Festivals

The Upstate area enjoys a yearlong calendar of festivals that offer opportunities for family entertainment and outdoor fun. Some of the most popular festivals in the Upstate include the following: 

The Coca Cola RiverPlace Art Festival celebrates the arts and
highlights local and regional musicians along with nationally known
performers.

Freedom Weekend Aloft is the largest hot-air balloon festival east of the Mississippi River . Every Memorial Day Weekend in 

Anderson , people come and enjoy 100 beautiful hot-air balloons, exciting concerts by the nations top entertainers, fireworks,
food, arts and crafts, amusement rides, and a motorcycle show.

During Fall for Greenville , area restaurants prepare sample-size portions of their specialties at booths set up along the street. Other highlights of the festival include a waiter's race; ice carving contest, a professional bike race, and a fireworks show. 

Spring Fling in Spartanburg features entertainment, food, crafts, and artwork.

First Night Greenville is a family-oriented non-alcoholic celebration of New Year’s Eve.

The area also boasts many concert series including Greenville’s Main Street Jazz Friday evenings from April to September, Downtown Alive every Thursday night, and the Reedy River summer concert series. Spartanburg also has its own Music on Main , which hosts free concerts after work. These events are a favorite with the area’s young professionals.