Provista Wealth Advisors PRIZE: The prize will be a combination of a Golf shirt, golf balls, hat, t-shirt, and mug. AT THEIR TABLE: play dough sensory kits & each kid gets a free piggy bank
Roper Mountain Science Center PRIZE: RMSC Family Membership. AT THEIR TABLE: Visit the Roper Mountain Science Center table to make a Robot Artist! Design and decorate your own robot then set it loose to draw unique artwork.
Strides Systematic Tutoring PRIZE: Harry Potter book and Spot It game AT THEIR TABLE: Spin a prize wheel to win 3D printed objects
Sylvan Learning Center PRIZE: A FREE month of Sylvan, including the initial assessment in order to generate the personalized learning plan that every student has at Sylvan. This is valued at $694 value. Attendance would be 2 sessions a week at any of our Upstate locations (Greenville, N.Main, Spartanburg, Easley, or Anderson). AT THEIR TABLE: A prize wheel with STEM questions
Takeoff Mini Golf PRIZE: Birthday Party package for 10 guests including shaved ice, water bottles, and 1.5 hours of private party space. AT THEIR TABLE: prize wheel & a fun airplane toss game
The Little Gym of Greenville PRIZE: A FREE Birthday Bash at The Little Gym of Greenville. AT THEIR TABLE: Prize wheel & swag giveaways
Trapped in the Upstate PRIZE: A four-player escape room gift card. AT THEIR TABLE: A mobile 10 minute escape room!
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate PRIZE: A family 4 pack of tickets to the museum! AT THEIR TABLE: A family membership giveaway plus a prize wheel
Yellowbobbypins Art Camp PRIZE: $100 gift certificate. AT THEIR TABLE: Sign the Biggest Birthday Party Card in Greenville
Terms and conditions apply. Giveaway prizes and activities are through our partners and subject to change.
Bottom Floor
The basement is packed with fun activities this year! You can play a fun game in the Waterworks exhibit with Bubbles the Goldfish mascot, head to the cafeteria to decorate cupcakes with Kid Play N’ Cafe, Join a Dance Party with Belle and run through an obstacle course with Dance Without Limits, sign the Biggest Birthday Card in Greenville with Yellowbobbypins Art Camp, and take a photo with Rapunzel before getting your face painted with My Heart’s Desire Photography.
Main Floor
Our main floor will be packed with fun activities from our partners & prizes for the kids. Be sure to visit Reedy Rip’It. A full list will be posted this week!
Upper Floor
Upstairs we have tons of fun including making robot artists with Roper Mountain Science Center, getting your photo with Elsa and Olaf, and more to be announced this week!
GVL Limo Giveaway – CLOSED
Your sweet ride
GVL Limo’s NEW STRETCH LIMO is the ultimate party vehicle. This vehicle has it all…an insane Bose Professional Performance Sound System, two Flat Screen TVs, Karaoke, Video Games, LED Lights, Full Length Wet Bar, and Outside Digital Message Boards…what more could you want! Seating 10 people there is room for everyone!
Trying to find some practical gifts the kids will love? If your kids are like my kids, they not only already have plenty of toys, stuffed animals, and gadgets but they also have a whole family of grandparents, aunts, and uncles who eagerly shower them with cool gifts this time of year. In fact, usually the gifts from relatives way outshine the gifts that my husband and I buy for the kids ourselves. And, that’s fine.
So, what are some gifts for kids that aren’t toys?
Trying to figure out what to buy though that’s awesome but yet not just adding to the pile is a bit tricky, so I’ve come up with this list of ideas that I plan to use to ensure that my kids’ gifts are packed with essential and practical items without my kids even knowing it.
This post contains affiliate links including Amazon affiliate links.
Towels that Double As Costumes
Did you know that hooded towels are sold for “big kids”? And, they come in every type of character that you could imagine. I’m definitely stocking up on a new towel for both of my kids this Christmas. We already have this adorable rainbow unicorn towel as well as a superhero towel that I purchased from Kohl’s.
This Christmas I’m eyeing this Minion towel and this Elsa towel to round out our collection. Though I might just get this Yoda towel instead because it’s so cute.
