There’s a lot to love about Greenville, South Carolina. Its charming downtown is famously walkable, with an urban waterfall acting as a centerpiece. The 22-mile mixed-use Swamp Rabbit Trail is another excellent excuse to spend time outside. The city has also been lauded for its food and art scenes, with everything from restaurants led by James Beard-recognized chefs and countless craft breweries to a thriving theater scene and numerous public art installations. In short, Greenville is the perfect backdrop for an all-out three-day festival centered on local eats, live bands, and great beers.
That festival is Fall for Greenville. This October, I set out to see what it was all about as one of the largest free food and music festivals in the Southeast. It didn’t disappoint (and neither did Greenville). Strolling along the city’s paver-lined Main Street, where fall colors were on full display, my sister and I moved between alfresco stages and food tents, each representing dozens of local talents. The takeaway? Fall for Greenville is a festival where you can bring your strollers and pets for a weekend of outdoor fun — all with free admission.
The music: Local favorites, touring talent, and an epic silent disco
Photos: Michelle Shultz
One of the most impressive things about Fall for Greenville is the breadth of music. Not only did more than 80 bands grace seven different stages at this year’s festival, but the genres represented ranged from rock, pop, and electronic to folk, funk, soul, country, bluegrass, jazz, swing, and more. With such a big lineup, I’d recommend doing some research beforehand to avoid missing acts like EVOLUSION, a Styx and Journey cover band that made an impression this year. Big Radio, another cover band, also got my hips moving and made me dance to music from the Gin Blossoms, John Mellencamp, and others.
Many of the performers are local to Greenville or South Carolina, but there are others who come into town for the festival. Other standout acts included husband-and-wife duo Chatham Rabbits — who performed their folk-acoustic blend with bluegrass influences and a sound rooted in the American South — and The Tam, who electrified the stage with their performance and light show (I had to put down my drink for this one).
Another highlight of the festival took place on Friday evening, when DJ Dani and DJ Tennis Legend hosted a silent disco where participants donned headphones and chose from three DJ-led stations to sing and dance to. When it looked like everyone was having a great time, I slipped off my headphones and enjoyed the quiet buzz of the crowd in an immersive state, losing track of time as the rhythm and emotion drew them into the moves. If there’s a silent disco on next year’s agenda, be sure to arrive early for the fun.
The food: Southern classics, international eats, and desserts galore
Photos: Michelle Shultz
For those new to Greenville’s dining scene, Fall for Greenville is an excellent introduction. More than 60 restaurants tempted our taste buds this year, complemented by 50-plus beers on tap and a selection of wines. Among the participating restaurants this year was Soby’s New South Cuisine, which has been sourcing locally for more than 20 years. The Soby’s team served crab cakes smothered in corn that I went back for a few times, along with pimento cheese that lived up to the restaurant’s slogan of “put[ting] some South in your mouth.” Elsewhere, at White Wine & Butter, we learned that you can eat a bowl of gumbo on the go (although it takes skill). Various tents also cater to kids’ preferences, with offerings like boiled peanuts, hot dogs, and pizza.
Much like the host city itself, Fall for Greenville’s fare also showcases a variety of cuisines. Take Papi’s Tacos, which served crunchy-filled pockets of meat and cheese that tested attendees’ walking and eating abilities. Abanico Tapas Bar served up paella with chicken or seafood for a fall-off-the-fork sensation. We also enjoyed some freshly made sushi from Sushi Murasaki and açai bowls from Uki Bowlz. Keipi, a non-profit Georgian restaurant, served cheesy dough topped with various ingredients like meat and pomegranate. The one I tried was bacon paired with brie and fig jam, making it sweet, savory, and a little gooey and chewy.
After refueling, we moved on to the dessert tents. Kilwins was a go-to for a chocolate sea salt caramel cookie. Wildflower Cupcake + Dessert Bar served up the smart cupcake-in-a-cup, and Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn added a touch of salt to the lineup. Then there was Parlor Doughnuts, which probably had the longest line at the festival. It offered soft, pillowy donuts with a slight crisp on the outside, in flavors like bourbon caramel and maple bacon, as well as vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly options. Couture Cakes of Greenville served cupcakes in countless flavors, and there were also cookies from Sidewall Pastry Kitchen, where you could build your own flavor profile through pre-ordering.
Note that while admission to Fall for Greenville is free, food and drink are not. Vendors accept all major credit cards, and adults who’d like to consume alcohol have to buy a $1 wristband when they get to the festival on the day they attend.
The entertainment: All-ages attractions, Main Street mainstays, and nearby nature
Photos: Michelle Shultz
Beyond local music and flavors, the festival stages a kids’ area with Kilwins’ caramel apples, activities like face-painting, and twirling carnival rides, which you can buy tickets for on site. Wandering through downtown Greenville, you’ll also find several stores that evoke nostalgia. At M. Judson Booksellers, you can pick up an old plastic key from your favorite motel. Old Skool, the vintage shop, drew my sister and me in with music matching the concert shirts on display — tees we all once had and wish we still did at those prices.
The Spice & Tea Exchange of Greenville sells salt mixes for every dish you can imagine, while Oil & Vinegar had us trying to figure out how to fly home with a carry-on bag stuffed full of fancy olive oils from around the world. At the Mast General Store — a Southern chain whose historic flagship is in North Carolina — you’ll find all kinds of souvenirs that remind you of a bygone era, as well as barrels of candy that the kids will love.
O.P. Taylor’s toy store is another must-visit for those with kids in tow, while those bringing furry friends might want to stop by the Paw Paws USA pet store to play a little tune on the piano outside. Elsewhere, you can ogle at the old delivery truck at Byrd’s Famous Cookies and sample all the flavors you can squirrel away at one time.
Once we’d danced, eaten, and drunk our fill, we wandered just off Main Street into Falls Park on the Reedy River. It’s so close to Main Street that you don’t need hiking boots or a compass. The park features a river with waterfalls — and I don’t mean small trickling streams; I mean large, gushing waterfalls that often require a hike to reach. This is the perfect spot to find some shade under the American beech and Chinese elm trees lining the park, kick off your shoes, and rest your feet in the grass before the final bands hit the stage.
