Ah, Labor Day in Greenville, SC, the unofficial end of the summer. This weekend is the last chance to relax for many families before the busy school year gets underway in earnest. Check out these things to do on Labor Day Weekend near Greenville.
We also have a giant list of free or cheap things to do in Greenville that would be great for a long weekend. So have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
Events
Upper SC State Fair
Easley, SC: September 1-11, 2022
$18 to $90 (presale rates through September 1)
Traditional carnival rides, games, food, and more.
NC Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC: September 2-5, 2022
Free to attend, rides, entertainment, and food for purchase.
Hot Air Affair: Rising Above Cancer (Hot Air Balloon festival)
Williamston, SC (Friday, Saturday, and Monday), Anderson, SC (Sunday): September 2-5, 2022
Free event. Flight times are early mornings and evenings. Friday events begin around 5 pm. Saturday events all day. Monday is morning-only flights. Sunday events will be held at the Anderson Civic Center. Friday, Saturday, and Monday events at Williamston Municipal Center Ballfields. Refer to the Hot Air Affair Facebook for changes in flight times/schedules due to weather.
70th Anniversary of the Mile High Swinging Bridge
Grandfather Mountain in NC, September 2, 2022, 10 am – 3:30 pm.
Enjoy special programming to commemorate the anniversary of the famous swinging bridge.
$24/adult, $10/child ages 4-12. Purchase tickets online.
Salsa at Sunset
Camperdown Plaza in downtown Greenville, September 2, 2022, 6-9 pm.
Free event, just bring your dancing shoes!
Chapin Labor Day Festival & Parade
Chapin, SC (~hour and 20 minutes from Greenville): August 28-Sept 5, 2022
Free event. The parade is on Monday, September 5th at 9:30 am.
The Shores Labor Day Weekend Jam
Anderson, SC: September 2-September 4th, 2022
Friday night is Family Fun Night with food games and more, and Saturday and Sunday will feature musical performances. Located at The Shores of Asbury on Lake Hartwell
$3.00 Movies at Regal Cinemas for National Cinema Day
All Regal Cinemas locations: Saturday, September 3, 2022
All showings and format, any movie for just $3.00 per ticket!
Opening Day: Fast Lane: The NASCAR Photography of Darryl Moran
Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC: September 3, 2022
Exhibition of NASCAR history through photographs. JD “Stoneman” Stone of Rock 101 will be on location from noon until 2:00 PM. There will be prizes and more to look forward to.
Labor Day Doughnut Dash 15K and Munchkin Run
Alpharetta, GA: September 5, 2022 at 8 am.
Cost is $40+
See more events on our calendar directory.
Get Those Honeycrisp Apples this Labor Day Weekend
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.
Day Trips To Enjoy Labor Day Weekend
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-Beautfort 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.
Hit up a free splash pad – Fountain Inn, Unity Park, Tyger River Park, Barnet Park, and the 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 (9/5) 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. Here are lots of ideas to enjoy Labor Day Weekend in the Upstate.
I just went to the Bacon Labor Day website and it says that it is cancelled.
Thank you for this. This is so sad – it must have just happened as the website indicated the festival was happening as of last week!