And Pajamas that Double As Costumes
My little girl wears her Elsa nightgown that I purchased last year for her all the time, and I like that it’s sturdy enough to handle washing and wear-and-tear unlike most dress-up clothes. It’s also softer. This year’s version is a little different than the one I purchased and it’s even cuter!
I’m sure that it won’t ever be as popular as Elsa but I think I might get my kid this Anna nightgown this year to go with her Elsa one! Or I might just get her a long sleeve version of Elsa’s dress.
Books that Your Kids Won’t Put Down
We received two Activity Books (The Big Pink Activity Book & The Big Blue Activity Book) for review purposes earlier this year, and I can’t say enough good things about them. They literally entertained my kids for months, no small feat. The only change I would make is I would cut out the sticker pages in the back if I were to buy the books over to make accessing the stickers easier.
If your kid is an early reader, be sure to sneak some Elephant & Piggie Books into the mix. These books are so much fun that even reluctant readers enjoy giving them a try.
I also picked up The Book With No Pictures last year for Christmas and it’s still requested even now.
The Coolest Toothbrush on the Market
I received this Darth Vadar Firefly toothbrush that looks like a lightsaber at a recent blogging conference. I love that it has a timer (my kids really need that) and my kids love brushing their teeth with it. It’s not nearly as cool as the Darth Vadar toothbrush but there’s also a Hello Kitty toothbrush that I was given for my little girl. I have a feeling though that there are many little girls who would totally bypass the Hello Kitty to have a lightsaber toothbrush.
Experience Gifts
I absolutely love experience gift ideas. Not only does the gift not take up space (or collect dust) but also you can purchase an experience that encourages family time together. Some of my favorite choices for children are local memberships to museums, zoos, or science centers.
Another idea is purchasing tickets to a local event or sport. If you are on a tight budget this Christmas, don’t underestimate either the value of just promising to take your kids on an inexpensive adventure locally whether it’s park hopping on a Saturday or a low-budget outing like an ice-cream date.
While I’m definitely serious about limiting screen time, I do like having a couple of quality online programs that the kids can play on those crazy days and during school vacations. Two of my personal favorites are:
Starfall(perfect for preschoolers) – You can play the base level of Starfall for free, but the premium version is not very expensive and includes quite a bit more content.
Reading Eggs – This program is more expensive but it’s packed with developmentally appropriate lessons in both reading and math that are combined with incentives. My kids beg to play it!
Board Games
Board games are awesome and kids love them. I’ve purchased educational games for my kids to help them with specific skills but really almost every game has a component that will help your child educationally whether it’s logic, numbers, or language.
Richard Scarry’s Busy Town – This game is good for kids who like looking and searching for objects and don’t mind a slower pace. One great feature is that it’s a cooperative game that takes out the competitive edge for kids too small to understand winning and losing.
Cool Umbrellas
My kids both have cool umbrellas that we found at the Mast General Store. I found some similar items on Amazon:Shark Umbrella,
I think that rain boots are one of the most practical yet fun gifts that you can give your kids. My kids wear their rain boots for pretend play, snow days, to puddle stomp, and just for fun. We always get compliments on the fun designs.
Piggy bank: Teach them to save with a cute piggy bank. My son received a cute monkey bank when he was very young and it has remained a favorite (and useful) treasure.
Digital camera: If your kids don’t carry a cell phone in their pocket (and mine don’t either!) they might enjoy their own camera for documenting all their adventures.
Musical instruments: Learn a new skill! This can be as simple as a recorder and a book or as complicated as a trumpet and a promise of lessons in the new year.
Practical Stocking Stuffers: These are big in my house. We do fun socks, new hair ties, a hair brush, sometimes favorite snacks, chapstick, or even character-branded teas or mugs. Like these Star Wars cups from The Republic of Tea.
I would love to hear your suggestions for practical gifts this Christmas! Let me know in the comments.
