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.
Are you looking for things to do with grandparents in Greenville, SC and across the Upstate? The grandparents are coming to visit your family in Upstate, SC, which is great! But what do you do with them together while they are visiting? We have a lot of ideas for you, most of which are based upon our own experiences with grandparents visiting. We’ve broken our list down by activity level.
I treasure the relationships my own kids have with their grandparents and wanted to do things with all of them to help strengthen those bonds while having fun. Hopefully, you get some good ideas here and are able to spend some quality time together with your grandparents when they are visiting you in Greenville, SC.
We organized the list according to activity level, from low to high. Low is the easiest and has the least amount of walking around while high is the opposite.
Giveaway: One Kidding Around reader will win 4 TICKETS to The Spongebob Musical at SCCT!Show runs April 26th-May 19th.This is NOT your typical Spongebob experience. This is an SCCT Spongebob experience filled with hope, positivity & fun! Scroll down to enter.
Have you heard about all the marvelous things that the South Carolina Children’s Theatre in Greenville, SC has to offer? Maybe you are excited about an upcoming theatre performance. Or, perhaps you are curious if there are theater classes and camps for your children to immerse themselves in. Spark a little magic and wonder in your child’s life with a kid-friendly play, musical, class, or camp at SCCT! You will find all the information you need about the South Carolina Children’s Theatre below in our handy guide. Thank you SCCT for sponsoring this article!
Theatrical Productions at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre
The South Carolina Children’s Theatre is pretty special, and its professional theatrical productions are a great way to entertain your children. Productions are all family-oriented and designed to elicit wonder and excitement in your child (and you!)
The 2023-2024 South Carolina Children’s Theatre Season
Theatre productions are detail-oriented, bursting with color and costume, and bring to life and reimagine a popular story or play. Theatre productions run by season, with each season having around 8 performances spread out over several months. Each production has multiple showings, so you can plan a date night out with your kids! Both stages are also accessible, so productions can be enjoyed by everyone.
Bell Stage performancesuse large set designs, costumes, puppets, and anything else needed to help bring the story from the pages of the book or script onto the stage. You can find big musicals and plays on this stage. Bell Stage productions have longer run times with intermissions. You can find run time information on the SCCT website. There are also assigned seats for Bell Stage productions, so make sure you purchase tickets early if you have large groups that want to sit together.
Younts 2nd Stage
Younts 2nd Stage performances also offer the pop, color, and costumes that the Bell Stage productions do, but performances are more intimate and held on a smaller stage. This allows performers to really engage with the audience. These productions are shorter, approximately 45 minutes to an hour long, so they are an excellent choice for younger (with shorter attention spans) audience members. Tickets for Younts Stage are also cheaper than Bell Stage productions, so that’s great on the budget!
Performances Right For Your Family
All theatre productions at SCCT have an age range recommendation, so be sure to check to see which performance best suits your child. SCCT does recommend that most productions are for children 3 and older.
The majority of these theatre productions are held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, with daytime and evening showings available, so they make an excellent parent/child date day!
Want to see a stage performance for a field trip? If you’re a teacher or homeschooling group, you can check out performances at SCCT through their weekday school performances on the Bell Stage and the Youths Stage. All students, teachers, chaperones, and bus drivers will need a ticket to view the performance.
SCCT Flex Pass for Performances
Looking to save some money while also seeing all of the amazing upcoming shows at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre? The SCCT Flex Pass program offers first-priority seating, unlimited free ticket exchanges, discounts on classes, and discounts to downtown stores. There are three price points to choose from, Blue, Green, or Orange, that allow for a specific number of tickets per package.
Pay What You Can Tickets
The South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers a “Pay What You Can” ticket program for select performances of select shows throughout the year. You’ll find these performances labeled as a “Pay What You Can Performance” within each show’s schedule on the South Carolina Children’s Theatre Website.
The first Pay What You Can Performance of the 2023-2024 season was the September 24, 2023 performance of Charlotte’s Web. When you see a Pay What You Can Performance on the website, follow the directions on that link to purchase your tickets.
