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.

Friday, February 4, 2022
250 Free Student Tickets for Neil deGrasse Tyson
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville Box Office Only

In conjunction with Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) and AVLtoday, the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville (HCCA) is proud to announce an offer for 250 Buncombe County middle school and high school students to receive (1) free ticket each to attend Neil deGrasse Tyson: An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies – The Sequel on Monday, February 7 at 7:30 pm. In addition to the student tickets, parents and attending chaperones will be eligible to receive a discounted ticket. Tickets are available only at the HCCA Box Office during business hours on a limited basis.

STUDENT INFORMATION: As ticket quantities allow, eligible middle school and high school students will receive (1) free ticket to the event with an accompanying chaperone or adult with a limit of four students per adult. Accompanying adults may purchase a ticket up to a 50% discount. To pick up tickets, visit the HCCA Box Office between 10:00am and 4:00pm on Tuesday through Friday. Tickets are limited, so stop by the box office soon to take advantage of this offer.

Colleges and local university students may purchase tickets at a 30% discount with a valid student ID card and will be limited to 2 tickets per purchaser. Above offers are not valid on previously purchased tickets and are only available at the HCCA Box Office. No refunds/No Exchanges.

First Fridays Gallery Crawl
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
various locations

The first Friday of every month from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

First Fridays invites you to navigate Greenville’s visual arts scene each month as galleries and venues are open to the public from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. There are a number of resources on this page to help you plan your route. First, you can sign up for our eblast list to receive gallery highlights in your inbox each month before the event. Second, you can visit our maps to find the main areas where the galleries are located. Lastly, our gallery directory contains contact information and directions through Google Maps to each location.

COVID-19

Be sure to check our monthly eblast (subscribe below or click the link at the top of the page) to see which galleries are open each month. Some galleries may participate virtually. Please be considerate and wear a mask + practice social distancing when visiting the galleries.

lamentations an art exhibit
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Spartanburg Art Museum

artists

On loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Over the past seven years, Tina Freeman has photographed the wetlands of Louisiana and the glacial landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica. In Lamentations, Freeman pairs images from these desparate regions in a series of diptychs that function as stories about climate change, ecological balance, and the connectedness of disparate landscapes.

images courtesy of and © Tina Freeman.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by Davis + Walker Barnes, Alice + Ty Dawson, Leah Kent + Mici Fluegge, Misti + Kevin Hudson, Susu + George Dean Johnson, Jr., Leigh Ann + Ryan Langley, Vicki + Tom Nederostek, Margaret + George Nixon, and Agnes + William Peelle.

Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Upcountry History Museum

Rockwell’s hopeful and admiring attitude toward humanity was the hallmark of his work. He loved to paint pictures that conveyed stories about people, their attitude toward each other, and his feelings about them.

 

During his forty-seven year affiliation with The Saturday Evening PostNorman Rockwell was celebrated for his special holiday cover illustrations, which were commissioned to mark a full spectrum of annual events for an enthusiastic public, from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and The New Year to Valentine’s Day and April Fools’ Day.  Whether it was the presentation of mouth-watering turkey at the Thanksgiving table or a rosy-cheeked Santa checking his list to see who’s naughty or nice, the illustrations simply conveyed Americana. In a rapidly changing world, Norman Rockwell’s art has been a reassuring guide for over six decades, and it continues to resonate today.

 

The Upcountry History Museum – Furman University in partnership with the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts will host the traveling exhibition Norman Rockwell’s Home for the Holidays.  This beloved exhibition, featuring over 40 of Norman Rockwell’s most memorable and enduring holiday images, will make its South Carolina debut at the Upcountry History Museum.

The Soldier Bishop: Ellison Capers Exhibit
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Upcountry History Museum

The Soldier Bishop: Ellison Capers, a special exhibit created by Faith Memorial Chapel, Cedar Mountain, NC, now on display at the Upcountry History Museum, presents the unshakable faith of Rt. Reverend Ellison Capers and how his fortitude created a lasting legacy.

