Posts Tagged ‘Fall’

A Simple Idea with a Big Meaning | A Thankful Tree

Are you looking for a way to instill gratitude and thankfulness in your children this Thanksgiving? Greenville mom, Lacey, shares how her family makes and uses a Thankful Tree. Use her suggestions to celebrate Thanksgiving and teach gratitude this holiday season.

This fall we’ve completely acquired an idea from our friends – and probably dozens of other families too – A Thankful Tree. Or – more accurately – A Bunch of Thankful Sticks. ~Lacey Keigley

Such a simple idea

It was easy to designate the task of securing branches to my boy – he took the assignment seriously. We stashed the sticks in a jar of chickpeas (because I had a jar of them and I do not recall the day I ever bought them which means they most certainly had long since expired). I cut out some leaves on autumn-colored paper and my five year old gleefully punched holes in the leaves.

It’s so easy. All I did was place the leaves and a sharpie on the table by the tree. And suddenly – our little tree is loaded with thanks. We haven’t even had to encourage the kids to jot down their thanks. They’ve been spontaneously filing it up since we stuck it there.

(Why don’t I leave one of those out all year long?)

They’ve written down food and friends and family and fishing. (No, not all of them begin with the letter f!) My youngest children have been drawing pictures when they cannot spell the words they wish to write. The branches are really being filled every day. All I know is – it can never be too many leaves of thanks for me. I’ll happily cut out dozens more.

Our friend suggested that we just take these down on Thanksgiving day and read all of our thanks out loud together. I think it’s a perfect little plan.

Ready to go make your own Thankful Tree now? Thought so.

Even more great content from Kidding Around Greenville:

Find Your Way Out of The Corn Maze at Greyrock Farms at Night

Fall is here and it’s time to head to a local farm for a corn maze, hayride and more! Local mom Kristina visited Greyrock Farms in Moore and is giving us all the details here. This local farm includes multiple corn mazes, fresh produce and pumpkins, and a working dairy farm!

Corn maze scary fun at night, kid family fun at the farm during the day is exactly what Greyrock Farms and Green Acres Produce is all about. With one of the last remaining dairy farms in the Upstate, they have a farm stand with fresh produce and fruit from April through October, and the Fall is all about pumpkins, dairy tours, and old-fashioned fun on the farm.

One of the great things I really loved about Greyrock Farms is that it is the perfect size to let your kids run around where you keep an eye on them. For no cost, the farm has playgrounds, swings, and different play structures made out of typical things you’d find a farm.

They have parking on-site, just follow the signs. The largest sign you will see when you pull up is for “Green Acres Produce” – that’s the place you are looking for. Also, be sure to wear sneakers or closed toe shoes. It’s a farm where there are ants and other crawly things so just be prepared.

Corn Maze & Dairy Tours at Greyrock Farms

If you really want to get lost in the six-acre corn maze (which is fairly easy to do), it’s $8/person and kids under two are free. You can also tour the dairy farm for $6/person and see a cow getting milked and check out all the baby cows. The tour is conducted on a hayride and ends at the pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. Tours are Saturdays at 10 am and 2 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.

If you want to do both the tour and the corn maze, it’s $12/person and kids two and under are free. There are actually two corn mazes – a smaller one and a big one – which is great for kids of all ages to choose from.

Nighttime corn maze entertainment happens every Friday and Saturday night in October until 9 pm. But you have to bring your own flashlight!

Birthday Parties & Group Fun at Greyrock Farms

If your child has a fall birthday, Greyrock Farms is a perfect venue to host a party. They have a huge picnic shelter right in the middle of the big play area so kids can enjoy the farm and celebrate the birthday child.

The Standard Dairy Farm Birthday Package includes an hour shelter reservation, wagon ride and dairy tour and costs $150 for 12 children ($8/each additional child). The Ultimate Dairy Farm Package includes everything on the standard package plus goody bags, cow train, and paper products and decorations. That package is $200 for 12 kids ($10/each additional child).

If you want to go all out, choose the Cooowww-riffic Dairy Farm Package which includes everything in the aforementioned parties plus a cow cake, 12 cupcakes and ice cream cups, and a baby calf at the party that can be bottle fed by guests (awwww!). This package is $250 for 12 kids ($12/each additional child). All packages include a party hostess, set up and breakdown, and access to the play areas. Parents are free to bring food, ice cream and cake.

The farm also hosts lots of church groups and field trips over the fall as well. The corn maze especially sees lots of activity for group outings (and it makes a great date activity, especially at night!). They will even do a big bonfire if your group wants to really get in the fall spirit.

Greyrock Farms is ideal for family fun during the fall but don’t forget they also have strawberry picking come April. That’s actually how I first heard of them – my oldest daughter had a field trip there one spring to pick strawberries. They were absolutely delicious and I was delighted to learn about all the activities the farm has for families in the fall season. They are open through the end of October so be sure to put this great farm on your fall bucket list.

