Spartanburg Events Calendar
Find Spartanburg events and things to do, including concerts, art walks, sporting events and nightlife entertainment. Be sure to also check out our outdoors guide for the Upstate and a listing of museums and galleries.
Get an up-close look at the Sun through our solar scope on these days and times:
Mon. – Fri: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.*
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 1 to 4 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: All Observatory activities are dependent on clear skies.
*Observatory may be in use for scheduled school classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Advisement for Summer and Fall 2018
On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m., Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Promenade. Please note, Rocky Cove Railroad will not operate in rainy or wet conditions.
arth Skin is based upon the forms and textures of the earth using inspiration from aerial photography of Western North Carolina and topographical maps of local areas, including Pisgah National Forest and Balsam Range. Created by ceramic artists Trish Salmon and Crystal Allen, Earth Skin includes wall structures and pieces designed for mantles, shelves and tables. All works are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will be donated to The North Carolina Arboretum Society.
About the Artists
Trish Salmon
Trish has been studying clay for many years through the various classes available to her when she lived in the Atlanta area. Taking classes at Penland was a life changing experience and a turning point in her desire to become a studio ceramicist. She and her husband moved to Western North Carolina in 2007, and she has pursued her claywork full time after her career as a kitchen designer. Immediately after retirement, she enrolled in Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program in clay where she received her Associate’s Degree in 2014. She currently is a member of the Odyssey Coop Gallery in the River Arts District in Asheville, NC. She is also a founding member of Artisans on Main in downtown Weaverville where her studio is and where her work is primarily displayed.
Crystal Allen
Before discovering ceramics, Crystal earned a degree in Graphic Art and Design. She has also taught calligraphy, dabbled in watercolors and and learned how to felt, dye and spin natural fibers from her own llamas and sheep. Most recently, Crystal completed the Professional Crafts: Clay Associates degree at Haywood Community College. Her pottery is primarily functional, with altered or hand built additions. Her pieces are produced in her studio, one of her favorite places on earth!
Roots of Wisdom showcases the ways in which the traditional knowledge of native peoples and Western science are woven together to improve the natural world.
Featuring four indigenous communities, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, this traveling exhibit shares inspiring stories of environmental and cultural restoration that society faces today. Through the voices of elders and youth, engaging video interactives and hands-on games, visitors will gather resources, examine data and take part in the growing movement towards sustainability and the reclamation of age-old practices.
Exhibit support is provided in part by The North Carolina Arboretum Society, Smoky Mountain Living Magazine and Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty. “Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science.” was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The exhibit was made possible with funds provided by the National Science Foundation.
It’s hard not to crack a smile while enjoying amazing views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge from on top of the Chimney. Capture photos of your family and friends enjoying the Park and enter them into our spring photo contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. We’ll use the winning entries on our website and Facebook album, and you’ll win some fun prizes. Photos must be taken within the Chimney Rock section of the Park.
GREAT PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS:
First Place – An overnight getaway to Hickory Nut Gorge with a stay at the historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, two passes to Chimney Rock, brunch for two at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours
Second Place – A Chimney Rock prize package including two passes to Chimney Rock, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours.
People’s Choice – Selected by our Facebook fans, the winning photo will be featured as the cover photo of our Facebook page for two weeks and the cover of our Pinterest board of winning photos. Prize includes two Park admission tickets, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and a $20 gift certificate for Old Time Photo in Chimney Rock Village.
CONTEST RULES:
There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken inside Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between March 20, 2018- June 20, 2018. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
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 and share our photo contest post on your wall. Then post your photo to our wall with the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words) through your personal Facebook account. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
Pinterest: First, re-pin our photo contest pin to one of your boards and follow our 2017 The Different Seasons of Chimney Rock Spring Photo Contest Board so we can easily contact you. Then pin your photo with the hashtags #chimneyrock AND #photocontest with your personal account, and include the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words).
Twitter: First, follow Chimney Rock Park and retweet our tweet about the photo contest. Then tweet your photo to @ChimneyRockPark with the photographer’s name and the hashtag #photocontest. Next, send us private messages with your brief photo caption.
E-mail: If you don’t have access to any social media sites listed above, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected]
Snail Mail: Send your print photo with the clearly marked photographer’s name, city & state, a brief typed photo caption and a phone number to: Photo Contest, Chimney Rock Management LLC, PO Box 39, Chimney Rock, NC 28720.
Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption your photo of the Seasons of Chimney Rock, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
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.
For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of a face of Chimney Rock. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
Decisions of the judges are final.
Winners will be notified and announced at chimneyrockpark.com and on Chimney Rock’s social media channels.
For more information, call 1-800-277-9611 or email us at [email protected]
Do you have a gardening question? Looking to get that mystery plant identified? Need pruning advice? The North Carolina Arboretum is proud to introduce its newest educational series, “Ask the Gardener.” Every Monday from 9 a.m. – 12 noon, April through October, gardening experts will be on-site in the Arboretum’s Library, located upstairs in the Education Center, to help members and visitors address both common and unique gardening and landscape questions. The Arboretum’s extensive resource book collection will also be available for use by participants. The program is free, however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are welcomed.
