Getting a few days away from the regular hum drum of daily life is always fun, but when you include Greenville in that trip you have so much more than a road trip to look forward to!  Of course we have the charming downtown with the Liberty bridge, museums, shops, restaurants, and galleries, but also nearby hiking trails, waterfalls, and hidden pieces of history in the charming small towns surrounding us.  What more could you want?  S.C.’s upstate has a festival to suit your every whim and fancy.  From cook-offs, to flowers, to arts, music, and even Vikings!  

Now  I would love to give you an ALL INCLUSIVE list of festivals , but neither of us has that kind of time  So here is a grouping of just some of the great ways to enjoy any of your favorite interests in the upstate. And while most of these will have food, music, and small business vendors I tried to put them in categories that they emphasize.

Greenville is known for its ever growing food scene, so of course we have a number of great food festivals.  Euphoria, Hog & Barrel Festival, and Fall for Greenville are annual events that give you a taste of the region that each raise money for local non-profits.  Euphoria and Fall for Greenville each have a wide variety of foods and styles while I think Hog & Barrel is Bourbon, Bacon, & BBQ. Speaking of BBQ you can enjoy to your hearts content by attending Sooie, Mauldin BBQ Cook-off, Southern Roots BBQ Festival in Travelers Rest,  or Hub City Hog Fest in Spartanburg.  In Drayton Mills you can enjoy Taste of the Carolinas Festival that will include local bites & curated drinks from North and South Carolina.  The SC Upstate Food Truck Fest featured over 35 trucks and vendors in 2025 and only gets better each year.  Maybe you like your food festivals to be more specific?  We’ve got that too!  Try the Apple Fest in Westminster, the Peach Fest in Gaffney, or the Tomato Sandwich Taste-off in Travelers Rest.

While Artisphere is our biggest (and my favorite) festival emphasizing arts of all styles. Oil, water color, fabrics, metal, mixed media (again, my favorite) and everything else you can imagine as well as live demonstrations and of course music and food.  The Indie Craft Parade happens twice a year so you can peruse over 100 different handcraft vendors.  The South Carolina New Play Festival (SCNPF) is excited to present a 2026 multi-day event featuring groundbreaking new plays and musicals from an extraordinary lineup of artists including, as well as our “can’t-miss” Broadway Cabaret.  Reedy Reels Film Festival is 10 years running and promotes filmmaking while offering a place for creators to showcase their work here in Greenville. And since art takes many forms, I thought I would mention the Carolinas International Book Fair ,   A place for readers, authors, and publishers to enjoy meeting together over the course of three days.

Greenville has people from all over this great world so of course we have international and cultural festivals as well.  Be sure to check out all the food, music, and history you can while you visit festivals for Hispanics, Greeks, Scots, Jews, and Indians.  If you want to try and squeeze it all into one day visit Greer Goes Global for a wide variety of booths from around the world.  Pickens will be hosting a Native American Celebration and an Appalachian Folk Festival. The best Juneteenth Celebration can be found in Fountain Inn.  Admittedly the next three are a stretch, but it’s culture!  Don’t forget to let your imagination wander during the Upstate Renaissance Faire, A Mid-Summer’s Fairy Fest, and Midgard at the Mill: A Viking Invasion.

While music goes hand-in-hand with all of these great events, we have a few dedicated to the love of various musical genres.  The Albino Skunk Festival, the Greenville Jazz Fest,  Americana Folk Fest,   Rhythm & Ribs, and the Mac Arnold Cornbread and Collard Greens Blues Festival all have music (and food!) for the soul!

And yet we still have more!!!  All fun and all with dedication to a different theme or area.

• Imagine Steam 
• Come-See-Me 
• Pendleton Spring Jubilee 
• SC Festival of Flowers 
• Carolina Carnage 
• Bigfoot Festival 
• Farm Days 
• BMW Pro-Am 
• Chautauqua 
• Mighty Moos 
• GVL Fashion Week 
• Azalea Festival 
• Spring Water Festival 
• Reedy River Duck Derby

Not to mention VisitGreenvilleSC will have more listed as time goes on.  Now that you know Greenville has a reason to celebrate all year round, you just need to pick your dates and come visit us. 

Recurring events:

March 1 – 7

March 3 – 7 – Bob Jones University, Rodeheaver Auditorium – The Elixir of Love – BJU’s renowned Opera Association will present The Elixir of Love by Donzetti. An unobtainable lady, a hopelessly lovestruck peasant, and a sweet-talking con man are the key ingredients in this comic opera (to be performed in English).

