Planning your summer in Greenville? As the weather heats up our thoughts turn to summer. Summertime in Greenville, SC is full of swimming holes to discover, day trips to enjoy, ice cream cones, waterslides, and outdoor events.
In this summer guide, you’ll find places where you can swim, wade, and creek stomp in Greenville, SC! We also have our best frozen treat recommendations so you can find that perfect ice cream cone and stellar milkshake. You’ll also find free and cheap things to do, plus movies, summer camps, and date nights.
We’ll be updating all summer long, so bookmark this page and check back for more summertime fun opportunities.
Looking for things to do this summer in Spartanburg, SC? The sun is shining and the kids are ready to play. No need to fear! We have compiled all you need to enjoy summer from start to finish.
Looking for summer-only events? We’ve got them! Want to find ways to entertain your kids outdoors or indoors? We’ve got them! Need ideas for day trips or summer vacations? We’ve got them! Want to save money while having fun? We have tons of ideas!
Here’s your guide to summer in Spartanburg! Wear sunscreen! Stay safe! And, have fun!
If you prefer to do your swimming in a natural setting, check out our Guide to Swimming Holes in the Upstate! You’ll find lakes, creeks, and waterfall pools that are great for wading and swimming!
Also, kids bowl free through theKids Bowl Freeprogram at participating bowling alleys. Don’t miss the free fun!
Summer Camps in Spartanburg
Kids can learn about almost any topic in Spartanburg area summer camps. For great free fun, check out the VBS programs offered by local Spartanburg churches.
The Ultimate Upstate Summer Camp Guide – Here’s a huge list of summer camps in Spartanburg. Sort them by topic, age and more to find the perfect camp for your kiddos!
VBS programs– Area churches open their doors for Vacation Bible School Programs to local children for free (or really cheap). We’ll be updating our list of VBS programs soon!
Summer Events
In addition to Memorial Day and 4th of July, there are plenty of exciting events that only happen during the summer. The following are things you can only enjoy while school is out for summer:
Watch free Outdoor Movies in Greer City Park this summer!
Embrace the sunshine by heading outdoors this summer! We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful location that makes exploring outdoors a reality. To help you get started on your outdoor ventures, here are some ideas:
Summer is also a great time to visit new parks! By checking out the following reviews from our team, you will find out which parks offer shade (or splash pads) from the blistering heat and which ones to avoid in the middle of a hot summer day.
Discover all of Spartanburg’s Parks in our Upstate, SC Park Guide. Use the guide to sort parks by location and features to find the perfect place to play!
If you need even more ideas for summer fun, we’ve got you covered! These last ideas are sure to fill up the days and keep you and your kids busy between May and September.
Planning a date night and looking for summer date night ideas? Summer in Greenville makes date nights easy. If you are tired of going on the same old dates, use this list to spice things up this summer. Whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor date ideas, we’ve got you covered!
Summer is the perfect time to get back into date night with your significant other. There are so many more options for having fun together over the summer than other times of year because you can get outside. Although you totally don’t have to be outside – sometimes the air conditioning feels divine.
So get planning on that date night, or date day as we have those ideas as well. Can you try for three dates this summer – one for June, July and August? We have plenty of options for you, just pick a few!
Are you ready for one of the summer’s best annual events? Park Hop, Greenville, SC, and Spartanburg, SC’s scavenger hunt for clues through Upstate parks, is the summer-long scavenger hunt event that’s perfect for your family. The Park Hop is free, you can enjoy the event on your own schedule and your kids can earn fabulous prizes. Plus, you participate by exploring Upstate parks (isn’t that exactly what you already wanted to do this summer?).
Go to The Park Hop website to sign up and get more information about downloading the Park Hop app.
Kidding Around Greenville is an official partner of the 2023 Park Hop. Watch Kidding Around Greenville for an exciting Park Hop series this summer. We are going to hop right along with you and give you the inside track on what you can expect when visiting this year.
If you aren’t already subscribed to our popular Family Fun Guide, you can subscribe here.
Don’t miss out on our list of Park Hop Parks listing details you need to know about each 2023 Park Hop park!
We know summer camps for kids can get expensive in Greenville, SC so we put together a list of the ones that are on the less expensive end – $150 or under per week.
Looking for cheaper summer camps in Greenville, SC? While summer camps are awesome for both kids and their parents, for different reasons, they can get pricey, especially with siblings. And then if you’re looking at two or three for the summer, it’s a line item in your budget.
