Have kids who like to bowl? Kids can bowl free all summer long with the Kids Bowl Free program. They’ll get two free games every day at participating bowling alleys. Plus, the Kids Bowl Free people thought of everything with a heavily discounted Family Pass so the grown-ups can join the kids in the summer bowling fun.
What a great opportunity to make memories this summer without breaking the break. We have done all the research so you can fill out the registration form and start bowling!
Is the Kids Bowl Free program legit? You bet. We have the answers to all your questions about the program so you can plan your summer and register now.
Isn’t it great when there are tons of free things to do in the summer? So, pull out the sprinkler, blow bubbles, and send the kids outside to play. But, what do you do when you’ve already exhausted your go-to summer fun list and perhaps your budget at the same time? Fortunately, free things to do in Greenville, SC are abundant, and we also have tons of options for families looking for cheap things to do. In fact, here is our list of 30+ Free (or Cheap) Things to Do This Summer.
P.S. Our definition of “cheap” is approximately $5 or less per person. For fun activities that cost more but are still fun, see our calendar.
Up for a cheap new adventure only a short drive from Greenville, SC that the whole family will love? Tryon International Equestrian Center is only an hour or so from Greenville and a unique experience you will look forward to visiting again and again! We’ll fill you in on where this hidden secret is, what they offer and why you should visit!
When we first heard of the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), it sounded cool and we knew we had to go. A beautiful oasis of horses, a carousel, and fun (and cheap) events? Um, yes! So we went and checked out Saturday Night Lights. Total gamechanger. We’ve been so many times now and it really never gets old.
We’ll tell you all about why you should head over the border to the TIEC,
The forty-five-minute ride to Tryon was like driving across the picture on a postcard. Please note: as you drive up Highway 26, drive the speed limit. Troopers literally tuck themselves along the side of the road in an attempt to catch you speeding. The only reason I know this is because a friend told me. Really, it is. (Wink).
I perked up the moment we arrived. There is a security guard stationed at the gate to answer all your questions. Having never been, we had a lot. Although the festivities didn’t begin until the evening, the kind officer encouraged us to “have a look around.” So we did.
Four words came to mind: Who needs Churchill Downs? As soon as you enter the grounds, there is so much see. We went when there was nothing going on. I can only imagine what it looks like during events! The first thing our little one spotted was the carousel. There were restaurants and food/drink vendors galore. I won’t go as far as to compare it to Disney World but, during an event, Tryon International Equestrian Center could easily be the happiest place in North Carolina.
Before I go any further, allow me to share with you the best part of our journey. It wasn’t the shops, food or horses; nope, my favorite thing was the freshly squeezed lemonade. The real-life lemonade stand was parked right up front (at least it was the day we went) and they squeeze your drink right in front of you. It cost more than a quarter, but was well worth it.
But let me tell you about an event at the TIEC that just may rival some time at Disney – and it’s free except for parking.
Saturday Night Lights at Tryon International Equestrian Center
One of the coolest things about the TIEC is their free Saturday Night Lights program that starts in early summer and runs through October. The 2025 season kicks off May 3, 2025 at 6 pm. You really won’t believe it’s free once you get there and find all the stuff they have for you to do.
Venetian Carousel
The Venetian carousel is a fan favorite and anyone can see why – it’s so pretty. And it’s not just for kids. I’ve ridden it many times and it’s just as fun for me as for my kids. You can ride it as many times as you like at Saturday Night Lights. For free. Yup, just keep riding.
Pony Rides
Saturday Night Lights has had pony rides in the past but not every time we’ve come. It’s pretty hit or miss. So if your kid really, really loves pony rides, maybe just don’t tell them anything about it until you get there and see if they have them that night.
These are wildly popular and they are the first things you’ll see when you enter the facility so get in line right away if you want to do it. You’ll have to sign a waiver and your kid will get fitted for a helmet and get a ride around once or twice in a circle. The horses we saw were really pretty and the staff was great.
