November in Greenville is beautiful with crisp morning air and average highs of 62, you will need to bring your sweater with you. As the year winds down our minds turn to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays and the joy of celebrating with our family and for me, it is time to start gift shopping. All the big stores get attention during November’s Black Friday sales, but Greenville has lots of great small businesses that have many unique gift ideas that should not be overlooked. (Unfortunately, way too many to list). Small businesses are at the core of every thriving neighborhood so we have pared it down to our favorite stores where we can always find something special. If you are looking for something specific just let us know and we are happy to direct you to the small business that is right for you.
Downtown
Ayers Leather 17 W. North St, Tue-Sa 10-4
With 70 years of family-owned leather working experience, Ayers Leather is the place for leather bags and luggage, belts, wallets, and the art of leather monogramming. Not to mention the distinctive gifts of wooden board games, fun umbrellas, and the only pen NASA sends into space, The Fisher Space Pen (just in case you have to write a note in zero gravity).
Greenville Gemstone Mine – 205 N Main St. Su-W 10-6, Th 10-7, Fr & Sa 10-8
Located right on Main Street you can try your hand at mining for gems, no experience necessary! While the staff is there to help you in your prospecting efforts, they will just as happily help you shop for already finished pieces from their collection of jewelry, fossils, unique home décor as well as bins of various gems.
M.Judson Booksellers 130 S Main St. Suite 200A M-Th 7:30 am- 7 pm, Fr&Sa 7:30 am-9 pm, Su 9 am-7 pm
Every book lover needs M.Judson Booksellers! Whether you walk in knowing the title and author you seek, are lured in by the scents of cookies and coffee, or haphazardly stumbled upon this beautiful courthouse turned book store you are sure to leave smiling. Shelves are lined with books of every genre, staff reviews, house-made stationary & and bookmarks as well as the intriguing “Blind Date “(undisclosed books wrapped in brown paper only for the adventure to be discovered after purchase).
MAKE MADE Jewelry 241 N Main St., Suite C, Tu-Sa 10-5
These artisan jewelry makers feature small batch designs, one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as orders specially made for you. If that’s not enough for you, you can have a personal jewelry-making class to not only design but also make your own wedding bands. MAKE MADE has various jewelry for men & women including a line featuring Greenville’s own Liberty Bridge as part of their ongoing work to help the community.
Mast General Store – 111 N. Main St.
M-Th 10-8, Fr& Sa 10-9, Su 11-6
Mast General Store Greenville celebrated its 20th anniversary this year! And while that may seem like a long time, the original building started out as a dry goods store in 1898. At one point it expanded to include the entire city block! Just like then, Mast General store strives to not only be a benefit for the community but to also carry useful goods. Including (but certainly not limited to) quality name-brand clothing, outdoor gear, shoes, toys, home décor, and bulk candy.
Pink Bee GVL – 105 Augusta Street M-SA 10am-5pm
This boutique clothing store started 20 years ago and has managed to grow into a service-driven group of women (and one shop dog) bringing brands from around the world to Greenville. Not only are they a Lilly Pulitzer signature store, but they also feature names like Barbour, Smith & Quinn, and many more. You can find your game day gear as well as Greenville original pieces.
Vintage Now Modern – 633 S. Main Street Su-Sa 10am-5 pm
Whether you are into modern or vintage you will find an eclectic selection of new home décor, furniture, and accessories with something for everyone.
Not Far From Downtown
Cottage Grove Vintage Market or Cottage Grove Gift and Home– 1607 Laurens Rd , 29607 Tu-Sa 10-5
Whether you are looking for new or old Cottage Grove has a selection for you. Gift and Home has a wide selection of gifts including baby gifts, paper, food and wine, home décor, jewelry and more. The Cottage Grove Vintage Market is right next door and has home décor, accessories and furniture. I have items from both displayed in the Bed and Breakfast so it is not only for gift giving!
Westside Market –3510 Augusta Rd, 29605 M-Sa 10-6 Sun 12-5
I don’t think you can do a better job of supporting small businesses than shopping here. In a space of 50,000 sq ft with over 150 vendors, including interior designers, antique dealers, artists, woodworkers, photographers, and others you will find what you didn’t even know you needed!
Recurring Weekly Events
Saturdays –8 am to 12 pm. The Greenville State Farmers Markets presents Small Vendors Saturday.