Free Performances at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre
One of the best things about SCCT is that they offer free performance events through their Tell-Me-a- Story Theatre and Once Upon an Orchestra programs.
Tell Me a Story Theatre is a high-energy telling of a popular children’s story or book that is engaging for younger children, think PreK to early elementary students. The event is completely free, and is located in the Prisma Health Lobby. The performance and story reading lasts around 30 minutes, great for squirmy kids. You can check out Tell-Me-a-Story once per month.
Once Upon an Orchestra is a partnership between SCCT and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra that brings children’s literature and music together through storytelling. Your child (and you) can enjoy Once Upon an Orchestra three times per year, for free! Performances last around 30 minutes and are perfect for children age K3 through 5th grade. You can find upcoming performances of Once Upon an Orchestra on the SCCT website.
Theatre Classes at the SCCT
Support your child’s interest in the performing arts with classes at The South Carolina Children’s Theatre! SCCT’s Theatre Arts Conservatory offers a variety of classes for kids interested in learning about acting, drama, stage management, directing, musical theater, and so much more!
Classes use a lot of fun activities to strengthen your child’s imagination, self-expression, confidence, and self-discipline. These classes also build a foundation for theatre arts concepts. Classes build onto one another, so SCCT encourages parents to not rush their child through the classes, but to allow them to make natural progress. Classes are grouped by age, so even your budding three-year-old Broadway star can enjoy these immersive classes!
Ages 3-6: Children in this age range will play games, sing songs, explore characters, and engage their imagination in a low-pressure environment. Classes are typically once per week for one hour. Multiple classes are offered, with classes in theatre exploration, singing, and stage production available.
Grades 1-6: Children in this age range will explore theatre training through improv activities and high-energy games. There are several classes available for this age range where they can learn about process acting, singing, musical theatre, or improvisation.
Grades 6-12: Classes for this age range become more technical and build on their knowledge of the performing arts. Kids can learn about process acting, singing, musical theatre, solo singing, and improvisation.
All The Colors of the Spectrum: For children in 2nd through 12th grade with developmental or processing challenges, SCCT offers All The Colors of the Spectrum! Through modified activities, children with special needs can engage in theatre arts through immersive storytelling, sketch creation, collaboration, and more.
Acting for Adults: SCCT offers FREE classes for adult students college age and up! Classes are for both beginner and seasoned actors to engage in the theatre arts.
Workshops at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Sometimes you need a date night, or a morning out. Sometimes you even need some extra help when your kids are out for holidays. SCCT can help you out with their workshops!
Workday Workshops occur during school break days when children are out of school on a random Monday or Friday for a teacher workday. These workshops engage children in group-based activities but are not usually themed.
Kids Night Out happens once per month, where parents can drop off their kids for a few hours. Kids Night Out is a fun night of themed activities, with theatre games followed by a movie and snack. Kids Night Out is from 6 pm to 10 pm, with pre-registration required.
Saturday Morning Mania is when parents can drop off their kids for a few hours of shopping or a fancy brunch in Downtown Greenville. Saturday Morning Mania happens once per month. There are themed drama games and activities with a picnic lunch. Parents should preregister ahead of time.
SCCT Summer Camp
SCCT’s Summer Camps are an excellent way to keep your kids busy over the summer! Summer camps are offered for ages K3 through high school. Each camp is designed to boost confidence while having fun learning about theatre.
2024 KABOOM AWARD Winner: South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Did you know the South Carolina Children’s Theatre was a 2024 KABOOM Family Favorites 1st place winner for Best Performing Arts Theatre? Check out all of the finalists and winners in Kidding Around’s 2024 KABOOM Awards Guide.
SCCT Ticket Giveaways
The Spongebob Musical
The underwater town of Bikini Bottom is in danger in this epic and electric musical based on the popular cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. Though underestimated as a “simple sponge,” SpongeBob manages to unite the citizens and save the city from impending doom. This wildly entertaining show features songs by famous musical artists and bands that parents will love such as Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At The Disco, and The Flaming Lips to name a few.
