Greenville, SC Offers Variety of Summer Activities for All Ages

Finally, after a cold and miserable winter, the sun is shining hot, the days are longer lasting, and the outdoors are once again enticing. In Greenville, South Carolina, this time of year means outdoor events for many who are looking for something to do. With the renovation of Falls Park in downtown Greenville and the new Greenville Drive Stadium, people are finding more to do outdoors in the Upstate. Of course, the best activities, especially for those on a budget, are the ones that are free of charge.

Welcome to Falls Park, a place for picnics, rollerblading, walking the dog, or taking in an outdoor play. The once-forbidden area, known as a festering area for drug dealers of all sorts, is now family-friendly and offers a wide variety of free activities throughout the year.

One of the best free activities offered during the summer months is the Upstate Shakespeare Festival, sponsored by local businesses. Each summer, the Shakespearean players perform different Shakespearean plays directed by John Fagan while the audience watches from lounge chairs or blankets on the grass. Many families even bring a picnic as they watch the plays unfold. This summer's schedule includes performances of Shakespeare's well-known plays, King Lear and As You Like It. Performance dates for King Lear are May 17^th-20^th, May 24^th-27^th, May 31^st-June 3^rd, and June 7^th-10^th. As You Like It will be presented on July 26^th-29^th, August 2^nd-5^th, August 9^th-12^th, and August 16^th-19^th. For those who are interested, the Shakespearean players will also return October 18^th-21^st and 25^th-28^th to present The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. For more information, visit http://www.upstateshakespearefestival.org.

For history lovers, the Chautauqua Festival may be just the event for you. On June 15^th, this unique festival will present live re-enactments from the lives of Harry Houdini, Paul Robeson, Will Rogers, Lillian Hellman, and Mark Twain in Falls Park. The festival will also appear at Greenville Technical College on June 16^th-19^th and will be inside the Greenville Tech Auditorium on June 20^th. For more information, visit GVLchautauqua@charter.net.

During the mild months of May and September, movie lovers can escape to Falls Park to enjoy classical movies as they lounge on the lawn. Presented on Wednesday nights, Moonlight Movies presents old favorites and offers a romantic date for the budget-minded.

For music lovers, downtown Greenville also offers a variety of free concerts for your listening pleasure. From June 6^th through August 29^th, the Peace Center Amphitheater is the locale for the Reedy River Nighttime Concert Series, presented on Wednesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to rock, reggae, country, jazz, or patriotic tunes. The Peace Center Amphitheater is also the location for Rhythm on the River, presented on Thursday nights beginning at 7 p.m. from May 17^th through August 30^th.

At the other end of Main Street, on Friday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Main Street Jazz livens the busy streets as listeners enjoy upbeat music from April 6^th through September 28^th. Falls Park will be the location for the June 23^rd concert of Ritmo Tropical, a celebration of salsa music with family activities from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Children are not to be forgotten in the outdoor life of Greenville. An Evening with Monty and Friends will be presented at Falls Park on June 30^th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Children of all ages can enjoy the imaginative storytelling of The Greenville Storytellers' Guild from the comfort of their lounge chairs.

As you can see, Greenville offers a wide variety of activities for those on a budget this summer. For more information on any of these events, visit www.greatergreenville.com.