Every Saturday morning in November you can shop with our small vendors. Choose from Fresh produce, plants, a variety of handmade crafts, soaps, candles, jewelry, and baked goods. The Greenville State Farmers Market is located at 1354 Rutherford Rd.
Wednesdays – Fridays 10 am – 2 am – Tour the historic 1830s Kilgore-Lewis house, This historic building is headquarters of the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs. It is the only historic home open to the public in Greenville and is located on five acres with a natural pond in the heart of Greenville. There are free (although donations are graciously accepted) docent-led tours of the house, Arboretum, and Gardens.
Hard Earned: The Military Photographs of Stacy Pearsall & the Veterans Portrait Project
Stacy Pearsall spent her military career taking pictures to preserve historical records as well as helping government officials make informed decisions. After traveling 41 countries and 3 combat tours in Iraq she was medically retired due to combat injuries. Feeling broken and looking to use her skills she started the Veterans Portrait Project. Photographing 7,500 veterans and counting, she shares their stories, honoring them each in unique ways. You can view 45 photos of Pearsall’s time in the military as well as pictures from VPP at the Upcountry History Museum from October 21st through January 14th, 2024
November 1 – 5
Wednesday, November 1: –Boos & Booze! – Greenville Ghost Tours presents a Spooky & Haunted Paranormal Bar Crawl – A downtown Greenville, SC walking tour hosted by a member of Truth Searchers: Paranormal Investigators who will tell stories of haunted locations and paranormal activity. The tour will be about 3 hours long and will include several stops at bars along the way. The total walking distance is about 2 miles.
November 2 – 11: New South Comedy Festival presented by Alchemy Comedy Theater – The 10th annual New South Comedy Festival will feature hundreds of stand-up, improv, sketch, political, and musical comedy performers with guests from across the country from November 2-11th, 2023! It is the longest continuously-running comedy festival in the Southeast. This festival attracts people from all over the country with a total of 200 individual performers.
Friday, November 3: First Fridays Gallery Crawl
The first Friday of every month from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. First Fridays invites you to
navigate Greenville’s visual arts scene as galleries and venues are open to the public from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. For a list of galleries and shops and a map to help you plan your crawl just click on the link above.
November 1 – 5: – The Peace Center presents Funny Girl –
This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
November 2 – 12 – Greenville’s Centre Stage presents Four Seasons –
One of our 20th Annual New Play Festival winners, it is sure to delight both musicians and music lovers alike. The script weaves in and around an actual performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece by a live string quartet. Thirty years after their college fling imploded, Sienna and Owen find themselves unwittingly reunited at a concert of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Music and memories reignite their feelings, resulting in a renewed affair that’s complicated by their shared history and the passage of time.
November 6 – 12
Tuesday, November 7 – The Peace Center presents The 7 Fingers –
A contemporary physical theater troupe that tells a story through theatre, dance, music, and death-defying acrobats. A train car sets the stage for a breathtaking series of vignettes that tell the unique stories of reunions and goodbyes from the strangers that surround you onboard.
Wednesday, November 8 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Dave Matthews Band
Their performance is sure to delight with its eclectic mix of jazz, alternative rock and pop music. The performance is at 7:30 and tickets go on sale Fri. Sept. 15th at 10AM.
Thursday, November 9 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Alabama –
with Special Guests Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis. This iconic country rock group has earned multiple platinum albums throughout their career. This can’t miss performance begins at 7PM
Saturday, November 11 – 12: Peace Concert Hall presents The Greenville Symphony;
Welcomes guest conductor Lee Mills and violinist Simone Porter :Through The Looking Glass, featuring Mary D. Watkins: Soul of Rememberance::Philip Glass: Violin Concerto No. 1 and Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2
November 6 – 12 – Greenville’s Centre Stage presents Four Seasons
One of our 20th Annual New Play Festival winners, it is sure to delight both musicians and music lovers alike. The script weaves in and around an actual performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece by a live string quartet. Thirty years after their college fling imploded, Sienna and Owen find themselves unwittingly reunited at a concert of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Music and memories reignite their feelings, resulting in a renewed affair that’s complicated by their shared history and the passage of time
November 13 – 19
Thursday, November 16 – The Peace Center presents Up Up and Away:
The dynamic duo of Marilyn McCoo and Freddy Davis Jr., known as “The First Couple of Pop & Soul,” showcase a musical fable of their greatest hits. They are seven-time Grammy award winners and their show is sure to delight.
