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10 Ways to Experience All Things Fall in Greenville, SC


It's fall, y'all! 🍂 And with that, fall’s cooler temperatures usher in a season filled with family-friendly festivals and outings, college football, farmers markets, and more exciting (or relaxing) things to do in our greater Greenville area. From apple picking and pumpkin patches to hockey games and haunted houses, here are the 10 best ways to create new memories with your loved ones here in Greenville this fall. 

1.  'A' is for Autumn...and Apples

Tucked in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, less than an hour from the bustling of Greenville, is a perfect weekend adventure waiting for fall enthusiasts. Now's the time to go apple picking—or at the very least, savor some apple butter, apple pies, or caramel apples! Pick your favorite and wash it down with an apple cider slushie from Grandad’s Apples 'N Such, a 120-acre family farm and apple orchard in Hendersonville, NC, that features a country store and bakery. Make the drive to Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC, to discover why the Travel Channel called it one of the "Top 5 Apple Picking Farms in the U.S." At Justus Orchard, also in Hendersonville, NC, you can pick your own apples and then warm up (if needed) with some hot apple cider—better yet, try out their apple cannon on the weekends where you can knock out a bear, deer, or the infamous Big Foot! New for 2024, the farm has opened the Justus Orchard Taproom, which features local seasonal hard fruit cider, craft beer, and wine. 

Open only on the weekends, Jeter Mountain Farm has been an active farm in Hendersonville, NC, for more than 150 years. To pick apples here, you must first embark on a tractor ride! Follow it up with 20-hours-smoked pulled pork (and apple cider and honey BBQ, of course) from their 1813 Smokehouse, wash it down with fresh, handcrafted ciders from the Cider Co. Taproom or specialty coffee at the Orchard Coffee House, and enjoy live bluegrass music in the early afternoons. Another option is Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, a 3rd-generation farm that lets you pick from 25 apple varieties in their 40-acre orchard, pick your own sunflowers and zinnias, and on weekends, take wagon rides, shoot apple cannons, and play on the jump pad. 

Insider's Tip: Try hot apple cider DOUGHNUTS (yes, you read that right) at any of these orchards; remember, they're best served warm! 🍎🍩

 

2.  Wind Your Way Through Some of the Southeast's Largest Corn Mazes

Denver Downs was recently ranked one of the "Top 10 Best Corn Mazes in the U.S. to Visit This Fall" (USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice).  At night, bring your flashlights and glow sticks, but know this corn maze stays family-friendly and is never haunted. The farm is actually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been owned and operated by the Garrison Family since 1869. It started as a cotton farm, switched to dairy, and is now devoted to agritourism and entertainment. And, if you've ever been to Denver Downs you know that the corn maze is just the beginning of the fun. Enjoy tons of other attractions and activities while you're there, such as live music, s'mores and bonfires, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, the PigTucky Derby 🐷, swings, slides, ziplines, gem mining, a cow train, food, and special weekend events.
1515 Denver Rd., Anderson
Open September 27 thru November 10 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays)


Want more? Look no further than Stewart Farms, which has spooky and not-so-spooky options at their Peanuts-inspired corn MAiZE, created to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic comic strip. "The Big Boo" (their haunted MAiZE) runs on select October nights and is not recommended for children under 6; if you've got young ones, get through the corn maze before dark. When it is dark outside, Stewart Farms offers nighttime wagon rides with a lit-up wagon trail where you can see fall and Halloween scenes and jack-o-lanterns. If you're interested in making your own jack-o-lantern, they have a 10-acre UPIK pumpkin patch featuring over 70 varieties of pumpkins! While you're there, you can also visit the farmyard animals and see the Bee Barn 🐝 where the bees turn pumpkin pollen into honey! Before you leave, stop in at their Farm Market for fall décor, fall veggies (think cabbage, broccoli, and collard greens), and colorful mums perfect for giving your porch that autumn touch.  
6600 Highway 92, Enoree
Open September 21 thru October 27 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays)


