Looking for Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC?
We have some great ideas on this extremely packed list. This list is an ode to that song, “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” Make memories and take advantage of all the great things around Greenville. Enjoy!
Do you want to keep tabs on all the things to do in the Upstate? Don’t skip our giant list of Things to Do Near Greenville, SC, full of fabulous family fun any time of the year.
Hours and openings are subject to change, so be sure to check with venues before visiting.
Also, we have the following articles about free things to do!
Downtown Free Things to Do in Greenville, SC
Free Things to Do with Toddlers in Greenville
Summer Free Things to Do in Greenville
Free Things to Do in the Winter in Greenville
Inexpensive or Free Things to Do Over Spring Break in Greenville
Free Dates in Greenville
Free Things to Do Outside in Greenville
Have your photo taken at the Medusa tree, Reedy River Falls, or Liberty Bridge in Falls Park on the Reedy.
Explore the Children’s garden and sculptures at the Cancer Survivor’s Park.
Go bird watching at Conestee Nature Preserve.
Spend the day at the expansive Unity Park near Downtown, Greenville.
Explore the parks around Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Visit one of these amazing gardens near Greenville or if you have time to drive take in the views at Pretty Place at Camp Greenville. (Just be sure to check their schedule as many weddings take place during the warmer months there).
Volunteer with REI to help keep our beautiful trails trash-free. You can keep tabs on the REI events and join a guided hike or take an outdoor skills class. Or, try one of these places to volunteer outdoors in the Upstate.
Put your hiking shoes on and try one of these great local hikes. If you have small children, try a hike that’s perfect for small kids.
Visit a FREE car show, Cars & Coffee. They alternate between a couple of locations throughout the Upstate each month, so follow their Facebook for locations.
Play tennis in this cooler weather and use our comprehensive list of public courts.
Free fishing thanks to the South Carolina Fishing Tackle Loaner program where you can borrow a rod, reel, and tackle box for FREE. Check out our best fishing spots list.
Enjoy some free mini-golf at McPherson Park.
Extend the frisbee fever and play disc golf at one of these local parks for free. The Upstate Disc Golf Club has a great review of the courses.
Chase waterfalls near Greenville with Kristina, our waterfalls expert. If you prefer waterfalls with no hiking, try our waterfalls driving tour.
Other than your picnic blanket, don’t forget your kite! See Greenville’s great spots for flying a kite.
Ride bikes on one of these trails or parks that are perfect for bike riders. Runway Park and Cleveland Park are perfect for little bikers!
In Downtown Greenville? Be sure to see our list of Free Things to Do in Downtown Greenville!
Historic & Educational Free Things to Do Near Greenville
Great for visiting friends and family, take a free tour of downtown Greenville and ride the Downtown Trolley.
Anderson County Museum is open to the public and free to visit (donations accepted) and has many kids’ events. During your visit, you can explore a one-room schoolhouse, a water well, and a harness shop.
Be a tourist in your own town and find out the story behind all those sculptures around town. Use the Art in Public Places Downtown Public Sculpture Guide.
Travel around and find all the amazing murals throughout Greenville county!
A baseball fan? Don’t miss the newly relocated Shoeless Joe Jackson’s Museum and Baseball Library, see the player’s former home, and enrich your knowledge of baseball trivia. Admission is free.
A great way to learn about history is to experience it! Check out Poinsett Bridge which opens back up April 1st, 2026 and Stumphouse Tunnel.
Unplug and learn what life was like during the pioneer days with a visit to Hagood Mill. Admission is free.
Our little Biltmore, have you been to the Kilgore-Lewis Historic House by Greenville Garden Club?
Venture out with the kids to one of these local, free storytimes!
The South Carolina Children’s Museum has a free Tell-Me-a- Story theatre twice per month.
You can also enjoy Storytime on the Steps at M. Judson Booksellers in Downtown Greenville on Wednesdays and Saturdays weekly!
The Greenville County Library System of tons of free programs to check out! The Hughes Main Library is a personal favorite.
Join Greenville Center for Creative Arts every first Friday of the month for a fun art activity at their kid’s art table, snacks, and a peek at some great art studios. Guests can also meet with local artists during their visit. This event is free.
A Greenville gem, visit Greenville County Museum of Art to see a fine collection of art and historical artifacts including rare pieces by potter and poet David Drake. Admission is free.
For a small fee, visit one of Greenville’s relatively new special interest museums, the Sigal Music Museum.