Visit Greyrock Farms

Greyrock Farms & Green Acres Produce
5750 Anderson Mill Road, Moore
864.576.2784

Looking for a fall event that your whole family is sure to enjoy? Check out Greyrock Farms Second Annual Fall Farm Day! Enjoy a family fun day on the farm! During fall farm day there will be hayrides, pumpkin picking, playground fun, inflatables, kids crafts, games and more!

October 6th10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Visit the Greyrock Farms & Green Acres Produce Facebook page.

Seasonal farm hours:

Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday 1 pm – 6 pm
Fridays and Saturdays in October – open until 9 pm

Has your family visited a local farm yet this fall?

You Can Hunt for Treasure at Bon Ami Mine in Emerald Village

Are you looking for a day trip that combines a history lesson, beautiful scenery and fun for the whole family? Whether you are looking for activities for a day along the Blue Ridge Parkway or just wanting a quick respite from the city, this day trip is the answer! Local mom Melanie shares her review of Emerald Village in North Carolina’s Little Switzerland, including all the information you’ll need to make the most of your day in this “Hidden Gem” off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

About Emerald Village

Set just a few miles off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the picturesque town of Little Switzerland is so small that most mapping systems don’t recognize it. This resort community was founded in 1909 by a Supreme Court justice. Included in this town’s history is a fight against the Blue Ridge Parkway, which resulted in the narrowest part of the Parkway in North Carolina being found here at just 200 feet wide.

The highlight of a visit to the town of Little Switzerland, and what draws most of its visitors, is the Emerald Village Mine. I learned about this place while browsing through Groupon. I’d been to a ruby mining attraction in Franklin, North Carolina pre-children and husband, and it sounded like a fun day trip adventure to enjoy with the family. The season runs March through November, and we went the last weekend of the 2017 season. It was a cold and rainy day. Luckily most of the Emerald Village activities are indoors or under some sort of cover.

When you first arrive at the Emerald Village, you’ll want to stop at the building on the right where the entrance to the Bon Ami mine is located. This tour includes a history of the mine and access to the mouth of the mine. Bon Ami scouring powder is an all-natural, scratch-free cleaning agent that was made from feldspar, mined here until the mine was closed and production was moved to Illinois.

I have to admit, not having any experience with actual gemstone mines or tours like this, my expectation was very different from what was actually there. The descriptions I’d read led me to believe that the tour included actually going into a mine. This is not the case. The mouth of the mine, just a few hundred feet, is what is accessible. Inside of this area are boards set up with information about the history of the mine along with some of the equipment that was used.

There is a blacklight tour that would definitely be more fun for children. It is conducted several times a year and the current dates can be found here.

The mine tour is not stroller friendly and I suggest wearing your infant (that’s what we did).

A short drive or walk up to the building on the left, will bring you to the Discovery Mill building.

Mining at Emerald Village

The Emerald Village also offers two different types of mining depending on the age of your children and the energy level of your group.

For families with younger children or those less adventurous types, the “gemstone mine” will be where you’ll want to head. With the purchase of a bucket (starting at ten dollars) you can have a seat at one of two different covered water flumes to sift for treasure from the contents of your bucket. Most of the buckets, with the exception of the “native bucket”, are peppered with gems from other mines. This insures that no one leaves empty handed.

We split two ten dollar buckets between the four of us and came away with more beautiful gems than I could count. Unfortunately, we were there right up until closing time, so we weren’t able to utilize the free gem identification service they offer. They will also cut down and set a gem for you on the spot.

A trick that I learned from past gem mining adventures that I taught my son on this trip, was to keep an eye out for what other people discard at the flume. Whether it be impatience, lack of knowledge or just people being in to much of a hurry – you’ll be amazed by what you’ll find other people let wash down the flume. We sat at the very end of the flume for this reason. We could have had a nice little souvenir collection without even purchasing a bucket, although I don’t recommended that. With assistance, even our two year old was having a fun time looking for “beautifuls.”

Gold panning is also available at this location, although I was unaware of that until I recently stumbled across that information on their website.

For families with children over twelve and a more adventurous spirit, the Crabtree Emerald Mine option is for you!

In the entire United States there have only been two significant sources of emeralds. At Crabtree mine, you’ll be at one of them. For only twenty dollars a day, you can search the dump piles from the mine that for just under 100 years supplied emeralds to jewelers which include Tiffany & Co of New York.

The task of unearthing gems in the mine piles is not for the faint of heart or casual adventurer. The day permit doesn’t include the tools you’ll need to break rocks and move earth. They are available for rent, however the task at hand is still not an easy one. The hard work could definitely pay off with the pride of being able to find an heirloom quality gem, that will have an exciting origin story!