The folks at Strawberry Hill USA are having their 14th annual corn maze this year, with 3 corn mazes in 1! 🌽 The theme for 2024 is The Wizard of Oz. The maze design has the original film's main characters, a tornado, and the Wizard's palace in Emerald City for your family to navigate. After making your way out of the maze, be sure to relax on a hayride! The weekends-only hayride takes you to a farm playground where you can jump, slide, swing, and then visit with farm animals. Enjoy lunch or ice cream across the street at the Strawberry Hill USA Café, and before you leave, make sure you shop for pumpkins and other fall essentials before taking some fun family photos with their outdoor backdrops. 
3097 Hwy. 11 W., Chesnee
Open September 28 thru October 27 (Daily, 10a-6p)


 

3. Dine Alfresco

Whether it’s rooftop views or sidewalk seating, downtown Greenville has plenty of options for outdoor eats to enjoy the perfect fall weather. Nosh at Limoncello 🍋Cantina 76 🌮, or UP on the Roof 🍹, which is also open for weekend brunch. Try sitting on the steps of 📙 M.Judson Booksellers while devouring a delicious pumpkin-something from their own 🧁 Camilla Kitchen or head to Rise Bakery, grab a fresh artisanal treat, and take a jaunt with your croissant around The Village of West Greenville. From muffins, scones, and cookies to bread and pastries, you won't be disappointed! 

Need more recommendations? Dine outside on the patio at one of these downtown establishments...

4. Pop into the Farmer's Market Where Life is Gourd. 

Give 'em pumpkin to talk about! Stock up on fruits, veggies, and other fun treats at the local farmers’ market, the TD Saturday Market, held every Saturday morning, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., through October 26th on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Vendors include organic farmers like Gibson Organic Farms, specialty food vendors like Banana Manna, and handcrafted and artisan goods like Gardner Carpentry's handmade kitchen utensils and cutting boards. Don’t miss the Autumn Harvest on Saturday, October 26; it features children's trick-or-treating, family photo opportunities, and a children's Halloween costume contest. 

If you're visiting Greenville on a different date, check out another local favorite: the Greenville State Farmers Market. Open year-round Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., it offers fresh produce, plants, seasonal selections, and various craft vendors (Saturday mornings only). 

5.  Scream Your Head Off!

Madworld has been voted the "#1 Must-See Haunted Attraction in SC" and one of the top-ranked haunted attractions in America. Considered by some to be "intense and psychologically paralyzing," it's a self-guided half-mile of self-inflicted horror, and 2024 ushers in a brand new Madworld with new creatures, haunted scenes, more than 175 actors and even more scares!  Experience Haunted Pirates, Zombie Outbreak, Carnival of Clowns, have your mind bent (or blown) in the Pinehurst Asylum, experience sheer terror in the Chainsaw Massacre House or Haunted Doll House, and check out the Salem Witch Village. Think you might be bored while waiting in line? Think again. Madworld has a live DJ, bonfires to warm up by, food and drink, an 18-hole Ghost Town Mini Golf course, axe throwing lanes, carnival games, face painting, a gift shop, and more. If you've got scaredy cats 🙀 (aka chickens 🐔) in your group, Madworld offers the option to purchase a No-Scare Medallion for $10 more—meaning you won't be targeted or scared by the professional actors. 
147 Country Manor Rd., Piedmont
Open September 6 thru November 2

Looking for another truly spooky experience? Add Sweet Dreams Scare House to your horror bucket list for a terrifying 1/4-mile haunted trail full of screams, howls, maniacal laughter, chainsaws, crazed cannibals, and deviant dolls. Sweet Dreams even offers a "Touch Tour" for those 18+ for the most immersive (and scariest) experience possible. 
250 Saco Lowell Rd., Easley
Open September 13 thru November 2

Why not check out the paranormal if you're not feeling the haunted houses and trails? Greenville Ghost Tours offers downtown Greenville paranormal walking tours along with Boos & Booze, a spooky and haunted bar crawl. Both experiences are led by certified paranormal investigator Gabe Mathews of Truth Searchers: Paranormal Investigators. 

