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.

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Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
May 22 @ 7:17 pm – 8:17 pm
Eighteen Hundred Drayton Catering & Events

Join us for an epic screening of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, complete with cosplay, trivia, and more!

Welcome to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back event! Join us at Eighteen Hundred Drayton Catering & Events for a night filled with galactic fun. Get ready to immerse yourself in the epic saga of the Rebel Alliance facing off against the sinister Galactic Empire. From lightsaber duels to iconic characters, this event is a must-attend for any Star Wars fan. May the force be with you!

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Categories: Family Fun Film
Thursday, May 23, 2024
BRING ON SPRING w/ Nantahala Outdoor Center
May 23 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

 
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Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 23 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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Categories: Family Fun Holiday Outdoors
Mile High Swinging Bridge
May 23 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

One of the top highlights and memories of visits to Grandfather Mountain nature park is walking across the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge. Since 1952, visitors have “oohed” and “aahed” at the bridge’s 360-degree panoramic views. America’s highest suspension footbridge gives easy access to the spectacular views atop Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak, elevation 5,305 feet.

The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation (hence the name!). To reach the Mile High Swinging Bridge, drive the two-mile, winding scenic road up the mountain to the summit parking area by the Top Shop. Climb 50 stairs adjacent to the parking area or inside the Top Shop to reach the short pathway to the bridge. Also, an elevator in the Top Shop takes you to the third floor for a level walk to the bridge.

Top Shop

Located adjacent to the Bridge, the Top Shop features a gift shop, snacks, restrooms, elevator and second-floor exhibition area. Also get the latest park information and trail maps. Read more.

Accessibility

Inside the Top Shop, an elevator makes the Mile High Swinging Bridge accessible to people with mobility challenges, including those in wheelchairs. From the Top Shop, there is a paved 50-yard path to the bridge. Read more about our accessibility.

Tickets & Hours

Walking across the Mile High Swinging Bridge is included in your Grandfather Mountain admission ticket that includes many other things to do in our nature park. Buy tickets online and book a reservation time to enter the park. You do not need a separate reservation for the bridge. It’s open, weather permitting, every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. See hours.

More to Explore

Before or after visiting the Mile High Swinging Bridge, allow time to enjoy other parts of the mountain: wildlife habitats, Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, restaurant, hiking trails, roadside overlooks, picnic areas and more. See more Things to Do.

Nearby Hiking Trails

Trailheads to many of the Grandfather Mountain hiking trails are located near the Swinging Bridge. In fact, the 0.4 mile Bridge Trail takes you beneath the bridge, starting from the Black Rock parking area just below the summit. For details on our nearby trails, go to our Hiking Guide.

Bridge Tips & Tidbits

  • Does it really swing? Very little — unlike the original one. Today’s bridge is made of steel and reinforced with cables and springs. It has railings on the sides to ensure safety.
  • We suggest you wear rubber-soled shoes and walk with care when crossing the rocks on the far side of the bridge.
  • If heights give you pause, you can still enjoy Blue Ridge Mountain views from the ground before you reach the bridge and even from the parking area.
  • Due to periodic extreme weather conditions at the bridge, it closes when there is area lightning, high wind or icy conditions.
  • The official U.S. Weather Service Reporting Station atop the Mile High Swinging Bridge has provided daily weather observations since 1955. The temperature is usually 10 to 20 degrees cooler than in the flatlands you see below. It’s also one of the windiest locations in North Carolina, with a 124-mph record set in winter 2019. Learn more about our weather.
  • Pets are allowed on the bridge if well behaved and on a leash.
  • Photographs and videos to remember your visit are encouraged. Be mindful of sharp drop-offs along the Linville Peak ridge. Drones are not allowed. See our photography policies.
  • The Singing Bridge? When the wind blows, the Mile High Swinging Bridge “sings” in the same way as a harmonica.
  • In April through October, join Grandfather’s expert naturalists by the Bridge for Interpretive Talks about the our unique weather, climate, flora and fauna. Read more.
  • Need driving directions? The address for Grandfather Mountain’s entrance gate is 2050 Blowing Rock Highway, Linville, NC 28646 (click link for Google Maps). There are no shuttles, so you must have your own vehicle to explore our nature park. No RVs longer than 28 feet in length or hinged vehicles are allowed through the Entrance Gate. See detailed directions.
  • To see much more info, see our Plan Your Visit section.