Housed in the Discovery Mill building is a small mineral exhibit and different gem related souvenirs for sale. The exhibit is up a flight of stairs, so it is not stroller accessible.

There is an outdoor picnic area and snacks and refreshments are available. Packing a picnic with you is welcome and most likely your best option.

If dining at the mine doesn’t sound like a good fit, back towards the Parkway you will pass several of Little Switzerland’s country dining choices.

While In the area we had planned to also visit the Orchard at Altapass. Unfortunately, the inclement weather prevented this from happening. There are tons of family friendly events held here. It’s also, a location of a Kids in Parks Trail Track!

Plan a visit to Emerald Village in Little Switzerland

331 McKinney Pine Road
Spruce Pine, NC
828.ROK.MINE

Open daily until November 4th. Follow this link to see hours.

Would your family enjoy a visit to Emerald Village in Little Switzerland?

5 Tips from a Teacher for a Great Start to School

Greenville County Schools start on Monday, August 20th- are you ready? We’ve put together a great list of tips to ensure your kids’ school year gets off to a great start! We hope these tips from a teacher help your family get off on the right foot this year!

Are you ready for the first day of school? It’s that time!! I know, I know, you’re a hot mess of super sad to see them go back but very glad for a little extra quiet time. Here are a few tips to make sure everyone in the family is ready. ~Andrea Beam, KAG Contributor

Be prepared

The best way to be sure you and they feel comfortable is to have the necessary supplies. Supplies are easy to check off the list as you get them and you know just how awesome it feels to check things off the to do list! Be sure to think of the things the teacher doesn’t have down- lunchbox, bookbag, Kleenex (for you), extras for your house (you’ll need notebook paper for homework)…things like that.

Give it time

You and your child will both need time to adjust to the new schedule, teacher, and routines. Be patient with them and give yourself room for mistakes (theirs and yours). Build in a few extra minutes if you’re at a new school because, inevitably, you’ll start driving the same direction you’ve gone before and have to turn around. (Not that I’ve done anything like this before…)

Touch base with the teacher

Your child’s teacher wants to hear from you! Not all the time, naturally, but trust me- I love when a parent checks in to be sure there aren’t things on my wish list that I need or checks to see if there’s anything I need prayed over. Letting the teacher know you care about more than just the grade she’ll give will warm her heart!

Be sure you’ve signed up

Sign up for everything as early as possible. Join PTA, even if you can’t volunteer time. (It helps your child’s class win a prize.) Sign up to volunteer if you can- we need help! Get your kids registered for any programs you’d like them to participate in, such as Good News Club, after school, etc.

Take pictures for just you

Yes- post away with the first day pictures, but be sure to take some personal ones just for you, like the kids brushing teeth and hair while getting ready or the oatmeal faces that laugh at breakfast. Those are really the memories we love anyway, right?!

Enjoy the school year. You’ll do great and they’ll be fine! (I say that to you as well as to myself!) Happy new year!!!

What’s your best tip for being ready for the new school year?

Half a Million People Are Traveling to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games™ and We Live Just an Hour Away

Are you planning on attending the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 and looking for all the information you need for your visit? Do you live in the Upstate region and are considering attending the games? We have put together this comprehensive guide that will give you all the information you need for the 2018 Games in Tryon including where to stay, where to eat, where to park, and what else you can do in the Tryon area.

Update 9/12/18: PHOTOS from the first day of competition are here. A FREE Community Day is happening at the games on Monday, September 17th as well. There are no competitions that day but everything on the grounds – including kids activities like the carousel- are open!

Half a million spectators are expected to flood into North Carolina in September for one of the largest horse competitions in the world, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG) in Mill Spring, NC.. The economic impact is enormous, which could trickle into the Upstate’s economy – organizers expect the games to generate $400 million into the greater Carolinas.

John Lummus is president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance and told the Upstate Business Journal that he “anticipate[s] a great deal of eyes will be on Tryon and nearby communities like Asheville [N.C.], Greenville, Spartanburg, and the surrounding retreats.”

In a word, these games are going to be huge. They are happening at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC, only an hour from Greenville. This is the place that our readers just love! They have Saturday Night Lights events over the summer that are free of charge and include lots of kid-friendly activities like a carousel, face painting, pony rides, magicians, and a horse show.

What are these games?

The World Equestrian Games™ are held every four years in the mid-Olympic cycle, the largest event of its kind. The events showcases the core disciplines of reining, vaulting, driving, endurance, dressing and para-equestrian dressage, show jumping, and eventing.

The games happen from September 11-23. The 2014 games in Normandy attracted over 1,200 horses, almost 1,000 riders and 575,000 spectator. Again, this is huge.

