Greenville events: Furman Lakeside Concert, Simpsonville’s Music Series and Food Truck Rodeo, and more

Summer reading events are in full force this week, along with wonderful opportunities for family time.

Weather permitting, maybe this is the weekend to explore a new-to-you park, stroll through a farmers market, or even make plans for a family getaway before summer’s end.

Read all about the best and worst of travel with kids in the June issue of Upstate Parent, in print and online at upstateparent.com.

Outdoor story time

Storytime is at 10 a.m. June 24 at the Hughes Main Library. Visit greenvillelibrary.org.

Summer Splashdown is June 25 at Conestee Nature Preserve.

Explore how animals stay cool in the summer heat. For details and registration, visit conesteepreserve.org/events.

The TD Saturday Market is 8 a.m. – noon June 25 in downtown Greenville.

For vendors, children’s events and more, visit saturdaymarketlive.com.

My First Drive-In Movie

Drive-In movies will be held at 10 a.m. June 27 at the Travelers Rest Branch Library and at 10 a.m. June 28 at the Hughes Main Library. Bring a box to sit in. Ages 2 – 6. Space is limited. Visit greenvillelibrary.org.

Summer movies

“Despicable Me 2” and “Space Jam” will be shown June 28 and 29 at select Regal theaters. See details at regmovies.com/static/en/us/smx.

Preschool Picassos:

Clay, for ages 2 – 6, is at 10 a.m. June 29 at the Greer Branch Library. Dress to get messy. For details, visit greenvillelibrary.org.

Wild For Reading Wednesday

is at 2:30 p.m. June 29 near the farmyard at the Greenville Zoo. Included with admission. For details, visit greenvillezoo.com.

Simpsonville’s Music Series and Food Truck Rodeo is 6 – 9 p.m. June 30 at Heritage Park.

Follow @SimpsonvilleMusicSeries on Facebook for information and updates.

Furman University’s Lakeside Concert is at 7:30 p.m. June 30

Admission is free. Visit furman.edu/academics/music/camps-conferences/music-by-the-lake.

Looking ahead:

Make a constellation viewer in select Home Depot stores July 2. Details for this event and virtual field trips are online at homedepot.com/c/kids.

ARRR! Treasure Chest Kit Workshop is July 16 at select Lowe’s stores. In this hands-on workshop, kids will construct a creative container to store their own little gems and trinkets. Register by July 15 at lowes.com/events/register/arrr-treasure-chest-kit-workshop.

Girl Scout Questfest 2022 for Girl Scouts, Alums, and Girl Guides from around the world, takes place July 14 – 17 both in Savannah, Georgia and virtually. QuestFest is a giant scavenger hunt with a twist. Instead of looking for things individuals and teams search for experiences. Register at  gsquestfest.org. If you are not a currently registered Girl Scout, first register through your local council at girlscouts.org/en/council-finder.html.

Don’t miss out:

Summer Adventure is happening 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays at Roper Mountain Science Center. This year’s traveling exhibit, “Mystery of the Mayan Medallion,” is open. (See a sneak peek at Upstate Parent’s Facebook and Instagram pages.) Spend the day with interactive exhibits, including Our Water Story, Sustainable Future, and more. There are three new permanent exhibits unveiling this summer.

The first, Everbright, is located in the Sustainable Future exhibit. This colorful area is an interactive LED giant light brite that is accessible to all ages and abilities. Learn about South Carolina agriculture at the new Farm to Table exhibit, and get environmental lessons and challenges at the Litter Letter exhibit. Outdoors, explore the Living History Farm and the Dinosaur Adventure Trail.

Look for STEM Days on select Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. Admission is $12 each for ages 13 and older, $10 each for ages 3 – 12 and ages 60 and older. Admission is free for children ages 2 and younger and to Roper Mountain members. Lunch is available through the Connections Café from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is free for ages 18 and younger. Get details at ropermountain.org. 

Free Books – Greenville First Steps has launched a pilot of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Greenville County. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is an early literacy program that mails free age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. Currently in Greenville County, children in 29690, 29611, and 29669 can sign up for Imagination Library. Registration is available at ImaginationLibrary.com.

Display Your Art – The Back Door Art Gallery in Fountain Inn has a kids’ art wall. Children ages 12 and younger can hang one piece of their art for free for one month. For specifications and contact information, visit backdoorartgallery.com.