Looking for local places for shopping in Greenville, SC? While the holiday season is the prime shopping season, it’s not enough just to focus on shopping locally. We love to support our local businesses all year because special occasions happen every month – birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays. But, how in the world do you sort through the many local businesses to find that perfect gift? We have put together for you this list of over 75 local businesses, many of them being gift shops Greenville, SC residents love. Have fun and shop locally!
Local Shops in Spartanburg, SC: Want to shop locally in Spartanburg, SC? Here’s a list of great locally-owned shops from clothing and books to plants and soaps.
Want to really shop local? Support makers, vendors, and small businesses at a holiday market, vendor fair, or shopping event. There are a lot of options almost every weekend this time of year. Visit this list of Holiday Shopping Events in Upstate, SC!
Find Unique Ideas From Local Gift Shops: Greenville, SC
Most of these businesses were suggested by readers, a couple of these are advertisers and partners, and a few were submitted for the list by the business owners. Please help us add to our list by adding your favorite place in the comments.
What Type of Gift From a Local Shop Are You Needing?
Under the Carolina Moon – Boutique specializing in Southern items and monogramming. Located at 5424 Calhoun Memorial Highway, Easley, and also has an online store.
Southern Sisters Boutique – Located in Greer, Southern Sisters specializes in women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories, and gift items.
Cottage Grove Gifts – This boutique in Greenville curates a variety of gifts from home decor to kitchen items to candles to purses and everything in between.
Gifts for the HGTV Fan
Verdant Market – Boutique that specializes in painted signs created from wooden pallets. Goods are located inside the Pink Owl in Simpsonville and via the Verdant Market Facebook page.
TR Makers Co – This shop located at 3 S. Main Street in Travelers Rest is packed with locally made artisan products, and also offers an art bar and classes.
Urban Digs– This local boutique (215 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville) is just packed with cool home decor and art. Plus there is a play area for the kids. I know that’s a selling point for me if I have to drag my kids out shopping.
Dapper Ink – With the motto “Making the World More Beautiful,” this shop sells unique screenprints and designs.
Urban Petals – This lifestyle boutique in downtown Greer features items curated for the home, gifts, plants, and Grab-N-Go bouquets.
Shoppes on Trade – This boutique in Greer is filled with local vendors, including not just decor but also confections and other gifts. You can also earn free chocolate with a punch card for shopping. Sign me up!
Kate Carlyle – This shop on Augusta Street sells jewelry, unique home decor, stationery, and more.
The Nested Fig – This “one-of-a-kind” home decor store offers everything you need to put the finishing touches on that room.
Inside Out – Find everything you need for decorating, hostessing, and more (2131 Woodruff Rd, # 2200).
Commission a one-of-a-kind painting by Greenville native Jennifer Mills of your family or special moment.
Gifts to Pamper
The Butter Bath – I was lucky enough to meet the founder of The Butter Bath Company, and after learning the story behind these natural body and skincare items I’m planning on trying them myself to ward off dry skin this winter. My Pick:The Butter-Up Body Butter.
The soy candles from Greenville Soy Candle Company in downtown Greenville are divine, with scents like Vanilla Lavender and Caribbean Teakwood.
If you have a vegan in your life (or just someone who wants more natural options) then lipglosses byTT Flair Lip Gloss would make an excellent gift. Plus, you’re supporting local and a young entrepreneur!
Gifts For the Foodie
Cannizzaro Famiglia – Locally-made Italian sauces made with locally sourced fresh vegetables, herbs, and no sugar added. The 3-pack is a perfect hostess gift. Find them at www.cannizzarofamiglia.com.
Reader Carlin says, “Jars of sauce from Cannizzaro sauces would be great hostess gifts and gifts for neighbors! It is made in Charlotte by some awesome people, but you can buy it locally in Greenville at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery and in Spartanburg at Bellews Market. All three flavors (Marinara, Mushroom Marinara, and Arrabiatta) are amazing!!”
Gourmet Pecan Man – Oh my! I had one of his White Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pies the other day. It was so good that I had to sneak into the kitchen for just a little bit more.
The Ice Man Dips– My husband was in heaven trying out these dips at the Greer Arts & Eats festival, so we bought several as gifts! They offer spice blends to make outstanding dips for parties or marinades.
