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, September 15, 2023
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 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!

Switch – A -Roos Consignment Sale
Sep 15 @ 9:00 am
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

 

 

A Semi Annual Children’s Consignment Sale specializing in new and gently used:

Children’s Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Baby Equipment
Toys
Indoor/Outdoor Play Toys

 

Come experience the Upstate’s Finest and Most Advanced Children’s Consignment Sale.

Switch-A-Roos provides an excellent way for you to sell your new and gently used children’s items while shopping from only the best in name brand and specialty shop items at great prices! Switch-a-Roos Consignment

IT JUST MAKES $ENSE!!

 

My First Drive-In Movie
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Hughes Main Library
 Meeting Rooms B & C

Children ages 2-6 are invited to enjoy a video storybook while sitting in their “car.” Bring a box large enough for your child to sit in. Materials to decorate boxes provided.

Simpsonville Library: Sticker Painting
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Simpsonville Library

Discover a relaxing craft that is a cross between paint by number and coloring. Materials provided. Registration required. Register  call 864-963-9031.

Taylors Library: Story Time
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Taylors Library

Stories, music, and activities that help children ages 5 and under develop social, listening, and comprehension skills.

Travelers Rest Library: Twinkle Bear Goes to Ballet
Sep 15 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Travelers Rest Library

Ages 3-6 are invited to grab your favorite stuffed animal and join us as Dance Without Limits leads a class. Wear shoes you can dance in.

Nantahala Gorge Excursion
Sep 15 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

TAKE A TRAIN RIDE ALONG SIDE THE BEAUTIFUL NANTAHALA RIVER ON OUR NANTAHALA GORGE EXCURSION! DEPARTING FROM BRYSON CITY, THIS 4½ HOUR ROUNDTRIP EXCURSION CARRIES YOU 44 MILES TO THE NANTAHALA GORGE AND BACK AGAIN ARRIVING AT OUR BRYSON CITY DEPOT.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains while traveling along the Tennessee and Nantahala (nan-tuh-HAY-luh) River. The historic trellis bridge Fontana Trestle takes you across Fontana Lake and into the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Onboard dining is available in First Class Seating and selecting from our  First Class Dinning menu options OR you can pre-purchase a box lunch option to make this an amazing unique moving dining experience. Arrive at our layover destination in the heart of the Nantahala Gorge for a one-hour layover where you can relax by the river or enjoy sightseeing!

Itinerary

30m before departure Boarding begins at Bryson City Depot
See schedule for departure time Depart Bryson City, NC
1h 45m Reach top of the line
2h 00m Begin return
2h 30m—3h 30m Layover
3h 30m Depart Layover
4h 30m Arrive at Bryson City Depot
Time from Departure Activity
Taylors Library: Stay and Play!
Sep 15 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Taylors Library

Build kindergarten readiness skills at this drop-in event for ages 2- 6.

Spartanburg Greek Festival
Sep 15 @ 11:00 am
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

We welcome you to join us at this family friendly event. We are excited to offer savory platters, scrumptious pita sandwiches, and our always popular pastries along with a Greek band, dancing, church tours, and shopping. The event takes place Sept. 15-17, 2023, with opening hours of 11 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday. There will be a free shuttle, too! OPA!

Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour
Sep 15 @ 2:30 pm
Reedy Rides

The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the city of Greenville, South Carolina.

From our location, you can venture south on the trail through Greenville’s many parks. The Swamp Rabbit links up with Falls Park on the Reedy, Cancer Survivors Park and down into Cleveland Park. Heading north, you’ll see how the trail has transformed from an old railbed to a thriving trail with many breweries and eateries, as you head toward Furman University (7 miles) and Travelers Rest (1 miles).

Hughes Main Library: Bilingual Story Time: Guatemalan Worry Dolls
Sep 15 @ 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Hughes Main Library
Story Room

Enjoy a story, learn the legend of worry dolls, and make a worry doll.

Bilingual stories in English and Spanish for ages 7 & under with an adult caregiver. Cuentos bilingües en inglés y español para niños 7 años y menores acompañados por un adulto. Llame al 242-5000 ext. 2634 para más informatión.