Artistic Director Matt Giles: “I couldn’t be more excited to produce this ambitious whale of a musical. Not only does it feature one of the most iconic children’s characters of the past 20 years, but it also includes songs from some of the most iconic musicians. This show is a fun, heartfelt spectacle. Hattie Claire Andres (who works at Seattle Rep) is coming to stage this piece, and I can’t wait to watch her bring it to life.”
Based on the series by: Stephen Hillenburg
Book by: Kyle Jarrow
Original songs by: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I.
One Kidding Around reader will win 4 FREE TICKETS to see The Spongebob Musical at SCCT. This giveaway runs from April 1st-April 15th, 2024, 11:59PM. Good luck!
Terms & Conditions
Winning tickets may not be redeemed for the April 27, 2024, 7:00 pm show.
Tickets are redeemable for dates based upon seat availability. Space is limited.
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 two [2] days of the giveaway ending. The winner will have two [2] days (48 hours) to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the two [2] days (48 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.
If you have any issues with the giveaway not appearing, please contact bethany@kiddingaroundgreenville.com.
Looking for more kid-friendly classes and activities in Greenville, SC?
Forty-five minutes west of Greenville is Clemson, home not only to Clemson University but also to the South Carolina Botanical Garden, a perfect day-trip destination this spring. The colorful spring foliage and cool temperatures will ensure a memorable visit to one of the premiere Gardens of the Upstate! KAG Contributor, Liene, shares all about this beautiful (and free!) destination.
At just under 300 acres in size, the South Carolina Botanical Gardens encompass everything from natural landscapes to display gardens, including miles of streams, nature trails and the 70-acre Schoenike Arboretum. Home to over 300 varieties of camellias, the Gardens also have an extensive collection of hollies, hydrangeas, magnolias and native plants. Although there are multiple points of access, parking in the lot off Pearman Blvd. closest to the Heritage Garden will put you in the center of this gorgeous botanical treasure.
Cadet Life Garden
Upon entering visitors will find themselves in is the Cadet Life Garden, a nod to the period in Clemson history during which the University was a military college. Over those sixty years (until 1956), 12,314 students graduated; of those nearly 10,000 became Reserve Officers, about 5,600 saw active military service, and 335 died or were missing in action while fighting for their country. (Source: informational plaques in the Garden).
Caboose Garden
After trying out one of the swings, follow the shaded pergola to the 1939 Caboose Garden. George Williams, Assistant Vice President and Treasurer of Southern Railway (as well as a graduate of the class of ’39) donated the caboose to Clemson, after which it was painted red, transported to its current spot, making a perfect playground (and photo op!) for those budding train enthusiasts.
After a meander in the Heritage Garden you’ll emerge near the Children’s Garden. With greenhouses, a “Food for Thought” Garden and several other interesting spaces, the kids will find plenty to explore. The Peter Rabbit Garden features a cute little playhouse, perfect for an imaginary afternoon tea.
Butterfly Garden
Adjacent is the butterfly garden, where you will find quite a few different species of butterflies fluttering about, attracted to the early spring blooms. The bog section has really cool pitcher plants; let the kids check to see if they are digesting any insects!
Duck Pond & Camellia Trail
A loop around Duck Pond on a nice wooded trail takes visitors around to the Camellia Trail. Benches scattered here and there allowed for chances to stop and rest, have a snack and enjoy the view. Hopefully you’ll spot some migrating waterfowl in addition to the frogs, lizards, turtles and even snakes that call this area home.
Flower Display Garden
The Flower Display Garden is also on this end of the garden, and you should definitely stop in to see what is blooming before taking one of the dozens of trails back towards the Heritage Garden. If you continue past the parking area you’ll come to Kelly Meadow and the Meadow Pond, a beautiful panorama with a backdrop of the forest.
In addition to a walk through the gardens, you might also be interested in the following attractions:
Fran Hanson Discovery Center & Gift Shop
On the very west end of the Gardens (past Kelly Meadow) is the Fran Hanson Discovery Center & Gift Shop. Built in 1998 as “The Wren House,” it was the first Southern Living Idea House. The second floor houses an art gallery that showcases local artists.
