Freedom Weekend aloft is Simpsonville’s annual hot air balloon festival and is coming May 24-26. Event sponsor Greenville Hospital System is switching gears a little and offering a variety of events to promote a healthy lifestyle. They have added a fun walk, the Palmetto Peloton Project’s 25-mile bike ride, a Little League home run derby, as well as old-time favorites sack, three-legged, and egg races. Also new are the Concerts on the Lawn musical events and yes, there will be lots of balloons in the sky.
Downtown Greenville’s Saturday Market is back in swing and the season has been extended to November 3 by popular demand. Main Street will be blocked off from Court Street to McBee to accommodate the event which runs from 8:00 to noon each week. It’s a nice relaxing time with local farmers, food vendors, and musicians adding to the charm of this long-running event.
The Education Corporation of America announced that they will open a Greenville branch of its Virginia College and offer a variety of degrees targeted to non-traditional college students. Course offerings will include, among others, certificate programs for administrative and medical assistants; associate of applied science degrees in administrative office management, computer-aided drafting, paralegal studies, and surgical technology; bachelor of science degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and health services management. A culinary program is also being considered. It will be located along I-85 at Laurens Road in the Global Trade Park and hopes to be operating by the end of the year.
Greenville’s Design and Preservation Commission finally approved a redevelopment project in the historic West End at South Main and River Streets. Developer Steven Mack Jr. is planning for a mix of shopping, offices, and condos at the high visibility corner where Augusta Road terminates at Main. He also hopes to have a national retailer signing up for space as well.
Greenville County’s oldest public park, Butler Springs, recently got $1 million in renovations. You’ll find a new entrance, playground, and picnic pavilion to go along with refurbished tennis courts and walking trails. It’s tucked away near E. North Street and Haywood Road. For a map to this park as well as a comprehensive list of the county’s recreational parks, click here.
Nice clear weather is on us this week with highs around 80 and lows near 60. Thunderstorms are likely later in the week, keeping the green in Greenville.
