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.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Nantahala Outdoor Center Guest Appreciation Festival
Sep 24 @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Snag great deals from the Outfitter’s Store, the Guest Used Gear Marketplace, and shop handmade crafts and goods from local artisans. Play riverside games or participate in a race, grab a cold beverage and burger, and dance the evening away with live music.
The Used Boat sale will begin online a week before GAF! Used boats and gear will be available onsite at both the NOC Paddling School and the Outfitter’s Store so be sure to check them out when you visit!
Online sale starts at 8am. The sale at the NOC Outfitters Store starts at 9am
Friday, 9/22
8am
Paddleports Apparel and Used Boats On Sale
The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
12-7pm
Used Gear Marketplace & Artisan Village
River Left at NOC
5-8pm
Live Music by Wyatt Esplain
Riverside Stage
Saturday, 9/23
8am
Used Boat & Apparel Sales
The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
8am – 7pm
Used Gear Marketplace & Artisan Village
10am-5pm
Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release
300 CFS
12-3pm
NRC Race
Nantahala Slalom Course
12-3pm
Macon Faces Kids Facepainting & Henna
Free until 3pm!
12-3pm
Magic Tom
Balloon art & Magic
3pm-6pm
Live Music by Christina Chandler Trio
Riverside Stage
5pm
Check Presentation to American Rivers
Riverside Stage
7pm-10pm
Live music by The Get Right Band
Riverside Stage
Sunday, 9/24
8am
Used Boat & Apparel Sales
The Outfitters Store & the NOC Paddling School
10am-3pm
Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release
425 CFS
3-5pm
Upper Nantahala / Cascades Release
250 CFS
NRC Slalom Race
Come join us for a fun fall citizen’s slalom race on the Nantahala River! The race is open to paddlers of all ages and the course difficulty will be novice – intermediate.
The slalom course will start just above the NOC Founder’s Bridge and end upstream of the highway bridge. The course will consist of 18-20 slalom gates and will run through the 2013 Worlds Hole. Racers are encouraged to use slalom-specific or plastic “half-slice” boats and have at least class 2 river running skills.
Signup by emailing [email protected] or same day registration will be available Saturday morning by the NRC Trailer. A start list and information will be provided by email.
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 24 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Hawk Watch
Sep 24 @ 9:00 am – Sep 30 @ 6:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain
Hawk Watch
Being a mile high has its advantages. From atop Grandfather Mountain, visitors can grab a front-row seat to one of nature’s most stunning spectacles — thousands of raptors migrating over the mountains and heading south toward their wintering grounds. Observe the raptors during the annual Hawk Watch, in which official counters and volunteers note the number of passersby in the sky throughout the entire month of September.
Raptors are birds of prey, such as hawks, eagles, owls and vultures. The telltale signs of the raptor are sharp talons, a hooked upper bill and incredible eyesight. While some raptors remain in place during winter, most will travel south, where food is more abundant.
Raptor migration looks very different from what many might imagine. Spectators will not see the “flying V” formation, as with geese, for instance. Instead of flapping, raptors spread their wings and soar by catching the warm updrafts that rise from the mountains.
Grandfather Mountain is a prime spot for viewing this phenomena, because it sits along the eastern escarpment of the Appalachian Mountains, and its rocky peaks generate strong thermal uplifts and allow prime visibility. Perhaps the most astounding visual display is the broad-winged hawk, which migrates in groups of hundreds or thousands, called kettles. Those sightings are most common around the second to third week of September.
During 2015’s Hawk Watch, Grandfather Mountain president and executive director Jesse Pope spotted a kettle of some 4,800 broad-wings passing over in less than 30 minutes, along with numerous other kettles of considerable size, amounting to nearly 10,000 raptors in one day. Read about the 2022 Hawk Watch.
Aside from offering a visual spectacle, Hawk Watch serves an important purpose. The annual counts from Grandfather Mountain and other locations help track hawk populations and migration routes over time and provide important data to inform land management decisions. In fact, Grandfather Mountain is one of more than 300 Hawk Watch sites officially designated by the Hawk Migration Association of North America.
Hawk Watch runs throughout the entire month of September, and counts are conducted every day the weather permits — hawks don’t typically fly in fog or storms — on Linville Peak (across the Mile High Swinging Bridge) and Half-Moon Overlook and will be posted daily at HawkCount.org.
Spectators are welcome to observe the migration for free during their visit to Grandfather Mountain. Park staff and Hawk Watch counters are on hand to answer any questions and provide additional information.
Rocky Cove Railroad Exhibit
Sep 24 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
NC Arboretum
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.