Face Painting
Most evenings at Saturday Night Lights they do have face painting but get in line early as they tend to fill us fast. While everything, even face painting, is free, there are tip jars out there if you want to leave something for a job well done.
Mechanical Horse, Bounce House & Live Music
Saturday Night Lights really has things for every age. There is a horse bounce house, a mechanical horse (like a mechanical bull you may have seen in a country western bar but for any age!), and a great band. We loved listening to the band while we ate dinner and the kids played with hula hoops and ran and jumped over kid-size horse jumping obstacles.
Food & Drinks
There are vendors with fresh-squeezed lemonade and adult beverages plus places to grab dinner. There are different food trucks every time plus a sushi restaurant, a taco and nachos place (delicious by the way), an Italian restaurant, a diner, and an American grille.
You can sit anywhere you like but we have loved to sit on the green hill on the west side of the stadium because kids can roll down it in between horse jumping. Or you can sit and listen to the band or wherever else you want to sit and eat.
One pro tip during the cooler months of early fall: bring blankets! It gets chilly and we saw so many people with blankets and considered them geniuses. They also looked very cozy. In the General Store, they sell coffee and hot chocolate, which I’d definitely recommend as well.
Horse Jumping Competition
While all the excitement of the free activities is a lot of fun, there is also a pretty incredible horse jumping competition that happens at 7 pm during Saturday Night Lights. You can sit anywhere you want in the stadium. I love sitting really close to the arena so I get a good look at the horses as they jump right in front of me.
Let me just say: I know nothing about this kind of competition. Like, zero. What I’ve gathered is that the rider loses points if the horse knocks down one of the bars they have to jump over or goes over the amount of time they have to complete the course. And the winner gets a lot of money. You also cannot be cheering and clapping while the horse is jumping the obstacles but you can cheer after they are done with their run.
All that to say, even though I have zero clue what is happening, I absolutely love it, as do my kids. The horses are stunningly beautiful and agile and just so amazing. We all love watching them.
Parking Fee
Due to rising costs, the TIEC is now charging a $10 parking fee after 4 pm for Saturday Night Lights. If you arrive before 4 pm, there is no charge. They take cash or credit cards.
WNC Main Street
After Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024, the Tryon Equestrian Center invited all the shops that were destroyed along the main street in Chimney Rock to set up shop at the center. So they did! This is a fantastic way to support these small businesses that were destroyed.
WNC Main Street has small businesses from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, and Asheville and is located at the second floor of the International Pavilion.
WNC Main Street
2025 Schedule
All the free events happen 6-8 pm and then the competition goes from 7 pm to around 9:30 pm. Most nights are themed.
Here is the 2025 schedule:
May 3rd – Derby Week
May 10th – Bluegrass Celebration
May 17th – Touch-A-Truck
May 24th – Military Appreciation
May 31st
June 7th – Art Expo
June 28th
July 5th – Beach Week
July 12th
July 19th
September 20th
September 27th
October 4th
October 11th
October 18th
October 25th
Plan your own trip to Tryon International Equestrian Center
In addition to Saturday Night Lights, TIEC hosts a wide array of events that are also open to the public. See the complete TIEC calendar of events. They also have lodgings right there at the equestrian center, which we imagine would be awesome to stay in.
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)
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!
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.
Tell-Me-A-Story Theatre
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.
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.
Did you know we have a FREE place to play mini-golf right in the middle of downtown Spartanburg, SC? Sparkle City Mini Putt is totally free! Plus, there are more fun things to do downtown in Spartanburg.
Do you know about Cars and Coffee in Greenville, SC? This exciting event is back in 2025! This free monthly Greenville event features interesting local cars that kids can check out! Several of our Kidding Around Contributors, and their kids and teens, have visited Cars & Coffee in Greenville and they are sharing all the fun so you can plan your own trip to the next Cars and Coffee.
For 2025, there will two locations, find more details below.