 


 

6. Pull a Charlie Brown and Look for the Great Pumpkin

Oh, my gourd! It's time to grab a bunch of pumpkins 🎃 at a local pumpkin patch! For U-PICK pumpkins, visit Stewart Farms in Enoree, Little Cane Creek Farm in West Union, or Thompson Family Farms in Campobello. Stewart Farms has a 10-acre pumpkin patch with over 70 varieties of pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They also have their corn maze (mentioned above), wagon rides, fall garden mums, fall veggies, and fall décor for sale. At Little Cane Creek Farm in West Union (Open September 28 thru November 3), you can pick your own or purchase pre-picked pumpkins, enjoy a hayride through their working organic vegetable farm, get lost in the 5-acre corn maze, and play to your heart's content in the straw bale maze and pyramid, spider web challenge, slide, tunnel, and more! Thompson Family Farms in Campobello opens August 28 for the season. Pick your pumpkins from the field or get lost in their sunflower maze, where you can also pick sunflowers to take home for just $1/stem. The farm is the idyllic backdrop for any and all autumn photos! Remember to get your pumpkins where the pickin's good, Wednesdays to Sundays, 10a-7p,

Want more? For pre-picked pumpkins and other fall fun, be sure to visit: 

7. Take a Hike to See Beautiful Fall Leaves & Waterfalls 

Lace up those hiking boots and experience the colorful fall leaves and gorgeous waterfalls at three state parks near Greenville. At Caesars Head State Park in Cleveland, SC, make the 4.4-mile round-trip hike to a scenic overlook of the 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls (the tallest waterfall in South Carolina). For those that are more adventurous, add in the Dismal Trail Loop, a 6.6-mile round-trip strenuous hike that brings you to Wilderness Bridge, a unique suspension bridge that crosses over the very top of Raven Cliff Falls. In nearby Marietta, Jones Gap State Park features more than 60 miles of hiking trails. A popular hike is the Rainbow Falls Trail, which is a 5-mile, round-trip hike worth every step. Plunging over a high granite cliff, this 140-foot ribbon-like waterfall will make you feel closer to the size of an ant. Close to downtown Greenville, Paris Mountain State Park has outdoor fun for the whole family with hiking and biking trails, a campground, and picnic shelters. 🥾

Insider's Tip: Based on fall foliage prediction models, our autumn foliage is expected to peak in Greenville County in late October. By early November, fall foliage should be seen in downtown Greenville. Leaves will change color first in the northern part of the county near Caesars Head and Jones Gap State Parks. 🍁
 

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8. Find a Fall Festival

With crisp, cooler weather, 🍂 the smell of fall in the air, and Halloween on the horizon, there's nothing better to do than mark your calendar for an upcoming fall festival! (Or two, or three, or four...) Here are some options to consider when you're in town: 


 

9. Dress Up the Kiddos in Their Halloween Costumes

For an unforgettable evening at the Greenville Zoo's Boo in the Zoo 👻 (Oct. 16-20 and Oct. 23-30), you can expect trick-or-treating, friendly (but slightly spooky) decorations, Ghost Town, Dragon Alley, and did we mention the animals?! 

Want more? Here are some other great events to venture to with dressed-up kids in tow:  

  • Jeepers Creepers Cruise Inn | Sat., Oct 26 | 6-9pm | Downtown Fountain Inn
    Trunk-or-treat in style as you wander through 175 spooky Jeeps, listen to ghoulish tunes by the Vinyl Junkies, and eat Halloween-themed food. Contests, games, pumpkin painting, and more! 

  • More events posted in mid- to late-September 2024! 
     

10. Hang out with Stomper for Ear-resistible Hockey Fun!

Watch the Greenville Swamp Rabbits thump some pucks and kick some tails (on the ice) this fall! This professional ice hockey team (ECHL affiliate of the LA Kings and AHL affiliate of the Ontario Reign) opens its season against the Orlando Solar Bears on October 18, 2024, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. What better way to enjoy the crisp, cool fall weather than cheering with the Rabbettes rink-side at a fast-and-furious paced hockey match?! The Swamp Rabbits' season goes through mid-April 2025 and includes 36 home games. Get your tickets today and gear up at the Hop Shop!