Start your fun with one of the best Tours in Greenville

Greenville is home to many locally owned restaurants in our downtown area (nearly 200 at this point) with innovative chefs, baristas, and mixologists, all hoping to show off their exceptional skills.  With that many out there, the choices of where to start your culinary adventure can be dizzying.  How to pick?  Well, luckily, you may not have to choose.  There is so much to see, eat, drink, and do in Greenville, one of the the best ways to experience as much as you can in a short time may just be a tour.  Whether you want to try as many restaurants or breweries as possible or focus your tastebuds on something specifially like cocktails, desserts, or barbecue, there is someone here excited to show you all about it!  In addition to foodie and drink tours, you can choose from Greenville tours that show you the downtown historical districts, one of the all around tours for those who are thinking about moving to Greenville, or even a ghost tour!  Below we’ve listed a few of our guest’s favorites.

Foothills Foodie Tours offers several cocktail inspired tours that many of our past guests have raved about.  Each two hour tour includes four full sized cocktails, and four housemade appetizers, from four distinct Greenville restaurants on the tour. Click on each tour to see current restaurants you will visit  Thirsty Thursday,  Friday Evening Date Night Cocktails , and Saturday Evening Craft Cocktail

If you’re not in the mood for cocktails, then maybe we can tempt your sweet tooth with the Foothills Foodie tour, Saturday Afternoon Just Desserts.  This two-hour tour begins at the fountain in front of the Westin Poinsette, where you will be offered a delicious southern creation in a beautiful historic atmosphere.  After that stop, you will visit Maestro for a homemade treat, and finish off at Crepe De Jour for a crepe filled with almond cream cheese mousse, covered in strawberries.

Hungry for more than just dessert or cocktails?  Then Greenville Culinary Tours offers tours that progressively feed you an entire meal, with chefs stepping out to welcome you and explain the dishes they are either serving from their own menu, or have created on a whim just for your group.  With six different tours from which to choose, ranging from a coffee tour, a BBQ tour, and 2 different chef’s table tours, you are sure to find out where all the best meals in Greenville can be located.  They even have a 5 hour Countryside tour which takes you, in a climate controlled tour van, on an 80 mile drive throughout the Upstate, and includes a visit to a tea farm as well as several tasty out of the way restaurants with incredible views and fantastic food.  As with all of their tours, in addition to fabulous food, guests will learn interesting stories about Greenville as you head from one restaurant to another, discussing the buildings, people, and events that helped to shape the city we enjoy today.

And, if the little bit of history you’re offered during these culinary and drink tours leaves you wanting to know more about Greenville, then we have tours for that as well!

Greenville History Tours offers several different walking or riding tours giving insight into Greenville’s rich textile history, older neighborhoods and unique architecture throughout the downtown area.  John Nolan, your tour guide with Greenville History Tours is author of A Guide to Historic Greenville, The Lost Restaurants of Greenville, and writes a bi-weekly column in The Greenville Journal on aspects of Greenville history.  Whichever of his six different history tours you join him on, you are sure to learn a lot.

If you want to know more about the current growth of our bustling town, or are looking to relocate here, then Mike Cruice with Make Greenville Yours, is your man.  He offers incredibly informative 2 hour van tours, tailored to help you find the areas of town that most interest you, to help give you a better idea of how your life would fit in Greenville and its surrounding areas. Mike has helped many of our guests here at Pettigru Place find just the perfect area of town to call home.

As usual, there is always something fun going on in Greenville to entertain you, and make your visit just that much more enjoyable.  Below we have listed a few items we think may be of interest to you, but feel free to visit the Greenville Visitor’s Bureau website for more, as they update and add events closer to your stay.

Recurring Weekly Events

August 31 – October 20 – The Upcountry History Museum – Away From Home: Native American Boarding School Stories – this traveling exhibit, a National Endowment for the Humanities national traveling exhibition, will make it’s only South Carolina stop at the Upcountry History Museum this September and October. The 2000 square foot exhibition explores the off-reservation boarding schools through a kaleidoscope of first-person voices.  Stories of student resistance, accommodation, creative resolve, devoted participation, escape and faith in oneself and heritage, speak individually across eras.  Visitors will explore photographs, artwork, objects, interviews, interactive timelines and immersive environments, including classroom and dormitory settings.

June 15 – November 3 – The Upcountry History Museum – Finding the Force…Awakening An Empire –  Since the debut of George Lucas’ “Star Wars: A New Hope” on May 25, 1977, the “Force” has grown stronger through the iconic characters, costumes, and content of each subsequent “Star Wars” movie, creating an empire of distinctive storytelling, collectibles, and audience appreciation.  Finding the Force…Awakening an Empire, a Star Wars exhibition, brings together a unique presentation of the history, the costuming, the creatives, and the characters, highlighting the legends and legacies of this storied franchise, and providing insight into the elements that have consistently connected us to a galaxy far, far away for over 45 years.

