Are you looking for things to do in Downtown Greenville, SC? Here at Kidding Around Greenville, our goal is to make sure people in Greenville can always find something to do, whether they are looking for a free activity, an experience of a lifetime, or a way to spend a fun weekend. We love our city and all it has to offer. This guide has everything you need to enjoy time in Downtown Greenville, SC and its updated for 2026!
Quick Guide: Downtown Greenville, SC in 2026
Explore the best things to do in Downtown Greenville all in one place – from iconic attractions and scenic parks to museums, restaurants, events, and family-friendly fun right in the heart of the city.
Plan your visit by exploring:
• Top attractions & landmarks
• Free things to do downtown
• Parks, trails & outdoor spots
• Shows, sports & entertainment
• Downtown dining & local favorites
• Parking + visitor tips
Exploring Downtown Greenville, SC
Downtown Greenville has some of the best museums in the upstate, is home to the Greenville Zoo, offers supreme walkability, and features the postcard-worthy Falls Park on the Reedy and Liberty Bridge. There is nothing quite like being downtown.
Falls Park and Liberty Bridge
Everyone in Greenville needs to be sure to visit Falls Park and the iconic Liberty Bridge that is suspended over the Reedy River Falls. During the warmer months, you may find free outdoor movies, plays, family festivals, and other events in the park. Grab your picnic basket and set it up beside the Reedy River for a fun summer day. Don’t forget to take a photo by Greenville’s famous Medusa Tree.
Main Street
Don’t miss a stroll down Main Street in downtown Greenville. Grab a coffee at one of our local coffee shops such as Coffee Underground, browse books at M. Judson Bookstore, and find an assortment of candy bins at the Mast General Store. Make sure to bring your camera, with beautiful backgrounds found in places like Camperdown Plaza and all along Main Street, you will need it!
HIGHLIGHT FOR KIDS: Don’t forget to find the Mice on Main.
Swamp Rabbit Trail
Start in Cleveland Park and follow the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Cleveland Park, beside the Rock Quarry Garden, through Cancer Survivor Park, to Falls Park, and over to the Children’s Garden at Linky Stone Park (approximately 40 minutes walking or 15 minutes biking, one way).
This path will take you past some of Greenville’s most popular parks, interesting art installations, and the Liberty Bridge.
Greenville Zoo
The Greenville Zoo is located right in the heart of the city of Greenville. The zoo is full of shade and has play spaces for children, and it is a great addition to any itinerary if you are visiting Greenville.
Museums in Downtown Greenville
Four notable Greenville museums are located at Heritage Green in downtown Greenville.
- The Children’s Museum of the Upstate: Families with children will want to plan at least 4 or more hours for their children to explore the 3 floors of exhibits at TCMU. Be aware that the bottom floor is full of water exhibits, so you may want to save that floor for last.
- The Upcountry History Museum is a great place to explore local history and has seasonal exhibits for children.
- The Sigal Music Museum has an extensive collection of historic pianos and harpsichords, including a piano played by Chopin.
- The Greenville County Museum of Art is free to visit and focuses on American art. It has a large collection of watercolors by Andrew Wyeth.
Tours of Downtown Greenville
For the history buffs and food lovers, you can also take several different tours of Downtown Greenville with Greenville History Tours with John Nolan. We LOVED their At the Chef’s Table food tour of downtown, it was fantastic (both belly and mind).
If you’re not in the mood to walk during your tour, take a Segway tour with Greenville Glides Segway Tours! Your legs will thank you later.
You’ll also find some interesting foodie and explorative tours on our list of 20+ Greenville, SC Tours, many of which are downtown.
Ride the Downtown Trolley
If you are looking for an easy (and FREE) way to travel around Downtown Greenville while also seeing the sights, check out the Trolley! All you need to do is find a trolley stop, and you can even track the trolley with the GreenLink app. The trolley operates year-round and on Fridays from 4–11 pm, Saturdays from 10 am–11 pm, and Sundays from 10 am–8 pm.
Free Things to Do in Downtown Greenville, SC
We like free things to do, and there are a lot of them right in Downtown Greenville! You could spend a whole day and not spend a dime. Here’s a list of free things to do in Downtown Greenville.
- Free Mini Golf at McPherson Park- You can play some free, 18-hole mini golf while enjoying the lovely park. You will want to bring your ball and putter. You can even host a mini golf party there!
- Mice on Main– Sometimes you just want to take a stroll down gorgeous Main Street. Finding bronze mice on the way is an excellent bonus and will keep the kids busy!
- Explore the gardens that are found around Downtown Greenville! There are multiple professionally designed gardens to spend some time in that do not even cost a penny. Even when not in bloom, there is still beauty found in the rocks, waterfalls, and evergreen foliage.
