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

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Friday, September 8, 2023
Upstate Renaissance Faire
Sep 8 @ 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Greer City Park
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Mountain Song Festival
Sep 9 all-day
Brevard Music Center
Simpsonville Farmers Market
Sep 9 @ 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!

Upstate Renaissance Faire
Sep 9 @ 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Greer City Park
K-Festival
Sep 9 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Unity Park
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Thunder in the Smokies Fall Rally
Sep 10 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Thunder in the Smokies

Come join us at the 20th Annual Fall Thunder in the Smokies Rally on September 8-10, 2023 in Maggie Valley, NC. 40+ Vendors, Live Music, Bike Games, Bike Show, Tour Ride of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and much more!

May be an image of motorcycle and text that says 'Thunder In The Smokies Sept. 8-10, 2023 Maggie Valley, NC'

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Writing Workshop: Telling Poems with Eric Nelson
Sep 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
online

The oldest and most common advice poets hear is “show don’t tell.” But what does that mean, exactly? What is the difference between showing and telling? Why is “showing” better? Most of us write poems to tell readers something, to share our ideas. Many poets—from as far back as John Donne to as recent as Stephen Dunn–do a lot of telling in their poems. So why are we always advised not to tell? In this workshop we will discuss these questions. In the process, we will look at a few well-known poems to see how–or if—they show rather than tell, and we will do some writing exercises that may help us arrive at some conclusions about this persistent advice.

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 use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop at workshop link

Eric Nelson’s most recent poetry collection, Horse Not Zebra, won both a Da Vinci Eye Award for cover art and an Honorable Mention in Poetry from the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awarda. His poems have appeared in many journals, including Poetry, The Sun, The Oxford American, and The Missouri Review. Among his awards are the 2014 Gival Press Poetry Book Award for Some Wonder; the 2004 X.J. Kennedy Poetry Award for Terrestrials, chosen by Maxine Kumin; the Arkansas Poetry Award for The Interpretation of Waking Life (1991); the Split Oak Press Chapbook Award for The Twins (2009); the Georgia Author of the Year Award (2005), and fellowships to the Hambidge Center for the Arts and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. He taught writing and literature courses at Georgia Southern University for twenty-six years before retiring in 2015 and moving to Asheville, where he lives with his wife, Stephanie Tames, and teaches in the Great Smokies Writing Program. www.ericnelsonpoet.com.

Friday, September 15, 2023
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!

Saturday, September 16, 2023
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!

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!

Sunday, September 17, 2023
Spartanburg Greek Festival
Sep 17 @ 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!

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Five Forks Library: Business Technology Trends
Sep 19 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Five Forks Library
Collaboration Space

Technology is always changing, making it tough for small business owners to know what to adopt and what to avoid. Explore some of the latest tech-topics and how they apply to small businesses. Led by South Carolina Small Business Development Centers.

Part of the event series: Small Business Development Center Training

Lose Weight and Keep It Off
Sep 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
focus.upstate

Many programs say that they’ll help you lose weight but how many really teach you how to live healthier?

Healing Head To Toe isn’t about making you a lifetime client but instead a walking testimony to what happens when you take your life back.

Learn To
– Eliminate chronic illnesses
– Increase energy
– Decrease pain
– Live longer

PLUS an exclusive opportunity for a consultation to join the Healing Head To Toe community.

Secure your spot at the next session by registering using the link below:
https://book.stripe.com/dR6aFq58Y32RemAeUY

FREE to attend. No shows will be charged $25. A card must be on file to register. HSA and FSA are both accepted.

Waters and light refreshments will be provided.

Friday, September 22, 2023
Yoga with a View
Sep 22 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Includes Park admission: $35 Adult, $25 Annual Passholder. Advance registration required.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
National Public Lands Fee Free Day
Sep 23 all-day
National Public Lands

Come experience the national parks! On five days in 2023, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2023. Please check operating status at this park and others before traveling as holidays and local weather or safety conditions can affect hours of operation.

Simpsonville Farmers Market
Sep 23 @ 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!

InnoVenture Futures Festival
Sep 23 @ 11:30 am – 5:30 pm
Hyatt Regency Greenville

Innovation is a contact sport

On September 23, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Greenville, a dynamic group of thought leaders is meeting at the InnoVenture Futures Festival to explore creating the future for ourselves, our organizations, and our region.

