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.
This tour begins at the very birthplace of Greenville—Falls Park. The same allure of the gorgeous 40-foot natural waterfall that casts a spell on Falls Park visitors today must have had the same impact on the first colonial settler, Richard Pearis, when he arrived in c.1769. Less than a handful of American cities can boast such a waterfall in the heart of downtown. Visitors receive a chronological history of our city beginning with a view of the falls from the newest icon of the city’s cityscape—the award-winning pedestrian Liberty Bridge. At the foundation walls of an 1816 grist mill built by Vardry McBee, guests will learn about the factors that caused this small trading post town to grow into the textile center of the world.
Other highlights of the tour include discussion of some of the oldest buildings still existing along the banks of the river, including the 1882 Huguenot Mill and the Gower, Cox and Markley Carriage factory buildings that are now used for dining and entertainment. On the other side of the river banks, visitors will soak in the magnificent features of the $137 million Riverplace development with its unique mix of restaurants, offices, condominiums, artists’ open studios, a 30-foot cascading waterfall feature, hotel and more.
A stroll back up Main St. into the West End discusses a famous Greenvillian, Charles Townes. This tour will give you a great overview of our city’s past but you’ll also hear about the exciting current projects that are adding to the downtown experience as well as future projects that are going to be transforming us into the future.
Highlights include:
• Ruins of an 1816 grist mill built by the “Father of Greenville”, Vardry McBee
• The 1882 Huguenot Mill – learn how Greenville became the “Textile Center of the World”
• The 1857 Gower, Cox and Markley Carriage factory building, once the largest carriage company in the South
• Riverplace – stroll the river walk while learning about the beautiful complex of fine restaurants, shopping, condos, open artist studios, and more overlooking the Reedy River that has sparked a revitalization of the Historic West End
• The bronze memorial to Charles Townes, a Greenvillian who became the inventor of the laser.
Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1
Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.
You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.
We hope you will join us this holiday season!
Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.
Guitarist Jorge Garcia’s intense passion for his instrument is immediately visible and equally audible through his soulful original compositions. Impeccable, melodic solos and supportive, rhythmic guitar work are Garcia’s trademarks and are always a joy to experience. Jorge Garcia has performed with great talent the likes of: Tony Bennett, Richie Cole, Patti Page, Andrea Bocelli, Othelo Molineaux, Candido Camero, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, Ed Calle, Bryan Lynch, Ignacio Berroa and Joel Grey to name a few.
Jorge has also performed with pop artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Trini Lopez, The Drifters, The Flamingo’s with Terry Johnson, Bobby Riddell, and many more. Garcia has recorded with Athenas Jazz Art, Carlos Oliva, Pete Minger, Richie Cole; his 2005 release The Sound of Strings with Federico Britos and his recent recording “The Color of Notes” with Israel “Cachao” Lopez, actor Andy Garcia, and the great Vibraphones Chuck Redd. Jorge is in the recording “Voyage” featuring Federico Britos released in April 2010 with Eddie Gomez, Mitchell Camilo, Ignacio Berroa and Giovani Hidalgo. He is on the new CD released in April 2015, Federico Britos Presents The Hot Club Of The Americas with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, Hendrik Meurkens, Atonio Adolfo.
Nicky Orta
Nicky Orta is a highly sought-after electric bassist from the South Florida area. His solid playing and musical versatility has landed him world tours, gigs, and recording sessions with renowned artists such as Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cristian Castro, Arturo Sandoval, and Sammy Figueroa (with whom Nicky received a Grammy nomination) to name a few. Nicky taught at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, Florida International University and Miami-Dade College. He has given master classes and lectures in the United States, Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Panama; organized and presented three Jazz Bass Conferences in Miami; and has appeared in various journals and sites such as Bass Player, BDGuide, Músico Pro and Forbassplayersonly.com. Nicky contributed a chapter on the electric bass for the book, Jazz Pedagogy: The Jazz Educator’s Handbook and Resource Guide. He is also a Founder of the Miami Jazz Cooperative.
“Mac Arnold’s first band included James Brown on piano. Mac moved to Chicago and Muddy Waters hired him on the spot. He toured and recorded with the Muddy Waters Band and recorded LPs with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. Mac moved to Los Angeles and produced Soul Train with his friend Don Cornelius. He even played bass on the Sanford & Son television show when he wasn’t playing bass for Otis Redding and B.B. King. He retired from show business to be an organic farmer. Mac is back with his own band and a “plate full” of CDs, building a new foundation in blues, soul and funk.”
Doors/ Meet & Greet: 7pm
Show: 8pm
Tickets:$12-$150
The Koloff Dynasty vs The Rock n Roll Express
Semi Main Event:
Doc Gallows vs Judais
Caprice Coleman vs Boz
NCW Title Match:
Bunkhouse Bo Ray (Champion) vs Outlaw Randy Wayne vs Jax N Saine
Cruizer Lewis vs Eric Adamz
The Heat Seekers vs Soul Patrol
Sal Rinauro vs Chase Lovelace vs Devin Cruise vs Najasism
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
We are pleased to announce that we are now taking applications for our first ever Operations Manager.