Each discipline will have its own competition and a schedule of events are here. If you’re not familiar with horse competitions, here is what each discipline means in regular people terms:

Dressage is actually an Olympic sport and has been compared to ballet, where horse and rider work together to create a beautiful performance in tune with music of the rider’s preference.

Driving is probably the most exciting for the spectators as they watch a three-man team navigate four horses that are pulling a carriage through a specially designed course that includes water obstacles and sharp turns. The phases for the driving competition are split up into three days: Dressage, Marathon and Cones.

Endurance is exactly as it sounds: a test of both horse and rider through 100-mile course to challenge the speed and endurance of both. Mandatory rest periods and vet checks are enforced to ensure the welfare of rider and horse.

Eventing is another Olympic discipline that tests the jumping, dressage, and endurance of horse and rider over a three-day period of competition.

Jumping is the third Olympic discipline, and arguably the most popular, as it showcases the rider’s ability to control the horse as it soars over obstacles.

Reining is the only western discipline for these games and looks most like what rodeo horses do when they spin, ride in fast circles, and pull off immediate stops. This competition will happen at the indoor arena at TIEC.

Vaulting is essentially gymnastics on a horse and has its origins in the circus. There are individual, team, and freestyle competitions where the rider performs gymnastics moves on the back of the horse as it rides.

Para-Equestrian Dressage is the same as dressage except riders are scored by their division of functional abilities. The bond between horse and rider are perhaps even more evident as these special athletes demonstrate the relationship with their horse.

Are these events kid-friendly?

Yes, but some more than others. At Saturday Nights Lights, the horse competition is usually jumping and dressage and spectators are requested to stay quiet as to not spook the horses. It’s pretty amazing though to watch but sometimes the smaller kids have trouble keeping quiet.

But other disciplines are more conducive to louder environments and are exciting for the kids to cheer along. For example, Reining events encourage a loud and rowdy crowd. The Cross-Country phase of Eventing and the Marathon phase of Driving are done in an open, outdoor atmosphere and is exciting as spectators watch horses galloping through.

And Vaulting – gymnastics on a horse – is performed to might and often includes colorful costumes, both of which kids will likely love.

Kids are welcome at all events though so don’t be shy about checking out one that sounds like your family will love. Also, Reining and Vaulting are performed indoors, which could be great options if it’s a hot day. There are covered seating in the big arena outside as well.

All tickets include entry to the World Equine Expo™, which includes lot of fun activities and a kids zone. You can also buy these tickets separately.

Are tickets available?

Tickets are sold for individual disciplines, day passes, weekend passes, and all access passses. They can be purchased online. Tickets include access to all the grounds, restaurants, vendors, exhibitions, and entertainment. Parking will be an extra fee, which has not yet been released by the organizers.

Children two years old and younger are free but must sit on the lap of a ticket holder. If parents or guardians want that child to sit by themselves, they need to buy a ticket for them.

Day passes start at $20 per person. Individual competition passes start at $30 and some include more than one day and time for that individual competition.Passes for individual competition qualifiers are more expensive, upwards of $300. For the bad daddy of tickets, the All Sessions Full Games Pass is $1,380.

All tickets bought online are charged a service fee (8.5%) and sales tax (6.75%).

Lodging

The Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) is only an hour from Greenville but maybe you want to stay up there for a few days or you have friends coming to town and want to check out the area near the games. There are certainly places to stay near Tryon, from hotels to AirBnbs and apartments. The official games website has a listing page of all area rentals that you can view here.

For a family-friendly place that has activities everyone can enjoy, Lake Lure is 18 miles from where the games are held. A quick Google search turns up several cabins, resorts, and vacation rentals in the area. This local website has information on where to stay as well. If you’re the outdoorsy type, there are several campgrounds in the area like Rutherford Mountain, Hitching Post, Hickory Nut Falls, or Creekside Mountain.

Asheville is an hour away from the TIEC so staying there is also an option for visitors. Hendersonville is a 30-minute drive away and other nearby towns are Landrum, SC, Flat Rock, NC, and Saluda, NC.

Many Greenville and Spartanburg hotels have reported rooms are already filling up for those dates so if you’re thinking of getting out of town and offering your own home for VRBO or Airbnb, maybe you can make some money during the games by hosting visitors.

Places to Eat Near Tryon International Equestrian Center

There are several places to eat on site at the TIEC. From full restaurants to coffee shop and general store, they have it.

Blue Ginger Sushi & Noodles: traditional sushi, rolls, sashimi and more

Campagna Italian Cuisine: wood fired pizza, Italian grill

Legends Grille: Seafood and steak

Roger’s Diner: classic diner fare, milkshakes, gluten free and diary free options

Siesta Cantina: Mexican cuisine, tacos, burritos, salads and margaritas

Mane Street Coffee: pastries and treats, serving North Carolina’s Larry’s coffee

The General Store: Ice cream, deli, along with groceries and donuts

Nearby Columbus, NC is about 8 ½ miles from Tryon. Google maps says that’s about an 11 minute drive, and there are a number of restaurants in Columbus. Here are a few with top reviews!

