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, September 23, 2023
Hub City Farmers Market
Sep 23 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Northside Harvest Park

The longest running market in the Upstate.

Every Saturday, April-December @ 8am-12pm

Landrum Farmers Market
Sep 23 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Landrum Farmers Market
Nantahala Outdoor Center Guest Appreciation Festival
Sep 23 @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Snag great deals from the Outfitter’s Store, the Guest Used Gear Marketplace, and shop handmade crafts and goods from local artisans. Play riverside games or participate in a race, grab a cold beverage and burger, and dance the evening away with live music.

The Used Boat sale will begin online a week before GAF! Used boats and gear will be available onsite at both the NOC Paddling School and the Outfitter’s Store so be sure to check them out when you visit!

Schedule of Activities

Friday, 9/15
8am GAF Demo Pre-boat sale Online sale starts at 8am. The sale at the NOC Outfitters Store starts at 9am
Friday, 9/22
8am Paddleports Apparel and Used Boats On Sale The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
12-7pm Used Gear Marketplace & Artisan Village River Left at NOC
5-8pm Live Music by Wyatt Esplain Riverside Stage
Saturday, 9/23
8am Used Boat & Apparel Sales The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
8am – 7pm Used Gear Marketplace & Artisan Village
10am-5pm Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release 300 CFS
12-3pm NRC Race Nantahala Slalom Course
12-3pm Macon Faces Kids Facepainting & Henna Free until 3pm!
12-3pm Magic Tom Balloon art & Magic
3pm-6pm Live Music by Christina Chandler Trio Riverside Stage
5pm Check Presentation to American Rivers Riverside Stage
7pm-10pm Live music by The Get Right Band Riverside Stage
Sunday, 9/24
8am Used Boat & Apparel Sales The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
10am-3pm Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release 425 CFS
3-5pm Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release 250 CFS

 

NRC Slalom Race

Come join us for a fun fall citizen’s slalom race on the Nantahala River! The race is open to paddlers of all ages and the course difficulty will be novice – intermediate.

The slalom course will start just above the NOC Founder’s Bridge and end upstream of the highway bridge. The course will consist of 18-20 slalom gates and will run through the 2013 Worlds Hole. Racers are encouraged to use slalom-specific or plastic “half-slice” boats and have at least class 2 river running skills.

Signup by emailing [email protected] or same day registration will be available Saturday morning by the NRC Trailer.  A start list and information will be provided by email.

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!

TD Saturday Market
Sep 23 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
TD Saturday Market

On Saturday mornings from the beginning of May until the end of October, two blocks of downtown Greenville’s Main Street are transformed into a bustling farmers’ market. The market features over 75 vendors selling the season’s freshest produce and the area’s most original and high quality crafts.  Each week thousands of people flock to the TD Saturday Market for locally-sourced products where all food must be grown or produced within 100 miles of Greenville and crafters are highly-encouraged to use locally-sourced supplies.

There is something undeniably special about Greenville’s TD Saturday Market. We invite you to join us Saturday mornings to experience it for yourself!

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 23 @ 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!

Travelers Rest Farmers Market
Sep 23 @ 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Travelers Rest Farmers Market
Teen Science Cafe
Sep 23 @ 8:45 am – 4:00 pm
South Carolina Aquarium

Want to learn about the wonders of rivers? Are you curious about how our waterways connect? And have you ever wanted to fish, but didn’t know how? Come explore Givhans Ferry State Park, guided by a park ranger and Aquarium educators, and discover the endless aqua-tunities of the Edisto! We will fish for information to learn more about the freshwater river that surrounds our home and discuss our findings over pizza!

Meet at South Carolina Aquarium at 9 a.m. for us to take a bus ride to Givhans Ferry State Park Givhans Ferry State Park. Sign in starts at 8:45 a.m., and pick up is at 4:00 p.m.