Though he lost loved ones and survived many of his own near-death experiences in some of the most horrific engagements of the American Civil War (1861-1865), Capers’ trust in God and the path before him never faltered. In 1865, at the age of 28, he was promoted in the military to Brigadier General receiving recognition for his leadership and distinguished service. After the war Capers was elected Secretary of State for South Carolina. Even so, his calling to Christ was overpowering. The Governor told him, “You can be a Governor, Senator, or anything you like. You will be a fool to give all this to become a preacher.”

In 1866, Capers accepted a call to Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, South Carolina, where he served for 20 years. He was consecrated as bishop of the State of South Carolina in 1893 and moved to Charleston. To escape the summer heat, he purchased a plot of land in Cedar Mountain, NC, and erected a cottage. This inspired in Mrs. Capers a dream to erect an Episcopal chapel for the local population. In 1894, this dream became a reality, and “Faith Chapel” was built.

“Faith Chapel” fell into disrepair following Capers death in 1908. In honor of his enduring influence and guidance, a disciple of Capers, the Reverend Dr. Alexander Mitchell from Greenville, began a movement to rebuild the chapel and dedicated the new church, “Faith Memorial Chapel,” in Capers’ memory in 1941.

The exhibit shares the story of Ellison Capers and the history of Faith Memorial Chapel. Historical artifacts, including Capers’ original military sword, the musket balls that nearly killed him, his war diaries and handwritten letters to his wife from the battlefield, and the preserved renderings for rebuilding the Chapel dedicated to his memory, highlight key moments of Capers life’s journey through war, faith, and salvation.

USC Upstate: Fabulous Friday Discover College—Arts, Humanities, Sciences, Technology majors
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am
 University Readiness Center

Whether you’re in high school or a college transfer student, be sure to join us for Fabulous Friday and discover what college is really like. These are fun, stress-free environments where you can learn what sets USC Upstate apart from other schools.

Student and residential life staff will talk to you about all the ways to get involved on campus and what it’s really like to live in the residence halls, and you will have a chance to tour campus housing. Admission counselors will be available to help you better understand the application/enrollment process and the financial aid staff can help you understand how to apply online.

Sessions begin at 10 a.m. in the University Readiness Center (URC) Download PDF

Agenda:

  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Check In
  • 10:00 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. – Welcome / Admissions / Financial Aid / Student Success
  • 10:20 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Info Sessions / Student Life / Residential Life / Student Experience
  • 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. – Academic Sessions
  • 11:15 a.m. – Campus Tours 

NOW is the time to register! All you have to do is select a date from the list below based on your intended major. Give us a call at 864-503-5246 or 1-800-277-8727 if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

2021-2022 Fab Friday events:

February 4 – Arts, Humanities, Sciences, Technology majors

March 4 – Business, Education, Nursing majors

April 1 – All majors

War Dogs: Never Above You, Never Below You, Always Beside You
Feb 4 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Upcountry History Museum

Since the American Revolutionary War, military working dogs have served with all branches of the United States Armed Forces. First used as pack animals, working dogs have expanded their military roles to include scouting, policing, detection, and combat.

U.S. military dogs officially began serving in WWII, following the formation of the Dogs for Defense, Inc. coalition. Today, hundreds of dogs serve with U.S. military forces around the globe assisting with dangerous missions on today’s modern battlefields.

The exhibition combines life-size sculptures designed by Ohio master craftsman James Mellick with combat art and objects on loan from the collections of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Navy.

The project features eight Wounded Warrior and two Canine War Dog sculptures, bringing attention to the history, service and heroism of military working dogs. The collection represents Doberman Pinchers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Belgian Malinois who served in WWII, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan military campaigns.

One of James Mellick’s sculptures represents Lucca, a Marine Corps war dog.  She conducted more than 400 missions during two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.  One of those missions cost Lucca her leg and severe burns but there were no human casualties under her watch.  When she retired, her handler was able to adopt her.

Twenty pieces of art paint a more complete picture of dogs at work, detailing the most menacing war dogs to goggled high-flying dogs to sleeping warriors and keen detectives. Artifacts include items used by war dogs and their handlers. Dog uniforms, medical kits and Purple Hearts share poignant stories of perseverance and bravery.

