Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Ben Greer is an author, poet, and educator who was born and raised in Glenn Springs. He graduated from the University of South Carolina and Hollins University. He published his first novel, Slammer, at 26 to rave reviews and went on to publish 4 others. His first book of poetry was published at 59. His latest book of poetry is called Naked Prince: New & Selected Poems.

Ben has also written three plays, including Little Tin Gods, produced by Theatre South in 2008. Having taught at the University of South Carolina for 33 years, he is retired and lives in Columbia.

Join us at the Old Stone Church on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 7:00pm to hear Ben’s stories and memories of growing up in Glenn Springs. This event is free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Endeavor, the coworking and office space community in downtown Greenville will be hosting their Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series.

Networking 5:00-5:45 | Presentation and Q&A 5:45-6:45 | Networking 6:45-7:15
Request an Invitation at [email protected]. Seating is Limited; Sorry, No Walk-Ins.

Join us for the 51^st anniversary edition of ZOOfari — an unforgettable evening of cocktails, cuisine, and conservation!

Experience the nostalgia with flavors from previous ZOOfari events, paired with specialty cocktails throughout the Zoo.

Internationally recognized speaker and workforce strategist Kamber Parker Bowden’s debut book, “The Generational Advantage,” delivers practical tips for developing strong, multigenerational teams.

Parker Bowden will be visiting M. Judson from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 for a Saturday popup. She will be discussing her business insights and sharing details about her book.

This book is built on more than 10,000 interviews and over 50,000 hours of research, translating real-world insights into practical action items for business leaders. “The Generational Advantage” covers how to attract and retain top talent in a shifting labor market, bridge communication gaps across generational and technological divides, and turn workplace friction into collaboration and measurable business growth.

Back by popular demand, the third Annual Mountain Monarch Festival will be at Gorges State Park in Sapphire on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This free event, hosted by the park and sponsored by the Friends of Gorges State Park and other partners, will celebrate the monarch butterfly during its migration and raise awareness about the species’ declining numbers. The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in early October each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

The festival will offer educational programs and exhibits as well as children’s crafts, face painting by Brevard College cheerleaders, a butterfly hike, and a Monarch Migration Passport to guide visitors through the activities. The featured speakers will be Heyward Douglas, an entomologist who is a former naturalist and has served on the Foothills Trail Conservancy’s board of directors since 1989, who will talk about visiting the wintering area for the monarchs in Mexico, and Brian Bockhahn, interpretation and education specialist for North Carolina State Parks, who will discuss “Monarch Life Cycle and Tagging.”

The event, activities and programs are free and open to the public. The event will be held rain or shine and is first-come, first-served. For event details, visit https://www.friendsofgorges.org

Join us on Thursday, October 24 at 1800 Drayton for Bacon & Barrel — a lively evening of bourbon tastings, bacon-inspired bites from local restaurants, live music, and a curated silent auction, all in support of St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic. This beloved annual fundraiser helps provide free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured residents of Spartanburg County.

Tickets include access to bourbon samples, food tastings, and entertainment. Proceeds go directly toward sustaining our clinic’s mission of compassionate care for those who need it most.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit: https://slfmc.networkforgood.com/events/88843-bacon-and-barrel

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference & Expo on November 5-6, 2025. Meet the manufacturers who are shaping what’s next. Hosted by SCBIZ News, The SC Manufacturing Conference & Expo is where connections turn into partnerships, and industry insights fuel real results.
This is your chance to be part of a growing, interconnected manufacturing community—right here in the Southeast & beyond.

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference & Expo on November 5-6, 2025. Meet the manufacturers who are shaping what’s next. Hosted by SCBIZ News, The SC Manufacturing Conference & Expo is where connections turn into partnerships, and industry insights fuel real results.
This is your chance to be part of a growing, interconnected manufacturing community—right here in the Southeast & beyond.

Endeavor, the coworking and office space community in downtown Greenville will be hosting their Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series.

Networking 5:00-5:45 | Presentation and Q&A 5:45-6:45 | Networking 6:45-7:15
Request an Invitation at [email protected]. Seating is Limited; Sorry, No Walk-Ins.

Join the Greenville Police Department and Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the Fill the Cruisers Emergency Food Drive, benefiting Project Host. With food insecurity rising and potential delays in SNAP benefits across South Carolina, this community event aims to support local families in need ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Residents are encouraged to stop by the Arena and help fill police cruisers with nonperishable food and essential items, which will be delivered directly to Project Host’s Soup Kitchen and outreach programs. Most needed items include canned vegetables and fruit, canned proteins, rice, pasta, sauces, peanut butter and jelly, applesauce, snack crackers, mac & cheese, and pop-top soups. Monetary donations can also be made at projecthost.org.