Mile High Swinging Bridge History

Former North Carolina Tourism Director Charles J. Parker coined the name “Mile High Swinging Bridge” at the Bridge’s dedication in 1952. The term “mile high” refers to the structure’s elevation above sea level (5,280 feet). The term “swinging” refers to the fact that suspension bridges are free to sway.

The original 1952 bridge was designed by Charles Hartmann Jr. of Greensboro, N.C. It was fabricated in Greensboro and then reassembled on top of the Mountain. Erecting the bridge took three weeks, a process slowed by inclement weather created by a hurricane off the North Carolina coast. Cost was $15,000. It was dedicated on Sept. 2, 1952 by North Carolina Gov. William B. Umstead.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1999 using the original towers. The cables, floor boards and side rails were all replaced using galvanized steel. One of the main advantages of the modern building materials is that they do not have to be painted. Now, Grandfather Mountain employees will not have to hang out over the gorge to paint the span. It was redesigned by Sutton, Kennerly & Associates Engineering of Asheville, N.C., and rebuilt by Taylor & Murphy Construction Company of Asheville. The cost of rebuilding was $300,000.

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Categories: Family Fun Outdoors
Summer Zoo Camp registration open
May 23 all-day
Greenville Zoo
Zoo Camp: Nature's Canvas - Ages 5-14 - Beginning June 3

Site Tools

Join us for a fun-filled summer where art and nature collide at the Greenville Zoo! Conservation is explored through activities, crafts, games, animal encounters, keeper chats, and more! Campers ages 5 – 14 are invited to use nature as their canvas to paint a picture of the animal world right here in Greenville.

 

5-6 year old Camps

Colorful Creatures

Embark on a whimsical journey through the zoo, where each animal showcases the incredible pallet of the animal world.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st 
  • July 8th – 12th 
  • July 22nd – 26th

Nature Explorers

Calling all little explorers! Join us to find a place where friendships blossom, imaginations run wild, and a love of the natural world begins.

  • June 10th – 14th 
  • June 24th – 28th 
  • July 15th – 19th 
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

7-8 year old Camps

Paws & Paintbrushes 

Immerse your child in a week-long adventure where creativity and curiosity come together to capture the imagination.

  • June 3rd – 7th 
  • June 17th – 21st
  • July 8th – 12th 

Jr. Naturalist

Join us for a week of laughter, discovery, and wild fun as we explore the incredible world of animals and embark on a mission to keep them thriving in their natural habitats. 

  • June 10th – 14th  
  • July 15th – 19th
  • July 29th – August 2nd 

9-11 year old Camps

Animal Artists

Unleash your inner artist and ignite your passion for wildlife as we dive into the animal kingdom through the lens of creativity and art.

  • July 22nd – 26th

Eco Enthusiasts

This is no ordinary summer camp; it’s a steppingstone for the next generation of conservationists as they become stewards of the wild!

  • June 24th – 28th 

12 – 14 year old Camp

Jr. Zookeeper 

Join the Greenville Zoo crew as you get an exclusive peek at what a day in the life of a zookeeper is all about! (Full-day Camp)

  • July 1st – 2nd 

Check out our FAQ page here:

  1. Zoo Camp 2024 FAQ
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Categories: Family Fun
Hello Family: network + support
May 23 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
online w/ Hello Family
Hello Family Proves “It Takes a Village” in Spartanburg
Hello Family believes that all parents and caregivers deserve a network of support. That’s why this unique organization is providing Spartanburg families with key resources and services focusing on care ranging from prenatal to age 5.
With services ranging from text based assistance to community baby showers, to preschool readiness support, Hello Family is helping “Spartanburg’s youngest residents” get the best possible start to their journey! Find out more below!
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Categories: Community Family Fun
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
May 23 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

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Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
May 23 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

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Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
TCMU Tots
May 23 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
TCMU Spartanburg

Skill-building and community-building for toddlers and their caregivers! Little ones ages 2-5 will explore role-playing, storytelling, and interactive activities, fostering early social skills and a world of make-believe adventures that could include an ice cream shop, car wash or post office!

