A Guide to Exploring Downtown Greenville, South Carolina
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Seasonal Events & Festivals
Events are on the lineup of all year-round: I don’t think I’ve ever attended so many festivals. This is one of the things I liked most about living in this wonderful city. Whether you like food, art, or fitness, there is something on the lineup for you. Here are a few of my favorites to consider adding to your itinerary.
TD Saturday Market: This huge farmer’s market begins in May and runs through October. The setting is charming, being located right in the middle of Main Street with large trees cascading over the street. The market is quite large for a small city, featuring fresh produce, raw dairy products, fresh bakery bread, and specialty foods from local farms. You will also find several art vendors on-site. I love to enjoy a cup of joe at a local coffeehouse and then browse around for local goods.
Main Street Fridays: A free musical festival held from March-September at NOMA square next to the Hyatt hotel.
Fall for Greenville: The city’s most popular event allows you to sample cuisine from various downtown establishments. As there are so many restaurants to choose amongst, this is a great way to test out a variety of dishes before committing to a full purchase.
Artisphere: A 3 day art fair held in mid-May each year. Featuring talented artists from around the globe, this renowned event has received praise from various notable publications. I saw a lot of great pieces here, unfortunately most were a bit out of my budget. Recently, USA Today ranked Artisphere #3 best art show in the country.”
Special Holiday Celebrations
Festival of Trees: This festive holiday celebration features dozens of themed Christmas trees, displayed throughout 4 hotels. Head straight to the Hyatt Regency which features the most elaborate display of the bunch. This swanky hotel is a nice place to stroll around with a hot cocoa or Peppermint mocha (Starbucks on-site) after dinner.
Ice skating on Main: A real ice rink comes to Main Street each November (one of the few in the state). The brisk weather, the twinkling lights, and festive music will (almost) make it feel like the holidays up north despite the lack of snow. The rink was built to give visitors & locals more winter recreational options, and reportedly, was inspired by the Rockefeller rink in NYC. It’s not the best rink I’ve skated on, but pretty good for the south! Coming from Tucson where I had no outdoor rink, this was a nice bonus!
Where to stay
The Hyatt Regency, a 4 diamond hotel, is conveniently located within walking distance to most of the prime attractions. This is a gorgeous property with a beautiful 8 story atrium. Additional amenities include a great on-site farm-to-table restaurant, a Starbucks, and a pool.