Free and Cheap Things to Do in Greenville for Kids
Always at the top of any free things list is our all-time favorite, Mice on Main.
Don’t forget to get your free kids’ workshop kits at local home improvement stores. Here is the Home Depot Free Kids Workshop schedule. We also have information on the DIY Kids Workshops available free at Lowe’s.
If you have a kid who loves crafts, head to JC Penney for their monthly free craft activity for kids.
If downtown Greenville has Mice, downtown Greer has Toads on Trade! Another fun hunt for kids has been revived thanks to a ten-year-old’s efforts.
There are many awesome free playgrounds in Greenville and here’s a list to prove it.
Take your family to one of these free (or cheap) spring festivals.
Earn prizes for free by reading in the summer with this list of places that offer free summer reading programs.
During the summer enjoy a free scavenger hunt at our local parks and earn prizes with the annual Park Hop.
Another secret free destination for little animal lovers is a visit to Petco or local pet stores around. Kids love examining the fish and animals in their dens. Check out more Secret Spots in Greenville.
Love bowling? During the Summer, Kid’s Bowl Free through several bowling alleys throughout the Upstate
In the summer, head to one of the free splash pads near Greenville.
Greenville County Animal Care’s Doggy’s Day Out program is a fun full-day option for animal-loving families, as well as the canines in their care! You get the company of a dog for a full day and one of their dogs gets a break from the shelter for a day by going on an adventure with you and your family.
Go to a free outdoor movie at one of our local parks. If you prefer indoor movies, try the cheap summer movies near Greenville offered by some local theaters.
Musgrove Mill in Clinton is a Revolutionary War Historic Site and is only $3 for adults, $1 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under to visit. Special events occur there throughout the year.
Take a free tour of the Duke Power Plant in Huntersville, NC and learn what happens when atoms collide! Open by appointment only.
Or, visit Duke World of Energy at Oconee Station.
Food, Fitness, and Fun Things to Do
Many of our local Farmers’ Markets have a festive atmosphere with live music and more.
At Christmas, take the family on a free driving tour to see Christmas lights.
Want to add to your gardening knowledge? Check out free garden workshops by local master gardeners, or take a stroll, jog, or power walk through one of these Gardens Near Greenville.
Go on a free date with one of these ideas.
Check out your local state parks Kids in Parks program (find which parks have the program here).
Celebrating your birthday? Sign-up for these goodies and get your free birthday treat thanks to these thoughtful local businesses.
Free Events for Families: Greenville, SC
These events and things to do have no admission and may have other free things like crafts and activities. Just click on each event for more information.
FALL-ELUJAH it’s back for the SIXTH year in a row— the Annual Fall Festival! It’s the perfect setting around Greenville to celebrate everyone’s favorite time of year with food, wine, shopping, and more!
FREE admission & parking
Live music all weekend long
Food & dessert vendors
30+ local vendors each day
Wine by the glass, bottle, and flight available + wine specials
Family & pup friendly
Trunk-or-Treat will kick off at the World of Energy from 6–7:30 p.m. This free, community-sponsored event is a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to enjoy a fun fall tradition together. Kids can look forward to face painting, pumpkin painting, games, and more throughout the evening.
Immediately following Trunk-or-Treat, they’ll be screening a movie under the stars on the World of Energy lawn, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets! A local food truck will be on-site and available for purchase before the movie begins. Admission, parking, popcorn and water are free.
Celebrating the harvest in Lincoln County since 1972, this is the largest festival in Lincolnton, drawing roughly 80,000 visitors each October.
It features local apple growers, a farmer’s market, local talent on two stages, and foods including whole apple pies, along with kids’ activities and more.
Free to attend, no pets allowed.
Each Saturday morning from early May through late October, two blocks of downtown Greenville’s Main Street are transformed into the TD Saturday Market, a vibrant open-air marketplace in the heart of the city.
The market features more than 75 vendors offering seasonal produce, prepared foods, and handcrafted goods, creating a lively community gathering space every week.
LEARN MORE HERE 🥕 Greenville Saturday Market, SC – Official Website | Official Website
Find special market happenings each week right here > Market Happenings | Greenville Saturday Market, SC – Official Website
Check for cancellations and special events on the TD Saturday Market Instagram
What to Expect
- Fresh, seasonal produce from farms located within 100 miles of Greenville
- Locally produced and prepared food items
- Handmade crafts and artisan goods
- Vendors encouraged to use locally sourced materials for crafts
Experience
The TD Saturday Market draws thousands of visitors each week who come to shop, explore, and connect with local growers, makers, and artisans in a welcoming downtown setting.