On a cool, sunny Saturday morning, two of my boys eagerly climbed into the car to go see their first car show. They were excited to spend some time with Mommy. But, they also thought it sounded fun to see cool cars. I was concerned. What if every car owner went on red alert the moment they saw my 4 and 6-year-olds? What if my boys were bored after the first car? My fears were allayed as soon as we began walking around. Cars & Coffee is definitely something you need to plan to do!
Watch! A Trip to Cars and Coffee
What is Cars & Coffee?
We arrived with about 45 minutes left to the event. When we walked to the first car, I showed my boys under the hood. I know it may sound crazy, but they had never really looked under the hood of a car. They were amazed. From that point forward, they scanned for the next car that had its hood up. As they stood admiring a sports car, the owner offered to let them get in. They took turns sitting in the driver’s seat and pretending to drive. As they enjoyed their “ride,” I got to talk to the owner about his car. Perfect.
From VW buses to race cars and classics to specialty cars, there was so much to see. The car owners were eager to talk about what they had done to their cars and what races they were in. Folks walked around with their dogs, and it was a fun, relaxing way to spend a Saturday morning.
How do I go see Cars & Coffee?
A free event, Cars & Coffee in collaboration with Obey the Crave occurs monthly at Bridgeway Station (except April and September) from March – November, 2025.
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025
Saturday, May 24th, 2025
Saturday, June 28th, 2025
Saturday, July 26th, 2025
Saturday, August 23rd, 2025
Saturday, October 25th, 2025
Saturday, November 22nd, 2025
The April and September Cars & Coffee Car shows will be held at Michelin Headquarters off of the Parkway in Greenville near 85 and Pelham Road.
April 26th, 2025
September 27th, 2025
To see the most cars, aim to get there within the first 2 hours. There are a lot of great dining options at Bridgeway Station, plus the cool venue itself is sure to make it a special occasion.
Pro-tip: Be patient with parking. The event gets a lot of traffic of both people bringing in their cars to show, and people coming to spectate. Sometimes you have to drive around a bit, or park in a nearby lot and walk.
When is the next event? The first Cars & Coffee event of 2024 takes place on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025. If you are looking for more car show events, check out the Cars & Coffee Facebook page. They are regularly hosting car shows and fundraisers throughout the upstate!
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.
Did you know there is a FREE self-guided goat farm tour at Split Creek Farm in Anderson, SC? Goats and educational opportunities are plentiful at Split Creek Farm in Anderson, SC. Plus, the farm shop sells award-winning goat cheeses and must-eat fudge made from their dairy goat milk. Get outdoors, enjoy some animals, and learn something new!
If there are baby goats involved somewhere around the Upstate, we’ll be there. Goats, especially baby goats, make us so happy! Split Creek Farm is a Grade A goat dairy farm in Anderson, SC that we’ve written about and visited before to the delight of both us and our readers. But they are more than goats. Education is hugely important to the farm and to that end, they have recently designed and installed a new self-guided tour that anyone can take.
We tried it out because, well, goats. And I’m homeschooling and thought this would be a fun adventure.
A big part of the vision of Split Creek Farm is the educational component of the farm. They do offer tours in-person, as well as field trips and other opportunities to educate the public on what their farm does, which is a ton. The goats are the backbone of the farm, supplying the milk needed to make their award-winning feta cheese, the delicious fudge, yogurt, and other products. The farm also supports the local restaurant industry and breeds nearly-extinct breeds of goats. They also participate in local and regional goat shows and research.
Sandra and Jessica, the owners of Split Creek Farm, are pioneers in many areas of goat farming and their non-profit helps to provide funds to further the goals of the farm and integrate them even deeper into the supportive local community, bringing the joy of the goats to everyone.
The self-guided goat farm tour
While the farm store is open Monday – Saturday for purchases, self-guided goat farm tours are available only on Friday and Saturday. The farm employs a small number of people and as you can probably imagine, it takes a huge amount of work to run the farm, milk the goats, make the cheese, fudge, and yogurt, clean the pens, collect the eggs, take care of the babies, and care and feed the herd.