Deadline Dec. 10th
a city-wide public art project
Go Figure is a public art project featuring our region’s best contemporary visual artists, inspired by current events and the desire to connect safely with each other again—without COVID-19, without racial injustices, and without exclusion.
In 2020, we as a culture were radically altered, as our collective narrative of who we are as a community was and continues to be strengthened, inspired, and encouraged to embrace all experiences, stories, and figures.
Our goal for Go Figure is to create a public art project that expresses how we want to re-emerge together as a community, united.
The City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation department is taking geocaching to an exciting new level. Launching on May 3rd, 2014 is the Hub City Geotrail. This Geotrail will take you around the City of Spartanburg on a high tech adventure and scavenger hunt. Get your GPS ready for the kick off at this year’s Spring Fling. There will be a limited edition, trackable geocoin for participants that complete the trail passport.
To redeem your Geocoin you can hand deliver your completed passport to our Park, Recreation and Special Events office located at 100 North Liberty Street in Spratnaburg. (Our office is above the Sparta Passenger Center) PLease keep in mind that our office is open Monday – Friday and closed on holidays.
You can also mail your complete passport to:
Parks, Recreation & Special Events PO Box 1749 Spartanburg, SC 29304
Please make sure if you mail your passport in that you include your complete mailing address!
To learn more about geochaching follow the link below.
Various times
His masterworks have been displayed around the world for over a century… but never like this. Described as “an unforgettable multi-sensory experience,” Van Gogh Alive is a powerful and vibrant symphony of light, color, sound, and scent that compels you to leave the world behind and immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s paintings. Simultaneously enchanting, entertaining, and educational, Van Gogh Alive stimulates all the senses and opens the mind.
Fiction Addiction Storytime
Fiction Addiction hosts a free children’s storytime at our shop at 1175 Woods Crossing Rd. #5 every Thursday morning at 10:30am.
Visit : fictionaddiction.com
We’re back in person for 2021! And we’re so excited to don our turkey costumes and be downtown.
2021 Events – Race Course: Downtown Greenville SC / Cleveland Park / Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail
2021 TURKEY DAY EVENTS | Thanksgiving Day | 8am Start (All Races)
- 8k Run (USATF Certified Course)
- 5k Fun Run & Walk
- Course Maps & Turns
NEW Start Times:
- 7:30am – Pre Race Yoga & Stretching with Southern Om on the Greenville Drive Concourse
- 8:00 am – 8k and 5k mass start
With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.
Artist Michael Fowler creates evocative abstract landscape paintings by incorporating vibrant colors with subtle, complex details. His semi-large-scale approach invites viewers to step into his work and build a sense of wonder and contemplation surrounding the natural world. Fowler’s artistic response in contemplating nature is to capture something of a landscape’s pleasantness, which is often unexpected harmonies of color and shape. In his latest exhibit, Arbor Huescapes, Fowler highlights the distinctive vegetation – primarily trees – and topography of North and South Carolina’s midlands and piedmont regions.
Fowler received his Bachelor of Arts from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a focus in Advertising Design. He then attended the University of Nebraska where he received a Master’s degree in Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing with a minor in Art History. From there, he attended the University of Memphis where he earned a Doctorate in Higher Education. Based in North Augusta, South Carolina, Fowler is currently an associate professor of design and computer graphics and serves as the Mary Durban Toole Chair of Art at the University of South Carolina in Aiken. His paintings are in a number of public and private collections nationally, and he actively exhibits in regional and national shows.
Please note: Arbor Huescapes has been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 crisis and will now open in fall 2021. The exhibit is on display daily September 18, 2021 – January 9, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Baker Exhibit Center. All works are available for purchase and a portion of sales will be donated to The North Carolina Arboretum Society.
Closed Thanksgiving Day.
Things to do at Sky Top
Pick your own apples. (check picking schedule) or choose from pre-picked apples in the stand.
Enjoy hot “made-while-you- watch” apple cider doughnuts
Book a school field trip or group tour to Sky Top!
Enjoy a tractor pulled ride through the orchard.
Find pumpkins, gourds, and fall decorations (in season)
Bond with your family while enjoying our picnic areas
Visit our barnyard goats, sheep, chickens, peacocks, ducks, and geese
Walk the nature trail through a bamboo “forest” beside one of our orchard ponds
See cider being made (press operates selected days only)
Watch busy bees at a working beehive
Enjoy tasty apple goods, hot apple cider, caramel apples, fudge apples and more
Stock up on honeys, jams & jellies
Spartanburg photographer Chuck Reback always had an affinity for horror movies – and abandoned buildings – so when he had the opportunity to photograph inside the now-dilapidated Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, he jumped at the chance.
Six years and three trips later, the results are his upcoming solo exhibition, “Asylum Images,” Nov. 2 through 27 in Gallery II of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg. A reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on the third Thursday for ArtWalk Spartanburg.
The building was a state-run, Victorian-era mental hospital that was used up until 1994. The site has a lot of deferred maintenance and is deteriorating rapidly.
A veteran fused glass artist and a relative newcomer to the medium will present a joint exhibition, “Difference in Glass,” Nov. 2 through 27 in Gallery III of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
