Explore family friendly events, theatres, galleries, concerts, nightlife, things to do, and more in the Greenville, SC and Upstate areas.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Friday, December 27, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 27 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

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.

Saturday, December 28, 2024
Holidays at the Zoo
Dec 28 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenville Zoo

Holidays at the Zoo returns for its 4th year of holiday cheer! Immerse yourself in thousands of dazzling lights, festive decorations, and cheerful music while you journey through the Greenville Zoo.

Winter Lights
Dec 28 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

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.

Sunday, December 29, 2024
Holidays at the Zoo
Dec 29 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenville Zoo

Holidays at the Zoo returns for its 4th year of holiday cheer! Immerse yourself in thousands of dazzling lights, festive decorations, and cheerful music while you journey through the Greenville Zoo.

Winter Lights
Dec 29 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

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.

Monday, December 30, 2024
Holidays at the Zoo
Dec 30 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenville Zoo

Holidays at the Zoo returns for its 4th year of holiday cheer! Immerse yourself in thousands of dazzling lights, festive decorations, and cheerful music while you journey through the Greenville Zoo.

Winter Lights
Dec 30 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

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.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 31 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

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.

Sunday, January 19, 2025
Blue Ridge National Charity Drive
Jan 19 – Jan 20 all-day

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is
excited to announce the Heritage Hearth Charity Drive, a creative effort to collect hand-knit and
crocheted accessories for all ages to benefit residents of Western North Carolina (WNC)
impacted by Hurricane Helene.

As areas recover, BRNHA strives to keep WNC on the radar of those outside the region.
BRNHA will collect donations from November 11, 2024–January 20, 2025, including knit or
crochet hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and cowls. The North Carolina Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) will assist in connecting BRNHA to groups that can disperse
donations to those in need across WNC.

Donations can be mailed or dropped off at:
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
c/o Heritage Hearth
31 College Place, Suite 120
Asheville, NC 28801
BRNHA welcomes participants who would like to be designated drop-off locations. If you are
interested, please contact BRNHA to collaborate. Fiber groups are encouraged to engage in
community sit-and-stitches to raise awareness of the event. Attached here is the flyer and social
media image to correlate with the event page:

Heritage Hearth: A Handmade Charity Drive

Thursday, February 6, 2025
Ladies’ Wellness Soirée: Love Yourself!
Feb 6 @ 6:00 pm
Randall House

Enjoy an unforgettable evening dedicated to celebrating women’s health and the power of friendship across the decades. Engage in interactive activities, lighthearted discussions, and plenty of opportunities to connect and empower each other. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate, learn, and grow together while supporting OneDay, a Prisma Health-Upstate Foundation initiative supporting the expansion of behavioral health services and access across the Upstate.

❤️ Give the gift of friendship and bring a friend. Use promo code GALENTINES at checkout for our discounted BESTIE BUNDLE. ❤️

Event Details:
• Thursday, February 6
• 6-9 p.m.
• Randall House – 215 Randall St, Greer
• Cocktail attire

Learn more at OneDayGVL.org

Friday, February 14, 2025
2025 Valentine’s Train
Feb 14 all-day
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Celebrate love this Valentine’s Day with a scenic train ride along the picturesque Tuckasegee River. Departing at 6:00 PM from Bryson City, our journey will take you through the enchanting 836-foot-long tunnel before returning at approximately 9:00 PM. Indulge in a chef-prepared three-course meal featuring a Caesar salad, your choice of 8 oz. prime rib or Norwegian salmon with seasonal sides, or a vegetarian option of balsamic glazed grilled Portobello eggplant over quinoa. Conclude your meal with a decadent chocolate mini mousse and a complimentary glass of champagne in a souvenir stemless wineglass. Each guest will also receive a rose to commemorate this special evening. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day experience!

Saturday, February 22, 2025
In The Kitchen Cookoff
Feb 22 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Magnetic South Brewery

Adaptive Pickleball (APB) is hosting an IN THE KITCHEN Cook-Off Competition on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Magnetic South Brewery.
Every dish in the cook-off will showcase the flavor of pickles. Yep… every entry will make the flavor of pickles the star of their dish. Hot dish. Cold dish. Baked dish. Non-alcoholic beverage. Ice cream. Expect to taste lots of pickle-licious dishes.

There is a $20 fee for chefs to enter the competition and prizes will be awarded for the top three dishes. For a $20 donation to APB, the public gets bite-size samples and will vote on the winning dishes.

All donations support Adaptive Pickleball, a 501c3 non-profit based in Greer that teaches people with cognitive, physical and developmental challenges how to play pickleball.

Tickets for the IN THE KITCHEN Cook-Off Competition are available to purchase at the link below. Magnetic South Brewery is located in the Judson Mill District.

Saturday, March 15, 2025
Rock’N Roo Fundraiser at Rockers Brewing Co.
Mar 15 @ 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Rockers Brewing Co.

Rock N Roo, one of the biggest events of the year! The Roo Crew was founded to assist and support families with children who have special medical and educational obstacles. Check out the Roo’s website https://theroocrew.org/
From 1 to 9 PM we will feature multiple featured bands (Two Daves 1-3 PM / Caston & Co 3:30 – 6 PM / CPR 6:30 – 9 PM)
Food Specials: Corned beef and cabbage (Brined slow roasted beef brisket served with sauteed cabbage, roasted carrots, and mashed potatoes with good boy stout gravy), & Bangers and mash (Two Irish style sausage links on a bed of mashed potatoes smothered with good boy stout gravy.)
$1 / Cocktail specials donated
$1 / Pint sold will be donated
$20 Glassware Package to be donated
Specialty merchandise being sold by the Roo Crew to be donated
Face painting, a kids zone and more!

