(2023) Fantastic Labor Day Events: Greenville, SC and the Upstate

Are you looking for Labor Day events? Greenville, SC, and the surrounding area have a few special events to enjoy for the weekend. Labor Day is usually seen as the unofficial end of the summer, so make it count!

This weekend is the last chance to relax for many families before the busy school year gets underway in earnest. Check out these Labor Day events near Greenville, SC, including special events, festivals, and day trip ideas!

Labor Day Events: Greenville, SC & The Upstate

Upper SC State Fair
Easley, SC
August 31 – September 10, 2023

$35 to $90 per person
Traditional carnival rides, games, food, and more. The event is a Labor Day tradition for many, and ushers in the season of fall festivals.

NC Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC
September 1-4, 2023

Free to attend, rides, entertainment, and food for purchase.

Hot Air Affair: Rising Above Cancer (Hot Air Balloon Festival)
Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, Anderson, SC
September 1 – 3, 2023

Friday, September 1, 2023: 5 pm -10 pm
Saturday, September 2, 2023: 7 am- 10 pm
Sunday, September 3, 2023: 7 am – 9:30 pm
There will be hot air balloons in the early morning and evenings on Saturday and Sunday (7 am and 6 pm). Hot Air Balloons will also take flight on Friday at 6 pm.

Starting at 5 pm on Friday, and 10 am on Saturday and Sunday, there will be food trucks, 60+ vendor games, arts and crafts, family activities, kids zone, and live music. There will be a musical performance by Martina McBride on Sunday evening. For more information about the event schedule, please follow the Hot Air Affair Facebook page. For a full event schedule, use the Celebrate Anderson Event Info page.

Chapin Labor Day Festival & Parade
Chapin, SC (~hour and 20 minutes from Greenville)
August 26 – Sept 4, 2023

Free event. The Labor Day parade will be Monday, September 4th, 2023 at 9:30 am, followed by a classic car show.

Grape Stomp 2023
Hendersonville, NC
Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 11:30 am

A family-friendly fun festival featuring grape stomping, wine tastings, and live music.

Labor Day Doughnut Dash 15K and Munchkin Run
Alpharetta, GA
Monday, September 4, 2023 at 8 am
Cost is $20+

Get Those Honeycrisp Apples this Labor Day Weekend

If you are looking for things to do outside of the Labor Day weekend events, then apple picking is a great option! Most apple orchards are now open – see our Guide to Apple Orchards – but they only have the coveted Honeycrisp apples for a few weeks. So get ‘em while they are in season. Many of the orchards have playgrounds and amazing donuts, too.

Bonus! Take this Apple Cider Donut driving tour to try them all.

Labor Day Weekend Day Trip Ideas

Labor Day weekend is a great time to hit the road with the family for some fun. We have plenty of ideas for day trips:

• Day Trip to The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC
• Athens, GA is a hidden gem
• Visit York County, South Carolina
• 10 Inexpensive Day Trips for Families
• Isle of Palms is a Wonderful Beach near Charleston
• Day Trips for Couples
• The Quarry at Carrigan Farms
• Eudora Farms
• Mile Creek County Park
• Mountain Sandy Beaches
• Ultimate Summer Day Trips
• Lake Hartwell Wildlife Safari
• Explore the Biltmore Estate
• Play with goats at the Carl Sandburg Home
• Go snow tubing (sans snow) and get apple cider donuts at Black Bear Snow Tubing in Hendersonville

Hit the Beaches of The Carolina Coast

Sure, many families take Labor Day to hit the beach, but there are so many options that you’re bound to find one that isn’t that crowded or fits your family’s budget, or isn’t hours and hours away.

• 15+ Beaches Near Greenville
• 14 Unique Ideas for Family Fun in the Port Royal-Hilton Head-Beaufort Area of the Lowcountry
• Kiawah Island Is Home To One Of The Top Ten Beaches In The US
• Try the Quiet Beaches of Jekyll Island
• Planned a trip to Hilton Head? This dolphin tour is a must-do!
• Why my family loves Myrtle Beach
• Visitor’s Guide to Edisto Beach
• Why Carolina Beach is the Perfect Destination for Upstate Families
• Surf City, NC is the Perfect Beach Town for my Family

Or, find a sandy mountain beach with our guide – 12 Mountain Beaches to Enjoy

Get Outside: Swimming, Hiking, Kayaking, Tubing

This is the last weekend for the Greenville Rec waterparks. Here are reviews of Discovery Island, 7th Inning, and Otter Creek. Shipwreck Cove is a little further out in Duncan.

Free is always a favorite Labor Day option. Hit up a free splash pad – Fountain Inn, Unity Park, Tyger River Park, Barnet Park, and Airport Park are all great choices.

If you’d rather get wet in more natural surroundings, check out our list of 14+ Swimming Holes Near Greenville. Don’t forget all the gorgeous waterfalls within a couple of hours of Greenville. Here are our favorite waterfalls!

Wildwater Adventures in Oconee County is offering 50% off all Wildwater activities on Labor Day Monday. Activities include rafting, ziplining, SUP, lake kayak tours, and jeep tours at any of our four locations: Ocoee, Pigeon, Nantahala, and Chattooga. Valid on Labor Day Monday trips (9/4) only. 

For water adventures, try kayaking at Lake Jocassee, tubing in Helen, GA, at Bryson City in Deep Creek, or tubing at any of these places in the Upstate, NC, or GA.

And if hiking is your favorite activity during some time off, try any of these hiking trails.

Stay Close To Home And Explore A Spot Near Greenville, SC

There are plenty of things to do near Greenville to have fun as a family and celebrate Labor Day. Here are lots of ideas to enjoy Labor Day Weekend in the Upstate.

• Plan the Ultimate Greenville Staycation
• Visit Lyman, SC for a family day trip.
• Spend a Day in Pickens, SC
• Take a Day-Trip to Greer, SC
• Travelers Rest Makes the Perfect Summer Staycation
• Discover Fabulous Food and Things to Do When You Spend the Day in Landrum, SC

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