November 17 – 19 – The South Carolina Children’s Theater presents Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s MARY POPPINS.
This adaptation is a musical based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney film. It is a spectacle of magic and music and will delight audiences of all ages. Filled with the classic songs you know, as well as a few new additions it is an adventure that celebrates imagination and family.
Saturday, November 18: Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Trans-Siberian Orchestra –
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve highlights the best of Christmas with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra with two shows at 4:00 and 8:00. I have seen this performance multiple times and look forward to it every year!
November 20 – 27
November 20 – United Community Bank Ice on Main Opens.
It is an open outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina. This year, this winter tradition and favorite activity of many in the Upstate is open from November 10, 2023 to January 15, 2024. Located at Village Green near the Courtyard Marriott, you’ll truly be skating in a winter wonderland when you come skate with us! *Make sure to check website before going, the rink will close if weather is not cooperating.
Monday – Friday: 2 PM – 9 PM
Saturday: 11 AM – 10 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 10 PM
November 20 – The 38th annual Festival of Trees begins.
Spectacularly decorated trees line the entranceway of two hotels in downtown Greenville, giving visitors and community members the chance to experience the magic of the holidays. View trees November 17 thru December 25 at Courtyard Marriott Downtown and Hyatt Regency Greenville.
November 21 – 26 – The Peace Center presents The Wiz –
The world premiere 50 years ago of The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and finger-snapping 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to the Emerald City.
November 24 – 26 – The South Carolina Children’s Theater presents Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s MARY POPPINS.
This adaptation is a musical based on the stories of P. L. Travers and the Walt Disney film. It is a spectacle of magic and music and will delight audiences of all ages. Filled with the classic songs you know, as well as a few new additions it is an adventure that celebrates imagination and family.
November 25th – Join The Brewery Experience for a Twilight Tour of some unique Greenville breweries
Take a ride in a comfortable 12-passenger van to visit three unique Greenville breweries, and enjoy the movie ‘Gary Goes Gump,’ a hilarious beer-themed parody of Forrest Gump, as you cruise to each stop. Meet the owners and hear their stories, learn about how beer is made, enjoy guided tastings of at least a dozen different beers and make new friends along the way. This award-winning tour led by a certified beer expert includes transportation, special-access tours, all beer samples, snacks, bottled water and a special take-home gift! From 3:30 to 7PM.
Sunday, November 26th – The 3rd Annual Camperdown Plaza Holiday Market –
Camperdown Plaza is pleased to announce its 3rd Annual Holiday Market on the Plaza. They will have music, local vendors, a silent auction, activities, food, drinks, and more! More details to come soon. Check out their Facebook (Camperdown Greenville) and Instagram (@CamperdownGVL) to keep up to date on announcements.
November 27-30
Thursday, November 30 – Fear(less) GVL at the Peace Center
Got stress? International speaker and stress physiologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss is here to help! With a show full of humor, audience interaction, and practical tips and tricks to recalibrate and reframe our stress (perfect for the holidays!), Rebecca takes us on a personal journey to transform our fears into fuel to propel us forward. With research designated as “transformative” by the National Science Foundation, find out why Rebecca is one of the most in-demand speakers and entertainers on stages across the world.
November 30-December 3 – The Greenville Theatre presents Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Audiences will be transported to a world of “Pure Imagination” in Broadway’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The story follows Charlie Bucket on his golden ticket journey into the magical world of Willy Wonka. This retelling of the classic Roald Dahl book is adapted from the hit film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Featuring classic songs like, “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man,” as well as an original score by the team that brought you Hairspray, this story is the perfect holiday gift for the whole family to enjoy!
Thursday, November 30th-December 2 – The Greenville Convention Center hosts the 53rd Annual Holiday Fair
Whether it’s a family tradition or your first time attending, the Holiday Fair is far more than Christmas décor. They offer the region’s largest selection of holiday arts, crafts, and gifts for everyone on your list. Exhibitors include more than 350 crafters and commercial vendors in this three-day award-winning fair that gives shoppers a chance to support small businesses this holiday season. T-F 10-8, S 10-6.
We would love to help you plan a great stay in November for the beginning of the holiday season. You can give us a call or book online!
