Did you know you can watch free movies outdoors near Greenville, SC? Are you wondering, “Where are all the free outdoor movies near me?” You are in luck because there are several parks and towns that offer free outdoor movies during the warmer months, including Greer, Spartanburg, Travelers Rest, and Downtown Greenville. Here’s your full schedule of free outdoor movies in Upstate, SC as well as what titles will be available.
Remember that these events are subject to weather, so check the Facebook page of the venue close to the movie date. Also, especially for extremely popular choices, you will want to be sure to arrive early.
Many of the local outdoor movie venues have not announced their 2023 schedules yet. We will update this story as events are announced. Bookmark this list and check back soon!
Find more great things to do this summer with our Greenville Summer Guide. You’ll find more FREE things to do, places to cool off, parks to visit, and more!
Do you enjoy a lovely day at the botanical gardens? Athens, GA has the perfect ones to explore! With 313 acres of gardens, trails, and even play areas, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a must-see if you’re in the Athens, Georgia area. And it’s under two hours from Greenville, SC.
As a garden, flower, and plant lover, I was excited to check out the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, which is part of the University of Georgia. I’ve somehow managed to convince my kids that botany is cool so they were also excited to see what was in store for us there. Turns out, there were a lot of neat things to explore here and many unexpected finds at these neat gardens in Athens, Georgia, less than two hours from the Upstate of SC.
Are you looking for VBS? Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC have dozens to choose from. Maybe you’re looking for the VBS closest to home, or maybe you’re looking to visit a Vacation Bible School that fits your vacation schedule! Either way, we’ve got the list of the 2023 VBS Greenville, SC, and Spartanburg, SC programs from June through August. All of these have a link to the church so you can get all of their contact information, directions, and information.
This list is currently being updated for 2024.
For accuracy and to ensure that the programs were open to the public, we only listed VBS programs that were publicly listed online or submitted by the coordinator of the event. If you would like your church’s VBS program added or modified, please email bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.
While we try our best to provide accurate information, we always encourage our readers to check original sources before making plans. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement.
Up for a FREE new adventure only a short drive from 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!
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.
Kids are expensive. Are you looking for “free things for kids to do near me?” Making family memories while doing things with the kids doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are a lot of free things for kids near you. In addition to great local choices like visits to parks, playgrounds, hiking, and creek stomping, there are several totally free things for kids from national retailers, organizations, and kids’ programs all across the USA.
Free things for kids and families to do, free stuff for kids, near you! That means free activities for kids, family-friendly fun, free admission to museums, and lots more. That’s great news for families spending time together on a budget!
This is the list you want.
Free things to do for kids near you all year long.
Bucket List of Free Things to Do for Kids Anywhere in the USA
Don’t miss any of these free activities, experiences, and projects for kids. Make some family memories and don’t spend a dime!
Home Depot Kids Workshop
Home Depot offers free kids’ workshop kits once a month. On the first Saturday of every month head to Home Depot for a free kids’ workshop. Pick up your kit and complete it at home. In-person workshops will very soon again be an option. Sign-up in advance to be sure your child will get their kit, but most of the time you can just stop by and join in the fun.
Lowes Kids Workshop
Lowes Home Improvement offers free kids workshops once a month in-store. Let the kids build and make something all their own. You won’t even have to deal with paint and wood bits all over your house. Just enjoy the free activity and bring your child’s creation home. You do need to sign-up in advance for these workshops, but they are totally free.
JCPenney Free Kids Craft
On the second Saturday of each month head to JCPenney for Kids Zone free crafts. Kids can make a totally free craft with all the supplies included, and parents will get a 10% off store coupon.
Kids Bowl Free
Did you know kids can bowl free all summer long? It really is true. Just sign up for Kids Bowl Free. Two games a day are totally free. If you don’t have bowling shoes, you will need to rent shoes, but you will not pay for the games. There’s even a family pass you can purchase for a one-time fee that lets grown-ups bowl all summer long, too. Check out Kids Bowl Free for a summer of free fun away from the screens.
Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops Holiday Free Photos
At both Christmas and Easter, kids can get a completely free 4×6 photo at Cabela’s along with a holiday visit with Santa or the Easter Bunny, plus fun activities and little treats.
Meal time can get expensive, which is why we love kids eat free deals. There are a number of restaurants that offer kids’ eat-free days all across the country. Get a free kids’ meal at these national chain restaurants.
