Events Calendar
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.
Spring Awakening & Renewal Forest Bathing Retreat | ONSITE | Saturday, March 9, 2 – 5 p.m. Or Saturday, March 23, 2 – 5 p.m.
Guide: Christa Hebal
$55 Non-member Adult**
(**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)
Limit: 15
The changing seasons are rich with wisdom and guidance. Winter is a time for rest and dreaming, followed by spring, ripe with opportunities for renewal and growth. Cultivate those winter dreams and invite them to birth into reality during this enlivening afternoon retreat. Let your most authentic Self emerge from within and flourish amidst the beauty of the early spring! New Graph: Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the awakening forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.
Christa Hebal is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Born and raised in the mountains of NE Tennessee, she has lived in Asheville for 23 years. Christa has an adventurous heart, and loves to help others encounter wholeness through embodiment and nature connection practices. She has had a professional bodywork practice for 17 years as a nationally certified Massage Therapist, and is also a practitioner of Ortho-Bionomy®, Usui Reiki Master, Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist, Clinical Aromatherapist, and Certified Traditional Herbalist. She is also certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid.
Instructor: Susan Patrice
$24 Non-member Adult**
(**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)
Limit: 12
Take a fresh look at the objects, moments and vistas that surround you during this “awe walk” led by documentary photographer Susan Patrice. The contemplative practices she teaches help you experience place through new and loving eyes, to see beauty and wonder in your surroundings. Bring cameras or phones to capture what calls to you in the enveloping landscape. Participants will be sent meeting instructions for this small-group class that will take a slow intentional walk through parts of the Arboretum forest and forest meadow. This walk is a precursor to the generative writing and contemplative photography workshops to be held the following weekend.
Susan Patrice is a documentary photographer, community artist, and founder of Makers Circle. She recently launched Kinship Photography Collective, a global community of practice designed to create rich visual conversations that explore the intimate connections between nature, culture and belonging. Susan’s own photography and public installations focus primarily on the Southern Landscape and its people and feature intimate images that touch deeply into the questions of place, gender, and belonging.
What will this group cover? This group is focused on helping parents teach their children to solve problems and get along with others. During this discussion group, parents and caregivers will work through problems they have faced with fighting and aggression and develop a plan to address these problems.
Who is the group for? All parents and caregivers living in the Spartanburg area with any child between the ages of 0-8
What will I gain from this group? Free meal, gift card, knowledge of Triple P strategies to use at home, a Triple P workbook to take home and refer back to
Is childcare provided for this event? No
There is a Zoom option for parents who need to attend from home. Please indicate in your registration whether you will need to attend via Zoom.
Spring Awakening & Renewal Forest Bathing Retreat | ONSITE | Saturday, March 9, 2 – 5 p.m. Or Saturday, March 23, 2 – 5 p.m.
What will this seminar cover? This seminar goes over the building blocks and life skills that help children manage their emotions and teaches parents how they can promote these skills at home. We also discuss what emotional resilience is and why it is beneficial for children.
Who is the seminar for? All parents and caregivers living in the Spartanburg area with any child between the ages of 0-8
What will I gain from this seminar? Free meal, gift card, knowledge of Triple P strategies to use at home
Is childcare provided for this event? No
There is a Zoom option for parents who need to attend from home. Please indicate in your registration whether you will need to attend via Zoom.
We’ve heard your valuable feedback, and now you don’t have to hear us! Beginning May 4, 2021, the period between 8 and 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday morning of every month will be reserved for “Meditative Mornings,” a pause for quiet time in our gardens and on our trails. During this time, our working garden crew will abstain from using leaf blowers, mowers and other equipment so you can be sure to enjoy the sounds of birds and the wind in the trees.
Take advantage of half-price parking on the first Tuesday of every month and come out to the Arboretum to enjoy a Meditative Morning!
Seed starting is an affordable way to start gardens for different seasons. Isaac Wyatt, Agricultural Program Assistant with Henderson County Extension, will teach the basics of seed starting.
While making this classic woodworking gift you’ll learn some basic fundamentals like how to safely use the planer, table saw, miter saw, drill press, and router. You’ll even learn some common sanding and finishing techniques. All students will get to take home their own cutting board and leave with the knowledge needed to take on advanced projects.
This National Poetry Month, turn your sparks of inspiration into beautiful poetry in an all-new poetry workshop led by Greenville Poet Laureate Glenis Redmond. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the world of poetry or you’ve been penning verses for a while, this workshop is tailor-made for you. From brainstorming ideas to crafting captivating lines, Glenis will guide you every step of the way. Unleash your inner wordsmith and explore the magic of poetry with a true master.
The $125 registration fee is for admission to the three-part workshop taking place at 6:00 PM on April 11, 18 and 25. Please bring paper and your preferred writing tool with you. The workshop culminates in a reading during the final session where participants can invite a guest to enjoy their poetry progress.