Campbell Geology Museum
The Campbell Geology Museum offers houses a collection of more than 10,000 minerals, rocks and fossils, a great activity for a rainy autumn day. And admission is free! The museum is open Monday – Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.
Cactus Gardens
The cactus gardens between the gift shop and the Geology Museum are interesting year-round, and the historical mining artifacts mixed in offer kids a fun game of “I Spy.”
Shoenike Arboretum
The Shoenike Arboretum features the legacy of Dr. Schoenike, who during his career at Clemson planted, cared for, and studied some 2000 trees and shrubs in the arboretum.
Plan your own trip to the SC Botanical Garden
There is always something going on in the garden! From concerts to hikes, homeschool days to wreath-making, there is something for everyone… Check the event calendar for more information.
Truly a state treasure hidden away in a corner of the Upstate, the SC Botanical Gardens are a must-see destination for visitors and residents alike. Spring is a favorite time of year to visit, although autumn also brings cooler temperatures, fewer insects and of course the colorful leaves while summer the gardens are in full bloom. Grab the kids and go explore, you’ll be sure to see something new on each trip!
Are you looking for information about Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park? If you want to know all the reasons this is a great park for kids, you’ve come to the right place. Local mom, Erika, has reviewed all of Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park’s amenities and is sharing why it is one of her kids’ favorite parks.
Now is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, and what better way to do that than to check out one of the wonderful parks that Spartanburg has to offer?
One park worth mentioning, and well worth the trip to Boiling Springs, is Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park, located at 591 McMillan Blvd. Whether you have never heard of it before, or just haven’t had a chance to make it out there, there are multiple reasons to add this park to your “to-do-with-the-kids” list.
How is the playground? Great; but we’ll get to that part later. Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park offers a lot more than just a playground and a few swings. Seven different sports fields, with football goalposts and soccer goals, are located in this gem of a park, so bring your soccer ball along and let the kids run off some of their energy. The fields are well maintained with the grass kept short and fire ant mounds are sprayed frequently.
Inside the park, lies Shoally Creek Disc Golf Course. This 18-hole course sits on a “hilly” landscape, making it a bit more exciting, and most of the course is played through the woods. A course map is posted near the start, of course, giving you an idea of what to expect as you play. A wildlife sign is posted, so keep a lookout for the critters that call the woods home. The course is open during daylight hours and is free of charge, just be sure to bring your own discs.
Nestled in the back of the park, away from the noise of the playground, you will find a sand volleyball court, as well as a caged tennis court, with three courts located inside. You will also find a paved walking trail with “doggy bag” receptacles, so leashed pets are welcome on the trail.
The playground is great too
What is a park without a playground? Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park offers a fenced-in, fun playground geared toward children ages two and up. Within the fenced-in area are two play structures: the smaller playground is designed for children age two to five and offers multiple height-appropriate slides, a steering wheel, a bridge, and multiple ways to climb onto the playground, such as stairs, an arched ladder, and a small ladder.
The playground is open underneath so your little one can run under it for added play space. With 6 swings total, two are kiddie swings for children four years old and under, two regular swings, and two swings for special needs, it’s not likely that your child will have to wait their turn for a swing!
The larger playground, geared toward children age five to 12, doesn’t lack space or fun! A large bridge connects two different parts of this awesome playground, and the bigger side includes a covered “treehouse-like” area.
Various slides, ranging from smaller ones with less of an incline to spiral slides that are high enough to include two spirals before you reach the bottom, sit on all sides of this playground. Multiple climbing walls, stepping stones, and staircases can turn this playground into a fun obstacle course, amongst other fun ways to enjoy it.
Neither of the playgrounds is made of wood, so no need to worry about pulling any splinters out at the end of the day. The ground of the playground area is rubber, so there’s soft padding when your child lands at the bottom of a slide.
What else makes this park great?
Convenient options can make or break a park for parents, and Va-Du-Mar McMillan Park does not fall short in this category. Some of the most dreaded words a parent wants to hear 10 minutes after arriving at the playground are “I have to go potty!” only to realize that the closest bathrooms are all the way back home. This park has a men and women’s bathroom, located near the tennis courts, with multiple stalls and a changing table; and more importantly, these bathrooms are kept clean!