Saturday, September 16, 2023
VIRTUAL RAILFAN is live!
Sep 16 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

Simpsonville Farmers Market
Sep 16 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Simpsonville Farmers Market

The Simpsonville Farmers Market is an open-air market held on in-season Saturdays in the heart of downtown Simpsonville. Our vendors are local farmers and artisans, and unlike others in the area we plan and run our own market each year. We feature an array of products from the expected seasonal fruits and vegetables, to eggs and artisan cheeses, locally roasted coffee, eggs and meat, health and beauty care, and much more. What was a small affair in 2010 has now grown into a celebrated market known locally for its high quality and variety.

There is a lot to choose from, so make sure you bring your reusable shopping bags!

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 16 @ 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!

Switch – A -Roos Consignment Sale
Sep 16 @ 9:00 am
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

 

 

A Semi Annual Children’s Consignment Sale specializing in new and gently used:

Children’s Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Baby Equipment
Toys
Indoor/Outdoor Play Toys

 

Come experience the Upstate’s Finest and Most Advanced Children’s Consignment Sale.

Switch-A-Roos provides an excellent way for you to sell your new and gently used children’s items while shopping from only the best in name brand and specialty shop items at great prices! Switch-a-Roos Consignment

IT JUST MAKES $ENSE!!

 

Dirty Dancing Festival of Lake Lure
Sep 16 @ 10:00 am
Morse Park, Lake Lure, NC
iStock-1483384205.jpeg

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

We are lining up some GREAT entertainment for 2023! 

Look forward to 3 LIVE Bands AND a guest appearance by Franke Previte and Lisa Sherman!

1155-8th-dirty-dancing-festival-2017_orig.jpeg

ASHEVILLE BALLET

Festival favorites, Asheville Ballet will be teaching all your favorite dance moves and adding some new twists. 

AND, they’ll be performing on stage and encouraging you to get on your feet, too!

iStock-1074831090.jpeg

REFRESHMENTS

Come hungry and enjoy the tasty food trucks coming this year – your stomach will thank you.

And, we always have the best local beer, wine, cider, and mead of any festival around!

iStock-1145600660.jpeg

ARTISAN VILLAGE

This year’s “Village” will be a blend of handcrafted and quality items you just can’t live without. Added bonus: they will serve as fond reminders of your Lake Lure Dance Festival experience!

Nantahala Gorge Excursion
Sep 16 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

TAKE A TRAIN RIDE ALONG SIDE THE BEAUTIFUL NANTAHALA RIVER ON OUR NANTAHALA GORGE EXCURSION! DEPARTING FROM BRYSON CITY, THIS 4½ HOUR ROUNDTRIP EXCURSION CARRIES YOU 44 MILES TO THE NANTAHALA GORGE AND BACK AGAIN ARRIVING AT OUR BRYSON CITY DEPOT.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains while traveling along the Tennessee and Nantahala (nan-tuh-HAY-luh) River. The historic trellis bridge Fontana Trestle takes you across Fontana Lake and into the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Onboard dining is available in First Class Seating and selecting from our  First Class Dinning menu options OR you can pre-purchase a box lunch option to make this an amazing unique moving dining experience. Arrive at our layover destination in the heart of the Nantahala Gorge for a one-hour layover where you can relax by the river or enjoy sightseeing!

Itinerary

30m before departure Boarding begins at Bryson City Depot
See schedule for departure time Depart Bryson City, NC
1h 45m Reach top of the line
2h 00m Begin return
2h 30m—3h 30m Layover
3h 30m Depart Layover
4h 30m Arrive at Bryson City Depot
Time from Departure Activity
Free Family Day at the Science Center!
Sep 16 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Spartanburg Science Center
Spartanburg Greek Festival
Sep 16 @ 11:00 am
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

We welcome you to join us at this family friendly event. We are excited to offer savory platters, scrumptious pita sandwiches, and our always popular pastries along with a Greek band, dancing, church tours, and shopping. The event takes place Sept. 15-17, 2023, with opening hours of 11 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday. There will be a free shuttle, too! OPA!

Rocky Cove Railroad Exhibit
Sep 16 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
NC Arboretum

On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m., Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Promenade. Please note, Rocky Cove Railroad will not operate in rainy or wet conditions.