Planning to celebrate the 4th of July with family and fireworks? Simpsonville, SC hosts its annual Simpsonville Simply Freedom Fest at Heritage Park on July 2nd, 2023! Independence Day is right around the corner, and although there will certainly be many patriotic events in the Greenville area, there are none other quite like this one.
Again this year the city of Simpsonville will be hosting a free concert with Josh Turner in celebration of the 4th of July in addition to the spectacular fireworks! Simpsonville, SC looking forward to celebrating Independence Day with you!
Details about Heritage Park Independence Day Celebration
If you love a spectacular display of fireworks, Simpsonville, SC has you covered! The Independence Day Celebration is being held at theCCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 6 pm (gates open at 5:30 pm). Included in the festivities is a spectacular concert headlined by Josh Turner with two opening acts, Tennesse Brothers, and the music duo Dugger Band. There will also be post-concert fireworks. Entrance to the event and parking are FREE.
Blankets and chairs are welcome, but 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.
Bring the whole family for an evening full of music and a firework spectacular that is one of a kind.
If you’re searching for “inexpensive day trips near me” or looking for fun outside Greenville that won’t break the bank, we have a list for you. This list of 10 fun day trips includes only destinations that are budget-friendly, keeping the cost approximately $40 or less for a family of 4.
All of these inexpensive day trips are also under 2 hours to save money and time in the car, but they are all outside Greenville. Otherwise, it’s not really a trip is it?
Do you think you can beat the clock at Escape Artist Greenville SC? Several years ago, some friends were visiting from out of town and wanted to meet up. When we asked them what they would like to do, they suggested that we meet up at one of Greenville’s top escape rooms, Escape Artist Greenville. We are very glad that we said yes. In fact, we had such a great time we can’t stop recommending Escape Artist to all of our friends in Greenville.
Upon arriving, we were energized immediately by owners Will and Kim Rutherford’s enthusiasm. It was impossible to not catch the excitement about trying to test our group’s wits against one of their escape rooms.
After a short explanation of rules such as “don’t tear apart the ceiling” followed by a creepy story intro we handed over our iPhones and headed into “Dr. Fratelli’s cabin”. Inside the mad scientist’s cabin, we quickly got to work looking inside and under the many objects in order to start finding clues. These clues then led to puzzles that had to be solved in order to find the special locked exit and escape the room where Dr. Fratelli had trapped us. Of course, the primary entrance remained unlocked so we weren’t actually physically locked in. It is just a game!
We were given just one hour to escape the room, but we had the ability to ask for three clues during our hour. Will was watching us through his surveillance cameras and was quick to offer the exact help needed for each clue. The puzzles were challenging but still simple enough for a group to solve.
Did We Escape?
Of course, the first question everyone asks is “Did you escape?” Actually, Will told us that only 20-25% of the groups that try the room “get out”. We made it though with only a couple of minutes left to spare and we used all 3 hints.
Will greeted us after we finished and shared his own observations of how we solved the puzzle. We then were allowed to grab our phones again so that Kim could take a victory photo for us showcasing our time.
Photo Credit: Eli Warren, used by permission from Escape Artist Greenville
Is Escape Artist Greenville Worth the Money?
Escape Artist is a little bit more expensive than most of the attractions my husband and I visit, starting at around $30/person. It was worth every penny we spent. We had so much fun working together, laughing at our mistakes, and bragging about what we solved. The room was very well designed, all of the clues were clear and worked correctly, and Will & Kim executed everything wonderfully. It’s no wonder that they have received so many 5 star reviews.
Any hints?
Well, of course, I can’t give any hints on how to solve the puzzle because that would ruin the fun, but here are a couple tips to help you have the best chances of victory:
Don’t be afraid to ask for a clue when you are stuck. It’s better to use them up than not get out!
Get started quickly. Don’t be shy about looking around the room when you enter it. The sooner you find your first clues the better.
Don’t overthink your clues. None of the clues will require knowing weird facts and you won’t mess up your clues by touching or moving objects in the room.
Playing an escape room game on your tablet or phone ahead of time will help give you an idea of the types of puzzles you might encounter.
Have fun! Don’t get too stressed out. This activity is all about having a good time.
What About Kids?
I visited Escape Artist Greenville with 3 other adults and I thought that it was a great adult activity but older children and teens would definitely enjoy it as well. Children under 16 are allowed to attend with an adult, and Will told us that he had even recently hosted a party of 11-year-olds. Will did tell us that he adapts the clues as necessary for children and that the children who have come through really have enjoyed the puzzle. All of the content in the story and inside the room was appropriate for any age audience and there weren’t any thematic elements that would scare a child.
