Events Calendar

Join us as we welcome Colonel Richard G. “Duke” Woodhull, Jr., a distinguished U.S. Air Force pilot with a 30-year career in high-stakes aviation, reconnaissance, and international intelligence. With over 6,500 military flight hours, Colonel Woodhull’s career spanned from flying U-2 spy planes over Vietnam to serving as Defense & Air Attaché in the Philippines, where he provided critical intelligence during a volatile era.

Whether flying the high-altitude U-2 spy plane, meeting Communist guerillas in the hills of Luzon, narrowly avoiding a fatal bullet in Argentina, or nearly being deported from a diplomatic post twice, Colonel Woodhull has lived a life of adventure, resilience, and service—always blessed with good fortune and fortuitous circumstances.

A Distinguished Graduate of the Air War College, his assignments took him across the globe, from strategic air refueling missions to diplomatic posts and international aircraft sales. Decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, multiple Air Medals, and the Legion of Merit, Colonel Woodhull’s life is a testament to dedication and courage.

And through it all, his lifelong partner in adventure, Anne, has been by his side every step of the way.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from a true aviation legend!

Join us for a special Golden Hour celebrating the release of Emily Henry’s latest novel, Great Big Beautiful Life! Join us at this free event for cafe specials and a love for all things romance. Copies of Emily Henry’s latest will be available for purchase.

During this FREE workshop, parents and caregivers will learn new skills to help avoid problems and teach children to behave responsibly during shopping trips.

All in-person participants will receive a free $10 gas gift card. Dinner will be provided.

Join us at 6 pm on April 22, 2025 at Hub City Bookshop for an evening with Roger Newman. Boys by Roger Newman follows the journey of two friends, one Black and one white, as they navigate the complexities of race, privilege, and justice in mid-20th century America. Their bond is tested by societal expectations and personal struggles, revealing the deep impact of history and identity on their lives.

Get a 10% discount on the book when you RSVP on Eventbrite and present it at the bookshop register!

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Christian Learning Center Annual Friends and Fundraising Banquet on April 22nd, 2025, with special guest speaker Steven Kendrick. Stephen Kendrick, producer of films such as Courageous, War Room, and The Forge, will serve as keynote speaker for this fundraising event.

This event is a discussion, not an in-character performance. Hughes Main Library and Online

Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace. If you love Sadeqa Johnson and Dolen Perkins-Valdez, you do not want to miss Page Pairings with Vanessa Miller!

Bob Ray (b. 1952) works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and even correspondence and performance. Born in Warrensburg, Missouri, just east of Kansas City, he now lives with his wife in the small town of Washington in eastern North Carolina.

Guest-curated by Mark Sloan, Bob Ray: Suit Yourself features a selection of the artist’s most recent paintings and drawings. Inspired by the Abstract Expressionist painters, Ray also draws from the Dada and Fluxus movements. Each of Ray’s artworks offers evidence of its own evolution. Erasures, false starts, notes, scribbles, overpainting, and tentative asides are visible on the layered surfaces. The artist incorporates household substances into his work, including housepaint, tar, masking tape, coffee, butter, tea, and collaged fragments of previous works.

Ray was the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship in 2015, and he has had recent shows at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina; Lump Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

The GCMA has published an exhibition catalog of Ray’s works that includes a commissioned collaboration with California poet Allison Benis White, which will be available for purchase.

Join Dr. Gugu Selela, a lecturer in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Clemson, for a thought-provoking discussion on Africa’s evolving role in the global economy. This talk will explore the continent’s vast economic potential, the structural challenges it faces, and the transformative opportunities on the horizon. Dr. Selela will examine the historical and contemporary forces shaping Africa’s economic landscape—from colonial legacies and trade imbalances to the complexities of foreign investment.

A special focus will be given to the pivotal role of African women in economic development, highlighting how gender-inclusive policies can drive sustainable growth. The discussion will conclude with an exploration of African-led solutions, emphasizing the need for policies that prioritize equity, innovation, and long-term prosperity.

Bonnie Raitt is extending the ‘Just Like That…’ tour adding another 30+ dates in the U.S. to the already-robust schedule planned for the first half of 2024. Raitt and her longtime touring band will headline concerts starting in Arizona and Southern California, traveling up the West Coast and finishing up in the Pacific Northwest throughout September and October before heading to the Southeast and Florida in November to wind up the year. These dates will be supported by Special Guest James Hunter.

Mark your calendars for Bullington Gardens’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, a must-visit event for gardening enthusiasts! Discover a unique selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, veggies, and tomatoes, all carefully curated to inspire your garden. This year, we’re also highlighting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants to support local ecosystems and bring life to your outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our sale offers something for everyone, with expert advice on hand to help you make the most of your selections. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate beauty and sustainability in your garden!

Bob Ray (b. 1952) works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and even correspondence and performance. Born in Warrensburg, Missouri, just east of Kansas City, he now lives with his wife in the small town of Washington in eastern North Carolina.

Guest-curated by Mark Sloan, Bob Ray: Suit Yourself features a selection of the artist’s most recent paintings and drawings. Inspired by the Abstract Expressionist painters, Ray also draws from the Dada and Fluxus movements. Each of Ray’s artworks offers evidence of its own evolution. Erasures, false starts, notes, scribbles, overpainting, and tentative asides are visible on the layered surfaces. The artist incorporates household substances into his work, including housepaint, tar, masking tape, coffee, butter, tea, and collaged fragments of previous works.

Ray was the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship in 2015, and he has had recent shows at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina; Lump Gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

The GCMA has published an exhibition catalog of Ray’s works that includes a commissioned collaboration with California poet Allison Benis White, which will be available for purchase.

The Johnson Collection presents Art of the Athlete at TJC Gallery, located at 154 West Main Street in downtown Spartanburg. TJC Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 to 4 PM, with free admission. This exhibition celebrates the twin expressions of human excellence—art and athletics—each requiring creativity, elegance, and mastery of form. Just as art can reflect as well as shape the culture around it, sports provide powerful community bonds and a sense of identity. Art of the Athlete highlights the artistry inherent in athleticism and showcases the many dynamic connections between art and sport.
On display are artworks showing the remarkable breadth of the world of sport, spanning not only familiar professional forms such as baseball and football but also fishing, hunting, and racing. In certain cases, the connection between art and athletics can be quite personal and literal, as in the case of Ernie Barnes, who not only played in the National Football League himself, but became the official artist of both the NFL and the 1984 Olympic Games.

Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Spectrum benefiting Metropolitan Arts Council, kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. FREE ADMISSION. More than 45,000 people attend this event annually. The event serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council. Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. Bands play two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m

Join us for a free In Conversation event with Furman’s Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Camille Lewis to discuss her new book, One Hundred Years of Women Debating the Equal Rights Amendment!