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 25 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour
Sep 25 @ 9:30 am
Reedy Rides
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the city of Greenville, South Carolina.
From our location, you can venture south on the trail through Greenville’s many parks. The Swamp Rabbit links up with Falls Park on the Reedy, Cancer Survivors Park and down into Cleveland Park. Heading north, you’ll see how the trail has transformed from an old railbed to a thriving trail with many breweries and eateries, as you head toward Furman University (7 miles) and Travelers Rest (1 miles).
Running every Monday/Wednesday 9:30am and 2:30pm and Fridays at 2:30pm
2 Hours | Approx 8-10 Miles | $65 per person
Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour
Sep 25 @ 2:30 pm
Reedy Rides
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the city of Greenville, South Carolina.
From our location, you can venture south on the trail through Greenville’s many parks. The Swamp Rabbit links up with Falls Park on the Reedy, Cancer Survivors Park and down into Cleveland Park. Heading north, you’ll see how the trail has transformed from an old railbed to a thriving trail with many breweries and eateries, as you head toward Furman University (7 miles) and Travelers Rest (1 miles).
Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Sep 26 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Atlanta, GA
Bryson City, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Collegedale, TN
Greenville, SC
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 26 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Guided Trail Walk
Sep 26 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NC Arboretum
Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.
Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..
Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.
There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.
Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.
Know Before You Go
Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.
Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Sep 27 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Atlanta, GA
Bryson City, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Collegedale, TN
Greenville, SC
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 27 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Fall Homeschool Day
Sep 27 @ 9:30 am
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Time: 9:30am-12:30pm, afternoon options begin at 1:30pm
Chimney Rock’s Fall Homeschool Day is the perfect chance to get your students outside in the gorgeous fall weather. Hands-on seasonal programs will engage your students and inspire their interest in the outdoors. After lunch, plan to stick around and enjoy what the Park has to offer as the seasons change. Registration closes September 23rd.
Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour
Sep 27 @ 9:30 am
Reedy Rides
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the city of Greenville, South Carolina.
From our location, you can venture south on the trail through Greenville’s many parks. The Swamp Rabbit links up with Falls Park on the Reedy, Cancer Survivors Park and down into Cleveland Park. Heading north, you’ll see how the trail has transformed from an old railbed to a thriving trail with many breweries and eateries, as you head toward Furman University (7 miles) and Travelers Rest (1 miles).
Running every Monday/Wednesday 9:30am and 2:30pm and Fridays at 2:30pm
2 Hours | Approx 8-10 Miles | $65 per person
Swamp Rabbit Trail Tour
Sep 27 @ 2:30 pm
Reedy Rides
The Swamp Rabbit Trail is a 22-mile multi-use (walking and bicycling) greenway that traverses along the Reedy River, an old railroad corridor and City parks to connect Travelers Rest with the city of Greenville, South Carolina.
From our location, you can venture south on the trail through Greenville’s many parks. The Swamp Rabbit links up with Falls Park on the Reedy, Cancer Survivors Park and down into Cleveland Park. Heading north, you’ll see how the trail has transformed from an old railbed to a thriving trail with many breweries and eateries, as you head toward Furman University (7 miles) and Travelers Rest (1 miles).
Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Sep 28 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Atlanta, GA
Bryson City, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Collegedale, TN
Greenville, SC
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Sep 28 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Pumpkin Patch
Sep 28 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thompson Family Farms
Thompson Family Farms has expanded to include pumpkins this fall season, in addition to a sunflower maze and other fall crops. With over 3 acres of planted pumpkins, visitors are able to pick their own variety out of the field or select from our assortment of pre-picked pumpkins, while taking in the gorgeous fall mountain views. The farm is open to the public 10am-7pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday beginning September 21 and throughout the entire month of October.
Midnight Movies: WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?
Sep 28 @ 8:00 pm
Falls Park
JOIN US EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT
Come early to grab a good spot and play trivia with us before the show. Movies begin at sundown in Falls Park every Thursday in September & October. Local food trucks and Poppington’s Popcorn will be on-site.
Feel free to bring your own picnic, chairs/blanket and enjoy a cozy night under the stars!
$1 wristbands must be purchased on-site if you plan on bringing alcohol.
As an important reminder for all, please leave all pets at home, do not bring glass cups or bottles and no smoking on-site.
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Down-on-his-luck private eye Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) gets hired by cartoon producer R.K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern) to investigate an adultery scandal involving Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner), the sultry wife of Maroon’s biggest star, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer). But when Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), Jessica’s alleged paramour and the owner of Toontown, is found murdered, the villainous Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) vows to catch and destroy Roger.