(2026) Fantastic Labor Day Events: Greenville, SC and the Upstate

Labor Day Events Near Me: Greenville, SC to WNC

Hot Air Affair: Rising Above Cancer (Hot Air Balloon Festival)
Balloon Launch Field, Anderson, SC
September 4–6, 2026

The 9th annual Hot Air Affair joins forces with Celebrate Anderson at the Balloon Launch Field. Expect 40+ hot air balloons for flights, tethered rides, and glows, plus an agricultural expo inside the Civic Center, vendors, kids zone, car show, color run, and more. Check cancerassociationanderson.org for the full schedule as details are confirmed.

NC Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC
September 4–7, 2026
Free to attend, rides, entertainment, and food for purchase. The King Apple Parade steps off Monday, September 7 at 2:30 pm.

Earl Scruggs Music Festival
Mill Spring, NC
September 4–6, 2026
This huge bluegrass, family-friendly music festival takes place at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.

Chapin Labor Day Festival & Parade
Chapin, SC (~hour and 20 minutes from Greenville)
September 5–7, 2026
Free event. The Labor Day parade will be Monday, September 7.

Labor Day Luau at Saluda Lake Landing
Greenville, SC
Take a float down the Saluda River while enjoying live music, hot dogs, drinks, and more. You can purchase tickets beforehand for $10/person.

Dacusville Farm Show
Dacusville, SC
September 5–6, 2026
13th Annual. Farm equipment, kids zone, music, arts & crafts, ugliest tractor contest. Admission is $10 cash only.

Grape Stomp 2026
Hendersonville, NC
Saturday, September 5, 2026 – All day event
A family-friendly fun festival featuring grape stomping, wine tastings, live music, and the famous Lucy Look-A-Like contest.
Free event + free kits for kids while supplies last. Read our review of visiting Beech Mountain for info on where to stay, eat, and play.

Lights on the Lake
Fellowship Camp & Conference Center, Lake Greenwood, SC
Saturday, September 5, 2026 (4:30–10:30 pm)
Free community festival and fireworks show over Lake Greenwood. New for 2026: a family festival with community exhibits, food vendors, and interactive experiences before the fireworks!

Chesnee Labor Day Festival
Chesnee, SC
September 5–7, 2026
Three-day festival at 220 W. Cherokee Street in Chesnee, SC, with food trucks, free rides for kids, live music all three days, and more.

Labor Day Doughnut Dash 5K and Munchkin Dash
Alpharetta, GA
September 7, 2026
Cost is $25 -$40

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.

Pilot Mountain Pears is extending their weekend hours to include the Monday of Labor Day Weekend so go get those Asian pears. Never heard of an Asian pear? You’re in for a treat!

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
• 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

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.

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.

Head to an inflatable aqua course! There are several not far, including the Shores of Asbury in Anderson (photo below).

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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