Why Visit
It’s a long-standing Greenville tradition that highlights local agriculture, craftsmanship, and community. The market offers a chance to experience the best of the region in one place every Saturday morning.
Alexander County’s biggest event of the year, drawing an estimated 35,000 visitors and over 400 vendor booths along the streets of downtown Taylorsville.
Expect multiple entertainment stages, a “Kids’ Korner” with rides, petting zoos, carriage rides, and games, plus food vendors serving everything from BBQ and Italian sausage to homemade ice cream and fried apple pies. Contests include apple baking, apple peeling, and kids’ candy apple art. Free to attend.
Fall market with 60+ local artisans, food/beverage vendors, and live music.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Greer City Park, 301 E Poinsett St, Greer, SC 29651
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: All ages
Join us for a fun-filled, educational day at Lake Robinson while learning where Greer’s drinking water begins. The event on Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm is free for all ages and will feature educational exhibits, lunch, kayaking, inflatables, outdoor yoga, and much more. There will be more than 25 exhibitors, tree giveaways, rain barrel workshop, and blood drive. The rain barrel workshop is the only cost associated with the event and will be run through the Watershed Ecology Center.
Soar into hero mode with the Firefighting Plane workshop, sponsored by First Alert! Kids will build and decorate a rescue plane. Workshops are hosted by Lowe’s Red Vests, in-store only.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: Recommended ages 4-11; parents build alongside kids
SCCT story times are a chance for young children to engage in a high-energy and child-friendly interpretation of their favorite children’s stories.
BOOK SWAP- Bring a new or gently used book to donate and leave with a new *to you* story to take home! The theme for this book swap is Spooky Season!
*Additional books generously donated by Greenville First Steps.
TMAS is performed by an SCCT Teaching Artist in SCCT’s Prisma Health Lobby, the material often includes audience participation or simple interaction and will last no longer than 30 minutes – perfect for young, wiggly patrons.
Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our twice-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go. If you catch them on a rainy day or cold day, storytime is held inside in the children’s section toward the back of the store. Keep up with changes to the schedule here> Book Store & Coffee Shop in Downtown Greenville Check out our Review of Storytime on the Steps at M. Judson Booksellers!
The 3rd Annual Pelham Medical Center Trunk-or-Treat is back at the Gibbs Cancer Center Parking Lot in Greer! Bring the little ones out for a festive fall afternoon packed with treats, food trucks, face painting, Touch-a-Truck, and gift basket entries. This non-profit event is free to attend and independently organized.
FALL-ELUJAH it’s back for the SIXTH year in a row— the Annual Fall Festival! It’s the perfect setting around Greenville to celebrate everyone’s favorite time of year with food, wine, shopping, and more!
FREE admission & parking
Live music all weekend long
Food & dessert vendors
30+ local vendors each day
Wine by the glass, bottle, and flight available + wine specials
Family & pup friendly
FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
Join us for our October Trailblazer Vendor Market!
You’ll find the perfect hand crafted products, decor, art, farm goods, sourdough, sweets, salsa and SO MUCH MORE! We proudly present a wide variety of vendors! There will be OVER 65 small businesses in attendance for you to shop from, delicious food trucks to grab lunch, face painting, a trick or treat trail from the vendor booths and more!
DATE: 🗓️ Saturday, October 17th 2026
TIME: ⏰ 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM
LOCATION:📍Trailblazer Park located at 235 Trailblazer Drive Travelers Rest, SC
This is an all OUTSIDE event! It is rain or shine!
★ FeaturedJoin Far Out Farms for their second annual Fall Festival! Pick your own pumpkins, shop with local vendors, and enjoy food trucks, bounce houses, and games — fun for the whole family.
Highlights:
- Pick-your-own pumpkin patch
- Local vendors & food trucks
- Bounce houses & games
- Free family event
📅 Saturday, October 17
🕐 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 750 N. Hwy 101, Landrum, SC 29356
💰 Free admission
Junior Herbalists Open House!
Join us for the afternoon as we introduce Junior Herbalists: Seasonal Herbal Science Labs, a new hands-on educational program for children ages 6–13!
Hosted by Theodora’s Apothecary, Junior Herbalists combines botanical science, herbal traditions, and creative exploration through engaging, seasonal learning experiences.
