Can’t go to the library but need something new to read, watch or listen? The Greenville County Library System has a large offering of digital content. You can borrow e-books, audio books, movies and more right from your computer, phone or tablet. Find out about the apps the library uses and what you can borrow using them.
Looking for restaurants for Christmas in Greenville, SC? We have a list of places to eat open on Christmas Day! If a catered Christmas meal or dinner out in Greenville this Christmas would make your holiday a little merrier, this is the list for you. Consider dining out or ordering in from a local restaurant for all of your fixings!
Our list has restaurants offering dine-in service, full take-out meals, and even restaurants where you can just grab a turkey, a ham, or a few sides to supplement your own home-cooked meal. There are lots of great restaurant options in Greenville to make some delicious Christmas dreams come true. Most of our local grocery stores are also offering Christmas items for pickup.
Celebrate the holidays in Greenville! Find holiday events, restaurants, pies, and more in our Holiday Guide.
(more…)Thinking about bringing the family to a Christmas Parade? You really can’t beat the tradition of attending a Christmas Parade with your kids. It might be a little bit nippy but thankfully we live in the Upstate where early December isn’t typically bone-chilling cold. Grab your jackets, lawn chairs, and maybe a mug of hot cider to check out this list of Christmas Parades in Greenville, Spartanburg, and nearby areas!
If you don’t see your town’s parade in the list under Greenville or Spartanburg, scroll all the way to the calendar listings. There are a lot of parades this year and we have tried to list as many as we could find.
This article includes:
Christmas Parades Near Greenville, SC
Christmas Parades Near Spartanburg, SC
More Christmas Parades in the Upstate and Western North Carolina
Tips for Attending a Christmas Parade With Kids
Looking for something fun to do with friends and family over Thanksgiving break in Spartanburg? Local mom India Menon offers ideas for Thanksgiving family-fun activities in Spartanburg. Whatever the weather or your family’s interests, there is something for everyone.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Spartanburg! Find things to do, restaurants, pies, and more in our Spartanburg Thanksgiving Guide.
In our household, in addition to eating a filling home-cooked meal, Thanksgiving means making memories with family and friends. If you’re looking for ways to have fun together in the Spartanburg area during Thanksgiving week, here are some ideas to consider.
Note: Because schedules are always subject to change, be sure to call locations ahead of time to double-check event details and/or hours of operation.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate Spartanburg is always a fun option for families with young kids. The museum is designed for children under the age of 5 and also includes Toddler Zones for guests under the age of 18 months. During Thanksgiving week, the museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The museum is in the heart of downtown Spartanburg at 130 Magnolia Street. Admission is $7 for SC residents and tickets can be purchased in advance. Members and children aged 6 months and under are free.
Whether you like the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, the feel of brisk cold rushing through your lungs, or enjoy a good old-fashioned leaf fight, Spartanburg and the Upstate offer a variety of outdoor venues for exploring, exercising, and playing. Hatcher Garden and Cleveland Park are two of our favorite outdoor spots in Spartanburg and Croft State Park is on my list of places to check out.
For more hiking options, check out the Kidding Around Ultimate Guide to Upstate Hiking for Families & Children. If parks and playgrounds are more your speed, check out this list of Spartanburg County Parks and Facilities.
My family gets some exercise during holiday breaks and Spartanburg does not disappoint in that regard. In addition to a variety of outdoor spaces, Spartanburg offers roller skating, bowling, indoor trampolining, indoor rock climbing, and indoor bounce houses. For these and other indoor activities, check out our Indoor Guide to Spartanburg.
Spartanburg’s USC Upstate hosts the Gobble Your Giblets 5K and 1-mile Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning. 2022 information will be available soon. Runners will also take to the streets of downtown Spartanburg for the Annual United Community Bank Turkey Day 8K. Most of these races benefit local charities. Runners and walkers also earn cool swag like race t-shirts, finisher medals, and giveaways. In most cases, strollers are welcome. Register sooner than later!
A family friend reminded me of a self-guided tour of the Lighten Up lightbulb sculptures that decorate downtown Spartanburg. A walking tour of these 30 bright bulbs is a good way to get in some exercise and/or do some important holiday-related window shopping.
If shopping is on your agenda, there are plenty of options for shopping local. Our Spartanburg Ultimate Shopping Guide promises something for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
Friday following Thanksgiving is the kickoff for a bunch of the Holiday Light displays! The Kidding Around Driving Routes of Upstate, SC Christmas Light Displays is a fun way to start the holiday season. Head out to view some FREE lights, and don’t forget to submit yours if you go all out!