Saturday, March 29, 2025
Bunny Hopper Express
Mar 29 all-day
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad welcomes back the Bunny Hopper Express Easter Train, March 29 & 30! This 4 and half-hour round trip special event train departs the historic Bryson City Depot at 11:00 am and will travel through the Smoky Mountains to our picturesque layover destination for Easter-themed activities and Egg Hunt.

Passengers will be on the lookout for those train-hopping bunnies who have snuck on to take a free ride! Festivities include an Easter egg hunt with prizes, a give-away bag with activities to enjoy during the train ride, and a yummy Easter treat for our junior railroaders to enjoy at the layover. There will also be plenty of opportunities for pictures with our bunny hoppers, so do not forget your camera!

Sunday, March 30, 2025
Bunny Hopper Express
Mar 30 all-day
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad welcomes back the Bunny Hopper Express Easter Train, March 29 & 30! This 4 and half-hour round trip special event train departs the historic Bryson City Depot at 11:00 am and will travel through the Smoky Mountains to our picturesque layover destination for Easter-themed activities and Egg Hunt.

Passengers will be on the lookout for those train-hopping bunnies who have snuck on to take a free ride! Festivities include an Easter egg hunt with prizes, a give-away bag with activities to enjoy during the train ride, and a yummy Easter treat for our junior railroaders to enjoy at the layover. There will also be plenty of opportunities for pictures with our bunny hoppers, so do not forget your camera!

Saturday, April 12, 2025
Southern Roots: A BBQ Reunion
Apr 12 all-day
Trailblazer Park

Join us on April 12th at Trailblazer Park for a reunion unlike any other!

Come enjoy delicious BBQ bites from some amazing local and guest pitmasters and chefs, live music, unlimited beverages, access to the artisan market, great company and experience the joy of coming together as a community for an incredible cause – IDefine.

Over 35 pitmasters and chefs will be joining together as teams to cook over 15 different BBQ dishes! Each one of our amazing menu items created by ou talented chefs will be ALL-INCLUSIVE, so you can eat and enjoy all day long!

ONE ticket price gets you FOUR hours of all the BBQ you can enjoy, unlimited beverages, shopping and live music!

Saturday, April 19, 2025
Woodworking Tool Sale and Auction by Greenville Woodworkers Guild
Apr 19 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Greenville Woodworkers Guild Education Center

The 2025 Spring Tool Sale and Auction by Greenville Woodworkers Guild will be held on Saturday, April 19, from 8 am to 11 am at 209 Hollyridge Ct, Greenville, SC 29607.

Throughout the year the guild’s tool team gathers tools and equipment from owners to be sold in two sales events (depending on the quantity of tools collected). These events are conducted at the Guild Education Center. They include fixed priced items for instant purchase and silent auction bid items.

Generally, the consignee / donor contacts the Guild and the tool team takes care of everything else. The tool team retrieves all the owner’s items at the owner’s location, transports the items to the Guild, cleans the items, prices the inventory, conducts a sale and distributes the proceeds back to the consignees. Items remaining after the tool sale are donated to a variety of charities throughout Greenville County.

All items are barcoded and we use a Point-of-Sale system to collect payment during the sale. To make checkout as smooth and fast as possible, the Guild prefers Credit or Debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

Cash will be accepted but please, no checks.

For more information, please contact the tool sale / auction team at [email protected].

Friday, April 25, 2025
Upstate Family Resource Center Country Gala
Apr 25 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Lodge at Lake Bowen

Put on your best boots and join The Upstate Family Resource Center for a Country Gala that includes dinner, Dancing, and a silent auction. Music provided by The James Radford Band. Tickets $50/person until April 14th and $60/person after the 14th. Purchase tickets through our Facebook page or use shorturl.at/c8Ljn
Questions email [email protected]

Sunday, April 27, 2025
3RD ANNUAL LEO SANTA CAR SHOW
Apr 27 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
TRAILBLAZER PARK

GET READY CAR LOVERS! THE 3RD ANNUAL LEO SANTA CAR SHOW IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER. SEE CLASSIC BEAUTIES, MIND BLOWING CUSTOM RIDES AND MORE.
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY AND REV UP YOUR ENGINES-IT’S ALL HAPPENING APRIL 27 1-5PM AT TRAILBLAZER PARK IN TRAVELERS REST! DON’T MISS IT!
WE WILL HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, A KIDS ZONE, TOUCH A TRUCK AND MUCH MORE!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Global Threats, Local Risks: Protecting Your Data in a Connected World
May 21 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Old Europe Coffee Bridge Way

In a world where data flows faster than ever, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it’s personal. From your phone to your finances, the risks are real and increasingly global. But what can you do to protect yourself and your community?

Join us for the second session of our new Global Connections series: Global Threats, Local Risks – Protecting Your Data in a Connected World, led by Michael Sylvester, Chief Strategy Officer at AT-NET. With decades of experience at the intersection of technology and security, Michael will break down today’s digital threats in a way that’s clear, actionable, and relevant to your everyday life.

Following the successful kickoff of this quarterly series, this session continues our mission to explore complex global issues in a welcoming, down-to-earth setting. Hosted by Upstate International and the European American Chamber of Commerce, Global Connections brings together expats and locals for expert-led conversations—paired with a glass of wine or a cup of artisan coffee at Old Europe Coffee in Simpsonville.

Whether you’re concerned about cybercrime, curious about how international threats affect your own backyard, or just looking to connect with globally minded neighbors, this event is for you. Come for the insights, stay for the community.

Let’s turn complex global issues into meaningful local conversations—one cup at a time.