Mountain View BBQ & Deli: This Columbus favorite serves pulled pork, bbq ribs, brisket and more

Southern Manners: Open for breakfast and lunch, sandwiches, pastries, milkshakes

The Brick Pizzeria: Pizzeria with a variety of appetizers, salads and traditional Italian dishes

Rutherfordton, NC is a little farther from the Equestrian Center but at 12 miles away (an approximately 20 minute drive) it is still a good option for a meal. We’ve listed a few with great reviews.

Rutherford Thai: Popular Rutherford restaurant serving Thai food for lunch and dinner

Mi Puebltio: Mexican restaurant serving salads, nachos and combos loaded with traditional Mexican favorites

Scoggins Seafood and Steakhouse: Lobster, prime rib, steaks, chicken, salad bar, and a lot more!

Parking

General parking will not be available at the TIEC for this event. Parking will be available at nearby lots with shuttle service. It will not be free parking. More information on parking is still To Be Announced, check the World Equestrian Games™ FAQ page for updated parking information.

Extra Things to Do in Tryon and the Upstate

If you are looking for fun things to do in addition to attending the World Equestrian Games™, you have several nearby options. Tryon is a lovely town with art galleries, golfing, and picturesque views – you can easily spend a day just exploring the town itself! Here are some ideas to make the most out of your visit:

Go Back to Nature

The area surrounding Tryon offers excellent hiking and outdoor adventures. For example, families should check out The Gorge in nearby Saluda for an amazing zipline canopy tour. If a zipline tour over the gorge is out of your comfort zone, head to Pearson’s Falls for hiking and scenic waterfall views or to Chimney Rock State Park for amazing views of Western North Carolina.

Pick Some Apples

September is the ripe apple-picking time, and Western North Carolina is home to several outstanding apple orchards where you can pick your own bushel. Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock is a popular venue for families.

Play Like a Kid

Tryon is situated close to two super fun children’s museums. Kid Senses Interactive Children’s Museum is located in nearby Rutherfordton, and Hands On! Children’s Museum is located in nearby Hendersonville. Both are only a short car drive away from the equestrian center. Additionally, if your kids near to run off some energy indoors, Mountain Play Lodge is close by in Arden.

Tour the Wineries

Within minutes of the TIEC are several award-winning wineries, such as Mountain Brook Vineyards, Parker-Binns Vineyards, Overmountain Winery, and others, that offer wine tastings and more. To get an idea of where to start, check out the WNC Wine Trail. It will tell you where to find the area’s best wineries.

Be a Tourist

The location of the World Equestrian Games™ could not be any better. Your family can hop in the car and tour several nearby towns and popular tourist destinations, such as the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Plus, Tryon is only 40 minutes from Spartanburg, South Carolina and 1 hour from Greenville, South Carolina. Visit Kidding Around Greenville and Kidding Around Spartanburg to find out the many fun things to do with kids here. We’d love to have you visit the place we are proud to call home!

Will your family visit Tryon for the World Equestrian Games™ this September?

This website post was a collaborative effort by Kidding Around Contributors Kristina Hernandez, Jennifer Curry and Maria Bassett.

It’s Tailgating Season! Here is Where You Can Cater Your Tailgate Party

Local mom Kristina Hernandez shares the best local restaurants that cater tailgating parties! For more suggestions and reviews of places to eat, see our Greenville Eats page.

While the Fall season brings pumpkin patches, awesome festivals, and apple picking, it’s also the return of football season. And that means tailgating parties. Tailgating is such a fun way to spend time with family and friends. But you need good food and if you don’t want to pull out all the stops yourself, check out these places that will kick your tailgating party up a few notches.

Plan the perfect tailgate

Big Dave’s BBQ

Big Dave’s BBQ has a great catering menu of BBQ, chicken wings, and hot dogs. Yum. Big Dave also boasts of feeding the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and Clemson Tigers so you know it’s going to be good.

864.973.3899
http://bigdavesbarbeque.com/1/

Bucky’s BBQ

I love Bucky’s BBQ so much that I used them to cater my daughter’s baptism. But they also do a great job with tailgating parties.

They have three locations in Greenville and one in Fountain Inn.
http://buckysbbq.com/menu/catering/

Charlie’s Bar-B-Que

Located close to 85, Charlie’s Bar-B-Que actually has what they call a “tailgate kit”. They include baked beans, cole slaw, chips, bread, tea and plates along with the entrée of your choice of BBQ, BBQ & Turkey, or BBQ & Chicken.

800-123-4567
https://www.charliesbarbque.com/

Grill Marks

Known for their burgers and milkshakes, Grill Marks also does catering for tailgating parties. I will follow those milkshakes anywhere.