Military working dogs have served and protected countless lives in war, this inspiring exhibition tells their amazing story.

Seeing Through Their Eyes Exhibit
Feb 4 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Spartanburg Science Center

 

The Spartanburg Science Center, Spartanburg Area Conservancy, and the USC Upstate Foundation joined forces in January of 2021 to offer a comprehensive STEAM program to children in the community. ‘Seeing Through Their Eyes’ offered students ages 3-18 an opportunity to learn about and document the nature they saw around them during the pandemic, with the goal of keeping kids engaged, off screens, outdoors and educated during the winter months.

Thanks to the generosity of the Spartanburg County Foundation, the Mary Black Foundation, the USC Upstate Foundation, the EMK Foundation and the City of Spartanburg, the program provided 325 take home kits with a disposable camera, a nature guide to direct the photos, and suggested activities. The guide led kids down the Cottonwood Trail, to the animal room in the Science Center, and to the USC Upstate Arboretum to photograph local plants and animals, learn about patterns in nature, and more.

Ice skating at The Pavilion
Feb 4 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
The Pavilion

SKATE ON A PERFECT SHEET OF ICE

At the Pavilion, our state-of-the-art ice system creates a smooth, professional, and sustainable surface available for a variety of great ice activities. Take a lesson, bring a friend, or go on your own during our public skate times.

 

Winter Photo Contest – “Winter Trees”
Feb 4 @ 12:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

It’s the Year of the Tree in North Carolina State Parks, and we are encouraging guests to celebrate trees all year long! Start off in the winter months while branches are bare and capture some unique tree shapes or the beauty of frosty evergreens. You may win a prize for your efforts!

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

CONTEST RULES:

  1. There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between January 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022.
    The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
  2. Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
    • Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
    • E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
  3. Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
  4. Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
  5. For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
  6. Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
  7. Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
  8. Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.

Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].

Pruning Class-In Person
Feb 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Bullington Gardens

Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels

Learn how to properly prune ornamental trees and shrubs with Bullington’s John Murphy.

Banco de Comida I Food Pantry
Feb 4 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Jesus the King AG
Greenville Parks + Rec Afterschool Program
Feb 4 @ 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Various Community Centers

Afterschool

The Study Buddies Afterschool program is offered at four community centers throughout Greenville. The program runs Monday through Friday from 2:30-6 p.m. Participants will receive homework assistance, life skills development, recreational activities, educational projects, and much more. A healthy meal is provided daily for each participant. This program is open to students in K through 8th grade.

Registration is currently open for city of Greenville residents. 

Participants in the Study Buddies Afterschool program  will receive homework assistance, life skills development, recreational activities, educational projects, and much more. A healthy meal is provided daily. This program is open to students in 5K through 8th grade.

We are committed to providing our students a safe, enriching, and healthy afterschool experience. View Afterschool Health and Wellness Policy (PDF)

Dates: August 17, 2021 – June 1, 2022                                                         *Program does not run when there is no school for holidays, half days, teacher work days, vacations, or snow days (following Greenville County School calendar).

Time: 2:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Fees:  $585 for City Residents

Discounts for families registering two or more children. Payment plan available in 9 installments with the first initial payment due upon registration.

Financial Assistance: City of Greenville residents with documented financial need will automatically qualify for a reduced fee after school program. Qualified participants must complete the application and submit all required documentation to be eligible for the reduced fee. Financial aid will automatically be added to the participants online account after their application and documentation has been approved. Applications are available online (see below under documents) or in person at David Hellams Community Center or Bobby Pearse Community Center.

Financial assistance rates are $270 for the year. Sibling discounts do not apply to financial assistance rates.