 
Bio-Way Farm roadside produce stand
Sep 23 @ 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!
Ikebana Exhibition and Demonstration
Sep 23 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Free to the public after Arboretum entrance fee of $20 (free for Arboretum Members)

September 23,  Saturday,  9 am– 5 pm

September 24,  Sunday,     9 am– 4 pm

 

Ikebana International, Asheville Chapter 74, is hosting an ikebana exhibition September 23-24 at the NC Arboretum.    There will be ikebana designs for viewing throughout the weekend and members will be available to explain  ikebana flower arranging techniques and materials.   The exhibition will feature ikebana designs from the four main schools.   There will be table-top designs, pedestal designs and floor/installation designs to show a full range of how ikebana can be displayed.   

Volunteer w/ The Spartanburg Soup Kitchen
Sep 23 @ 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
The Spartanburg Soup Kitchen
The Spartanburg Soup Kitchen has been serving the community since 1981. With the goal of nourishing those in need both physically and spiritually, they have become an irreplaceable resource in Spartanburg.
In addition to their regular services, the soup kitchen also provides a “children’s corner” which offers a special place for kids to enjoy a meal and engage in activities such as story time or drawing with volunteers and other guests.

Volunteer Opportunities

(Anytime between 9:30-1:30)
Food Prep
Load and unload incoming donations
Organize pantry
Assemble children’s take-home bags
Dishwasher duty
Food line servers
After lunch clean up (Tables, chairs, floors)

52nd Annual Girl Scout Day
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

Girl Scouts are invited to join the park’s naturalists for a fun-filled learning adventure on Grandfather Mountain. Plus, all Girl Scouts and troop leaders are admitted free with proof of membership (all or part of a uniform or a troop roster with the leader’s name on it), and family members will receive discounted admission. Advance reservations for park admission are not required, meaning scouts, troop leaders and family members are welcome to arrive the day of the event without admission tickets already in hand. However, advance registration for many of the day’s programs is required. More details to come.

A schedule will be posted here closer to date.

Grandfather Mountain’s daily program schedule will also be in full swing! Find more details about these daily programs here.

5th Annual Juried Exhibition
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Artists Collective | Spartanburg

This is the fifth regional, juried exhibition presented by the Collective: An annual event to showcase the amazing diversity of work within this southern region. We honor artists from Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia.

 

The competition was strong, 196 artists entered 496 artworks. From which the juror could choose 70 to be in the exhibition.

 

The exhibition will run from September 13th to October 28th in the Solomon Gallery. The winners will be announced on September 23rd, 2023.

 

Please visit our Exhibitions Portal to learn more and see the artworks that were selected this year.

The artwork is coming in for this year’s Juried Exhibition. It is going to be a beautiful show. We are always so thrilled to meet the artists when they bring in their work. The exhibition is free to the public and we invite everyone to visit this lovely show.

Anderson County Museum Gallery Open
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Anderson County Museum

Holidays The Museum is closed.

Exhibition: The Colors of Nature – From Rivers to Roses – by Carol Story
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Artists Collective | Spartanburg

Spartanburg artist Carol Story has long loved nature and all its bright and subtle colors. That love shows in her upcoming exhibition of her oil paintings, “The Colors of Nature: From Rivers to Roses,” set for Sept. 5 through 30 in Gallery II of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

 

The exhibit includes 18 to 20 small- to medium-sized oil paintings on linen “of familiar scenes,” Story says. “This exhibit is really a random collection of my work over the past year. It includes a couple of florals, landscapes from my wanderings along the coast and mountains, and even several from my series of sheep.