There are several benches throughout the playground area for parents to sit and relax while their children play. Shaded areas with picnic tables are easily accessible, so you can pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic with your family.
The playground area is fenced in, reducing the worry of your child running into the parking lot. Trash cans are situated throughout the park for your convenience and are frequently emptied to keep bugs away. Beverage vending machines are located near the fields closer to the park entrance, as well as a concession stand that is open during organized sporting events.
As with any public park, there are rules set in place for the safety of everyone. Glass containers are not allowed, so keep that in mind if you decide to pack a lunch. While leashed pets are allowed in certain areas of the park, they are not allowed in the fenced playground area; however, service animals are allowed in all areas of the park.
The park is open 7 days a week, park hours vary throughout the year: Nov. 1‐ Feb. 28: 7 am ‐ 7 pm March 1 ‐ Oct. 31: 7 am ‐ 9 pm
Ever heard of Pinguinos Hermanos? Love a good shaved ice? A sure sign that warmer weather is on the way is the re-opening of the shaved ice establishments in Upstate. Of course, most people have their favorites.This is funny because, really, it’s all just the same. Somecrumbled-up ice topped with sugary syrup. Right?
What if we told you the newest frozen obsession for a bunch of Upstate, SC residents were different than the rest?
What if we also told you that people stand in lines two dozen people deep waiting to get their hands on one of these “Instaworthy” desserts?
Ready to do something a little out-of-the-box with your family to see the best of Greenville, SC? Let us introduce you to Greenville Bike Taxi, where you’ll get treated like a VIP while exploring some of the coolest places near downtown Greenville.
Imagine being in the back of a pedicab – a bike with a comfortable cart that can carry four people – cruising around downtown Greenville, taking in the sights with your kids, enjoying a couple cool shops and playgrounds, and taking photos in front of iconic places like Unity Park and the Medusa Tree, then have we got just the thing for you to do.
You may have already heard of Greenville Bike Taxi if you did the Earle Street Santas bike tour during Christmastime (wasn’t that fun?!), but if you haven’t, we will tell you all about them and their new Tikes on Trikes tour to some pretty neat places!
Phil Gonzalez grew up in Greenville and moved to the coast to go to school. In Charleston, he ended up working for a bike taxi company and loved it. He peddled all over King Street and through the historic district, taking people to restaurants, markets, bars, and on shopping trips. Literally anywhere they wanted to go.
When he decided to move back home to the Upstate, he wanted to bring that same experience to Greenville. So he did. After obtaining the necessary permits and navigating all the business paperwork, Phil opened up Greenville Bike Taxi in the spring and people have loved it.
Unity Park sign
It’s easy to see why. It’s such a unique way to get around town and since Greenville is so beautiful and since there is lots to see, it’s far from a boring way to be stuck in traffic on Main Street.
If you’re in town and want a bike taxi, you can book it right from the website. A standard ride is $7/person for 10 minutes. We’ll give you pricing info on the new kids tour below.
The Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour
We got to collaborate with Phil on putting this tour together and we can confidently say it’s awesome because you’ll get a taste of some of the most iconic places in town that kids will absolutely love.
Here’s where you’ll go on the Tikes on Trikes tour:
Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
Poinsett Statue on Main Street
Linky Stone Park: The Children’s Garden
Unity Park
Falls Park
O.P. Taylor’s
Mast General
You’ll start and end the tour with free gifts, too, which is fantastic. We absolutely love Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn and you’ll see why when you go because you’ll get a free sample of their delicious popcorn. At the end of the tour, you’ll also get a free gift from O.P. Taylor’s and Mast General. If you haven’t stepped foot in O.P. Taylors, it is an amazing little toy shop with a wide variety of not only the latest toys but some of the very best toys and games from the past few decades. And we are big fans of Mast General for their great outdoor clothing and gear selection and candy barrels.