Locations:

  • Bobby Pearse Community Center (FULL)
    • Elementary: Stone Academy
    • Middle: League Middle
  • David Hellams Community Center
    • Elementary: East North Street
    • Middle: Greenville Middle
  • Nicholtown Community Center
    • Elementary: Lake Forest
    • Middle: Northwood Middle
  • West Greenville Community Center
    • Elementary: AJ Whittenberg (transportation will be provided)
    • Middle: League
    • Legacy Charter School also provides transportation to the Center

Bussing Directly From The School To The Community Center: The City of Greenville DOES NOT provide transportation from the school to the afterschool site. Parents are responsible for arranging school bus transportation and also letting the school know that their child will be attending this afterschool program.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Refunds are not available after the first week of the program.
  • Prior to August 17, Parent/Guardian must submit all completed parent consent forms.

DOCUMENTS

Parent Handbook

Parent Handbook Forms

Financial Assistance Application Form

Afterschool Flyer

First Friday at Greenville Center for Creative Arts
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Greenville Center for Creative Arts

Make Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) your first stop on First Friday! Located in the historic Brandon Mill complex in the creative arts district of West Greenville, GCCA is a perfect place to begin the Metropolitan Arts Council’s monthly art walk.

The Art Center is open for extended hours, 6pm to 9pm, on the first Friday of every month for First Friday activities. In addition to viewing multiple exhibitions from both locally and nationally-recognized artists, at GCCA you’ll have the opportunity to meet the resident working artists, see their studio spaces and works in progress, and learn more about their personal style and artistic process.

The mission of GCCA is to enrich the cultural fabric of the community through visual arts promotion, education, and inspiration. Founded by a dedicated group of artists, teachers, and community leaders, the Art Center offers programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and economic circumstances.

Greenville’s Downtown Trolley (Route 903) provides visitors to the downtown area easy and free transport to the West Greenville area from July through September, every Thursday and Friday, 6pm to 11pm, and Saturdays, 5:30pm to 11pm. For real-time scheduling, download the FindGreenlink app on your phone and come visit!

First Fridays Gallery Crawl
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Greenville Area Galleries and Venues

First Fridays invites you to navigate Greenville’s visual arts scene each month as galleries and venues are open to the public from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. There are a number of resources on this page to help you plan your route. First, you can sign up for our eblast list to receive gallery highlights in your inbox each month before the event. Second, you can visit our maps to find the main areas where the galleries are located. Lastly, our gallery directory contains contact information and directions through Google Maps to each location.

Parent-Free PJ Party Drop-off Childcare | Ages 4-10
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
World Explorers, Greenville

Our movie-goers dine on pizza before watching current hit movies as well as staff favorites from when they were children.  Each movie is accompanied by an organic, all natural fruit juice popsicle and themed crafts & activities! This is the perfect excuse to celebrate the fact that you chose the best for your child with a toast somewhere without cheddar bunnies on the menu! Note: Children must be fully potty-trained to attend.

SILENT DISCO
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm
Graham Plaza

We had a blast with the inaugural Silent Disco at the Peace Center. In fact, it was such a hit we decided we should keep the party going!

Back by popular demand is the quietest public party ever hosted- and you’re invited! We have headphones, DJs and concessions, Now, all we need is YOU!

Reserve your headphones below and head to Graham Plaza to dance like no one is watching and sing like no one can hear you (because they can’t).

Headphone rentals are $10 each and can be purchased in advance at peacecenter.org and upon arrival.

Starry Nights – Beyond the Sun
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm
Roper Mountain Science Center-- Hooper Planetarium
Inventore voluptates velit totam ipsa tenetur

While Celeste is fighting off sleep in her room by reading a book on astronomy, she receives an unexpected visit from Moon. Together, they will enjoy a journey through the Universe to discover what exoplanets are and how they can be detected.

They observe rogue planets, oceanic worlds and super-Earths. Moon tells her about exoplanet hunters, who observe the sky in search of planets like Earth. Many adventures are yet to come. But first, she needs some rest. Celeste drops off to sleep waiting for the next visit of Moon.
Recommended for age 4 and above.

WEST END WALKING TOUR
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Greenville—Falls Park

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.

Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb 4 @ 7:00 pm
Spectrum Center

Logo for Charlotte Hornets   vs.    Logo for Cleveland Cavaliers

TV: BALLY SPORTS SOUTHEAST – RADIO: CHARLOTTEWFNZ 610 AM/102.5 FM