Guided Trail Walk
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

  • Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
  • Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
  • Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
  • Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
  • COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
  • At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.
National Public Lands Day: 6th annual DuPont Forest Festival
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
DuPont State Recreational Forest, Guion Access Area
On National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 23, 2023, Friends of DuPont Forest will host the 6th annual DuPont Forest Festival, an event celebrating the adventure and
The DuPont Forest Festival is a free, family friendly event open to the public. It is hosted by Friends of DuPont Forest and sponsored by Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.
The DuPont Forest Festival is a celebration of all the adventure and history found in DuPont State Forest.
We’ll have a mix of drop-in activities, demonstrations, group tours, and hikes, all perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Our number one goal for the Forest Festival is to teach people to love the Forest. Along with having fun, the activities will weave in education about reducing impacts to the Forest, waterfall safety, trails that serve multiple types of recreationalists and Forest conservation. Each event will be led by an expert volunteer and representative from our partner organizations.
This year we are thrilled to partner with the iDaph Events and welcome the Tree Tops Trail Race.
DUPONT FOREST FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10:30am
Thomas Cemetery Hike with Patty Stahl
11:00am
YAM Kids Yoga
Women’s Intermediate Ride- with Amanda Robertson
Women’s Beginner Gravel Ride- With Niki Celani
11:30am
Wintergreen Falls Hike with Greenville Hiking Club
Co-Ed Intermediate Gravel Ride with Lindsey Hall
Co-Ed Beginner Single Track Ride with Michelle Deerlodge
11:45am
Smoky Bear
Women’s Beginner Single Track Ride with Sydney
12:00pm
Intermediate Co-ed MTB Ride with Nate LaValla
Blue Wall Adventures Kids MTB clinic
12:30pm
Respect wildlife activity with Eagle’s Nest Foundation and the Outdoor Activity
Walk on the Wild Side Hike with Conserving Carolina
1:00pm
YAM All Levels Flow Yoga
Earth Walk with Earth Winds
Youth Ride
1:30pm
Trail Rod Presentation with Johnny Kelly
Respect Wildlife activity with Eagle’s Nest Foundation and the Outdoor Activity
1:45pm
Smoky Bear
2:00pm
Yoga and Meditation by Moonchild Farm
Blue Wall Adventures Kids MTB Clinic
Bike Clinic
ALL DAY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES
Pet the miniature horses with Pisgah Trail Blazers
Pine cone craft and scavenger hunt with Jinx
Face Painting and Tattoos with Friends of Dupont Forest
Come see the Rocky the Hellbender with the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission
View the Craft Gallery with Eagle’s Nest Camp
River Bingo and Leave No Trace Activity with Mills River Partnership
Dance and learn the 7 Leave No Trace principles with Ripple Forest Collective
Fly Fishing Demos with Headwaters Outfitters
Trail Rod Demo’s with Johnny Kelly
Discover the Healing Powers of Waterfalls with Waterfall Keepers of NC
Wood Carving with Piedmont Wood Carvers
Massage with YAM- Yoga and Massage
NC Forest Service
Leave No Trace
Friends of Dupont Forest·
DuPont Trail Crew
PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure”
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay and Ryder will need all paws on deck as he and the PAW Patrol discover a secret treasure map while on a mission to rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern.  It’s up to Chase, Marshall, Skye and all their heroic pirate pup friends to save the day and find the pirate treasure before Mayor Humdinger finds it first!

 

Purchase a VIP Package and become a VIP- Very Important Pup! The VIP package includes a premium seat and exclusive Photo Op with PAW Patrol characters after the show. Each adult & child (age 1 & up) in a group must have a VIP ticket.

Pumpkin Patch
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thompson Family Farms

Thompson Family Farms has expanded to include pumpkins this fall season, in addition to a sunflower maze and other fall crops. With over 3 acres of planted pumpkins, visitors are able to pick their own variety out of the field or select from our assortment of pre-picked pumpkins, while taking in the gorgeous fall mountain views. The farm is open to the public 10am-7pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday beginning September 21 and throughout the entire month of October.

The Art of Glass
Sep 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Artists Collective | Spartanburg

The Art of Glass

Tom Zumbach

“The Art of Glass,” an exhibition by Tom Zumbach, is set for September 5th – 30th in Gallery III of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

 

After moving to Greer, S.C., from the Milwaukee area in 1996, Zumbach started a full-time woodworking business and traveled from Michigan to Florida and places in between displaying at art shows. “I became interested in fused glass while working in Tryon, N.C., for 10 years. In 2014, and started my new journey with color and texture that weren’t brown, as wood,” says Zumbach, a member of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and the American Association of Woodturners.