Are you looking for a Greenville, SC story time? There are some wonderful options for story time with your kids in the Upstate. You’ll find story times at libraries, bookstores, museums, and more! Plus, there are also some wonderful virtual story times you can check out from home. Many of these events are completely free, and others like museums require regular admission.
You’ll often find these organized by day on our Kidding Around Greenville calendar, so don’t forget to check that when you are looking for something fun and educational to do.
My kids and I love going to storytime. Ever since my days as a new mom, I found it was a great way to get out of the house, meet other moms, expose kids to literature, and support local businesses. Now that my kids are a little older, we love attending them at our favorite spots. Story Times are happening all over Greenville.
Free Storytime Events in Greenville
Looking for free story times? Greenville has several! These storytime events are completely 100% free. Pair them with a treat at a local coffee shop for an inexpensive morning out.
Greenville County Libraries
The Greenville County Library System has several storytime opportunities for you and your little one to enjoy. These events are regularly scheduled, so you can add them to your personal calendar as a fun thing to do weekly.
Bouncing Babies
30 minutes of music, rhymes, stories, and bouncing games for babies up to 18 months old. They’ll have a little playtime, too!
- Tuesdays 10-10:30 am: Five Forks Library & Simpsonville Library
- Wednesdays 10-10:30 am: Travelers Rest Library
- Thursdays 10-10:30 am: Taylors Library
- Thursdays 11-11:30 am: Hughes Main Library and Pelham Road Library
Toddler Tales
30 minutes of music, stories, and movement for your toddler (ages 19+ months). These library storytime events are great for young children to socialize!
- Mondays 10-10:30 am: Greer Library
- Tuesdays 11-11:30 am: Simpsonville Library
- Thursdays 10-10:30 am: Hughes Main Library
Story Time at Greenville County Libraries
30 minutes of stories, music, and activities designed with preschoolers (ages 5 and under) in mind. These library storytime events are all FREE.
(always check with your local library for schedule changes)
- Five Forks Branch: MONDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Mauldin Branch: MONDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Travelers Rest: MONDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Hughes Main Library: TUESDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Berea Branch: TUESDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Greer Branch: TUESDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Fountain Inn Branch: WEDNESDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Pelham Road Branch: WEDNESDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Pelham Road Branch: WEDNESDAY, 11 am – 11:30 am
- Simpsonville Branch: THURSDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Augusta Road: THURSDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
- Taylors Branch: FRIDAY, 10 am – 10:30 am
Keep your eyes on the Greenville County Library Calendar to see when additional programs are reintroduced. Also, check the calendar – occasionally, there will be special, fun events after storytime!
Learn More About the FREE Programs at the Greenville County Library System!
South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Twice per month during the school year, the South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers Tell-Me-A-Story Theatre. Here, your child can enjoy a reading of their favorite children’s books, and then see it performed! The event is completely free and is located in the Prisma Health Lobby at SCCT. See when the next Tell-Me-A-Story Theatre is happening on the SCCT website.
Barnes and Noble
Barnes and Noble off of Woodruff Road offers a weekly Storytime on Thursday and Saturday, while Barnes and Noble off Haywood offers it once per month, and Barnes and Noble in Spartanburg offers a weekly Saturday Storytime. We also recommend keeping your eyes on local store event calendars for the most up-to-date storytime events.
- Barnes and Noble, Woodruff Road: Thursday and Saturday at 10 am
- Barnes and Noble, Haywood Road: Saturdays at 11 am
M. Judson Booksellers
If you head downtown on Wednesdays or Saturday mornings at 10:30 am, be sure to check out M. Judson Booksellers biweekly Storytime on the Steps. We recommend getting there right before 10:30 so you do not miss the start. They have one of the most fun story times Greenville has to offer, especially since there are cookies from Camilla Kitchen available afterward! If it is a cold or rainy day, you can find storytime in the kid’s section in the back of the bookstore.
Story Times: Greenville Reading Events That Require Admission or Tickets
These storytimes are included with general admission or require a paid entry. You’ll find everything from museums with story events to a pottery studio with craft and story events.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate holds various storytimes in its Dream Theatre. Story Time and More is a story and craft time for children ages 0 to 5. It is currently offered on Tuesday-Saturday at 12 pm. You can find any updates on changes on the TCMU calendar. This storytime requires admission to the Children’s Museum, but there is no additional charge.
Follow TCMU’s social media accounts for the latest news regarding these events (Instagram and Facebook).
Do you know of a local story time we missed? Please let us know in the comments.
Storytime Online for Kids
Story Time From Space
Ever wonder what it would be like to be read to by an astronaut? How about being read to by an astronaut in orbit on the International Space Station? Check out Story Time From Space, where astronauts read books to children that are space-themed.
Super Simple Storytimes
If you are a parent of small children, then it is hard not to know about Super Simple Songs. They also offer an adorable series called Super Simple Storytime, where children’s books are read to children through animated films. These books are generally classic stories like The Ugly Duckling and Hush Little Baby. The stories are simple, creative, and are perfect to sit back and enjoy a reading session with your toddler or preschooler.
Storytime Online
These virtual story times for kids offer some of the most famous celebrities reading books to children. Storytime Online is a great way to keep your children interested in reading, while also seeing some of your favorite actors and actresses. Sit back and let Oprah instill a love for reading in your young children while she reads The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen or have Chris Pine read Clark the Shark. There are dozens of videos to choose from, and the series is a fun way to have face-to-face interaction while reading.
Which storytime is your favorite to attend?
