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

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Saturday, October 14, 2023
2023 Greer Ghost Tours
Oct 14 all-day
Tours Start at Multiply Locations

Choose from two tours full of Greer’s wild and frightening stories, from its rough start on Trade Street to the bodies left behind in its first cemetery: https://www.greerheritage.com/ghosts/

Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
Oct 14 all-day
Various Locations Greenville SC

While Downtown Greenville’s familiar culinary scene has some great BBQ options, this tour will take you outside of the city center to the places locals know and love. These are the types of joints with smoke stacks sticking out of the rooftops and white smoke billowing out of the chimneys–smoking the meats right on the premises.

The Greenville BBQ Trail tour is your opportunity to try back-to-back tastings of what are considered by many to be among the top BBQ spots in the city.

Tours include:

• Insights into each restaurant’s cooking processes and techniques
• Information about each restaurant’s history and how they got started
• Interesting information about Greenville BBQ history
• A drive through old textile mill villages
• And, of course, a chance to try generous portions of smoked meats and delicious sides

Locations we visit:

• Bucky’s Bar-B-Q
• Henry’s Smokehouse
• Mike & Jeff’s BBQ

Greer Christmas Parade Registration is OPEN
Oct 14 all-day
online
Theme: Christmas in Candyland

Join the fun and decorate your entries to reflect a Candyland Christmas. Remember, Santa is ONLY on the last float in the parade! The Greer Christmas Parade route is 1.1 miles; beginning at Poinsett Street & Memorial Drive and ending at N. Main Street & Cunningham Drive.

$50 Non-Commercial/Organization/Non-Profit registration

$100 Commercial/Business registration

$750 Rent a float from Greer Relief

$825 Rent a float from Greer Relief with sound

CLICK HERE for available floats

ALL entries & fees must be received or postmarked by the day before Thanksgiving (November 23rd). Entries & fees received/postmarked after this date will be assessed the $50 late entry fee.

We will have several awards determined by our judges: Best Float Entry, Best Walking Entry, and Best Band. 2022 Best Float was Scruffy’s Auction House, 2022 Best Walking Entry was Ignite Dance, and 2022 Best Band was Eastside High School Band. They each get bragging rights & a free entry for the 2023 Greer Christmas Parade!

BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR!! We will be incorporating a toy drive INTO the parade. We are asking for new toys to be brought to the parade to help support the Greer Relief Christmas Morning Shoppe, click here for more information on the program.

Please forward this email to any individual, business, and organization interested in participating in the parade. If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected] or call (864) 334-3490.

Open Doors Artist Registration
Oct 14 all-day
online
The Berkshires Land: Fall Fishing Destinations
Oct 14 all-day
The Berkshires

As the summer is waning and the leaves change colors, anglers across the country eagerly await the start of fall fishing season in some of America’s most attractive locations. To help anglers plan their ideal adventure, FishingBooker has created a list of the 9 Best Fall Fishing Destinations for 2023. The Berkshires have been named at the top of the list. Here’s why:

Fall foliage is the perfect setting for chasing that trophy-sized catch while enjoying the scenic beauty of the landscapes along the way, and the Berkshires encompass it all. Comprised of extensive forests, breathtaking Appalachian trails, and numerous rivers and lakes, this region is beyond wonderful. If you’re an angler, hearing about mountain rivers and fall fishing probably tells you a lot about the species you can target in this region. The cold waters that run through the Berkshires are a fly fishing heaven.

To provide readers with an immersive experience of the beauty and excitement the Berkshires offer, here is a custom-made video we have created specifically for this destination. This video showcases the finest fishing spots, expert insights, and professional narration that will capture the attention of your audience.