Hughes Main Library
The Greenville County Library System’s headquarters is Hughes Main Library, and it’s located on Heritage Green in Downtown Greenville. The large library is a great place to spend some time reading books, using the computer, playing with friends, or taking part in one of the library’s free programs for children, families, and adults. It is even open on Sunday afternoons!
Watch a Show, Concert, or Sporting Event
Greenville offers plenty of high-quality theatre and opportunities to experience the performing arts, including full Broadway performances at the Peace Center. You will also find several sports teams that make Greenville their home, including the Greenville Drive baseball, the Greenville Triumph soccer, the Greenville Liberty soccer, and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey!
Here’s a list of the popular event venues in Greenville, SC that include nearby dining and parking options.
- Peace Center – The Peace Center hosts classical and professional musicians, ensembles, and orchestras in addition to a full slate of Broadway performances.
- Bon Secours Wellness Arena – At the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, you can purchase tickets to hear famous pop musicians, attend large shows such as Monster Jam, and even catch an ice hockey game.
- Fluor Field– Home to the Greenville Drive minor league baseball team, Fluor Field also regularly offers special events.
- Greenville Theatre – The Greenville Theatre showcases local talent with a wide selection of dramas and musicals each year.
- South Carolina Children’s Theatre – The South Carolina Children’s Theatre performs multiple mainstage performances each year at their Bell Mainstage located downtown at 153 Augusta Street (across from Gather GVL).
- Alchemy Comedy offers weekly improv comedy shows at Coffee Underground.
- The Comedy Zone is where to go for some of the best professional comedic performances.
- Centre Stage offers performances like musicals, comedies, dramas, and events that spark magic. They have performances year-round.
Entertainment Venues Near Downtown Greenville
If you’re looking to have some fun, Downtown Greenville is the place to go. With escape rooms, indoor playgrounds, and mini golf courses, the downtown area has something fun for the entire family!
- Group Therapy Pub & Playground is an excellent way to tap into your inner child while also enjoying some adult-friendly drinks! The pub offers large-scale, interactive art installations, indoor mini golf, and special events!
- Escape Artists Greenville– If you’re craving the opportunity to solve a mystery, then Escape Artists will give you that with their detailed escape rooms.
- Flying Rabbit Adventures is the place to go if you’re a thrill seeker! This high ropes and zip line course is located right off Laurens Road near the Greenville Zoo.
- Take Off Mini Golf – Located at the Downtown Airport, this mini golf course is situated on the outskirts of an airport! You can watch the planes come and go as you play a round or two.
- Fireforge Crafted Beer is much more than a brewery! They consistently have live music, bingo nights, and family-friendly events.
Restaurants in Downtown Greenville
Downtown Greenville has excellent dining options. Here’s a restaurant guide for Downtown Greenville, SC to help you find exactly the meal and experience you’d like.
If you’re heading out with your significant other, check this list of great choices for date night restaurants in Downtown Greenville, SC. Try CAMP restaurant, one of the most highly rated Greenville restaurants, or Scoundrel, which earned a Michelin Star in 2025! Maybe make the night even more romantic by pairing it with drinks at Up on the Roof before heading to Salsa at Sunset during the summer months.
If you’re seeking a little culinary experience, you can try out the Greenville Culinary Tours At the Chef’s Table.
Downtown Greenville During the Holidays
Greenville is magical during the holiday season, and there are lots of unique things to do. Ride on Santa’s sleigh, go ice skating, or check out professionally decorated trees while sipping cocoa.
- Holiday Things to Do in Downtown Greenville, SC
- Ice on Main
- The Greenville Christmas Market at The Grand Bohemian
- Holiday Lights at the Greenville Zoo
Parks in Downtown Greenville, SC
- Falls Park: Liberty Bridge, waterfall on the Reedy, many paths for walking along the river and gardens, right in the heart of Downtown Greenville, along Main Street
- Unity Park: Large nature-themed playground in walking distance from Falls Park. The park has two parks, a splash pad, and a large communal grassy area to laze in.
- Cleveland Park: Two large playgrounds, access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, home of the Greenville Zoo
- Linky Stone Park Children’s Garden: This Sweet little park is hidden away in Downtown Greenville with pretty gardens and whimsical fairytale features for children
- Paris Mountain State Park: Just north of downtown Greenville and near the Blue Ridge Mountains, this park offers great hiking trails and even swimming in Lake Placid in the summer.
Where to Park in Downtown Greenville
You’re headed downtown with a long list of fun things to do, but where should you park? Fortunately, Greenville has tons of affordable garages and plenty of street parking. Here’s a guide to where to park in downtown Greenville.