About Escape Artist: Greenville SC
Be sure to book your time ahead of time online. Due to the nature of the event, space is limited and 2 hours advanced reservation is required.
This attraction is completely unique to Greenville. While there are other “escape rooms” in Greenville and in other cities, Will & Kim specifically designed this room and story making it a one-of-a-kind adventure.
The attraction can fit 2-8 people at a time. Your group may get placed with another group if you don’t purchase the entire 8 tickets.
In addition to Dr. Fratelli’s Cabin, there are four other escape rooms including our current favorite Starlight Motel (a spooky, interactive room for adults). You can read about Starlight Motel in our review.
There is a second location of Escape Artist Greenville, located at Hampton Station. The Hampton Station location has fewer rooms (Help Wanted and Dark Lullaby), but the proximity to dining, breweries, and shopping makes it a great activity.
The Escape Artist Greenville: SC Has Two Locations!
Are you looking for the perfect photo-ready swimming hole that will cool you off on even the hottest days in Florida? We found the perfect natural swimming spot at Ichetucknee Springs and Blue Hole Spring. This crystal clear spring is just a day trip from Gainsville, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, Florida at Ichetucknee Springs State Park. This state park has two natural springs and one even has an underwater cavern that you can see with goggles.
Are you looking for a camping experience that allows you to enjoy the great outdoors while still maintaining comfort? With a variety of lodging options to choose from, including vintage campers, tiny homes, RV/campsites, and safari tents, Emberglow Outdoor Resort in Mill Spring, NC offers every type of family the perfect place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Our family (including our dog) had tons of fun staying at the Carolina Cottage Tiny Home at Emberglow over spring break and we can’t wait to share with you everything you need to know for your visit. Our kids are already begging to go back!
Emberglow Outdoor Resort is only about an hour from Greenville, SC, near Hendersonville, NC.
About Emberglow Outdoor Resort
Located just 15 minutes from Lake Lure in the hills of Western NC, Emberglow Outdoor Resort is conveniently situated between Greenville, Asheville, Charlotte, and Columbia. The resort’s 72 acres are nestled in a beautiful, private valley complete with spring-fed creeks. This resort truly offers something for every camping preference and every size group with a variety of comfortable lodging options including:
Primitive Tent Sites
RV Sites
Safari Tents
Pods
Vintage Campers
Tiny Houses
Yurts
One larger house
Not only does Emberglow offer a wide range of accommodations but they also offer extremely unique stays. Choose to stay in Big Ben, a vintage double-decker bus, or stay in a special tree house resort home that even includes a slide coming out of the house plus two lofts connected by a cargo net.
We stayed in the Carolina Cottage Tiny Home during our stay which despite being a tiny house had a full kitchen and bath, a loft bedroom for the kids, and even a screened-in porch. Our unit even came with towels, linens, a gas grill, and a fire pit. It was also right next to the creek and the playground.
What is there to do at Emberglow Outdoor Resort?
Emberglow is conveniently located in Western NC where it’s just a short drive to a number of fun attractions at Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and the Hendersonville/Flat Rock region. We were delighted to find plenty of fun activities right on the campground and ended up spending all of our time within the resort.
Emberglow Explorers Day Camp: From mid-June-August, Emberglow offers a day camp for just $25 a day for kids 5-12 each Tuesday-Thursday. This camp is each morning from 8:30-12:30, so that kids can enjoy adventures while their parents have a little extra time to drink that morning coffee. One of the best part of Explorers Day Camp is the kids come back to the campsite with the inside scoop on where to have fun at Emberglow which often leads to fun afternoon family adventures.
Photo Credit: Emberglow Outdoor Resort
Pool: Emberglow has a large outdoor ADA-compliant resort pool that opens in the summer season.
Photo Credit: Emberglow Outdoor Resort
Playground: Even my 12-year-old had fun playing on the playground at Emberglow. I especially thought the camper play structure was an imaginative twist. I also loved how the playground was within an easy visibility distance of multiple campsites. I could actually see the playground from my screened-in porch making it easy to let older kids play while still keeping an eye on them.
Jumping Pillow: If your kids need to get their energy out, you can just walk them over to the jumping pillow which is open for jumping at no additional cost.
Yes, while not every accommodation is pet-friendly, many are, including the Carolina Cottage Tiny Home. We brought our dog Izzy Bee with us on her first vacation away from home.
The Carolina Cottage Tiny Home had plenty of space for the four of us and our puppy including her crate. Izzy spent most of her time while we were in the cabin on the screened-in porch where she could watch other families walk by.