864.233.5825
http://www.grillmarks.com/catering

Henry’s Smokehouse

A BBQ staple in Greenville, Henry’s Smokehouse offers their award-winning food for tailgating. They have lots of options plus offers of setting up and taking down if you need.

Two locations in Greenville and one in Simpsonville.
https://www.henryssmokehouse.com/

Mike & Jeff’s BBQ

A true hole-in-the-wall gem of Greenville barbeque, Mike & Jeff’s offers fantastic options to make your tailgating party a memorable one.

864.271.5225
https://www.mikeandjeffsbbq.com/catering

Nard’s Backyard BBQ

Not only does Nard’s Backyard BBQ cater but they are also a full-fledged BBQ competition team. They will work to cater any size event and keep it within your budget.

864.230.1357
https://nardsbackyardbbq.com/

Pickwick Pharmacy

Tired of driving across town early in the morning to pick up Duke Sandwiches for your football tailgaiting party? Pickwick Pharmacy can help. Place bulk orders at least 48 hours in advance, and they will have your sandwiches bagged, chilled, boxed, and waiting to be placed in your cooler. They also provide ice free of charge if you need to stock your cooler.

864.277.4180
http://www.thepickwick.net/sodafountain_parties.php

The Chopping Block

Looking at this catering menu will have you putting this place on speed dial. The Chopping Block has a Raw Pack which consists of burgers, hot dogs, shrimp, and baby back ribs. The Italian Pack comes with lasagna, ziti with sausage, blackened chicken alfredo and a loaf of garlic bread. There’s more but I’m getting hungry.

864.220.5724
http://www.thechoppingblockonline.com/Catering

The Smoking Pigs Restaurant

Catering mostly for Clemson games, the The Smoking Pigs Restaurant has four packages to choose from, ranging in price from $65.99 up to $344.99. All of them sound super tasty.

864.553.6092 or 864.787.7827
http://thesmokinpigsc.com/Tailgate_Packages.html

Tom’s BBQ

With 30 years of experience, Tom’s BBQ obviously knows what they are doing. They have lots of great BBQ options (plus desserts) available for tailgating parties.

864.288.2652
https://www.tomsbbq.info/

What’s your favorite place for catering a tailgate?

Meet Kristina, KAG Food Expert

Kristina Hernandez is a mom of two girls, freelance writer and photographer and New Jersey native who is thrilled to call the Upstate her new home. She loves cooking, trying new foods, and checking out all that Greenville has to offer.

Mom Review: Summer Camp & Classes at SC Children’s Theatre

The SCCT is a sponsor of Kidding Around Greenville, but this review is not sponsored or associated with an advertising campaign.

My son, who is turning four this summer, is attending summer camps for the first time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with his experience at the South Carolina Children’s Theater Summer Camps.

I didn’t know what to expect, and couldn’t find reviews of the camps anywhere, but the age level was right, and the themes looked fun, so along with a friend, we signed up.

About summer camp at SCCT

Throughout the summer SCCT offers week-long camps, as well as 9-week sessions for kids ranging in age from three years old up to rising 12th graders.

There are a variety of exciting themes to choose from. Some from this summer include Shakespeare, Hamilton, Jedi Academy, Pete the Cat, Monster Mash, Sing Silly Songs and Barnyard Buddies. For older kids, SCCT also offers musical theater, process acting, improv, play writing and more.

My son and his friend chose the theme Trolls, Surfs & Pixies. This was a week long camp, 1.5 hours each day. The children were able to create a character, help write the action and dialogue, and then on Friday they put on a little performance for the families. The end product was adorable.

I loved how the entire set up and curriculum was child-centered and age appropriate, while encouraging imaginative and creative play. Class sizes for this age group are typically eight children, with one instructor and one assistant, although my son’s class had two assistants.

Many of the kids–such as my child– were very shy and hesitant. The instructors were great at using play and encouragement to pull them out of their shells. The confidence and excitement my son showed during the final performance was amazing.

My family loves the 2nd Stage interactive productions, and the summer camps are just another great way SCCT introduces theater to the very young.

photo used by permission from the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.

A Few Facts About SSCT Camps and Classes

For the 3 to 5 year olds, class size is limited to eight spots, and usually have one instructor and one assistant.

For 1st- 5th grades class size can be limited to 12 depending on the classroom. Class size limits for older grades is 20.

SCCT also offers 10 to 12 week classes in Fall and Spring for ages 3 to 18.

There is also a winter “mini-mester” with 6 week classes.

Throughout the year SCCT classes offer different levels of acting, musical theatre, improvisation training. They have everything from exploration for the little ones to Shakespeare for the older youth. According to Michelle Ward, SCCT Marketing Director, “You do not have to be outgoing or have the desire to be an actor. The benefits of theatre arts exposure and participation help youth in areas of teamwork, self-esteem building, creativity and more.”

