Greenville, South Carolina, is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural offerings, many of which are perfect for seniors looking to stay active and engaged in the community. Whether you’re exploring public art installations, enjoying live performances at the Peace Center, or attending one of the city’s signature festivals for the first time, you won’t have any trouble finding fun things to do. Scroll down to explore some of the many cultural activities in Greenville.
FUN THINGS TO DO in Greenville
Art in Public Places
One of the most senior-friendly activities in Greenville is exploring the city’s numerous public art installations. Greenville has curated a series of more than 125 original outdoor sculptures, murals, and interactive art pieces that are accessible and free to the public to enjoy. The city’s Art in Public Places initiative offers a chance to enjoy Greenville’s creative culture at a relaxed pace: take a leisurely walk through downtown and enjoy sculptures like “Untitled 2002-2003” by Joel Shapiro in Falls Park or the charming “Mice on Main” installations along Main Street, where miniature mouse sculptures add a playful touch to the urban landscape. Use the online map of the public Art Walking Tour to map out which installation, sculpture, or mural you’ll visit next.
Peace Center for the Performing Arts
The Peace Center for the Performing Arts is a cultural treasure in Greenville for seniors who love music, theater, and live performances. The Peace Center is home to the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Greenville Chorale, Greenville County Youth Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and International Ballet and has a diverse range of offerings throughout the year. You can catch touring acts of some of Broadway’s biggest shows, enjoy local film festival screenings, catch authors on nationwide book tours, enjoy live music, and much more. In addition to large-scale performances, the Peace Center hosts more intimate shows, like jazz nights and classical music recitals.
An ADA-compliant venue, the Peace Center is wheelchair-accessible and senior-friendly.
Greenville County Museum of Art
The Greenville County Museum of Art (GCMA) is a must-visit destination for seniors interested in visual arts. GCMA offers rotating exhibits featuring historical and contemporary American art, focusing on Southern artists like Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns. Considered the premier American art museum in the South, the GCMA is home to the most extensive pottery collection from David Drake and the largest existing collection of Andrew Wyeth watercolor paintings. The museum’s quiet, spacious layout makes it ideal for seniors to enjoy at their own pace.
The museum regularly offers free admission, making it a budget-friendly option for outings. It also frequently hosts guided tours that provide insightful commentary on the exhibits.
Signature Festivals and Events
There’s no shortage of cultural activities for seniors in Greenville during the year-round festival season.
Indie Craft Parade
The annual Indie Craft Parade (held in late summer or early fall) is a family-friendly celebration of all things homemade, where attendees can find unique, quality, handcrafted items in a fully accessible space (with free handicapped parking available on-site). And throughout November and December, check out the handcrafted gifts and unique finds at the Holiday Pop-Up Shops and Holiday Mini Markets.
Euphoria Food Festival
People Magazine ranked Greenville at number three on its 2018 “The 10 Hottest Foodie Cities in America” list. The city’s annual weekend-long food festival, euphoria, proves why. From tasting events to cooking demonstrations to multi-course dinners, there’s something for every taste and budget at euphoria. You may even catch a glimpse of celebrity chefs or sommeliers while you dine.
Other Festivals and Events
If you’re on the hunt for more cultural activities in Greenville, you’ll find plenty more festivals and events throughout the year:
- Artisphere: A three-day spring event allowing attendees to meet and mingle with artists and purchase original art pieces.
- Summer on Augusta: Each summer, businesses on Augusta Road celebrate summer with live music, block party atmospheres, themed events, and more.
- Fall for Greenville: Every fall, 40 of Greenville’s restaurants join together to create mouthwatering dishes for Fall for Greenville, a chance for residents to sample restaurants across the city, discover their new favorite dish, and enjoy live music all at the same time.
With so many choices for cultural activities in Greenville suitable for seniors, it’s easy to find something appealing. Fortunately, you’re not limited to just one. Try as many different activities as you like!
Are you looking for a premier assisted living and memory care community in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina? Visit us at Waterstone on Augusta. We strive to enhance the quality of life of the seniors we serve through teamwork and unity and work to provide a relaxing and supportive atmosphere for our residents. To learn more about our amenities and to view our lovely community, please schedule a tour, send us a message online, or call us today at 864-605-7236.