As much as Sandra and Jessica would like to take every single guest on a personal tour of the farm, they needed to find a way to make what they do more accessible and understandable for guests and their families. And so was born the self-guided tour with easy-to-read and follow boards around the farm.
The topics are broad and fascinating. Guests will learn about all the different breeds of goats and why they are unique. They will learn about how the cheese is made and where the goats are milked and how that process worked. They will learn about every animal on the farm and why their individual jobs are important to making the farm run smoothly. I’ve personally been to Split Creek Farm numerous times and still learned a lot walking through the tour and reading all the plaques.
For myself and my kids, learning about where our food comes from and what goes into that process often has led to a deeper appreciation for farms and all the work they do. My own love of goats is only compounded every time I learn more about them. And my goodness, they make me happy. And they make my kids happy, which is all the more reason to visit the farm and learn about the goats.
It’s totally free to visit the farm and take self-guided tours. If you come with kids, just be sure to keep a close eye on them as it is a working farm and guests need to be respectful of those rules.
Playing with the goats
Split Creek Farm treats their animals with extraordinary care. I’ve seen both Sandra and Jessica speak to these animals exactly like I speak to my own kids. But the difference is that the goats listen to them! The goats obviously love the owners and employees and the female goats are quite literally what makes the farm run due to the sale of the products made with their milk.
So it’s no wonder the farm is protective of their animals. However, the animals get a lot of freedom and you’ll probably run into goats wandering around and Sam, the border collie, making sure they are where they need to be. There are chickens and two enormous pot-bellied pigs roaming around as well.
As long as guests are respectful of the animals, they are allowed to play with them and pet them. This is glorious. Playing with the goats is just awesome, especially the smaller ones. They are super curious (one really enjoyed munching on my daughter’s hair) and sweet and fun. Sam likes to play fetch with his frisbee and the chickens, well, they do their own thing.
Sometimes the farm will do special events where guests are able to play with the baby goats or have goat yoga sessions. Follow their Facebook page for that info. It’s really fun to play with the goats especially after you’ve done the self-guided tour because, I feel, that you may have a greater respect for them and for what goes on at the farm.
Visiting Split Creek Farm
It’s free to visit the farm and you don’t need to sign up to do the self-guided tours. Just follow all the posted rules, which include no pets. Once you arrive at the farm, you’ll see the space allowed for visitor parking on your left. The first couple of self-guided posts will be on your right near the huge penned goat pasture and on your left near the open barn. You’ll see the others around the farm.
A self-guided goat farm tour is available Friday or Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
The farm shop is open Monday-Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
For the latest on events and pictures of their baby goats come late winter, follow Split Creek Farm on Facebook.
If you have experienced a Greenville, SC winter, free things to do are everywhere! We’ve gathered up our favorite free winter activities near Greenville, SC. And some are inexpensive… which in this case means the total cost of the activity is less than $20 for a family of four to do.
Winter can put a damper on outdoor activities because of the cold but do not fear, here’s a list of free and inexpensive things to do in the Upstate, South Carolina that will keep you and your kids from crying boredom and will help relieve that cabin fever.
A quick tip: if you don’t have one already, we highly recommend purchasing a Greenville Attractions Dining & Value Guide ($25), which has great coupons to use at not only tons of restaurants in the area but also has vouchers for many entertainment venues and attractions and significant discounts off of admission to several businesses in the Upstate. I saved over $200 last year using it.
Typically staying in your neighborhood is a good idea, especially if the roads are bad (and it’s free). Ideas for improvised sleds: tape up the seams of larger cardboard boxes with duct tape, use pool toys, a large cookie sheet, lunch tray, tops of garbage cans, an old car hood, laundry basket, or plastic kiddie pool. [disclaimer: don’t blame us if these ideas don’t work]
But if you’re looking for something more (that does cost money) KAG readers recommend Maggie Valley, Moonshine Mountain, and Jonas Ridge, which are all in North Carolina.