We can help! We’ve found more than 15 summer camps in the Upstate that cost $150 or less per week per kid. If we missed any that should be added to this list, let us know in the comments.
Looking for more summer camps? Here’s our massive Greenville Summer Camp Guide with over 120 Greenville area summer camps.
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.
Isn’t summer break great? When there are tons of free things to do, it’s even better! 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 fun. 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.
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This list may contain unpaid mentions of Kidding Around Greenville sponsors.
The Top 5 Free Things to Do in Greenville This Summer
Looking for a summer reading program to keep your children motivated to read? Summer is a great time to get outside and soak up some sun, but it’s also the perfect time to relax with a good book. Whether you’re reading bedtime stories or your child is spending the drive to the beach with their nose in a book, reading is a great summer activity for babies, kids, teens, and parents. Here are a few of the summer reading programs in the Upstate that offer prizes for being a bookworm.
Have you heard of Camp Greenville? This camp is loaded with activities for the whole family! Its located in the Blue Ridge Mountains right at the NC/SC border. They offer family camps, specialty camps, camps for kids and teens and so much more! KAG’s Kristina Hernandez got to visit Camp Greenville and check it out for our readers. Find out about the property and all the activities available at Camp Greenville.
Thanks to the YMCA of Greenville for sponsoring Kidding Around Greenville!
You know those movies you watched growing up that depicted the perfect summer camp, maybe like The Parent Trap, where kids went canoeing, learned archery, jumped into lakes, ate together in a big dining hall, went camping and hiking and rock climbing, and left with friends for life? That is exactly what Camp Greenville is like. I walked into the camp for the first time and it felt like something out of one of those classic movies. And it was perfect.
As a kid, I always wanted to go to camp like this one and as an adult, I can say that desire hasn’t left me. Good thing Camp Greenville offers family camps!
About Camp Greenville
Run by the YMCA of Greenville, Camp Greenville is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and sits right on the South Carolina/North Carolina border. Being on top of a mountain, it overlooks the foothills and is often cooler than in Greenville. The best part is that it’s a place where kids, adults, and families can make magical memories, experience the outdoors like they have only imagined, and gain independence.
While groups can book the camp year-round, sessions for kids and families open up in late Spring for family camps and early June for overnight summer camps. During the summer, kids can spend time on the mountain zip lining, kayaking, hiking, and swimming, among tons of other activities.
Kids are separated by age group depending on what grade they will enter come Fall (camps are for kids going into 2nd grade through 12th grade).
Older kids have the opportunity for Adventure Camps that include off-site fun such as whitewater rafting and camping. We saw big groups of older kids packing up their gear for these trips and I was slightly jealous.
12 Reasons Why You Should Visit Camp Greenville
Just in case you need some convincing to send your kid to camp here or register for a family or Mom/Dad and kid weekend camp, here are 12 reasons to consider going to Camp Greenville this summer:
Independence
Parents need to be more cautious today than they had to be 50 years ago when kids were gone all day bike riding or fishing or doing whatever it is they did without parental vigilance. At Camp Greenville, kids are diligently looked after by counselors but they are also encouraged to gain independence without the confinement that they would otherwise have in the cul-de-sac in their neighborhood.
“Truddie time” is built into daily schedules, which is where kids can choose what activity they’d like to do as long as it is with a group of three or more campers.
Nurses On-Site
Camp Greenville has a brand new Health Hut, which is nicer than most doctors offices I’ve been in, that is staffed by Prisma Health nurses (nurses are encouraged to come for the week to work at the camp without taking vacation time – and their kids can attend camp for free that week!).
Parents don’t have to worry if their kid has special health needs because they will be well taken care of at the Health Hut. Nurses and doctors also have access electronic health records in case of emergency – this helps parents to have peace of mind while their kids are at camp.
Camp Greenville has a Beach & Waterslides
The camp got a huge new waterfront facility last summer, which includes a sandy beach, docks, two waterslides, picnic areas, and new bathrooms and changing rooms. It’s awesome. This is where I had trouble getting my kids to leave.
Inclusivity
The Y is for all people – not just families who can afford it. Eighty percent of campers receive some type of financial aid and Camp Greenville strives to make their camps available to anyone who wants to go. The YMCA specifically raises money for this purpose.
Lack of Technology
Technology is great but the lack of technology is also pretty awesome. No devices are allowed at camp. In today’s world where kids are constantly in front of a screen, being at camp to unplug forces them to interact with each other, develop interpersonal skills, and connect with nature.