The dog park was only a couple-minute walk from our house. It was spacious and had plenty of room to run around. When we visited, there were only a couple of other dogs at the resort so we had plenty of space to ourselves, but I noticed that there was a smaller area fenced off in the dog park so that there would be space to spread out if needed.
Is Parking Available at Emberglow Outdoor Resort?
There is plenty of parking space at each unit as well as near all of the major areas of the resort.
Should you bring your own food to Emberglow Outdoor Resort?
Yes, while a food truck is open during some seasons, Emberglow is around 15 minutes from grocery stores and restaurants. We personally found it easier to bring easy-to-prepare meals and snacks. Our particular unit did have a small kitchen with basic kitchen items and even had a coffee pot with coffee pods.
Family Review of Emberglow Outdoor Resort
Our kids had such a great time at Emberglow that they are already asking us when they can go back. We thought that the campground offered a great mix of quiet relaxation and fun. I also thought the easy one-hour driving distance from Greenville made the trip even more relaxing. Whether you are looking for a quiet week or just a weekend getaway, Emberglow Outdoor Resort is a great option for the perfect, relaxing family vacation.
Weather permitting, we will start checking-in guests by 6 pm outside. Please bring your e-ticket issued by Simple Tix. Your hand will be stamped once you have been checked in.
Once your hand has been stamped, you may get a snow cone from Kona Ice outside the event. Please note that your snow cone may not be brought into the building. Kona will remain outside from 6-7 pm.
Doors will open by 6:30 pm. You may enter with your stamped hand or by scanning your ticket at the door. Please understand that we work hard to get everyone in the building as safely and quickly as possible but it will take several minutes to check everyone in.
Tips & Tricks
Bring a bag! Your kids will win prizes and treats all over the museum and you will need a bag to carry everything.
Head up or down first. If you are one of the first to enter the building, we recommend heading to one of the popular activities on the upper & bottom floors first before they develop lines.
Focus on visiting the vendors first. We have packed our event with fun, and our event is limited to two hours since our event is after the museum’s public hours. Be sure to look over the schedule ahead of time to know what activities you want to prioritize. We would rather you have a great time and have more than enough to do than not enough activities to fill your time!
Are you thinking about a move to Greenville, SC? Or maybe you’re already planning to relocate to Greenville. With many big companies and manufacturing facilities nearby, Greenville is growing fast! And there are lots of reasons to love living in Greenville. Just in case think you’ve “heard it all,” Kidding Around owner and Editor-in-Chief Bethany put together this article that tells readers all the reasons why people love living in Greenville so much.
Are you looking for a nearby place to take your kids snow tubing near Greenville and Spartanburg SC? Recently, we took our kids to Wolf Ridge Snow Tubing Park in Mars Hill, NC (near Asheville) for a day filled with snow tubing fun. In this article, we’ll give you the full scoop of what to expect at Wolf Ridge Snow Tubing, how to plan your trip, and even where to eat.
Are you looking for some fun family things to do during school break? Here are some ideas of things to do in and around Greenville to keep the kids busy during a day off of school, or to have an amazing Staycation, without ever leaving town. Our list of ideas includes both indoor and outdoor activities your family is sure to enjoy!
Also, don’t miss our Park Guide. It will help you find the perfect park to visit!
October is National Fire Safety Month and as a part of raising awareness for fire safety, your kids can see fire trucks at Greenville library locations throughout the county. The library will be celebrating with their annual Firefighters & Fire Trucks storytimes. At these select storytimes (replacing the normal storytime event) children can learn about fire safety by not just reading about it but by also meeting firefighters and seeing a real fire truck.
Note: Fire trucks and firefighters will not be available if a fire emergency occurs.
On a related side note, my child informed me today that he thought he might want to be a firefighter someday. In his words, “Firefighters are really cool because they run fast, and I like to run fast. They also wear cool costumes, and I like wearing costumes. . . . Oh wait, they slide down poles. I’m not really into sliding down poles so maybe I don’t want to be a firefighter.”
Back on topic, here are the times for this year’s Firefighters and Fire Trucks storytimes. If you go we would love to hear back about what you think. Remember that special storytimes can be crowded, so plan on arriving a little early if you attend a smaller branch to allow time for parking.
When You Can See Firefighters and Fire Trucks at Greenville Library Locations
Tuesday, October 3, 2023 10 am – Hughes Main Library Monday, October 16, 2023 10 am- Five Forks Branch 10 am- Mauldin Branch Wednesday, October 18, 2023 10 am – Fountain Inn Branch Thursday, October 19, 2023 10 am- Augusta Road Branch 10 am- Simpsonville Branch
