Greenville area street concerts and festivals: Here's what's happening this summer.
You don't have to look far in Greenville County for family friendly, fun activities.
That rings especially true in the summer as our cities and towns feature unique, weekly gatherings in their public spaces.
Annual events like Mauldin's Amp'd Up Fridays and Fountain Inn's Saturday Farmers' Markets have already made their return.
Downtown Greer plays Moonlight Movies on Thursdays, while Simpsonville hosts a music series Saturday nights.
Whether its dancing to jazz music with friends, visiting local animals at the zoo or catching a movie at sundown with the fam, here's a list of spring and summer festivals and events in our area:
Greenville events
∎Downtown Alive: Thursday's through Aug. 31 ― The free concert series will take place every Thursday night at NOMA Square on Main Street. More than half of the 25 acts will be first-time performers, with 18 coming from Greenville. The final show on Aug. 31 will host the winner of the "Gimme a Gig" contest, a season-long battle of the participating bands. Listeners will be able to vote for their favorite performers, with the winner receiving free studio time at Sit-N-Spin and the final stage of Downtown Alive.
∎Main Street Fridays: Friday's through Sept. 29 ― Main Street Fridays also take place at NOMA Square from 5:30-9:30 p.m., hosting a total of 28 bands through the spring into fall. Bands will play two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. Admission is free.
∎Greenville Jazzfest: Saturday, June 3 ― Jazzfest, a free one-day event from 4-10 p.m., will feature food and music to inspire visitors to learn and fall in love with jazz music, which will play at Blues Boulevard, Chicora Alley, Horizon Records and Rainer's Cafe and Bar. The event will be located on 206 S Main Street, from Broad Street to Falls Park Drive.
∎Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest: Saturday, June 17 ― Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest will be commemorate Juneteenth leadership and unity. Held in the heart of downtown Greenville, it will take place on Main Street between Broad Street and Falls Park Drive. Guest are encouraged to bring blankets and portable chairs for a day of art, music, food, games, live bands and more. Admission is free. Beer and wine wristbands are $1.
∎Zoo Fest: Saturday, June 10 ― Tickets are now on sale for the Greenville Zoo's first all-day family-friendly music festival, Zoo Fest. The fundraising event for the zoo will run from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and will offer live music and fun activities for children. Admission includes ambassador animal encounters and keeper talks, facepainting, kid's crafts, and Snapster photo booth. Food trucks and concessions will offer a variety of food for purchase. Beer, wine and Pepsi products will also be available for sale. Zoo entry fee and stations are credit card only.
∎Southernside's Summer LUAU: Saturday, June 17 ― Greenville's Southernside Brewing Co. is throwing its 2nd Annual Luau from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission is free and will include family fun with an inflatable water slide, slip and slide, dunk tank, mechanical shark, face painting and snow cones from The Nomadic Few. There will be live music, and entertainment from South Sea Knife & Flame Dancers along with Hula Dancers. Food will be available.
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Simpsonville events
∎Simpsonville Summer Music Series, Food Truck Rodeo: Thursday's through June 29 ― On June 1, high energy party/event band, Away Team, kicks off the month, with Kami Ocean & The Rhythm, Hot As A Pepper and The Abby Elmore Band also performing. On June 29, passion project Neon Arcadia will wrap up the month's lineup with music that will have you traveling back in time to the 80s. The summer music series will be held at Simpsonville's Amphitheatre at Henrick's Pavilion.
Fountain Inn events
∎Fountain Inn Farmers Market: Saturday's through July 29 ― Fountain Inn will host a farmer's market every Saturday into July 29 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Attendees will be able to gather fresh, locally sourced foods from sustainable vendors in South Carolina. They will also get to experience unique arts and crafts vendors who create jewelry, handwoven textiles, soap and more.
∎Sounds of Summer: Fridays through July 18 ― Sounds of Summer is a music series that takes place every Friday night into mid-July thrown by the City of Fountain Inn. From 6 p.m.-9 p.m., attendees can enjoy live music in the beautiful Commerce Park venue. The lineup for this year will include Son Del Callao, Ellie Rogers, Off the Record, Sun Dogs, Alex Key, Ashlyn Marie, the Marcel Portilla Band, Fantasy, Synergy Twins, Concealed Damage and the Rhythm City Band.
Mauldin events
∎Amp'd up Fridays Summer Concert Series: Friday's through July 28 ― The Mauldin Cultural Center will host Amp'd Up Fridays, formerly known as Beachin' Fridays, a concert series that will run every Friday night starting at 7 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater behind the cultural center at 101 E. Butler Road. The free concerts will feature beach music favorites, rock, R&B, pop and more. Food trucks are scheduled to be on site for each show. The final concert on Friday, July 28 will feature a fireworks display sponsored by United Community Bank.
Greer events
∎Freedom Blast: Saturday, June 24 ― Freedom Blast will be held from 6-10:30 p.m. Attendees will enjoy an evening of live entertainment, food vendors offering festival fare, Army vehicles and numerous activities for children. The Freedom Blast fireworks show, accompanied by patriotic music, will start at 10 p.m. at City Park.
∎Moonlight Movies: Thursday's June 8-Aug. 8 ― Watch movies under the stars at the Greer City Park Amphitheater. The Moonlight Movies series is free for families, with pre-show fun and crafts starting at 7 p.m. Movies begin around dusk (8:45-9 p.m.) every Thursday night throughout the summer. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Traveler's Rest events
∎Music in the Park Concert Series: Saturday's through Sept. 28 ― Traveler's Rest's amphitheater at Trailblazer Park hosts the Saturday night event. Check out the mountain views and enjoy the rolling green space for children to run around and play. To relax and enjoy a night under the stars, be sure to bring a blanket and chair. Music starts at 7 p.m. and food trucks begin serving at 6 p.m.
Look for our list of July 4 events soon.
Did we miss your favorite Greenville County summer event? If so, let us know by emailing ntran@gannett.com.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for the Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville street concerts, festivals: What's happening this summer.