The full unranked list of 9 best fall fishing destinations includes:

  • Berkshires, MA

  • San Diego, CA

  • Casper, WY

  • Lake of the Ozarks, MO

  • Grayling, MI

  • Buffalo, NY

  • Virginia Beach, VA

  • Asheville, NC

  • Kissimmee, FL

About FishingBooker:

With an offer of more than 42,000 fishing trips spanning over 2,000 cities across 110 countries, FishingBooker has gained the trust of countless fishing enthusiasts. Our platform has enabled hundreds of thousands of anglers to embark on fishing trips and create long-lasting memories with friends and family across the US – and beyond. By connecting anglers with skilled captains and the best fishing locations, we are committed to making fishing accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

—-

Here is a Dropbox folder that contains a long-form video of all destinations, as well as an additional image you may need if you decide to cover the story. Please feel free to use any of the materials included in the link, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance.

The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
Oct 14 all-day
The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour
A plate of barbeque and side dishes.

Greenville’s BBQ scene has been gaining more and more national attention, and it was most notably ranked a Top 10 BBQ City in America by Yahoo.com.

While downtown Greenville’s familiar culinary scene has some great BBQ options, this tour will take you outside of the city center to the places locals know and love. These are the types of joints with smoke stacks sticking out of the rooftops and white smoke billowing out of the chimneys — smoking the meats right on the premises.

The Greenville BBQ Trail Tour, presented by Greenville History Tours, is your opportunity to try back-to-back tastings of what are considered by many to be among the top BBQ spots in the city.

The tours include insights into each restaurant’s cooking processes and techniques, information about each restaurant’s history, interesting information about the city’s BBQ history, a drive through old textile mill villages, and of course generous portions of smoked meats and delicious sides.

The tours usually take place on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:45 am and meet at City Hall. Tickets are $55 per person.

Visit greenvillehistorytours.com/greenville-culinary-tours/bbq-trail/ or call (864) 567-3940 for additional information.

Volunteer Opportunities w/ The Wall That Heals— mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Oct 14 all-day
Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport

Volunteers – Help us welcome veterans and their families. Volunteers are needed round the clock and encourage anyone over the age of 18 to apply for a 4-hour volunteer shift. No experience and a training session will be offered.

WallThatHeals-Winsted-MN-58 copy

The Wall That Heals, is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Wall That Heals is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, founders of The Wall.

It will visit 31 communities across the U.S. during 2023, and we are pleased that The Wall That Heals will be coming to Spartanburg County.  We are excited that the exhibit will be here on Veterans Day, as more than 100 communities sought the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals, and we are the only South Carolina community it will visit on the 2023 tour. The Spartanburg County Veterans’ Affairs Office will host it, and we are excited to be leading Spartanburg’s The Wall That Heals Committee.

Please mark these dates on your calendar as all are invited to visit The Wall That Heals. Visit the other links for more information on the In Memory Program, escort, events and how you can support The Wall That Heals visit and to volunteer.

The WalL

The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron shape, and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members’ names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, and machine engraving of more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provides readability of The Wall both day and night.

Mobile Education Center and Information Tent

The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms into a mobile Education Center. Providing insight into the history of The Wall and Vietnam war.

Displays include:  

  • Hometown Heroes – Digital rotating display of photos of service members on The Wall who list their home of record from the local area.
  • In Memory Honor Roll – Digital display of photos of Vietnam veterans from South Carolina who were added to VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home and later died of Vietnam-related causes.
  • Videos and timeline on the history of The Wall.
  • A display representing the types of items left at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
  • A replica of the In Memory plaque that honors those veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died.

 

Sunday, October 15, 2023
2023 Greer Ghost Tours
Oct 15 all-day
Tours Start at Multiply Locations

Choose from two tours full of Greer’s wild and frightening stories, from its rough start on Trade Street to the bodies left behind in its first cemetery: https://www.greerheritage.com/ghosts/

Greer Christmas Parade Registration is OPEN
Oct 15 all-day
online
Theme: Christmas in Candyland

Join the fun and decorate your entries to reflect a Candyland Christmas. Remember, Santa is ONLY on the last float in the parade! The Greer Christmas Parade route is 1.1 miles; beginning at Poinsett Street & Memorial Drive and ending at N. Main Street & Cunningham Drive.

