downtown fun

Whether for a leisurely walk next to the Reedy River falls or a night of music and fast-paced entertainment, Downtown Greenville is the place to go for fun just about any day of the week. Of course, there are those special times during the year when the whole City turns out for a party, as happens with the Artisphere Festival and Fall for Greenville, which attract hundreds of thousands to Downtown for entertainment, food, and fun.

BI-LO Center

The Bi-Lo Center is a 17,000-seat arena facility that was completed in September 1998. The BI-LO Center brings more than 1 million visitors directly into Downtown Greenville each year. Indoor football, college basketball, and an assortment of concerts and family entertainment events take place annually at the BI-LO Center.

The Peace Center

This state-of-the-art Peace Center for the Performing Arts combines four performing arts venues, ranging from the 2,100 seat Peace Concert Hall to the more intimate Gunter Theatre. Past performances include Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Legally Blonde.

The Greenville Zoo

Greenville's award winning zoo, located a few blocks from Downtown, is a 14-acre park with more than 300 specimens of exotic animals, including Joy the elephant and Dirty Harry, an 8-foot boa constrictor. A $2 million expansion was recently completed to house giraffes and other exhibits.

This family destination is rated one of South Carolina's top 20 visitor attractions by the South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism Department and is the only site in the Upstate to achieve this distinction.

Heritage Green

Home to the Greenville County Library, the Greenvile County Art Museum, the Upcountry History Museum and the Greenville Little Theatre, Heritage Green is the cultural hub of downtown.

Festivals and Events

Annual events such as Fall for Greenville bring thousands of people to Downtown Greenville each year by showcasing the artistic and culinary talents of the City. Summers in Downtown are special times with numerous outdoor events scheduled weekly from May through October.
More information on Events
View Event Calendar

Carriage Rides

Two carriage services operate in downtown, offering horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the year. These 20- to 30-minutes tours are a great way to view the downtown. Rides depart from the Westin Poinsett Hotel, Main at Broad intersection, Falls Park, and Piazza Bergamo area, on weekends and holidays (weather permitting).

Downtown Parks

Photo of resident playing tennis at Cleveland Park Falls Park on the Reedy weaves through the heart of Downtown and encompasses Reedy River Falls. The park includes public gardens and a magnificent pedestrian footbridge over the falls.

Cleveland Park is directly east of Downtown and is connected to Reedy River Park via bike and walking trails. This is the City's largest park, with complete playground, sports facilities and the zoo.

McPherson Park, located off North Main on Park Avenue, is one of the City's oldest parks. It offers tennis, miniature golf and a country store operated by Senior Citizens of Greenville.

Several small parks and plazas are featured along Main Street Downtown, with the Piazza Bergamo and Court Square as centerpieces of the area.
More information on Greenville Parks