Events Happening in (& near) Downtown Greenville, SC Soon!
Join Fully Involved Events and Spare Time Greenville for a car show and trunk-or-treat with decorated rides, awesome characters, and lots of candy! Family friendly fun for all ages — dress up and enjoy free admission for the general public and trunk-or-treat. Car show entrants pay a $20 fee (includes a Spare Time play gift card) to compete for awards across five classes.
🎟️ Cost: Free (trunk-or-treat/general admission); $20 to enter a car in the show.
📍 Location: Spare Time Greenville, 822 Congaree Road, Greenville, SC 29607
👉 Read more
Kids’ Night Out at WonderHere Greenville
Drop the kids off for an evening of play, creativity, and fun while you enjoy a night out in downtown Greenville, or a quiet night at home in your PJs. We fully support both. 😉
Kids’ Night Out is a special drop-off evening at the WonderHere Greenville studio filled with:
🎨 Crafts & creative projects
🎲 Games & activities
🧪 Hands-on experiments
🧸 Plenty of free play
🍕 Pizza dinner
It’s a chance for kids to make friends, explore, create, and have a fun night of their own while grown-ups get a couple of hours to themselves!
Parking: Parking is FREE for the first 2 hours in the Laurens Street Parking Deck, located directly across the street from our studio.
Drop them off, enjoy your evening, and we’ll handle the fun!
Join a ranger for a fun-filled evening exploring the world of bats through interactive games, stories, and facts, plus a short .75-mile dusk walk along Lake Placid and Mountain Creek at Paris Mountain State Park. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy footwear, and bring a flashlight or headlamp. All ages welcome; registration required, capacity limited to 25.
Evening night hike focused on nocturnal wildlife including bats and owls.
📍 Location: 840 Mauldin Rd, Greenville, SC 29607
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Dress up your pup and join us for a Halloween edition of Pup Cup Social featuring costumes, treats and plenty of photo opportunities. Prizes for Best Dressed Pups!
Come relax, create, and enjoy a family-friendly beading workshop for kids! All ages welcome! Parents also welcome to join.
We provide you with beautiful quality materials, tools, and guidance to make your own bracelets, necklaces, or anklets. Our goal is to uplift creativity, self-expression, and connections. You can make and take home as many pieces as you want in this 1-hour workshop. Parents must remain on site and can either be in the workshop space or shop in Westside Market. See you there!
The Greenville Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween tradition returns with trick-or-treating, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town, and a glowing light tunnel. Costumes encouraged!
Dates & Hours: October 14th – 31st, 2026; 3 pm – 8 pm
Open Halloween from 1 pm – 4 pm
- Trick-or-Treat Upgrade required per participant
- Limited discounted tickets online – buy early
- $2 upcharge at the ticket booth
- Bring your own trick-or-treat bag
- Boo Babies (ages 0–2) are free, but candy requires an upgrade
- Children must be with an adult
Children are invited to wear costumes for Halloween-themed stories, songs, movement activities, and instrument play. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Plaza, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 18 mos-4 yrs
Halloween-themed nursery rhymes create nurturing play experiences for babies; max 3 kids per adult caregiver.
The Greenville Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween tradition returns with trick-or-treating, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town, and a glowing light tunnel. Costumes encouraged!
Dates & Hours: October 14th – 31st, 2026; 3 pm – 8 pm
Open Halloween from 1 pm – 4 pm
- Trick-or-Treat Upgrade required per participant
- Limited discounted tickets online – buy early
- $2 upcharge at the ticket booth
- Bring your own trick-or-treat bag
- Boo Babies (ages 0–2) are free, but candy requires an upgrade
- Children must be with an adult
Ranger-led family hike observing seasonal changes in the park.
Children are invited to wear costumes for Halloween-themed stories, songs, movement activities, and instrument play. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Pelham Road (F. W. Symmes) Library, 1508 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 18 mos-4 yrs
Kids are invited to wear a costume and enjoy spooky stories and songs.
Kids are invited to wear a costume and enjoy spooky stories and songs. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Berea (Sarah Dobey Jones) Library, 111 N Hwy 25 Bypass, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 5 & under
The Greenville Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween tradition returns with trick-or-treating, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town, and a glowing light tunnel. Costumes encouraged!
