10 Must-Do Fun Fall Activities for Greenville Newcomers

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Maybe you’ve just moved to Greenville or maybe you’ve got family or friends visiting? There’s plenty of family-friendly fun and adventure to be had during the Fall in Greenville and the Upstate. In this guest post by local real estate agent Dan Hamilton, you’ll find plenty of activities that will remind you of why Greenville is the place to be!

Thank you to Hamilton & Co. for sponsoring Kidding Around.

Greenville is an amazing place no matter the season, but fall is especially outstanding in the Upstate. The foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway explodes with color and temperatures steadily drop after a long summer. Hiking, biking, and other popular Greenville activities become even more enjoyable in the cool weather and the season is crammed full of fun with dozens of festivals and events.

I have raised my family in Greenville and have discovered so many fun fall activities over the years. Keep reading as I share a few of my family’s favorites along with a couple of recommendations from my real estate clients who have recently relocated to the area.

1. Denver Downs

Denver Downs Farm is a South Carolina Century Farm owned and operated by the Garrison family of Anderson County since 1869. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was established as a cotton farm, transitioned to a dairy farm, and today is still a working farm devoted to agri-tourism and entertainment!

Denver Downs features a 12-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, zip line, bonfires, pig racing, and much more! If you love fall festivities, Denver Downs is the place to be. 

My family loves going to Denver Downs in October once the weather turns cold. There are enough activities to keep kids entertained for hours, and mine especially love the corn maze. It keeps getting bigger and bigger every year!

Denver Downs corn field

There are a couple of Denver Downs events you won’t want to miss this fall:  

  • Halloween Weekend Festivities include costume contests, pig races, a candy cannon, and more! See the full Denver Downs weekend lineup here.
  • Every Friday and Saturday night from sunset till closing, enjoy a roaring bonfire, live music, and S’mores.

Virtually tour Denver Down’s full list of activities using this event photo gallery. This is definitely a local fall attraction you won’t want to miss.

2. Justus Apple Orchard

There are dozens of amazing apple orchards just a couple of hours away from Upstate, SC, but our family’s favorite is Justus Orchard.

At Justus, you can pick your own apples or grab some picked for you. Justus also has a huge selection of baked goods and ciders, including our personal favorites, apple cider donuts.

Cide donuts

In addition to apple picking, Justus has a lot of fun activities for kids including a playground, farm animals, a jumping pillow, and more.

apples

If you enjoy shopping and want to grab a bite to eat (and maybe offset the sweetness of those donuts!), Hendersonville is only 20 minutes away from Justus. Walking through this beautiful NC mountain town is the perfect way to end a fall day in the mountains. Plus, your kids will love the colorful bear statues on each block that have been expertly painted by local artists.

3. Hike to a Waterfall

Waterfalls are a hallmark of Greenville. There are over 50 waterfalls in Greenville County alone, with the most notable running straight through downtown (have you walked through Falls Park on the Reedy yet?).

If you are looking for more of a hike, one of my favorites is Wildcat Wayside Falls. About 40 minutes from downtown Greenville, this hike features multiple waterfalls with a variety of hiking times and difficulties depending on your preference. 

The Lower Wildcat Falls are an easy pull-off from the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway and feature a cool basin perfect for swimming (maybe wait until next summer to bring out the swimsuits though!). Swimming or not, this first fall is beautiful and easily accessible.

The Middle Falls are a short 10-minute hike from the trailhead on a well-maintained path. This hike is perfect for bringing along small children and a favorite among my kids. Finally, the Upper Falls features huge boulders and are a moderate 45-minute hike from your starting point. This hike is better reserved for older children due to the hike difficulty and dangerous ledges at the base of the falls.

4. The BMW Zentrum Museum

Calling all car lovers! The Upstate is home to the only BMW manufacturing facility in the US (and the BMW plant with the highest production volume in the world too!). The BMW Zentrum Museum and Visitor Center is an amazing experience for all ages. Learn about the history of BMW in the United States, get up close to some amazing vintage and high-end BMW models, and enjoy a meal in the on-site cafe. There is even a gift shop full of fun souvenirs.

Even if you aren’t a fan of cars (a few members of my family are not), you’ll enjoy this unique museum.

Note: The Zentrum also hosts tours of the entire BMW Plant. Unfortunately, these are suspended right now due to COVID, but you should definitely bookmark this experience for later!