SCCT camps and classes are great, whether you have a budding actor or actress in your family, or just kids who love being creative and having fun.

photo used by permission from the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.

Another fun introduction to being in a larger production is SCCT’s 3rd Stage. These are class-based productions for younger children. Children wishing to audition for 3rd stage productions would need to have previously taken classes at SCCT.

The current building that houses SCCT will be torn down soon, to make way for a new, larger theater arts center for children.

While the new building is being completed, classes and productions will take place around town.

By September, WeePlay Theatre, Tell Me A Story Theatre, auditions, rehearsals, Theatre Arts Conservatory and SCCT offices will be relocated to 1200 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC 29611.

All three 2nd Stage productions will be held at The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 424 Westfield Street, Greenville, SC 29601. And the five MainStage productions will still be held at the Peace Center Gunter Theatre 300 South Main Street.

The Fall class schedule as well as upcoming 2nd productions, will be announced soon.

For more information on all of their educational programs, visit their website.

Would your child love summer camp at SC Children’s Theatre?

Meet Kristen Alcock

Kristen Alcock is a stay at home mom who loves reading, crafting and having adventures with her three children. She is one of the Branch Ambassadors for Hike It Baby Greenville, and enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors with her family. A former teacher, she also blogs at Wild Rumpus School House.

In Search of a Mom Tribe? Try MOPS.

Local mom Rachel shares her experience attending and volunteering with MOPS in Greenville. This local moms group offers support for mothers of preschool aged and younger children. To find more options for mothers needing support, see our list of Mom Groups in Greenville.

Motherhood is both beautiful and hard and no one understands the roller coaster of emotions that you feel when you’re in the midst of it more than other moms! There is something absolutely freeing about sitting down with a fellow momma and hearing her say, “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m 60% coffee and 40% dry shampoo at this point too.” But if finding a spouse is hard-work, finding a mom tribe can sometimes be just as hard!

When my husband and I moved to Greenville in 2014 with our 6 month old little girl, I was incredibly lonely. I loved taking care of my daughter, but was desperate for adult conversation and connection. In fact, I was two seconds away from running up to any mom with small children and strapping myself to their legs yelling, “Please be my friend!” Thankfully, someone spared me some embarrassment by suggesting I look for a MOPS group in the area. And it was there that I found an amazing group of women: my tribe!

What is a MOPS group?

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a place for mothers of children from birth to kindergarten to be encouraged and supported by other moms in this incredibly rewarding yet infinitely challenging season of life. It’s a place to connect with other women in our community and a place to get some encouragement. Because, let’s face it, we are all on this journey of motherhood together! Though we may not always see eye to eye, we can walk arm in arm as we raise tiny humans in the best way we know how.

Greenville is full of young families and continues to welcome more to the area every day. With this growth comes a huge need for mom groups! Moms desire and crave connection and MOPS provides just that. A place to sit down with a cup of coffee, socialize with other moms, use our hands to create, and listen to someone share about issues that resonate with each of us.

This will be my third year in MOPS and I literally could not imagine being without it! As our original group at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church has grown, our space has filled up fast and we were forced to start a waitlist. Recognizing what a vital role this group played in my own life, I hated to turn away other moms who needed the same benefit. In order to serve more moms in our community, we are now starting a new MOPS group in Greenville! This new MOPS group will meet one Wednesday evening each month from 6:30-8:30 pm at Seacoast Greenville (Carolina International Preparatory School) at 212 Roper Mountain Rd Extension in Greenville. Starting September 27th, this new group will be a “sister” group to Buncombe Street, meeting separately but joining together for monthly play dates and mom’s nights out.

Our theme this year is “Free Indeed”. Is it your desire is to be free? Free from worry. Free from feeling stuck. Free from hustling to be loved. Free from a heaviness you can’t put your finger on. Free from thinking you should be something other than exactly who you are. This year, we will we choose wild, unexpected freedom; the kind that brings more laughter and less worry, more contentment and less hustle. Freedom that is so contagious, the people around us are compelled toward their own liberation. You can watch more about the theme here.

Consider joining us!

If you’re reading this and raising your hand saying, “Yes, sign me up for this!” we would absolutely love to have you join us! Feel free to visit this website info or email seacoastmops@yahoo.com for details of the new group and how to join. It’s $31.95 to register with MOPS International which covers your welcome kit, quarterly magazine, online resources, and ultimately a great community of moms!

There are other great MOPS groups in the surrounding area as well! Click here and type in your zip code to get a list of all the groups close to you.

Being a mom is hard enough on its own! Come be a part of a great community of moms who can run this marathon of motherhood right along side of you!