Apple Kids Camp and Kids Classes
The Apple Store offers totally free Apple camps in the summer along with kids’ class activities throughout the year. During camp kids can bring their own iPad device or the store will provide one for kids to use. Kids will learn to use various Apple apps to create music, stories, and more that they can present to the other kids in the camp. Kids also get an Apple Camp t-shirt. Reserve camps and classes in advance. In fact, camps fill up so quickly, you’ll want to fill out this Apple camp form to be notified when reservations are open.
Apple Camp
4th Grade National Park Pass: Every Kid Outdoors
4th graders can bring their families along to National Parks for free with the Every Kid Outdoors, 4th Grade National Park Pass. In most instances, the 4th-grade pass gets all occupants of the car with the 4th grader into the park for free. So, go visit a National Park for free with your 4th grader.
Viewing wildlife at Yellowstone National Park
Kids in Parks
Have kids who like to earn free prizes? The TRACK Trail, Kids in Parks program sends prizes to kids who hike, bike, and even play disc golf at parks with Track Trails. They’ll learn about nature and even history as they complete each TRACK Trail, which makes this free thing for kids both an educational opportunity and an incentive to earn fun prizes. See how one family enjoyed Kids in Parks in this review.
Smithsonian Museum Days
Once a year you can get free admission for your family to Smithsonian Museums on Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. Museum Day usually occurs in September.
Summer Reading Programs
Summer reading programs equal free food, books, and lots more prizes. Not only will kids earn prizes, but they’ll receive one of the best gifts of all: reading time! Check out these summer reading programs available nationally, then don’t forget to check with your local library. Many libraries give out amazing summer reading prizes!
Chuck-E-Cheese– Read 14 books in 14 days and get 10 free tokens or play points
Free Donuts at Krispy Kreme
Keep your eyes out for special promotions from Krispy Kreme. They do them a lot! At participating Krispy Kreme donut shops, kids can get free donuts for everything from good grades to wearing a costume on Halloween. Pick up your free donut and head to a local playground for a totally free and fun family outing.
Local Libraries
Local libraries are a treasure trove of free family fun. It’s more than books, although reading together is awesome and free! But, local libraries offer special events for kids and families that go beyond storytime. We’re talking about free family movie nights complete with popcorn, craft kits, book boxes full of treats and books to keep, concerts, game nights and so much more. Seriously, if you are looking for free family fun, spend some time on your library’s website and check out their calendar. There’s probably a lot more there than you thought!
BONUS! $2 Movies All Summer Long
It’s not free, but you can bring the kids to family-friendly movies at Regal Cinemas for just $2 per person. Find out how to get tickets in our article on Regal Summer Movie Express.a
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting a photo in front of the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, you’re in luck. The literal hot dog on wheels will be in town August 18-21, 2022.
The Wiernermobile is 85-years-old so it’s more than likely you’ve heard of this American icon, if you’d like to describe the mobile hot dog as such. At every event, fans of the 27-foot headturner will be able to take photos of and with the Wiernermobile, peek inside, and even better, receive an honorary Hotdogger name and iconic Wiener Whistle.
If you are a collector of unique items, you’ll be pleased to know that it is only when you see the famous Wienermobile in person can you obtain the mini hot dog on wheels. Fun fact: the Wienermobile does not sell or distribute hot dogs. Sorry to disappoint!
There is no cost to attend the events where the Wienermobile will be stationed and as the press release sent to us aptly said when encouraging people to come, that this event “could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Quite the high bar to clear but then again, this the Wienermobile.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate-Greenville 300 College Street, Greenville 1-4 pm
Wienermobile Fun Facts
The Wienermobile was born in 1936 as a way to lift spirits during the Great Depression. Starting in 1988, a dozen Hotdoggers are trained every year to drive the Wienermobile and act as brand ambassadors and spokespeople.
Here are some fun facts about the Wienermobile:
– More people have been to space than driven the Wienermobile.
– The Wienermobile has visited all 50 states and 10 countries.
– The Wienermobile is 60 hot dogs long (27 feet), 24 hot dogs high (11 feet), and 11 hot dogs wide (18 feet).
– There have been 12 version of the Wienermobile over the years.
Looking for something to do that’s free for a date in Greenville, SC? Budget dates in Greenville are totally possible. We get that parents don’t always have the money for extravagant date nights but still want to get away and reconnect away from the kids. You don’t need a lot of money to do that! In fact, we’ve come up with lots of dates that are totally free.
If you can get a grandparent or family member or friend to watch the kids, then you don’t even need to pay for a sitter.