Skyler Burkett at Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn
At the statue of Joel Poinsett on Main Street, you’ll learn some neat tidbits about him and why in the world there’s a statue of him downtown. At Linky Stone Park, you’ll be transported to the world of Peter Rabbit.
At Unity Park, you’ll get to ride past the wind chimes and get about 10-15 minutes of playtime. The splash pad opens May 1 so bring towels if you want to do that!
At Falls Park, you’ll get to take a photo with the backdrop of the Reedy River Falls and iconic Liberty Bridge plus see the Medusa Tree. If you don’t know what that is, here’s a photo.
Medusa Tree
Overall, we had such a great time on this bike tour. The novelty of the pedicab is a lot of fun and is a unique way to enjoy our beautiful city. I think this tour would be particularly fun for someone who wants to take their kid on a one-on-one date or families who want to do an outing together and something different.
The bikes can hold up to four smaller adults or two adults and up to four kids. If you have more people than that, you can reserve two (or however many) bikes to accommodate everyone.
Tips on Enjoying the Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour
While the name is geared towards smaller kids, kids of pretty much any age will enjoy this. I took my daughters, ages 13 and 9, on the tour, and they really had a lot of fun – who doesn’t love free popcorn and Unity Park?
Since you will see a lot of the iconic places in Greenville, the tour goes by quickly. You’ll get time to enjoy each spot but not spend a lot of time so just prepare your kids, letting them know they cannot spend the entire hour playing at Unity Park. You can bribe them with the free gift at O.P. Taylors at the end of the tour!
Unity Park
The weather changes in Greenville a lot so be prepared with layers of clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. You can bring water with you also.
If you want to allow your kids to use the splash pad, bring towels.
Booking Your Tikes on Trikes Bike Tour
The cost for the tour is $40/adults and $30/kids. They are an hour long and run Sundays – Fridays 11 am – 3 pm.
Our Kidding Around readers are like family—which means we’re here for the early and later stages of parenting. If you’re starting to think about college, Method Learning is a critical element when building your college prep toolbox!Don’t miss the amazing giveaway in this article & access to valuable free test prep and college admissions resources!
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In the ever-evolving world of college admissions, navigating the path from high school to higher education can often feel like a daunting challenge. With numerous variables to consider and obstacles to overcome, students and parents alike seek reliable guidance and support to ensure a successful outcome.
Planning your spring calendar and don’t want to miss any of the kid-friendly spring festivals in Greenville, SC this year? Pack up the kids because you’ve got some amazing options for great family memory-making. Here’s your ultimate list of the best kid-friendly spring festivals in the Upstate.
Saturday, March 16, 2024 | NOMA Square | 10 am – 8 pm Lots of wonderful Irish entertainment is planned and the festival is for all ages. The parade starts at 10 am. FREE Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Friday, April 12 – Saturday, 13, 2024 Friday 12 pm – 11 pm | Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm During the festival, teams will be competing in categories including brisket, ribs, wings, and butts. The food prepared by the competition teams can be sampled at different times, while supply lasts. There will also be live music and regional food trucks to enjoy.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 | 11 am to 5 pm The iMAGINE Upstate Festival is one of the most popular spring festivals. This event centers around STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) activities that would make the biggest nerd – a fun one of course – jealous. There are high-tech gadgets and 3D printers, drone races, robots, rocket launchers, and virtual reality exploration, and more. Add live music and food and it’s a day well-spent with the family. FREE iMagine Upstate Kidding Around Review iMAGINE Upstate
Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Sunday, April 7, 2024 | Village Green Local vendors, music, art and family entertainment. FREE Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Happy Cow Creamery Celebrate Happy Cow and local vendors at this inaugural festival from 9 am – 4 pm. There will be giveaways, vendors, food trucks, and music. Spring Shindig
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Fountain Inn | Noon-6 pm Enjoy a free concert from Mac Arnold and the Plate Full of Blues and enjoy the traditional Southern food of cornbread & collards in lots of different ways. The event will also feature a spring market. Cornbread & Collards Festival