Long-Lasting Friendships
Every afternoon, campers have the independence to choose the activity of their choice during Truddie Time, but they must be with at least two other friends. This gives kids the freedom and confidence to make their own choices and be responsible for their actions, while being in a safe environment.
We learned of reunions of campers who had went for years when they were younger and formed strong friendships – they all come back every year for a few days from all over the country to be together at Camp Greenville.
Magical Campfires
The end of camp campfire is a favorite of campers and counselors alike. There is something enchanting about gathering around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, and telling stories at the end of camp that makes it something truly memorable.
Family & Specialty Camps
While you can send your kids to Camp Greenville, they also have several weekends available for family camps, as well as specialty camps for those families who have children with autism or Down syndrome. These are wonderful opportunities to spend time together as a family and meet other families who have children with special needs.
They also have Mom/Me and Dad/Me camps for parents and their kids which are a few days long and perfect to enjoy the camp with smaller children who aren’t ready for overnights yet.
It’s Just So Pretty
Camp Greenville is situated at Pretty Place, which overlooks the Carolina Piedmont, at around 3,200 feet. It’s truly stunning. Photos don’t do it justice.
Learn Practical Leadership Skills
The Y bases all its Youth Development programs on Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. This scientifically validated structure identifies a set of skills, experiences, relationships, and behaviors that enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults.
The camp works on developing leadership skills with older kids and teens as they go through a specially-developed program designed by the current Summer Camp Director.
Reduce Stress
Studies have shown that being out in nature reduces stress, restores concentration, and gives a heightened sense of well-being. Connecting with nature has a way of kicking stress out of the body and enabling us to relax, to enjoy the outdoors, and disconnect from everyday life.
Creating Lasting Memories and Friendships
Spending time at Camp Greenville is a unique experience that kids will remember year after year. Friendships develop that last a lifetime in some cases. Even families who get to know each other become friends back home. Camp Greenville brings people together and enables everyone who attends to discover the great outdoors, grow in ways that may not have expected, and really enjoy each other.
Camp Greenville is an awesome experience that will hopefully become a part of your family’s summer!
Looking for the perfect summer camp for your family? YMCA Camp Greenville family camp options offer multiple camps to spend time outdoors together, including the Spectrum & Stargazers Camp for kids who have Down Syndrome or Autism and their families.
Thanks to our partner YMCA of Greenville for sponsoring Kidding Around.
YMCA of Greenville has owned and operated Camp Greenville for 110 years. With 1,400 acres, a mountaintop setting located directly in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and multiple adventurous programs for members of all ages, Camp Greenville provides unforgettable experiences and a lifetime of memories.
Spectrum & Stargazers: YMCA Camp Greenville Family Camp is for families with members who have Down Syndrome or Autism
Following the example of Christ, the Y builds healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. In this spirit, Camp Greenville offers Spectrum & Stargazers Family Camp for families with members who have Down Syndrome or Autism over a weekend in both the Spring and Fall. Activities are steered towards parent and child participation, all while providing a fun and safe environment to have unforgettable family adventures alongside others who understand how amazingly unique and talented we all are in our own different ways.
Bridget Walter, whose daughter Addi has Down Syndrome, looks forward to participating in Stargazer Camp with her family year after year. She says, “Stargazers is more than a camp. It’s a community of families, camp counselors, and staff who truly ‘get it’. It’s a time and place where individuals with special needs, along with their siblings and parents can unwind, have fun, and enjoy connecting with others on a similar journey in life. At this camp, you can 100% be yourself, go at your own pace, and create your own adventure! You will find accommodations and acceptance for all ages and abilities. I’ve always said if you could bottle up and share the energy, enthusiasm, love, support, and smiles from the weekend, it would make the world a better place. My daughter, Addi, says her favorite part of the weekend is the talent show. She and her sister also look forward to canoeing, archery, crafts, hiking, and square dancing.”
“Stargazers is more than a camp. It’s a community …”
Bridget Walter, parent
YMCA Camp Greenville has a Prisma Health Center on campus
Something that makes Camp Greenville unique is its state-of-the-art Prisma Health Center on campus. When camp is in session, the center is staffed 24/7 with Prisma Health RNs, paramedics, and a health center coordinator. This feature helps parents feel at ease knowing that there are qualified health professionals onsite to help with something as small as a scraped knee to managing more complicated issues so that all children can experience the joy of camp.
When is Spectrum & Stargazers Family Camp?
The YMCA Camp Greenville Family Camp spring weekend for Spectrum & Stargazers is scheduled for May 5-7, 2023, and the Fall weekend is scheduled for September 15-17, 2023.