$50 Non-Commercial/Organization/Non-Profit registration

$100 Commercial/Business registration

$750 Rent a float from Greer Relief

$825 Rent a float from Greer Relief with sound

CLICK HERE for available floats

ALL entries & fees must be received or postmarked by the day before Thanksgiving (November 23rd). Entries & fees received/postmarked after this date will be assessed the $50 late entry fee.

We will have several awards determined by our judges: Best Float Entry, Best Walking Entry, and Best Band. 2022 Best Float was Scruffy’s Auction House, 2022 Best Walking Entry was Ignite Dance, and 2022 Best Band was Eastside High School Band. They each get bragging rights & a free entry for the 2023 Greer Christmas Parade!

BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR!! We will be incorporating a toy drive INTO the parade. We are asking for new toys to be brought to the parade to help support the Greer Relief Christmas Morning Shoppe, click here for more information on the program.

Please forward this email to any individual, business, and organization interested in participating in the parade. If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected] or call (864) 334-3490.

Open Doors Artist Registration
Oct 15 all-day
online
Seeds and Sprouts Kids Consignment Fall/Winter Sale
Oct 15 all-day
WNC Ag Center Expo Building

Shop from over 45,000 high quality items: infant and young children’s pre-loved clothes, toys, shoes, furniture and more from over 450 local families at once at up to 90% off retail prices!

The Berkshires Land: Fall Fishing Destinations
Oct 15 all-day
The Berkshires

As the summer is waning and the leaves change colors, anglers across the country eagerly await the start of fall fishing season in some of America’s most attractive locations. To help anglers plan their ideal adventure, FishingBooker has created a list of the 9 Best Fall Fishing Destinations for 2023. The Berkshires have been named at the top of the list. Here’s why:

Fall foliage is the perfect setting for chasing that trophy-sized catch while enjoying the scenic beauty of the landscapes along the way, and the Berkshires encompass it all. Comprised of extensive forests, breathtaking Appalachian trails, and numerous rivers and lakes, this region is beyond wonderful. If you’re an angler, hearing about mountain rivers and fall fishing probably tells you a lot about the species you can target in this region. The cold waters that run through the Berkshires are a fly fishing heaven.

To provide readers with an immersive experience of the beauty and excitement the Berkshires offer, here is a custom-made video we have created specifically for this destination. This video showcases the finest fishing spots, expert insights, and professional narration that will capture the attention of your audience.

The full unranked list of 9 best fall fishing destinations includes:

  • Berkshires, MA

  • San Diego, CA

  • Casper, WY

  • Lake of the Ozarks, MO

  • Grayling, MI

  • Buffalo, NY

  • Virginia Beach, VA

  • Asheville, NC

  • Kissimmee, FL

About FishingBooker:

With an offer of more than 42,000 fishing trips spanning over 2,000 cities across 110 countries, FishingBooker has gained the trust of countless fishing enthusiasts. Our platform has enabled hundreds of thousands of anglers to embark on fishing trips and create long-lasting memories with friends and family across the US – and beyond. By connecting anglers with skilled captains and the best fishing locations, we are committed to making fishing accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

—-

Here is a Dropbox folder that contains a long-form video of all destinations, as well as an additional image you may need if you decide to cover the story. Please feel free to use any of the materials included in the link, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance.

The Curator’s Journal: A Year-long Insider’s View of American Bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum
Oct 15 all-day
online w/ The North Carolina Arboretum

Registration is ongoing through the year. Get new updates and access all previous entries in a convenient online library.

The Curator’s Journal by Bonsai Curator Arthur Joura is a year-long course offering the ultimate insider’s view of bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum. Regular entries chronicle growing an art and growing an enterprise. Some journal entries will be long and others more brief; some will be mostly words and others mostly pictures; some will be close-up studies of detail and others will step back to take in the wider scene. The path will not be linear, but all the entries will be steps along a journey.

You’re invited to come along.