Read more
Categories: Family Fun
Story Time + More
May 23 @ 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
TCMU Spartanburg

Listen, respond and imagine during Story Time & More! Young learners can listen and respond to a story and participate in enrichment activities designed to ignite fun, discovery and learning.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun
steamWORKS jr.
May 23 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
TCMU Spartanburg

Step into TCMU-Spartanburg’s STEAM based classroom! Young minds can explore weekly themes through science activities designed to encourage creative problem solving and hands-on learning. We’ll even get a little messy sometimes!

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Categories: Family Fun
BridgeWay Farmers Market
May 23 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
BridgeWay Station

Local Produce & Artisanal Goods: Explore booths overflowing with farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, handmade crafts, artisan cheeses, and more, all sourced from local growers and creators.

At Bridgeway Farmers Market, we’re more than just a place to shop; we’re a vibrant community gathering, designed to bring people together in celebration of the rich agricultural heritage of our region. Nestled in the heart of South Carolina, our market is a unique evening destination where families, foodies, and friends can connect and enjoy the best of local culture.

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Categories: Art & Craft Community Family Fun Farmers Market Food & Drink Garden Garden Events
Friday, May 24, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
May 24 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
May 24 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
TCMU Tots
May 24 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
TCMU Spartanburg

Skill-building and community-building for toddlers and their caregivers! Little ones ages 2-5 will explore role-playing, storytelling, and interactive activities, fostering early social skills and a world of make-believe adventures that could include an ice cream shop, car wash or post office!

Read more
Categories: Family Fun
Story Time + More
May 24 @ 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
TCMU Spartanburg

Listen, respond and imagine during Story Time & More! Young learners can listen and respond to a story and participate in enrichment activities designed to ignite fun, discovery and learning.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun
Starry Nights – Perfect Little Planet
May 24 @ 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Imagine the ultimate space vacation. Discover our solar system through a different set of eyes – a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best known Dwarf Planet. Dive over the ice cliffs of Miranda.

Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms at Jupiter. And walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose? This is the solar system journey for space travelers of all ages.

Recommended for age 4 and above.

Buy Tickets

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Categories: Family Fun
Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays
May 24 @ 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
NOMA Square

Wind up the work week at Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays presented by Pepsi, listening and dancing to the best in musical entertainment.

FREE ADMISSION

This weekly music series on Main Street at NOMA Square opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m., with bands playing two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. NOMA Square chairs go fast, so bring a tailgating chair if you are not arriving early.

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Categories: Community Family Fun Music Outdoors
Starry Nights – Two Small Pieces of Glass
May 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Two Small Pieces of Glass – The Amazing Telescope fulldome show follows two students as they interact with a female astronomer at a local star party.

Along the way, the students learn the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass — using two small pieces of glass — to the launch of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the future of astronomy.

Aiming to engage and appeal to audiences of all ages, the show explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers throughout the last 400 years.

Buy Tickets

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Categories: Family Fun
Starry Nights – Chasing the Ghost Particle
May 24 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center

Deep in the ice at the heart of Antarctica, the biggest and strangest detector in the world waits for mysterious messengers from the cosmos. The detector is IceCube! The messengers are neutrinos–ghostly particles that give us tantalizing looks into world of exploding stars and black holes.

This show tells the incredible story of how an international team of scientists and engineers transformed one billion tons of Antarctic ice into a telescope. Building IceCube was a titanic endeavor driven by our human passion for discovery.

Your audiences will witness stunning views of the South Pole, captivating animations of the IceCube detectors capturing a neutrino collision–and eye-catching views of the cosmos. Chasing the Ghost Particle: From the South Pole to the Edge of the Universe will take you on a journey you will never forget.

Buy Tickets

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Categories: Family Fun