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.

“The Thorn,” a powerful and popular live theatrical event, seen live by over one million people, will bring the passion of Jesus to life this spring at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The Thorn offers audiences a unique theatrical experience in a show that has been hailed as “Cirque meets ‘The Passion’” thanks to its compelling mix of drama, music, dance, martial arts, aerial acrobatics, emotionally evocative performances, and timeless spiritual perspectives. The story spans from creation to the formation of the early church. Watch the trailer here.  For more information, please visit TheThorn.com

Author John Bolin created the show over 25 years ago to convey the meaning of Christ’s sacrificial death to a group of young people who knew little about the story of Jesus’ suffering but were familiar with pain through their own practice of cutting and self-harm.

The show has evolved ever since, with the current live version returning to the original format featuring St. John, “the beloved disciple,” recalling his many amazing encounters with Jesus.

“It’s a story full of love, sacrifice, spiritual warfare, and redemption,” said Bolin.

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.

The Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church celebrates 146 years in the Greenville County community on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 10 AM. This Year’s anniversary will be marked by inspiring worship, thanksgiving and fellowship, as we celebrate “Missions” through community service, charitable outreach, and programs to sustain families and children.

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 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 us at the Greenville Convention Center for The Hurt Behind The Smile Productions for If Grace Had a Face Concert with Jekayln Carr on November 15, 2025 5:30 – 11pm.

Come join us for a night of beauty and elegance as we explore the concept of grace through art, music, and storytelling!