In addition to crafting our first gratitude turkey this fall, my family will explore ways to give thanks by giving back to our community. Spartanburg offers a wide range of volunteering options for families. Learn more about volunteering opportunities in Spartanburg.
november, 2022
For more fun things to do the week of Thanksgiving, and every day, head to the Kidding Around Event Calendar!
Do you know about the Zoo Tots program at the Greenville Zoo? Zoo Tots is a great way to liven up your preschooler’s weekend. With storytime, plenty of sensory play, and a meeting with a zoo animal, Zoo Tots is sure to have something that your child will enjoy! Kidding Around’s India and her 3-year old went to a recent Zoo Tots and a good time was had by all! Read on to find out about the Zoo Tots program and how you can sign-up!
(more…)Want your child to learn the beauty of music? Kidding Around had a lively chat with Theresa Case, owner of Piano Central Studios, about why any time is the right time to learn – and make! – music.
(more…)Want to introduce your family to the culture of India? If you have never been to the India Day Celebration, you will not want to miss this year’s celebration.
On Saturday, August 20, 2022, the India Association of Greenville hosts its 6th annual India Day and celebrates the 76th India Independence Day. Events for the day will take place at the TD Stage Wyche Pavillion at the Peace Center in Downtown Greenville and all activities are FREE. The event starts at 9 AM and goes until 10 PM.
Looking for a fun-filled way to burn calories? What if it was through laughter? When you combine yoga with goats, your face will hurt from smiling afterward. Kidding Around contributor India spent an hour with Greenville Goat Yoga and got the scoop on what to expect when you sign up for a class with a seasoned yoga teacher and a small team of goats.
(more…)Got an hour or two to take a walk on the wild side at the Greenville Zoo in Greenville, SC? The Greenville Zoo offers a quick and easy zoo experience. While the zoo isn’t large, it includes many animals kids love, and it’s an easy activity even if you only have an hour or two. Kidding Around Contributor India Menon and her family revisited the zoo after not having been in more than a year. Here’s all you need to know to plan your visit.
(more…)The temperatures are rising and so is our anticipation for summer camps at South Carolina Children’s Theatre! In this guest post from SCCT’s Kate Fowler, she takes us behind-the-scenes with the theatre’s Education Director, Betsy Bisson, on what makes SCCT’s camps unique & fun for children of all ages!
What makes SCCT’s summer camps different from other camps in Greenville? What skills will the children learn?
Betsy Bisson: Socialization is a big part of any camp experience, but in theatre camp we encourage creative thinking and social & emotional learning, rather than just filling time with activities. Children are encouraged to explore, and learn self-expression and collaboration, while being active!
What camps are new this year and why are you excited about them?
Betsy Bisson: We have some new and some “tried and true” camps this year. We are excited for the Superkids & Spykids theme as it should be a great deal of fun as well as Dare to Be Different and Generosity and Gratitude, since those will really lean into exploring what makes each of us special. And, of course, Encanto/Coco as well as Sing 1 & 2!
Are there any particular success stories of children attending SCCT’s theatre classes and summer camps – and how they used the knowledge they learned?
Betsy Bisson: Yes! In fact, we just got this note from a parent: “Funny/cute story. My child takes piano lessons from another student’s mom and they had their recital this weekend. They had to do a little introduction before they played. You could tell that most of the kiddos, understandably, we’re nervous about that part. But our girls bounded up there, proclaiming loud and proud who they were and what they were playing! We laughed after that you can always tell those theatre kids! It does so much for their confidence.”
For working parents looking for all-day activities for their children, can you explain how they can do that with SCCT summer camps?
Betsy Bisson: We offer morning and afternoon camps for the Elementary aged child. Students are welcome to bring a lunch for a supervised quiet time in our Education Lobby with lunch and a movie each day. We even offer FREE early-drop off for morning camps starting at 8:30am.
Any other fun facts about summer camps to share?
Betsy Bisson: All campers get a MainStage tour and get to see what it feels to me ONSTAGE under the lights! They also get daily outside time. We record performances at the end of camp as well and send the link via email to the parents – allowing each family to celebrate their child’s performance at a time convenient for everyone in the family, while making it possible to easily share with distant family members.
Summer camps at South Carolina Children’s Theatre can be purchased on the SCCT website. You can review SCCT’s general FAQs for our programming from our location, COVID precautions, snack and lunch breaks, and more. Additionally, we are very proud to offer scholarships to qualifying families. For more information on summer camp scholarships, please click here. SCCT Theatre Conservatory scholarships are generously funded in part by Metropolitan Arts Council, Kiwanis Club of Greenville, Robert B. and Ruth K. Lee Foundation, and Walmart Community Grants. We hope to see you and your child at SCCT this summer!