Come meet the instructor, explore the classroom, preview upcoming activities and curriculum, and learn what your budding herbalist can expect from our monthly science labs!
🌿 Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕑 2:00–4:00 PM
📍 Pelzer, South Carolina
🎟️ Free to attend!
Families are welcome to stop by anytime during the Open House. Children are encouraged to attend with their parents!
Please RSVP through our Facebook event or contact us directly. The exact address and parking instructions will be provided privately upon RSVP.
We can’t wait to welcome you and share the exciting world of herbal science! 🌱
Get ready for an evening of fall fun! Adam Taylor & Team are excited to host our 4th Annual Fall Festival at the beautiful Taylor Barn. We’ve packed the night with activities the whole family will love.
Entry Fee (FREE) : Bring a food item to give back to Miracle Hill Minitries
Here’s what you can expect:
- Trunk-or-Treat: A safe and fun way for kids to collect candy!
- I Spy Scavenger Hunt Hayrides: Hop on for an exciting scavenger hunt on wheels around the property!
- And more fun & games! There will be plenty of other activities and photo ops.
Come celebrate the season with us and make some amazing memories!
No pets, please.
We can’t have pets at the event for everyone’s comfort and safety. We’d be happy to have you, but they will need to be left at home.
307 Hipps Road
Simpsonville, SC 29680
Come spend the evening with us at Faith Baptist Church for a night of faith, family, community & fall fun!
Chili Cook-Off
Pumpkin Patch & Pumpkin Painting
Face Painting
Potato Sack Race
Cornhole
Bounce House
Trunk or Treat
Hot Dogs
Hot Chocolate & Apple Cider
Games & more!Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
Join us at Friendship Baptist Church for an evening of fall fun for the whole family! Trunk or Treat
Plenty of candy Hot dogs Costumes welcome!
Fun & fellowship for the whole family
Saturday, October 17
5:00–7:00 PM
Friendship Baptist Church, 830 Friendship Church Road, Pauline, SC
Bring the family, invite some friends, and come spend the evening with us. We’d love to see you there!
FALL-ELUJAH it’s back for the SIXTH year in a row— the Annual Fall Festival! It’s the perfect setting around Greenville to celebrate everyone’s favorite time of year with food, wine, shopping, and more!
FREE admission & parking
Live music all weekend long
Food & dessert vendors
30+ local vendors each day
Wine by the glass, bottle, and flight available + wine specials
Family & pup friendly
Shop local vendors, enjoy delicious food trucks, and let the kids play in the FREE kids zone at this monthly pop-up market in downtown Inman.
Find Market on Mill on Facebook to confirm details and find the latest news on any changes to the schedule.
Acoustic jam open to all ages, in partnership with Bluegrass Spartanburg. Musicians age 7+ can participate.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: 151 S Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: All ages
Paint a ceramic trinket dish shaped like a pumpkin. Suitable for ages 6-12. First 22 participants.
Popular books come to life through trivia, crafts, and games for ages 9-12.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: Ages 9-12
What are your family’s favorite low-cost things to do in Greenville?
I am so impressed with this site! It is refreshing and simple to navigate. Being a grandmother of two toddlers I am always looking for new and exciting things that we can experience together. Thank you for making my google search worthwhile!
Thanks so much! We’re so glad that you have enjoyed Kidding Around Greenville SC. : )
How do we get to some of the wonderful things you mentioned? We are new to the area! We are hoping to ride the trolley and see the childrens garden! Any help greatly appreciated!
Hi Kristie! You can find a trolley map here: & The Children’s Garden is at Linky Stone Park. You can park over there or walk to it from Falls Park by walking past the water jets, down the sidewalk, across the street, and it will be on your left. You can recognize it by the tall painted poles on the overpass. Have fun!
Be sure to visit gcma.org/events to find upcoming children’s programming. Visit gcma.org/see to find summaries of exhibitions on view.
Thanks, GCMA! I just added that information into the post. I know that my family has enjoyed every program that we have experienced at the museum.
I lived all my life in Greenville and i can remember when west end was noting and up town did not have much.know I can say Greenville looks so good now.my wife and I go downtown a lot .we now lived in Greer ,sc.So proud of Greenville and the people that put it together.people like you
Do you know when the jets downtown will be up and working? They have been closed since June.
They are back up now!
Thanks for the heads up about the burgers at Hall’s. My family will have to try them.
Apparently Halls Chop House no longer has the $5 burger?