March 4 – Peace Concert Hall – Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery: The Trouble with Angels – An evening of mischief and music from two very familiar faces. It’s like the Rat Pack… but with a couple of broads.  Join Emmy Award-winner Jane Lynch and the hilariously charming Kate Flannery for a raucous night of comedy, song, and unapologetic mischief in The Trouble with Angels. With powerhouse vocals, razor-sharp wit, and more than a few surprises, these two beloved stars serve up a cocktail of classic tunes, campy banter, and devilish charm. It’s part cabaret, part stand-up, and all sass.  

March 5 – Peace Concert Hall – Eli Young Band and Lanco – What goes around comes around, and nearly 25 years since their founding in Denton, Texas, multi-Platinum country band Eli Young Band have come home.Returning to their independent roots, the bold creative defiance that launched them into the mainstream – and in many ways to their old stomping grounds – it’s a new chapter driven by experience and a million miles of wisdom, from a band of brothers still very much in their prime.

Brandon Lancaster is confident that we’re all going to reach the hilltop — we just have to keep going. LANCO convincingly deliver that message on their new album We’re Gonna Make It, the Nashville band’s follow-up to their Number One country debut, Hallelujah Nights, and their first for Riser House Records.

March 6 – Peace Concert Hall – Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar – Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar have carved a unique place for themselves in the music industry through soul-stirring arrangements of contemporary gospel, musical theater, and rich original compositions. The ensemble, organized in 2009, has performed with gospel greats such as William McDowell, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, Richard Smallwood, VaShawn Mitchell, Earnest Pugh, and James Fortune.

March 8 – 15

March 13 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Alabama Live in Concert – with special guest Terri Clark

March 13 – 15 – The Greenville Theatre – Fiddler on the Roof – Celebrate a true musical theatre “Tradition” with the beloved classic, Fiddler on the Roof. The Tony Award- winning show tells the story of Tevye, Golde, their daughters, and the little town of Anatevka, which finds itself in a rapidly changing world and time. There is no better story to encompass the impact Greenville Theatre has had on our community than this classic tale about love, community, family, home, and tradition. Join us as we celebrate “To Life” in 2026! 

March 14 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Joe Bonamassa Live in Concert – Experience 4-time GRAMMY® nominated Joe Bonamassa right here in Greenville, SC! This tour will feature many of your favorites as well as songs from Bonamassa’s newly announced album, “Breakthrough.”

March 14 – 15 – Peace Concert Hall – The Greenville Symphony Orchestra presents: Grand Canyon Suite and Rachmaninoff 2 – with special guest Jonathan Mamora, Winner of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition.

March 16 – 22

March 19 – 22 – The Greenville Theatre – Fiddler on the Roof – Celebrate a true musical theatre “Tradition” with the beloved classic, Fiddler on the Roof. The Tony Award- winning show tells the story of Tevye, Golde, their daughters, and the little town of Anatevka, which finds itself in a rapidly changing world and time. There is no better story to encompass the impact Greenville Theatre has had on our community than this classic tale about love, community, family, home, and tradition. Join us as we celebrate “To Life” in 2026!

March 19 – 22 – Centrestage Theatre – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Get ready for a murderous good time in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the uproarious Tony Award-winning musical that will have you laughing from start to finish! When Monty Navarro learns he is the heir to a vast fortune, there’s just one problem—there are eight relatives standing in his way. With wit, charm, and a bit of dark humor, Monty embarks on a devious plan to eliminate the competition, all while navigating a tangled web of romance, betrayal, and comedy.

March 20 – 21 – The Mockingbird at The Peace Center – Song Sessions: Maia Sharp with Emma-Lee and Tera Lynne – Song Sessions is a brand-new singer-songwriter concert series let by Nashville musician and Greenville fan favorite Maia Sharp.  These intimate sessions of stories and songs feature a rotating lineup of guest songwriters each month. This is the place to be for anyone who deeply connects with music and enjoys tales about the musician’s life.  This trio of  Tennessee based musicians set up straight out of Nashville for an unforgettable evening of industry tales and songs that’ll stay in your head for days.  Maia Sharp hosts powerhouse songwriters Emma-Lee an Tera Lynne for this girls-night-in concert yo won’t want to miss.

March 23 – 31

March 24 – Peace Concert Hall – Larkin Poe – Larkin Poe’s latest album Bloom (GRAMMY nominated for Best Americana Album) sees the dynamic sister duo venturing further along on their evolving musical journey with a collection of songs that resonate with introspection, authenticity, and a profound connection to their roots in American music. Produced and largely co-written by Megan, Rebecca, and Tyler Bryant, the album marks a significant evolution for Larkin Poe, reflecting a synergy that extends beyond mere musical partnership. Already hailed for the sincerity of their songcraft, the Lovell sisters now place an even greater spotlight on their gift for storytelling, delving deep into personal narratives with universal themes of self-acceptance and individuality against a backdrop of contemporary blues and rock influences.

