Local GuideFun Family Activities Around Spartanburg, South Carolina
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Spartanburg, SC (2025 Update)
Spartanburg, South Carolina has grown to about 39,300 residents in 2025—up more than 1,800 people since the last Census—and the city still lives up to its “Always Doing” motto. A flourishing advanced-manufacturing sector, five colleges with nearly 6,000 students, and fresh ARPA-funded park upgrades keep the Hub City buzzing year-round. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and circled by lakes, rivers, and multi-use trails, Spartanburg offers families an enviable blend of outdoor adventure, arts, and small-city convenience.
Below are the best places to soak up the fun—complete with 2024-25 improvements, new event dates, and insider tips.
Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds
Highlights: Newly air-conditioned 11,000-sq-ft Event Center • Annual Piedmont Interstate Fair (Oct 8-12, 2025) • Ample RV hookups and open-air Midway
What to Expect: After more than 70 years of horse races, NASCAR events, and county fairs, the Fairgrounds have reinvented themselves as Spartanburg’s do-everything venue. The climate-controlled hall now hosts robotics expos, quilt shows, and indoor rock-climbing competitions, while the outdoor Midway accommodates food-truck rodeos, motocross, and traveling circuses. Mark your calendar for the 115th Piedmont Interstate Fair in early October—fireworks on opening night and free senior/veteran admission on Wednesday morning.
Morgan Square
Highlights: Historic downtown plaza • Free Music on Main concerts (Thursdays, Apr-Jul) • Seasonal farmers market & winter ice rink
What to Expect: Set at Magnolia & Main since 1781, Morgan Square remains Spartanburg’s social front porch. From April through July, grab lawn chairs for the Music on Main series—family-friendly rock, blues, and beach-music shows from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Every Saturday morning (Apr-Dec) vendors line the brick walks with heirloom tomatoes, local honey, and fresh-baked kolaches. When temps drop, Skating on the Square returns mid-November through early January; more than 25,000 skaters hit the open-air rink last season.
Chapman Cultural Center
Highlights: Three museums, Spartanburg Art Museum, and the 500-seat David Reid Theatre • 40K+ students served annually • Robust 2025 event slate
What to Expect: The Chapman Cultural Center anchors Spartanburg’s arts scene, funneling grants and field trips to area schools while staging exhibits, improv nights, and all-ages classes. This spring’s calendar ranges from Spartanburg Youth Theatre’s Footloose and Wonka camps to “Delicious Reads,” a book-and-wine tasting that pairs local vintners with Upstate authors. Check the online calendar for STEM workshops at the Science Center or plein-air painting meetups on the Center’s sculpture-dotted lawn.
Parks & Recreation
Highlights: 100+ miles of connected greenways • New ARPA-funded upgrades at Irwin Park & Duncan Park • Cleveland Park lakeside amphitheater
What to Expect: Spartanburg’s Parks & Rec team just secured federal funding for playground makeovers, new trail lighting, and accessible splash pads slated to finish by spring 2026. Cleveland Park remains the crowd-pleaser with its island gazebo, fitness circuit, and John B. Cleveland Event Center—perfect for birthday bashes and youth-theatre shows. Looking for something more adventurous? Head to the Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park on the Mary Black Rail Trail; flow lines, pump tracks, and shaded picnic spots make it a hit with every rider in the family.
Family Fun in Spartanburg: Be in the Know
Whether you’re catching a Thursday night concert on Morgan Square or cheering barrel racers at the Fairgrounds, Spartanburg’s calendar stays packed. Watch for university happenings, too—Wofford’s 1,870 undergrads, Converse University’s 1,967 students, and 4,900-strong USC Upstate each pump lectures, Division I games, and art festivals into the city stream.
We’re Your Storage Solution!
Need extra breathing room between trips to the fair or rides on the Rail Trail? Storage Rentals of America has clean, secure units—plus month-to-month leases that flex with the seasons. Call 1-800-457-5678 seven days a week or use our storage calculator to find your perfect fit.