Winter Hikes are free (depending on your hiking location) and have lots of fun. Enjoy the crisp, fresh air and a hike without the sweltering summer heat! Caesars Head State Park has particularly stunning views year-round. We have 6 Upstate Winter Hike locations for you to try.
Explore Falls Park on the Reedy in Downtown Greenville to watch the ducks and geese swim around, they are usually there all year. Then you can stroll the streets of Downtown Greenville and window shop. Camperdown Plaza is also pretty fun to walk about, with art in every corner.
Library: Both the Spartanburg and Greenville County library systems are enormous and they have a ton of free stuff to do – virtual storytimes, craft kits, and special online events. Most branches have free parking but the ones downtown do charge anywhere from $1-$2.
Enjoy the fish at the small aquarium at Bass Pro Shops on Woodruff Road and have your kids pick out their favorite wild animal on display all around the massive store.
Continue kindness! Just because the holiday season is coming to a close, shouldn’t mean the end of being kind and thoughtful. Write a nice note for a service member and send it with a care package, bake cookies for your local firefighters, volunteer for Meals on Wheels, and catch up on thank you notes for all those Christmas gifts.
Inexpensive Things to Do During the Winter in Greenville
On sunny days, take your young kids to play in the enclosed outdoor playspace at Swamp Rabbit Cafe after a bike ride on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. You can grab a hot chocolate or snack from the market to enjoy.
Family Fun Gym at Acrosmith Gymnastics is offered Monday – Thursday at 9:00 am and 10:15 am, Wednesdays 9:00 am, 10:15 am, 11:30 am, and Fridays at 9:30 am.
It is an open gym with parent participation, remaining within the arm’s reach of the child. Kids get to bounce around on trampolines, try the balance beams, and test their ninja skills on the obstacle course. You must pre-register. Registration closes at the start of Tot Time. The cost is $6 per session, and sessions are limited to 50 children – winter schedule is available online.
Spend time at the TRee House Cafe & Art Studio in Travelers Rest where your kids can make art right at the table while you enjoy a warm cup of coffee.
Visit a Trampoline Park: Take children ages 6 and under to SkyZone, for Little Leapers hour every Saturday from 9 – 11 am. It’s $15.99/child and parents/caregivers jump for free.
If you buy a membership pass to BigAir, it works out to be inexpensive fun. They offer open jump as well as Toddler Time, Homeschool Jump, and Cosmic Nights! That coupon book we mentioned earlier can really save you a good bit at Big Air too.
Head to Kids Play & Cafe, where your kids can play dress up and make-believe, climb the indoor play structure, slide, and run around all within the safety of the indoor play place. Younger children and babies may enjoy Village Play in Fountain Inn or Palmetto Proper in Travelers Rest as well.
If you live near Greenville, SC, what winter free things to do are you most excited about?
Free holiday movies? Yep, you heard that right. NCG Cinemas has brought back their FREE Holiday Family Film Fest. Your family can load up on holiday cheer for free with three different holiday family movies throughout December 2024, and it won’t cost you a dime! We love free family fun and we know our readers do, too! Happy, happy (free) Christmas family fun!
11 December days with free Christmas movies at NCG movie theater? If that doesn’t put a little jingle in your step this season, we’re not sure what will. See the following movies free at NCG Cinemas in December 2024!
December 20th, 2024: The Polar Express at 11:00 am
December 21st, 2024: The Polar Express at 11:00 am
December 22nd, 2024: The Polar Express at 11:00 am
December 23rd, 2024: The Polar Express at 11:00 am
December 24th, 2024: The Polar Express at 11:00 am
Free Christmas Movies Near Me?
Is there an NCG Cinemas with free Christmas movies near me?
In the Upstate, we are lucky to have NCG Cinemas right in Spartanburg, SC. You’ll be able to see NCG’s free Christmas movies at the Spartanburg location on the designated days.