Don’t get stumped! Let the Arboretum’s gardening experts help.
Fashion from Titanic the Movie
February 9 – May 13, 2018
The stylish fashions and luxurious travels of the Vanderbilts launch at Biltmore with a stunning new exhibition, Glamour on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie. Dazzling costumes from the iconic film—representing the extensive wardrobes required by transatlantic travelers like George and Edith Vanderbilt in the early 1900s—will be displayed in the grand rooms of Biltmore House. This is the first large-scale exhibition of fashions from Titanic, which won a record 11 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Costume Design.
More than 45 film costumes evoke the lifestyle of the era, when voyages on the great ocean liners of the early 20th century offered high society and luxury on ships known as “Floating Palaces.” First class passengers took every opportunity to see and be seen in the finest fashions of the time, from strolling the promenade deck to attending elegant formal dinners. And, just like in Titanic, the days at sea fostered friendships and romances, including Vanderbilt’s courtship of Edith Stuyvesant Dresser.
Learn more about the Vanderbilts’ extensive travels while marveling at the exquisite detail meticulously recreated for these award-winning fashions.
Entry to this exhibition is included in Biltmore admission. Save $10 per admission ticket when you buy 7 or more days in advance.
Category: Book & Film Discussions
Contact Name: Catie Turner
Contact Phone: 864-285-9073
In honor of National Library Week, read a book set in a library and meet to discuss on April 23.
Room: Barrett Room
Category: Fun & Games
Contact Name: Isabel
Contact Phone: 864-596-3502
Join us for Bingo. Light refreshments and prizes provided. This program is for adults ages 18 and up.
Category: Fun & Games
Contact Phone: 864-457-2218
Hang out with your friends and play some board games. For teens ages 12-18 or in grades 7-12. Snacks provided.
Category: Fun & Games
Contact Phone: 864-472-8363
Join us at this Monday Fun Day to play some Wii games. This program is open to kids up to age 11.
Category: Film Showings
Contact Name: Randi Breland
Contact Phone: 864-578-3665
Contact Email: [email protected]
A local scientist is often regarded as a failure until he invents a machine that can make food fall from the sky. However, little does he know, things are about to take a turn for the worst.
Category: Craft, DIY & Maker
Contact Name: AJ Riske
Contact Phone: 864-439-4759
Are you and your friends the nerdiest nerds in town? Prove it as we celebrate favorite fandoms, everything from anime to Dr. Who, to Harry Potter. For teens 12-18 years old/7th-12th grade.
Category: Fun & Games
Contact Name: Catie
Contact Phone: 864-574-6815
Tired of stepping on Legos at home for days and days after playing with them? Join us for our Lego Block Party. With over 55 pounds of Legos – the possibilities are endless and it is our mess to clean up. There will be a special area for those under the a
Category: Special Events
Contact Phone: 864-476-8770
Join us for a special Book Talk featuring local author Sheila Ingle and her memoir “Tales of a Cosmic Possum: From the Appalachia Mountains to the Cotton Mills.” All patrons are invited.
Are you a beginning teacher worried about managing a classroom? Are you a veteran teacher needing a boost? Workshop participants will learn how to build a positive classroom community, creating structures and procedures that encourage students to think, collaborate, and design.
The workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of preservice, beginning, elementary or secondary teachers.
The Masters Series at Converse is a purposeful gathering of Converse alumnae with the
goal of continued professional development. These workshops are hands-on and
relevant to the ever-changing classroom landscape. Speakers are always graduates or
faculty of Converse College.
Lana Greene (’99) is the Spartanburg School District Three 2015-2016 Teacher of the Year. She currently teaches AP US History and Psychology at Broome High School while also advising the Model Arab League Delegation. She holds certification in elementary, deaf education, secondary social studies. Mrs. Greene’s endorsements include gifted and talented education, AP US History,AP European History.
This event is free to students and the general public. A certificate for one hour of recertification credit will be provided.
Category: Health & Fitness
Contact Name: Terry
Contact Phone: 864-472-8363
Contact Email: [email protected]
Keep up a healthy lifestyle as you exercise 30 minutes of low-impact cardiovascular exercise followed by 30 minutes of gentle yoga taught by Spartanburg Regional nurse, DJ Liner. Charge for the class is $2.00 per person and open to adults 18+.
Room: Art Studio
Category: Craft, DIY & Maker
Contact Phone: 864-596-3505
Adulting is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Join us for the first program of our Adulting 101 series to learn how you can build better credit, improve poor credit and manage your finances like a boss.
Join us to celebrate the ribbon cutting of GTC’s new Veterans Center.
View the full event details here: http://go.activecalendar.com/gvltec/event/benson-veterans-center-opening/