Upstate Food Access Interactive Map
Oct 15 all-day
online
It’s no secret that food insecurity is an issue facing many of our neighbors in the Upstate. Fortunately, there are countless organizations and resources working tirelessly to alleviate that stress!
Head over to our Upstate Food Access Resource Map to locate service providers near you!
VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Oct 15 all-day
online w/ Hub City RR Museum

VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live from the Hub City RR Museum in Spartanburg.

The Virtual Railfan cameras were installed on Tuesday, July 6th at the Hub City Railroad Museum. There is one camera looking north and one looking south. The Hub City RR Museum wants to thank the City of Spartanburg for allowing us to install the cameras, and to Virtual Railfan for the install. We have already seen over 300 railfans at one time watching the video feed.
Links to live feeds: [North Camera feed] [South Camera feed]

Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

CRHA LogoThe Carolina Railroad Heritage Association is a <501(c)(3)> not for profit local association of approximately eighty members who enjoy railroads and railroad history. The CRHA is currently meeting the third Friday of each month in Fountain Inn, SC at 7:00 pm. Programs at the meetings include presentations on historical and current railroads and are presented by members as well as outside speakers. Our activities include a photo contest, occasional field trips to local railroad sites, picnics and a December pot luck dinner. CRHA members volunteer at our museum and caboose in Spartanburg, SC. If you have an interest in railroads, contact Dave Winans at [email protected] for more information about the CRHA.

For membership, please download and print the membership application and follow the instructions.

Museum Hours:
Wed: 10am – 2pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm

Volunteer Opportunities w/ The Wall That Heals— mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Oct 15 all-day
Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport

Volunteers – Help us welcome veterans and their families. Volunteers are needed round the clock and encourage anyone over the age of 18 to apply for a 4-hour volunteer shift. No experience and a training session will be offered.

WallThatHeals-Winsted-MN-58 copy

The Wall That Heals, is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Wall That Heals is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, founders of The Wall.

It will visit 31 communities across the U.S. during 2023, and we are pleased that The Wall That Heals will be coming to Spartanburg County.  We are excited that the exhibit will be here on Veterans Day, as more than 100 communities sought the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals, and we are the only South Carolina community it will visit on the 2023 tour. The Spartanburg County Veterans’ Affairs Office will host it, and we are excited to be leading Spartanburg’s The Wall That Heals Committee.

Please mark these dates on your calendar as all are invited to visit The Wall That Heals. Visit the other links for more information on the In Memory Program, escort, events and how you can support The Wall That Heals visit and to volunteer.

The WalL

The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron shape, and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members’ names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, and machine engraving of more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provides readability of The Wall both day and night.

Mobile Education Center and Information Tent

The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms into a mobile Education Center. Providing insight into the history of The Wall and Vietnam war.

Displays include:  

  • Hometown Heroes – Digital rotating display of photos of service members on The Wall who list their home of record from the local area.
  • In Memory Honor Roll – Digital display of photos of Vietnam veterans from South Carolina who were added to VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home and later died of Vietnam-related causes.
  • Videos and timeline on the history of The Wall.
  • A display representing the types of items left at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
  • A replica of the In Memory plaque that honors those veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died.

 

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Oct 15 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Bio-Way Farm roadside produce stand
Oct 15 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Bio-Way Farm
Tucked away in beautiful Ware Shoals, a certified organic farm dedicated to sustainability is making waves in the agriculture community.
Head farmer Chris Sermons is a naturalist who has studied native species, farming, permaculture and conservation for over 20 years. Chris is passionate about preserving and restoring native habitat and believes this balance is an integral part of the farms health!
You can find Bio-Way produce and numerous farmers markets, farm-to-table restaurants, and at their roadside produce stand!
Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Oct 15 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

art Exhibit Because I Can by Judy Martin
Oct 15 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Artists Collective | Spartanburg
Because I Can

Judy Martin

Upstate glass artist Judy Martin wants to use her art to help people look at things differently – that glass can be used in different ways and that art is about freedom. Her works of kiln fired glass will be on exhibit Oct. 3 through 28 in her show “Because I Can” in Gallery III at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

 

An artist reception will be held Thursday, Oct. 19, as part of ArtWalk Spartanburg.