Meet Rachel Wong

Rachel graduated from North Greenville University in 2003 and loved the area so much that she moved back 11 years later! She met her husband, Clarence, who is from Singapore while living in Asia for 3 years. Now settled state-side, they absolutely love living in Travelers Rest with their two children. Rachel enjoys a good bargain, a great read, and a generous portion of cheese fries.

Foothills Gymnastics & Cheer

Thank you to Foothills Gymnastics & Cheer for supporting Kidding Around Greenville by sponsoring this website post.

When I was a little girl, my dream was to be an Olympic gymnast. I took gymnastics classes for years but I met my end when I became too tall. But my love of gymnastics hasn’t waned and I loved watching my daughter during her classes and I seriously cannot wait to watch the Olympics next month. If you have an aspiring gymnast in your household, there’s a great facility to check out that’s been voted the “Best Gymnastics Facility” and “Best Parent/Child Program” in the Upstate. Foothills Gymnastics & Cheer is the place to be!

Gymnastics & More

Foothills is based in Easley, SC and opened its doors in 1996. Ever since, the gym has been putting smiles on the faces of children of all ages with a variety of dynamic, age-appropriate classes.

The gym is a large 12,000 square feet and is the only gym in South Carolina that has a separate, 5,000 square foot preschool facility equipped with the finest apparatuses for smaller children. Foothills is a United States Association Gymnastics Member Club whose mission is to “further the happiness and health of our clients” by teaching gymnastics and other fitness specialties in a fun environment that supports and develops the student’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Classes Offered

Ninja Warriors, geared towards ages six and up, consists of flips, rolls, and jumps, which are put into an obstacle course designed to challenge the imagination and body. Maybe kids want to be the next “American Ninja Warrior” or maybe they just want to test their own strength and agility using bars, ropes, and an obstacle course or maybe they think the skills are just really fun to learn. Whatever the reason, Ninja Warriors is the gym’s most popular class, however, not the most popular for girls (yet). Ninja Warriors for girls is coming this fall.

The preschool classes make use of the vast array of preschool equipment in the special area of the gym specifically set aside for children of this age. The classes focus on achieving skills of listening, coordination, rhythm, imagination and promoting a healthy self-image. Classes have a low student-to-teach ratio and have a new theme every week to keep kids always excited about coming to Foothills.

The Parent and Tot classes (walking to 3-years-old) is also a popular class because it encourages that quality time between parents and kids in an interactive and positive environment.

The Big Brother, Big Sister classes are genius because they are designed for families that have an older child (4-5 years old) and a smaller child (walking-3) where both children can come at the same time. Classes are taught with two or three instructors so there is plenty of supervision and instruction as well as the time and space for siblings to enjoy learning together and having fun with each other. The two groups warm up together and then split up by age for age-appropriate instruction. But parents get to drop two kids off into class instead of just one!

Gymnasts start out with the Basic Skills classes that help to develop skill progression and the ability to overcome cognitive challenges. Each child is placed into their age and skill appropriate class. The gymnasts will progress to the next level as they master the basic skills.

Foothills focuses on dance classes as well and offers Dancenastics, which combines both dance and gymnastics into one class, and beginner through advanced tumbling.

Boys can get in on the action as well and develop athletic skills through gymnastic classes and the Ninja Warriors classes.

And now Foothills will be offering Baton for Beginners for ages 6-12 and Twirlnastics for ages 4-7. Both include 1/2 hour of Baton and 1/2 hour of Gymnastics.

The Fall schedule is available here.

Birthday Parties

For a unique and fun birthday party, Foothills is the place to go. Their facility is a great place to host a birthday party and the gym has a variety of packages to choose from, including the Fashion Diva and Treasure Island Ahoy Mates. They are also able to invite a special princess to join in the festivities.

Time to Register

Registration for fall classes are from August 1st through the 6th for new and returning students. Parents can either drop by the gym, email, or call to reserve a spot anytime that week. Classes start up on August 8th.

Foothills Gymnastics & Cheer
198 Couch Lane, Easley
864.855.9660
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Register to Win a Month of Class

Foothills Gymnastics & Cheer is giving away a FREE month of classes for one lucky Kidding Around Greenville Reader.

This giveaway starts now and ends on August 10th!

Our giveaway rules:

You must be 18 or older and live in the USA to enter this giveaway.
You must use a valid email address to enter this giveaway.
One entry per person per day.
We will contact the winner via the email address provided within three [3] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have three [3] days (72 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the three [3] days (72 hours), the prize will be forfeited and another winner chosen. Directions for claiming the prize will be given via email. A valid photo ID and/or mailing address may be required.
For a complete list of Kidding Around Greenville SC’s giveaway policies and terms and conditions, see the Kidding Around Greenville SC policy page. By entering this giveaway, you agree to comply with Kidding Around Greenville SC’s terms and conditions.

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Do you have a little Olympic hopeful in your house?