It’s a Festival, so we’ll connect over inspiring presentations, delicious food, and great music. We’ll explore combining our passions with our professions in the Jazz of Sales, Excelling at an Olympic Level, and the Dance of Bioengineering. Big organizations will present their innovation priority needs which are business development and job opportunities for others.

A networking lunch and a long networking break with an interesting technology demonstration will provide time for great connections to make attending the Festival worthwhile. We’ll end the evening with live music and beverages on Noma Square outside the Hyatt.

We’ll help optimize your networking by distributing free to those registered to attend the inaugural Carolina Crescent Smart Manufacturing Report documenting the needs and capabilities of 50+ manufacturers, logistics organizations, technology providers, colleges and universities, and economic and workforce development agencies.

We’ll set the foundation for a multi-day 2024 Festival of Festivals on the Canvas of Greenville with multiple events by numerous organizations tapping into our global relationships to “Bring the World to the Carolina Crescent.”

Your insights are valuable to us. We appreciate you joining us as we explore together how to predict our future by creating it.

Agenda

11:30

Registration and Networking

12:00

Networking  Lunch & Music by John Sterling

12:45

Welcome & Introduction

12:50

Designing the 2024 Festival of Festivals on the Canvas of Greenville – VisitGreenvilleSC and InnoVenture

1:00

A Vision, a Purpose, and Someone to Lead
Smart Ecosystems – Brent Westmoreland, IT Director – Strategy, CyberSecurity, Innovation, BMW Information Technology Research Center

1:15

The Jazz of Sales – John Sterling, serial entrepreneur and Sales Mentor and Owner of  theNoob School

  1:30

Excelling at an Olympic Level – Dr. John Blackburn, USA Track and Field Hall of Fame Official and manufacturing expert

  1:45

Carolina Crescent Consortium Introduction  – John Warner, InnoVenture

  1:50

Define What’s Essential
Smart Manufacturing Innovation Priorities

–  ZF Group

–  Robert Bosch

–  Sonoco

–  KEMET

–  Arthrex

–  BorgWarner

–  CoLinx

–  GSP Airport

3:10

Networking  Break and Musical Performance

  3:50

Developing our workforce: Greenville Tech, Florence Darlington  Tech, Community Works, REEM, Greenville Workforce Dev Bd

  4:10

Retaining College Graduates: CU-ICAR, Clemson Bioengineering, Upstate SC Alliance, GADC, Anderson Economic Development

4:30

Creating Your Future in the Age of AI

The Future of Smart Healthcare

– Dr. Bruce Gao, South Carolina SmartState Endowed Chair in Biofabrication Engineering

4:45

The Dance of Bioengineering

– Dr. Delphine Dean, Chair of the Clemson Department of Bioengineering

5:00

Enormous Opportunities in  an AI-Powered World

– Jack Neil, MD and Founder/CEO of HANK.ai

5:15

AI Design of the 2024 Futures Festival

5:30

Closing Remarks

National Public Lands Day Sunset Hike
Sep 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Free. Advance Registration Required.
National Public Lands Day Campfire Celebration
Sep 23 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Free

Join us in a toast at Chimney Rock Brewing Company to commemorate the newly designated Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail and honor our volunteers. After the toast, stick around for a campfire with s’mores and ghost stories! No registration required.

Sunday, September 24, 2023
Fireforge’s 2023 Oktoberfest Weekend
Sep 24 @ 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fireforge Crafted Beer

Fireforge’s 2023 Oktoberfest Weekend is September 22-24! Wear your leiderhosen and dirndl, or don a tasty pretzel necklace – and be ready for stein hoisting and live polka throughout the weekend!

Our Oktoberfest lager and other seasonal brews will be on tap, with commemorative mugs available for purchase. The Fireforge Kitchen is open all weekend with toasted pretzels and festy fare. Stay tuned for more details!

Live Music Schedule:
🥨 Friday, 9/22: Foothills Oompah Band (6-9 p.m.)
🥨 Saturday, 9/23: Randomonium (5-8 p.m.)
🥨 Sunday, 9/24: Foothills Oompah Band (2-5 p.m.)

This is a non-smoking and non-vaping event. We recommend pets stay at home for their safety and the safety of other guests.