Minis To The Max: 65 Years of Spirited Adventures – The Ultimate Driving Museum Presented by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation – recurring weekly until January 17, 2025 Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 5:00.  30 inspirational examples of the history of MINI will be on display and will walk you through the Heritage years, Motorsports versions, quirky and unusual examples and even the newest vehicles from MINI USA

Every Tuesday night  from 6:00 – 8:00 is Trivia night at Gather GVL the country’s USA Today’s reader #5 Food Hall, right here in Downtown Greenville.  This outdoor food court with thirteen different unique food vendors and plenty of seating for all will make sure that everyone in your party has exactly what they were craving.  On Wednesday nights, from 6:00 – 8:00 they also offer music bingo!

Moonlight Movies – every Thursday evening in October in Falls Park – Come early to grab a good spot and play trivia before the show.  Movies begin at sundown in Falls Park every Thursday in September & October.  Local food trucks and Poppington’s Popcorn will be on-site.  Feel free to bring your own picnic, and chairs or blanket and enjoy a cozy night under the stars!  If you plan to bring alcohol, a wristband must be purchased on-site for $1.00.

Whiskey Wednesdays with Six and Twenty Distillery –  Join the Courtyard Downtown for a free tasting of Six and Twenty Distillery’s finest spirits!  Learn about the love story behind Six and Twenty while sampling all of their products. Led by Six and Twenty Distillery experts, this whiskey tasting will have you leaving in love with their high quality whiskey, bourbon, vodka, and gin!  This FREE event will take place in the lobby of the Courtyard Greenville Downtown, on Broad Street at 6:00PM.

Every Friday Night in NOMA Square –   Main Street Friday  This weekly block party in NOMA Square, features live music and dancing  5:30 – 9:30PM

Greenville Saturday Market – Main Street and McBee Street – Greenville’s favorite farmer’s market runs from May until October every Saturday from 8:00 AM until Noon.  About 75 vendors featuring seasonal produce, local meats, hand crafted items, baked goods, live music, kids area, and always something fun to do like cooking demonstrations, and great ideas to encourage eating local.

September Weekly Calendar of Events

September 1 – 8

September 1 – The Mauldin Cultural Center – A Chorus Line –  It’s one singular sensation as the Mauldin Theatre Company kicks off their 24-25 season with Broadway classic, A Chorus Line.  A stunning concept musical, Chorus Line captures the spirit and tension of a Broadway ensemble audition.  Featuring one powerhouse number after another, you are immediately drawn into the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers.

September 3 – 8 – Fluor Field – The Greenville Drive takes on Winston Salem in a 6 game home series.  Every Friday night home game features the best firework show in the Upstate after the game.  Game times Tuesday – Saturday at 7:05 PM, Sunday at 3:05 PM.

September 5 – 8 – The Greenville Theatre – How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Best Musical returns to Greenville Theatre this fall. With a beloved score by Frank Loesser, this show follows the ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch as he climbs the corporate ladder of success from window washer to executive in no time flat. How does he do it? By following along in his convenient handbook, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. This classic comedy will have you learning “The Company Way,” believing in the “Brotherhood of Man,” and falling in love all over again.  Shows Thursday – Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 3:00PM.

September 5 – M. Judson Booksellers – Books Over Drinks with D.L. Soria to celebrate her new cozy fantasy, The Cottage Around the Corner. Your ticket includes entry to the event, a signed copy of the book, and a signature cocktail (or mocktail). Click on the link above for a description of the book.  7:30 – 9:00 PM

September 6 – First Fridays Gallery Crawl – Each month on the first Friday of the month from 6:00 – 9:00 PM, The Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council invites you to navigate Greenville’s visual arts scene, as you visit many resident artists throughout Greenville in an open studio event.  The gallery directory will contain contact information and directions through Google Maps to each location.

September 6 – 7 – Greer City Park – The Upstate Renaissance Faire – Once Upon a Time is Now … immerse yourself in a world of knights, pirates, and fantasy at the Upstate Renaissance Faire.

September 9 – 15

September 10 – The Peace Center – The Indigo Girls  Grammy Award-winning duo Indigo Girls, made up of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers grace the stage at the Peace Center.  The only duo with Top 40 titles on the Billboard 200 in each of the 1980’s, 1990’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s, will bring songs from their latest album, Indigo Girls Live with The University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra, featuring richly cinematic, larger-than-life arrangements of their songs, performed by a 64-piece orchestra.