Split Creek Farm – Once you try Split Creek goat cheese, which has beat out cheeses from France and Italy in international competitions, and their fudge, there’s no going back. They have gift baskets you can order or pick up at the farm in Anderson.
Split Creek Farm gift basket
Due South Coffee – And for the coffee-lover, Due South Coffee has amazing options. Located at Hampton Station in Greenville.
Tandem – Every type of crepe that you can imagine from sweet to savory is made at this Travelers Rest restaurant.
Cosmic Rabbits– provides a wide tea selection (131 E McBee Avenue).
LaRue Fine Chocolate– Give the gift of delicious, handmade chocolate from this local shop in West Greenville.
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn– Popcorn is a holiday tradition in my family, and receiving a big bucket of delicious popcorn covered in caramel will make someone love you forever!
Loggerhead Apparel – This local apparel company not only supports American-made and grown clothing but also donates 10% of profits to the conservation and protection of Loggerhead turtles. You can find their merchandise at several local boutiques including Pink Bee, Palmetto Moon, and Mast General Store. They also have a Loggerhead Apparel online store.
Kate Furman Jewelry – Kate Furman’s jewelry collections are works of art, designed through the inspiration of Earth and rivers, and formed as a delicate homage to natural beauty. Find her online or at her studio downtown.
Urban Digs – @AnnesmithSC on Instagram says, “@urbandigs on Wade Hampton near Stone is a favorite of ours, and @loggerheadapparel has a storefront in downtown Simpsonville!”
Indigo Roots Textiles – We’ve featured this handmade clothing before. She makes all sorts of unique and cool clothing and accessories for babies and children.
Traveling Chic Boutique sells clothing, vintage cowboy boots, jewelry, and more with a selection that’s almost entirely under $100 (122 Main Street, Greenville).
If you know a highly fashionable mom, then they definitely need a gorgeous ring sling from LoveHeld to carry around their baby!
The oldest retail shop in downtown Greenville, Ayers Leather Shop has fashionista written all over it with their premium leather goods.
Find Unique Gifts for Those Hard to Buy For
Pencil Portraits by Ashley – Ashley Brickner owns Open Art Studios downtown and is an artist herself – a talented one at that, whose exceptional skill lies in pencil portraits. Her most popular ones are those of pets!
Pencil Portraits by Ashley. Photo courtesy of Ashley Brickner.
Alberta Pottery – Having exhibited pieces from their collections at several Artisphere, the Alberta Pottery team of Jason and Erin Hall are pros are creating beautiful and unique pottery that doubles as art. Their bowls, mugs, plates, and vases are unique and captivating, each one its own creation.
Paw Paw USA– If you have a dog lover, then gift them something for their dog, they will love it!
Skyland Farms– Give the gift of grass-fed, pasture-raised local meats this season! Skyland Farms (Greer, SC) also has a store that sells other local goods.
Nyla Beans– You will find some pretty awesome and unique gifts at Nyla Beans off Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville. Most of their merchandise is hippy and free-spirited, so you can find that unique friend something to help them shine.
Shop for Gifts for the Office
Farquhar & Sons Woodshop– This shop makes beautiful wooden cutting boards and other wood products.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe – Everything is delicious from the Swamp Rabbit Cafe. They also have a great selection of handmade soaps, tea towels, pottery, and other great gift ideas.
Carolina Olive Oil carries gourmet food options which of course includes olive oil. Reader Elizabeth says, “Fabulous Gift Baskets, I’m on my second.”
Find Gifts for the Outdoor Enthusiast
Sunrift Adventures-This store in Travelers Rest calls itself “the unique outdoor shop.” You’ll find all kinds of things for the outdoor adventurer on your list.
Appalachian Outfitters– You can shop online or at their storefront off Halton Road for lots of outdoor equipment.
Calyx Outdoor Sports– Located in Piedmont, this shop has everything you need for the outdoorsy lover, for fishing, hunting, and more!
