Looking for Memorial Day weekend activities in Upstate SC? Check out this list of events.
Memorial Day is just around the corner and the time usually means a three-day weekend for many with backyard barbecues and the unofficial start of summer, but there is more to it than that.
The American holiday hasn't always gone by Memorial Day, but has always been a holiday and an opportunity to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. military. The day is usually observed on the last Monday of May and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
In addition to enjoying backyard barbecues and other activities during your three-day weekend, here is a rundown of things to do in Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson counties:
Greenville events
∎Palmetto Heroes Hike, Saturday, May 27: Hikers can honor fallen first responders and military service members on the 2nd Annual Palmetto Heroes Hike. Participants will have a choice to hike for 6 miles, or a 12-mile loop on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, stopping together at memorial checkpoints along the route to honor an Upstate fallen first responder and service member. The community event will benefit nonprofits, The Wounded and Recovering Fund and Upstate Warrior Solution. Registration begins at 7 a.m. (12-mile hike) and 9 a.m. (6-mile hike) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena located at 650 N Academy Street, Greenville. An after-party will follow the hike.
∎Gallabrae, Saturday, May 27: The Greenville Scottish Games is a celebration of Scottish Heritage that will be held at Furman University. There will be heavy athletics, Wee Scotland for kids, drumming and piping competitions, exhibitors, Scottish vendors, border collies herding sheep, Celtic music, Scottish clans, food and Gallabrae Scottish Ale. At 11 a.m., a military salute will commence that will include the SC Army National Guard Band, the War Birds flyover, 21-gun salute, flags jumped onto the field, and Taps, led by Scottland's Royal Highland Fusilier Honor Guard. The World's Greatest Scottish Happy Hour & Celtic Jam will top the event off. Military members get in free with their Military ID. Children under 5 years old also get in free. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Parking is free.
∎Memorial Day at 13 Stripes, Monday, May 29: 13 Stripes Brewery will be hosting a ceremony and beer release. Fallen Hero, a Memorial Day Red Lager, will return to the brewery. Its re-release is a tribute to Lance Corporal Nicholas S. O'Brien of the Marine Corps. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Upstate Warrior Solution. The brewery is located at 250 Mill Street in Taylors.
∎Mauldin Memorial Day Ceremony, Monday, May 29: At 11 a.m., the City of Mauldin will host a Memorial Day ceremony on East Butler Road. The event will begin with a welcome from Mayor Terry Merritt, an Air Force veteran. There will be opening and closing prayers by Pastor Carl McCluney of New Harvest Ministries Church, a Presentation of Colors by the Mauldin High School Navy Junior ROTC, a variety of musical selections and speaker Charlie Hall, president of Upstate Warrior Solution.
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Spartanburg events
∎A Soldier's Timeline, Saturday, May 27: Visit encampments and learn from reenactors and veterans from The American Revolution to modern wars at Walnut Grove Plantation. The event, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature weapons displays and military drill demonstrations. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-17.
∎Spartanburg Community Band, Sunday, May 28: The Spartanburg Community Band continues its annual Ice Cream Sunday’s Summer Concert Series. Music will begin at 6 p.m. on Blackman Patio at Converse College in Spartanburg. Admission is free.
∎Memorial Day ceremony, Monday, May 29: Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 will host a reading of the names ceremony, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the service beginning at 2 p.m. at Veteran's Pointe Memorial Park, 94 W. Park Dr., Spartanburg.
∎Memorial Day Cookout - Monday, May 29 Ciclops Cyderi & Brewery will be open from 1-7 p.m. on Memorial Day. The brewery will have a special Memorial Day menu, live music from Bill and Tad's Excellent Duo and a cornhole tournament. Reservations are not required.
Anderson events
∎Memorial Day Murph, Sunday, May 28: Open to the community, AAYMCA CrossFit will be hosting its 8th Annual Memorial Day Murph. It will start at 7:45 a.m. and will feature DJ Kingdomatik, a cookout, social and an after-party at 10 a.m. The workout was named "Body Armour" by Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. It was also his favorite workout. The event will include numerous heat times throughout the morning and can be scaled or done as a team of two. The workout begins and ends with a one-mile run, with 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats in between. "Murph" merch will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to Upstate Warrior Solution.
∎Big Water Marina Live Music with Rhonda Funk, Saturday, May 27: Enjoy a lakeside getaway at Lake Hartwell with live music from country singer Rhonda Funk, 2022 ISSA USA Entertainer of the Year. Music will play from 6-9 p.m. at the Big Water Marina & Campground at 320 Big Water Road in Starr. The marina offers cabin, pontoon and watercraft rentals and waterfront dining from J.R. Cash's Grill & Bar. Splash Island, a family-friendly water zone featuring a new Wibit inflatable obstacle course, is also available for kids. Reservations should be made prior to the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for the Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Memorial Day weekend activities and events to do in Upstate SC