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Split Creek Farm Love baby goats? This is the festival you need to attend! Split Creek Farm will have samples of their award-winning cheese and amazing goat milk fudge plus lots of local vendors and of course, baby goats. $8/adults, $5/kids, free/kids 2 and under. Spring Means Babies
Friday, April 26, 2024 – Sunday, April 28, 2024 Friday 5 to 10 pm | Saturday 11 am to 9 pm | Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm Lots of live entertainment, food, and vendors plus a Family Fun Zone and cycling race. FREE entry, cost of food and entertainment extra. Spartanburg Spring Fling
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Greer City Park | 11 am to 4 pm The highly attended annual international festival iscelebrated in downtown Greer. Event-goers will have the opportunity to learn about more than 40 different countries and get a taste of their country’s cuisine from vendors and food trucks! There will be a children’s area, that will include arts and crafts from different cultures. FREE Greer Goes Global: International Festival
Saturday, April 27th, 2024 | Downtown Fountain Inn | 12 pm – 6 pm Embrace and celebrate Italian heritage at this festival! There will be lots of delicious food, beer & wine, food demonstrations, Italian memorabilia, crafts, and games for the entire family to enjoy. Italian American Heritage Festival
April 26, 2024- April 27, 2024 | Pendleton Street downtown Hundreds of local artisans, vendors, food and family entertainment happen at this festival that has been going on for 30 years. Pickens Azalea Festival
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 10 am – 4 pm Sponsored by the Simpsonville Arts Foundation, this festival will have kids activities, food vendors, live music, chalk art, and art demos. It’s free to attend. Spring Into Art Festival
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Falls Park | 2:30 pm Seeing 10,000 rubber duckies racing down the falls at Falls Park is quite the spectacle. The festival is actually a big event to raise money for local charities and incorporates food, a giant duck mascot wandering around taking photos with kids, fun crafts for the little ones, and music. Here’s KAG’s story on the Duck Derby, which explains how it all works. FREE Duck Derby
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | Dolly Cooper Park, Powdersville | 12-8 pm This event sounds like it is going to be a blast! Dolly Cooper Park, in Powdersville, is nestled at a bend in the Saluda River–hence the “Rhythm on the River!” There will be live music from The Fortunate Sons, as well as food trucks, local vendors, and a kid’s zone. FREE Rhythm on the River
May 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024 Probably the most anticipated spring festival in Greenville, Artisphere lives up to its reputation as one of the very best events in the Southeast. But it’s awesome for kids too! They have an entire area aptly called Kidsphere full of kid-friendly activities, building blocks, and STEM-related and hands-on exhibits. There are also several performing artists that are exciting to watch for all ages. FREE Artisphere
May 17, 2024 – May 19, 2024 | St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Greenville I have a slight obsession with Greek pastries, especially the honey-drenched baklava, so I was more than happy to go to the Greek Festival last year and search it out. I was not disappointed. Not only was the baklava sweet and delicious, but the music, food, and kids area were enjoyable and entertaining. This festival immediately went on my to-do list for the spring of this year. The food is amazing – oh hi, tasty gyros! – and the music was lively. There is an admission charge and we’ll update it when it’s announced. Greek Festival
Great Scot! Parade|Friday |May 24, 2024 |Main Street, Greenville| 6 pm Greenville Scottish Games |Saturday | May 25, 2024 |Furman University, Travelers Rest The Scots are back in full force and will keep you busy during Memorial Day Weekend! Join in on the fun, wear your tartans, and immerse yourself in Scottish culture including Celtic Music, Military Salute, Border Collie exhibition, British Classic Car Show and lots of more. This is a ticketed event. Gallabrae
Do you have a favorite Upstate Festival? Let us know in the comments.
Have you seen the Duck Derby in Greenville, SC? No, it’s not a giant bathtub with thousands of rubber duckies – it’s the 20th Annual Reedy River Duck Derby! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville, it is certainly a bucket list item if you live in the Greenville area. The 20th Annual Reedy River Duck Derby is set for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 2:30 pm. The entire event is from 11 am – 4 pm with the duck race starting at 2:30 pm.
The Duck Derby is not only a fantastic way to spend an afternoon but it’s also a great way to support wonderful charities.