Shops With Gifts For the Bookworm
There’s pretty much nothing as cozy as a local bookstore. A gift certificate to one would provide more than just a new book but also give that bookworm an excuse to tuck themselves away in the stacks to browse.
M. Judson Books – This bookstore (130 Main Street, Greenville) specializes in literature and is located in the South.
Mr. K’s Used Books– With over 10,000 square feet of inventory, Mr. K’s has a used or new book for everyone on your list.
Books Featuring Greenville, SC
My kids always get a real kick out of reading a book that features Greenville. Here’s a couple of our favorite local books.
Hey Blue!andOh, Beautiful!are two books written by local author and illustrator Stephanie Morgan. They tell the stories of a rabbit named Blue and his adventures on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. I have read these books and they are excellent choices for your library.
Mice on Main is a classic for our area and you could include a bonus “voucher” for your kids promising to take them downtown to look for the mice.
Goodnight Greenville!follows the familiar pattern of the classic Goodnight Moon but with images and a story that takes place in Greenville. As a bonus, this book’s proceeds go straight into local charity.
Experience Gift Ideas
Forget the packages and buy a gift that doesn’t take up space or need batteries! The following recommendations came from both our readers and our staff!
The More to Explore Store at The Children’s Museum Upstate – Find apparel, educational toys, books, logo gear and much more for all ages at this local museum shop. No admission is required.
The Grey Goose – This local children’s store (17 Conestee Avenue) has been around for 28 years!
Vann and Liv – This Greenville boutique on Augusta Street sells children’s clothes at their store and online. You should check out their new holiday collections. They would make the perfect outfits for photos with Santa.
Boardwalk – Games are really for more than just kids. My husband and I count on this local store (1175 Woods Crossing Road) to help us find new and fun strategy games.
Elephant’s Trunk – A toy store on Augusta that specializes in educational toys (2222 Augusta Street #8).
OP Taylors – And, of course, we really couldn’t write this list without mentioning OP Taylors on Main Street in Greenville. I know that my kids always beg to go in there when we walk by.
Gifts for the Crafter
Yarn & Y’all– Located on North Street, this local shop specializes in natural fiber yarns. P.S. You could also purchase a class for a fabulous experience gift.
Services as a Gift
Sometimes a person you love really just needs a break. Purchasing a service to free up their time is the perfect way to do that.
Cuddly-Critters – This locally based pet-sitting service would make the perfect spot to get a gift card to for a local pet owner.
McClain Landscaping was recommended by our readers as a great yard-service company.
Surprise a teen who wants to get that license with a set of lessons from Auto Safe Driving School.
The Garage Authority – Surprise your spouse with a transformed garage or basement space for Christmas! Enjoy a coated floor and get your cars inside for the cold winter!
Where is your favorite place to shop locally? Let us know in the comments!
Searching for “Christmas day trips near me”? Or maybe you’re interested in taking a trip out of Greenville to enjoy the holiday spirit? There are a bunch of places you can head for the weekend or just the day to enjoy some holiday fun away from the Upstate.
Check out our list of popular destinations for day trips during the holiday season. From train rides to giant light displays and towns all decked out for Christmas, there are some fantastic ideas on this list!
Are you looking for the best Christmas towns in the South to visit over the holidays? Southern states are loaded with festive celebrations and unique holiday traditions from the mountains and foothills to coastal beach town celebrations. We gathered an awesome list of over 20 festive Christmas towns in South Carolina. But, we didn’t stop there! North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee also have some amazing towns for Christmas celebrations. Many include everything from horse carriage rides and traditional downtowns to historic Christmas home tours.
Celebrate the holiday season at any of these southern Christmas towns. While you’ll rarely find a white Christmas here in the South, that doesn’t mean you can’t strap on those ice skates and head into a Southern winter wonderland.
Fill up on holiday spirit with light displays, Christmas carols, and a tree lighting ceremony. Now is the perfect time of year for a small-town Christmas or a giant city celebration with twinkling lights. Get that Christmas spirit bubbling at one of these southern Christmas towns.
Looking for a short trip?
Make the season even more memorable with a holiday day trip to one of these towns!
This Christmas I’m eyeing this 