Create a healthier garden!
Vermicomposting (vərməˈkämˌpōstiNG) noun – the use of earthworms to convert organic waste into fertilizer.
During this workshop, you’ll learn about the advantages of vermicomposting over conventional composting, as a faster solution to breaking down organic waste, creating a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. If you have a garden and you’re not already vermicomposting, this is the workshop for you!
Under the guidance of 4-H Natural Resources Program Leader, Patricia Whitener, you’ll build your own vermicompost and take it home with you, so that you can start practicing this method immediately. Your fruits and veggies will thank you!
For many of us, our time spent in nature can be restful, comforting, healing, and inspiring. Nature Therapy, which is based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, enhances this experience by encouraging us to relax, slow down, be in the moment, and gently focus on the natural world.
On this leisurely Nature Therapy walk through the Preserve, you will be able to escape the demands of everyday life, engage with your senses, and perhaps encounter nature in a slightly different way. Marie McIntyre, a certified Association of Nature & Forest Therapy guide, will offer a series of “invitations” designed to help each person in the group create their own unique individual Nature Therapy experience.
Want to learn more about mosses and ferns? What are the most common spring ephemeral plants?, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants. Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina.
Registration for Spring 2024 language classes at Upstate International is open!
Embark on a transformative journey with Upstate International’s language classes designed to elevate your career and broaden your horizons. With eight language options available our small classes provide an intimate learning environment where you can progress at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the richness of cultural diversity while acquiring valuable language skills that will open doors to new opportunities.
This 15-week semester beginning January 22nd offers Finnish French Spanish Russian etc. Whether you want to learn a language for work, expand your resume, play, travel, or stimulate your brain, UI has a class for you.
Classes are conducted in an informal relaxed atmosphere and are limited to no more than ten people. There are two types of classes: Regular classes meet once a week for 75 minutes costing $180 per semester and Intensive classes meet twice a week for 90 minutes each costing $480 per semester. Annual memberships are required for all students and cost from $75 to $100.
Classes are held both online and in person at Upstate International 9 S. Memminger Street Greenville SC.
For more information please visit www.upstateinternational.org
Costume Contest, lots of prizes, themed concessions and adult beverages for sale
Kari Sickenberger is leading a workshop from May 3-5. retreat at
at Highland Lake Cove, a beautiful, rustic mountain setting,
ideal for rest, rejuvenation, relaxation, singing and fun!
Deadline for Registration is 4/15/24
www.KariSickenberger.comThe event is occuring at Mountain Magic, a new collaborative venture with Highland Lake Cove in Flat Rock, NC. They are developing a performance and participatory arts venue initially focusing on mountain music, dance, and storytelling traditions.
We’ve heard your valuable feedback, and now you don’t have to hear us! Beginning May 4, 2021, the period between 8 and 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday morning of every month will be reserved for “Meditative Mornings,” a pause for quiet time in our gardens and on our trails. During this time, our working garden crew will abstain from using leaf blowers, mowers and other equipment so you can be sure to enjoy the sounds of birds and the wind in the trees.
Take advantage of half-price parking on the first Tuesday of every month and come out to the Arboretum to enjoy a Meditative Morning!
Trivia with Andrew Fischer
Greg Lobas will lead a virtual writer’s workshop titled: “Writing Your Life into Poetry.”
“Write what you know” is one of the first and best maxims for the aspiring writer. But what if “what you know” is ordinary, even mundane? This workshop will look at ways to mine the gold that is in everyone’s life and turn it into poetry. It may take some digging. It may take a little change in perspective. But it is there, and it is material only you can use. We will focus on the narrative poem as a means of story-telling but will consider the lyric poem as well.
This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will Zoom for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop at workshop here:
Greg Lobas has been published extensively as both an outdoor writer and a poet. His debut book, Left of Center, won the 2022 Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, and placed second in the Delaware State Press Association awards. The book deals with his real life experiences as a fire captain and paramedic. His poems have been published in many journals. He is an experienced poetry workshop facilitator at Isothermal Community College.
Greg lives with his wife Meg and his dog Sophie in Polk County North Carolina.
Are you on the lookout for a program that empowers and guides teens towards self-sufficiency in adulthood? Join us at our 2024-2025 Intensive Excellence Program Interest Meeting to learn about the application process, orientation, and program expectations.
Our Intensive Excellence Program (IXP) is committed to equipping teens with essential life skills, including Career & Education Planning and Development, Personal Finance Management, Mental Health Awareness, and Character Development.
We invite parents, students, and prospective Success Coaches to come to our wonderful meeting.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to register yourself and your teen(s) to access invaluable knowledge! Plus, enjoy light snacks and beverages during the meeting.
For further details about our program, visit the Teen page on our website and secure your spot at the meeting! (https://gene-xcellence/teens)