Dates & Hours: October 14th – 31st, 2026; 3 pm – 8 pm
Open Halloween from 1 pm – 4 pm
- Trick-or-Treat Upgrade required per participant
- Limited discounted tickets online – buy early
- $2 upcharge at the ticket booth
- Bring your own trick-or-treat bag
- Boo Babies (ages 0–2) are free, but candy requires an upgrade
- Children must be with an adult
Bring your Pokemon cards and games to trade, battle, and more. Cards provided for game play or use your own. Ages 6-12.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: 25 Heritage Green Place, Greenville, SC 29601
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: Ages 6-12
Immerse yourself in the classic film as the original 1984 Ghostbusters is presented on a massive HD screen, accompanied by an orchestra performing the iconic score live. This is a one-of-a-kind cinematic and symphonic event you’ll want to share with the next generation.
Kids are invited to wear a costume and enjoy spooky stories and songs. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Pelham Road (F. W. Symmes) Library, 1508 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 5 & under
Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our twice-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go. If you catch them on a rainy day or cold day, storytime is held inside in the children’s section toward the back of the store. Keep up with changes to the schedule here> Book Store & Coffee Shop in Downtown Greenville Check out our Review of Storytime on the Steps at M. Judson Booksellers!
Kids are invited to wear a costume and listen to slightly spooky tales, songs, and rhymes.
The Greenville Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween tradition returns with trick-or-treating, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town, and a glowing light tunnel. Costumes encouraged!
Dates & Hours: October 14th – 31st, 2026; 3 pm – 8 pm
Open Halloween from 1 pm – 4 pm
- Trick-or-Treat Upgrade required per participant
- Limited discounted tickets online – buy early
- $2 upcharge at the ticket booth
- Bring your own trick-or-treat bag
- Boo Babies (ages 0–2) are free, but candy requires an upgrade
- Children must be with an adult
Club Smile & ATS Kids Trunk or Treat
On Wednesday, October 28, join AID-L’s Club Smile and ATS Kids at 48 Brookfield Oaks Dr., Suite A for some Halloween fun from 6:30 to 8! Candy, allergy and dye- free treats, as well as non-oral treats will be provided so that everyone can participate! Enjoy popcorn, sno cones and popcorn. We can’t wait to see you!
Location:
ATS Kids/AID-L
48 Brookfield Oaks Dr. Suite A
Greenville, SC 29607
Kids are invited to wear a costume and listen to slightly spooky tales, songs, and rhymes.
🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Plaza, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 18 mos-4 yrs
Kids are invited to wear a costume and enjoy spooky stories and songs. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Augusta Road (Ramsey Family) Library, 100 Lydia Street, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 5 & under
Babies and their caregivers are invited to wear costumes for a special Halloween bash featuring stories, songs, and finger plays. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Plaza, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 1-18 mos
Babies and their caregivers are invited to wear costumes for a special Halloween bash featuring stories, songs, and finger plays. 🎟️ Cost: Free.
📍 Location: Pelham Road (F. W. Symmes) Library, 1508 Pelham Road, Greenville, SC
👉 Read more
🧒 Ages: 1-18 mos
Afternoon Explorations- September 17, 2026 – May 7, 2027
Begin your visit in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building, where you’ll find The Water Story and Sustainable Future exhibits as well as the highly popular Nature Exchange
Explore Harrison Hall of Natural Science, where you’ll discover a wide variety of plants, animals, and invertebrates in the Indoor Rain Forest and Rainforest Classroom, have the chance to pet stingrays, sea stars, and horseshoe crabs in the Marine Lab, and learn about South Carolina’s major ecosystems in the Ecology Lab
- Step back in time on the Living History Farm and discover what it was like to live in the Backcountry of 19th-century South Carolina.
- Have a larger-than-life adventure as you search for young and adult dinosaurs on our ever-popular Dinosaur Adventure Trail
- Tap into the power of imagination through creative play at the Pirate Adventure and Dinosaur Playgrounds
- Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you stroll through the Butterfly Garden
👉PURCHASE TICKETS HERE> Afternoon Explorations
And don’t miss our themed Special Event Days held throughout the year that include:
- October 16 – Science Magic
- November 20 – Fall on the Farm
- December 11 – Grinchy Christmas
- January 15 – Winterfest
- February 19 – Future Engineers
- March 12 – Dinosaur Adventure
- April 23 – A Pirate’s Life for Me
Click Here to Learn more about Roper Mountain Science Center and all of its fantastic programming!
The Greenville Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween tradition returns with trick-or-treating, Dragon Alley, Ghost Town, and a glowing light tunnel. Costumes encouraged!
Dates & Hours: October 14th – 31st, 2026; 3 pm – 8 pm
Open Halloween from 1 pm – 4 pm
- Trick-or-Treat Upgrade required per participant
- Limited discounted tickets online – buy early
- $2 upcharge at the ticket booth
- Bring your own trick-or-treat bag
- Boo Babies (ages 0–2) are free, but candy requires an upgrade
- Children must be with an adult
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