September 12 – 15 – The Greenville Theatre – How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Best Musical returns to Greenville Theatre this fall. With a beloved score by Frank Loesser, this show follows the ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch as he climbs the corporate ladder of success from window washer to executive in no time flat. How does he do it? By following along in his convenient handbook, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. This classic comedy will have you learning “The Company Way,” believing in the “Brotherhood of Man,” and falling in love all over again.  Shows Thursday – Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 3:00PM

September 11 – 15 – The Peace Center’s Broadway Series welcomes to the Peace Concert Hall – Disney’s The Lion King – Are you “workin’ on your ROAR”?   Well, Simba has been, and is coming back to Greenville to show it off in the World’s #1 musical, Disney’s The Lion King.  Come witness the Serengeti come to life as never before with some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, and the most outstanding performances and puppetry.

September 12 – 14 – Grits ‘n Grass Mountain Music Festival – Historic Hagood Mill Pickens, SC –  Come visit the Historic Hagood Mill this weekend for a brand new music festival, here in the heart of the Blueridge Mountains.  Grits ‘n Grass promises to bring you some of the best bluegrass and roots in the industry today, along with award-winning food truck and beverage options, local artisan and craft vendors, and workshops led by both local musicians, and band members from main stage bands.  Patrons will also have the option to tour the Hagood Mill property, including the cabins, barns, and ancient rock formations on site, walk the nature trails, and peruse the on-site gift shop.

September 13 – Sippin’ In Simpsonville – Fall Wine tasting in downtown Simpsonville – wine tasting tour of Simpsonville’s downtown shops and local businesses. Ticket holders will enjoy local and regional wines, retail vendors and local art, live music, and Simpsonville’s downtown atmosphere as they walk along the tasting route! This year’s route will feature more than 25 businesses pouring 1oz. samples of local, regional, and unique wines.

September 15 – The Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center – Joan Osborne – Joan Osborne broke into the indy scene 25 years ago with her hit “One of Us”, and has never looked back. With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to the times we’re living in.

September 16 – 22

September 17 – 22 – The Peace Center’s Broadway Series welcomes to The Peace Concert Hall – Disney’s Lion King  Are you “workin’ on your ROAR”?   Well, Simba has been, and is coming back to Greenville to show it off in the World’s #1 musical, Disney’s The Lion King.  Come witness the Serengeti come to life as never before with some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, and the most outstanding performances and puppetry.

September 17 – Soby’s – Lunch & Lit with Madeline Martin, brought to you by M. Judson Booksellers.  Join in at Soby’s New South Cuisine, (conveniently located across the street from the bookstore), for a three course lunch, and discussion of her book, The Booklover’s Library.  Your ticket includes entrance to the event, a signed copy of the book, and lunch.  Click the link above to find out more about this incredible book.

September 18 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Weezer: Voyage To The Blue Planet –

Join Weezer as they embark on the voyage to the Blue Planet Tour. They’re celebrating 30 years of the Blue Album and bringing along the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr for the ride. Not only are they playing the album in full, but they’ll also be playing all of your favorite Weezer songs, rarities and more.

September 19 – 22 – Various locations around downtown Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Easleys – It’s our favorite foodie time of the year, as Greenville welcomes celebrity chefs and performers from all over the country to a food lover’s dream of a festival, Euphoria.  Tasting events, sipping extravaganzas, and unique food demonstrations galore – events fill up quickly, so book soon.

September 19 – 22 – The Greenville Theatre – How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Best Musical returns to Greenville Theatre this fall. With a beloved score by Frank Loesser, this show follows the ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch as he climbs the corporate ladder of success from window washer to executive in no time flat. How does he do it? By following along in his convenient handbook, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. This classic comedy will have you learning “The Company Way,” believing in the “Brotherhood of Man,” and falling in love all over again.  Shows Thursday – Saturday at 7:30, Sunday at 3:00PM

September 21 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Hootie & The Blowfish –

Hootie & the Blowfish are bringing their Summer Camp with Trucks Tour with special guests Collective Soul and Edwin McCain

September 23 – 30

September 23 – M. Judson Booksellers – Books Over Drinks with Katie Siegel as she introduces you to her book, Charlotte Ills is Not A Teacher  Your ticket includes entry to the event, a signed copy of the book, and a signature cocktail (or mocktail). Click on the link above for a description of the book.  7:30 – 9:00 PM

September 24 – 29 – The Peace Center’s Broadway Series welcomes Disney’s The Lion King Are you “workin’ on your ROAR”?   Well, Simba has been, and is coming back to Greenville to show it off in the World’s #1 musical, Disney’s The Lion King.  Come witness the Serengeti come to life as never before with some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, and the most outstanding performances and puppetry.

Now that we laid out some of the best ways to spend time in Greenville this September we would love for you to stay with us when you come!