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 29, 2023
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 29 @ 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!

5th Annual Juried Exhibition
Sep 29 @ 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.

Exhibition: The Colors of Nature – From Rivers to Roses – by Carol Story
Sep 29 @ 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.

The Art of Glass
Sep 29 @ 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.

Saturday, September 30, 2023
39th Annual Asheville Quilt Show
Sep 30 all-day
WNC Ag Center, Davis Event Center

Come join us for an exhibition of over 300 quilts from across the country, vying for more than $10,000 in Prize Money! More than 25 Vendors + Gift Shop + Silent Auction + Quilts for Sale, Opportunity Quilt Raffle. Other attractions include Demonstrations by Expert Quilters, Special Exhibits, and a Kids Sewing Station. Food available on site. Free Parking. Sponsored by the Asheville Quilt Guild, Moda Fabrics and Explore Asheville.

Applications open: 2024 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Sep 30 all-day
online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts

APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!

Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?

We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.


NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS

We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.

Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.

1. FRINGE SHOT

A piece that is
5-15 minutes long

May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.

2. SHORT FORM

A piece that is
20-40 minutes long

May be paired with another show.

3. FULL-LENGTH

A piece that is
45-60 minutes long

Ticketed theater-style show.

4. INSTALLATION

A piece that is
Site-specific (any length)

May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.

5. FILM

A piece that is
Designed specifically for film.

May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023

3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.

We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.

Open Doors Artist Registration
Sep 30 all-day
online
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 30 @ 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!

5th Annual Juried Exhibition
Sep 30 @ 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.

Exhibition: The Colors of Nature – From Rivers to Roses – by Carol Story
Sep 30 @ 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.

The Art of Glass
Sep 30 @ 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.

Lip Sync Battle Spartanburg
Sep 30 @ 7:00 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

We invite you to be a part of a no-holds-barred evening of “live” lip sync performances and fun to benefit the Charles Lea Center Foundation! Our inaugural Lip Sync Battle Spartanburg raised over $400,000 for our exciting Lake Blalock project (see below)! The second annual event will build on that success and be a night to remember – Spartanburg’s own version of the American reality competition. Local talent will wow you on stage with amazing performances. Teams from local businesses and organizations will bring their best costumes and moves, set to songs they select, as they battle it out in hopes of becoming the night’s champions! Lip Sync Battle Spartanburg brings the most entertaining and unforgettable fundraising experience to the ‘Burg!!  

The funds raised by this event will be used for an exciting new project – the Charles Lea Center Nature Preserve at Lake Blalock. Recognizing the invaluable advantages access to outdoor experiences offers those we serve, the CLC plans to develop a nature preserve with specific features for those with disabilities. The center was recently gifted an eight-acre parcel of land at Lake Blalock in northern Spartanburg County that provides the perfect setting for the preserve. The proposed CLC Nature Preserve will provide fully accessible trails as well as an event center, picnic tables, shelters, a boat dock with adaptive features and more, so individuals of all ages and abilities can enjoy the great outdoors. This project will greatly enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities of all ages. Funding for this project, expected to be completed in 3-5 years, will be fully independent of CLC operating and capital funds.

Sunday, October 1, 2023
2023 Hispanic Heritage Festival Presented by AHAM
Oct 1 all-day
Fluor Field

AHAM, united for education for 25 years, proudly presents the Hispanic Heritage Festival. Don’t miss this amazing celebration of culture and community at the iconic Fluor Field at the West End on October 1 from 12 to 6 pm.

AHAM is a non-profit organization in the Upstate of SC whose mission is to increase the rate of Hispanic youth entering higher education through training, social management, the promotion of culture and the provision of scholarships in the South Carolina Upstate.

🎊 Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere, experience captivating performances, indulge in delicious cuisine, and embrace the rich traditions that define Hispanic heritage. 🌎

Discover the beauty of our diverse community and celebrate the achievements, art, music, and flavors that make Hispanic culture so special. 🎶

AHAM, unidos por la educación durante 25 años, presenta con orgullo el Festival de la Herencia Hispana. No te pierdas esta increíble celebración de cultura y comunidad en el icónico Fluor Field el 1 de octubre, de 12 a 18 horas.

🎊 Sumérgete en la vibrante atmósfera, disfruta de actuaciones cautivadoras, saborea deliciosa gastronomía y abraza las ricas tradiciones que definen la herencia hispana. 🌎

Descubre la belleza de nuestra diversa comunidad y celebra los logros, el arte, la música y los sabores que hacen que la cultura hispana sea tan especial. 🎶

Open Doors Artist Registration
Oct 1 all-day
online
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Oct 1 @ 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!

Creative Meetup
Oct 1 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Unity Park

Bring yourself, your art makings (canvases, easels, sketchbooks, crochet tools..), outdoor shenanigans, and games are welcome. Paint and canvases will be available for donations/barter and the joy of creative expression shall be multiplied.

All ages and identities welcome!

Charter Celebration and Charity Dinner for ZONTA Club of Greenville
Oct 1 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
InkNIvy

An evening to celebrate the charter of ZONTA Club of Greenville and to benefit local organizations, Jasmine Road and Serenity Place. ZCG is a local chapter of ZONTA International with a mission to improve the lives of women and girls in our community. A ticket grants you access to the rooftop oasis of InkNIvy in downtown Greenville at 4PM with a free drink and appetizers followed at 5PM by a two course dinner on the second floor with speakers, live music, a silent auction and raffle.

Say What?! Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Oct 1 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Coffee Underground

Read or perform your own original poems, plus hear great local and touring poets. Sundays 7:30pm-9:45pm. Open Mic–$5. Feature & Slams –$10.

Monday, October 2, 2023
Open Doors Artist Registration
Oct 2 all-day
online
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Oct 2 @ 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!