March 26 – Peace Concert Hall – The Crossing – Musical America’s 2024 Ensemble of the Year, The Crossing is a Grammy®-winning professional chamber choir dedicated to new music, and conducted by Donald Nally. With a commitment to recording its commissions, The Crossing has issued 36 releases, receiving four Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance (2018, 2019, 2023, 2025), and ten Grammy nominations. Many of its nearly 190 commissioned premieres address social, environmental, and political issues and are collaborations with the most prestigious musicians, ensembles, and venues. They are the recipients of the 2015 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, and the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America.

March 26 – 29 – The Greenville Theatre – Fiddler on the Roof – Celebrate a true musical theatre “Tradition” with the beloved classic, Fiddler on the Roof. The Tony Award- winning show tells the story of Tevye, Golde, their daughters, and the little town of Anatevka, which finds itself in a rapidly changing world and time. There is no better story to encompass the impact Greenville Theatre has had on our community than this classic tale about love, community, family, home, and tradition. Join us as we celebrate “To Life” in 2026!

March 26 – 29 – Centrestage Theatre – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Get ready for a murderous good time in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the uproarious Tony Award-winning musical that will have you laughing from start to finish! When Monty Navarro learns he is the heir to a vast fortune, there’s just one problem—there are eight relatives standing in his way. With wit, charm, and a bit of dark humor, Monty embarks on a devious plan to eliminate the competition, all while navigating a tangled web of romance, betrayal, and comedy.

March 26 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Jon Pardi – Honkeytonk Hollywood Tour – Jon Pardi is turning the heat up on his Honkytonk Hollywood Tour with a newly announced show at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Thursday, March 26, 2026 — and he’s bringing along the kind of lineup that feels like a guaranteed good night. Joining Pardi in Greenville are special guests Ashley Cooke and Zach John King. With special guests Ashley Cooke and Zach John King.

March 27 – Coach Music Factory at The Peace Center – The Lone Below – The Lone Bellow’s upcoming sixth album, What A Time To Be Alive captures the band’s signature harmonies and heartfelt storytelling while boldly stepping into new sonic territory with their full touring ensemble.  Performing in Greenville’s newly preserved historic downtown carriage factory, this two-level performance venue is your spot for an unforgettable night out of live music.  Please note that the venue is standing room only.

March 27 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – The Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour – The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters™ will stop in Greenville on the team’s 100 Year Tour—the most legendary tour in Globetrotters history—playing at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Friday, March 27.  This centennial season is a once-in-a-century celebration of 100 Years of jaw-dropping “No Way!” moves, 100 Years of “Wow!” moments, and 100 Years of basketball thrills. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, fans will feel the history, the joy, and the fun that only the Globetrotters can deliver.

March 28 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Phil Wickham – Song of The Saints Tour – Join Phil Wickham on the Song of the Saints Tour featuring Tauren Wells & special guest Jamie MacDonald! This tour will feature many of your favorite songs like This Is Our God, House of the Lord, and Hymn of Heaven, as well as new songs from his newly released album, Song of the Saints (What An Awesome God, The King Is In The Room, and Homesick for Heaven).

March 28 – 29 – Gunter Theatre at The Peace Center – The Greenville Symphony Orchestra presents:  The Last Five Years: American Music Now – Featuring Seth Russell, Principal Cello Guild of the Greenville Symphony Cello Chair, the evening invites you to experience the cutting edge of American music with a concert of works composed within the last five years.  

This is a bold orchestral exploration of contemporary creativity. Greenville Symphony’s Principal Cellist Seth Russell takes center stage in Lembit Beecher’s evocative Tell Me Again. The program also features Clarice Assad’s playful Circus Fantasia, Katherine Balch’s ethereal music for young water that danced beneath my feet, and a world premiere by Ivan Enrique Rodriguez. 

March 28 – Peace Concert Hall – Dorrance Dance featuring Elizabeth Burke and Luke Hickey – Join award-winning tap dance company Dorrance Dance for a brand new program that showcases the musicality and versatility of its “close-knit family” (Wall Street Journal) of dancer-musicians, featuring the DD choreographic debut of longtime company members Elizabeth Burke and Luke Hickey. A Swing Suite (2023) is tremendously inspired by the music that Burke and Hickey’s mentor, Gene Medler, exposed them to as kids, and how it shaped their taste and interest throughout their entire artistic lives. The work is an homage to Gene, and an offering around the idea that just about every road leads back to home. 

March 31 – April 5 – Peace Concert Hall – The Great Gatsby – The party’s roaring in Greenville!  THE GREAT GATSBY is a “Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Tony Award®-winning new musical is an unforgettable journey of love, wealth, and tragedy that brings the Roaring Twenties to life on stage.

March is shaking out to be a great time!  If you’re ready to plan you stay, give us a call or book below!