5. Client Pick! Greenville Classical Academy’s Fall Festival and Holiday Market

This annual festival is hosted by Greenville Classical Academy (GCA), a local K-12 classical school. This festival is a favorite among some of my real estate clients. There are dozens of local artisan vendors, food trucks and baked goods, plus a kid’s zone complete with slides, bounce houses, face painting, and more.

If you love to shop locally, this festival is an amazing place to learn about small businesses in Greenville. Plus, the festival takes place in early November, making it the perfect time to get a lot of your Christmas shopping done.

6. Greenville Swamp Rabbits Game

If you are new to Greenville, you may be surprised to hear we have a professional ice hockey team here in town. The Swamp Rabbits are affiliated with the Florida Panthers and the Charlotte Checkers and play their home games in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville. 

swamp rabbits hockey

These games are an absolute blast for the whole family. Plus there are free concourse activities throughout the game including temporary tattoos, interactive games, and sign-making.

Check out the Swamp Rabbit’s full season schedule and get a game on your family’s calendar! 

7. Flying Rabbit Adventures

Flying Rabbit Adventures is the newest way to get outside and active in Greenville. Located in Holland Park, Flying Rabbit features a 3-story aerial park with numerous difficulty levels for all ages. Plus enjoy other amenities like a barbeque restaurant, brewery, observation deck, and more! 

I had the opportunity to speak with Jonathan Simmons, the co-founder of Flying Rabbit, on my radio show My Greenville Home. The outdoor park is so much fun and the perfect family outing now that the weather is cooling off.

8. Swamp Rabbit Trail

One of Greenville’s most iconic attractions, the Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile (and growing!) biking and walking network that spans from the Blue Ridge Escarpment south through Travelers Rest and Greenville proper. The trail is especially popular in the fall as the days grow cooler and the leaves explode with color.

I love this trail because there are so many different ways to enjoy it. Families with younger children who may prefer a shorter trip can walk through historic Cleveland park and enjoy some of the most popular playgrounds in the city. Ambitious bikers will enjoy the 10-mile trek from Downtown Greenville to Travelers Rest. Though on the longer side, this trip can be accomplished with kids (plus a few breaks!) in plenty of time for lunch in Travelers Rest. 

Speaking of food, there are a lot of great places to stop along the trail if you want to grab a bite. The Swamp Rabbit Cafe is a really popular restaurant and grocery overlooking the trail in Greenville. If you’re headed towards Travelers Rest, Tandem Coffeehouse and Creperie, Topsoil Restaurant, and Shortfields are all awesome options.

9. The Pumpkin Patch at St. Matthew United Methodist Church

Dozens of my clients have shared that the St. Matthew’s pumpkin patch is one of their favorites, and I have to agree. There is a huge variety of pumpkins to choose from, and the kids love picking out their favorites. Plus, all proceeds benefit local charities including Rebuild Upstate, United Ministries, and more.

pumpkins

This is just one of many local pumpkin patches. Check out more here.

10. Client Pick! The Carolina Artisan Fair

The Annual Carolina Artisan Fair is not something you’ll want to miss. The event transports your family back to the time of Camelot, complete with jousting knights and medieval artisans. The kids have so much fun getting dressed up for the festival and experiencing stories they love come to life.

The festival features jousting, falconry, over 150 artisan vendors, and kid’s rides. There are special themes incorporated into the pageantry almost every weekend from Time Traveler’s Weekend to Halloween Haze and Pirate’s Christmas. Although I have not been myself, many of my clients have recommended this event as a must-see in the Carolinas.

Want to learn more about why the Upstate is the place to be for you and your family?

Contact Dan Hamilton to learn more.
Hamilton & Co. of Keller Williams Greenville Upstate
403 Woods Lake Road, Suite 100
Greenville SC 29607
864.527.7685

Dan Hamilton
About the Author
Dan Hamilton is a founder and Team Leader of Hamilton & Co. of Keller Williams Realty, which consistently ranks as one of the top producing real estate teams in South Carolina. Passionate about Greenville and the Upstate, Dan is also a former member of the SC House of Representatives and has also served as a Director for the Greater Greenville Association of REALTORS and the South Carolina Association of REALTORS. Dan and his wife Kelly are also parents to four children. On most weekends, Dan can be found on the sidelines of the soccer field either coaching or cheering on one of his kids.

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