If you build open it, they will come. The Greenville Drive opens their 17th season next week at Fluor Field at the West End, with six games against the Asheville Tourists.
Here’s what you can expect this week and this season.
In addition to a variety of upgrades on the ballpark’s facilities and hospitality areas, the Drive will introduce:
Milliken Digital First Pitch Experience: Throw a baseball at a digital screen to see speed, distance, and other stats (located in the newly named Milliken Plaza off District 356)
Saturdays on the District: Enjoy pre-game family activities, live entertainment, and food and drinks every Saturday home game
Rallyville Lager: The Official Beer of the Greenville Drive brewed by New Realm Brewing Co.
Opening week events
Opening Day | Tuesday, April 11 | Kick off the season with live music, family activities, and the opening of the Milliken Digital First Pitch Experience.
Health Careers Night | Wednesday, April 12 | Students can explore healthcare careers with various exhibits — K-12 admission is free.
TeachGCS Night | Thursday, April 13 | Teachers receive a free ticket, t-shirt, and $5 ballpark voucher, plus first-year teachers are invited to a reception.
Video Game Night | Friday, April 14 | Play classic arcade and video games throughout the ballpark and compete with fans during innings before the post-game fireworks.
Jackie Robinson Day| Saturday, April 15 | The Drive will don their Greenville Black Spinners jerseys to pay homage to the 1920’s Negro League and celebrate Jackie Robinson — a college fair with 30 Black institutions kicks off the day.
Bark in the Park | Sunday, April 16 | Enjoy the game, prizes, treats, and merch from vendors on site with your pup — kids and dogs can run the bases after the game.
Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | NOMA Square, 220 N. Main St., Greenville | Free entry | Boogie on Main Street to the blues-funk-soul-rock sounds of Mojo On Max.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. South Carolina Stingrays | Thursday, Apr. 6 | 7:05 p.m. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville | $18-$50 | Cheer on the Swamp Rabbits as they face the South Carolina Stingrays.
Friday, April 7
Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays | Friday, Apr. 7 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | NOMA Square, 220 N. Main St., Greenville | Free entry | Calling all Oldies fans — join Jukebox 45 for some live music and reminiscing.
Food Truck Rollout | Friday, Apr. 7 | 5-8 p.m. | Greer City Park, 301 E. Poinsett St., Greer | Free entry | Bring your blankets or chairs for a night of live music by Clay Johnson and bites from seven food trucks, like One Eyed Donkey, G-Rod’s Latin Fusion, and Synergy Coffee.
Saturday, April 8
E-Waste Recycling and Shredding | Saturday, Apr. 8 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Public Works campus, 475 Fairforest Way, Greenville | Free | Dispose of unwanted electronics and have sensitive documents destroyed and recycled securely.
April Winter Pop-Up Market | Saturday, Apr. 8 | 12-3 p.m. | Travelers Rest Farmers Market, 235 Trailblazer Dr., Travelers Rest | Free entry | Shop 60+ local vendors who will be bringing winter produce, locally made foods, and artisan gifts, plus enjoy food trucks and live music with the whole family.
Plan Ahead
Great Blue Gathering | Friday, Apr. 21 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Conestee Nature Preserve - Meadow entrance, 601 Fork Shoals Rd., Greenville | $90-$98 | Conestee Nature Preserve’s signature fundraising event features live music, local vendors, a silent auction, dinner, and drinks.*
2023 Wheels for Meals Charity Ride | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Trailblazer Park, 235 Trailblazer Dr., Travelers Rest | $15-$95 | The Wheels for Meals Charity Ride, benefits the homebound clients of Meals on Wheels of Greenville, consists of four strategically-designed rides, and welcomes cyclists of all ages and abilities.*
Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, 99 Harry M. Hallman Jr. Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC | Free | This festival pays tribute to Mount Pleasant’s local shrimping and fishing industry with a boat parade, live music, a shrimp eating contest, and activities with the Charleston Harbor for a backdrop.*
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News Notes
Coming Soon
Pollo Campero — a Guatemala-founded fried chicken franchise — plans to open four locations in Greenville with 10 locations planned for SC over the next five years. Upstate locations are yet to be determined, but its first SC restaurant opens in Rock Hill this September. (Greenville News)
Open
Willy Taco has opened its fifth location at Simpsonville Square on Main Street (in the former Upstate Karate space). Indulge in tacos, cocktails, and other fusion dishes Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Upstate Business Journal)
The Lumberyard — a craft beer and wine bar at 115 Gary St. in downtown Clinton (near Presbyterian College) — will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, April 15 at 12 p.m. Sip on a variety of beers on tap and featured wines, eats from food trucks, and live music.
Eat
What wines pair well with vegan foods? Join What Ales You Pub today, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. to find out. This guided wine tasting will include six select wines paired with six bite-sized vegan dishes, like lasagna, oyster mushrooms, corn dogs, chocolate pie, and “a special surprise.” RSVP.
Kids
Not sure how to entertain the kids this summer? Sign them up for a summer camp. Check out Kidding Around Greenville’s list of 120+ places that offer summer camps and day camps of all types — from horseback riding to STEM — around Greenville and the Upstate.
Read
Three civilizations, one commander’s mission of total domination, and the efforts to stop him are all parts of the plot behind Greer author Paul Rouse’s first published book, “Stugo The Novel.” Set in “the mystic state of South Carmon,” this story focuses on friendship, mental health, and self value.
Festival
The 16th Annual Cornbread and Collard Greens Blues Festival, hosted by Blues and R&B artist Mac Arnold, takes place on Saturday, April 15 from 12-6 p.m. at Commerce Park — 110 Depot St., Fountain Inn. Feast on Southern food, shop the Spring Market, and join the Jeep Jam.
Snagged tickets to euphoria Spring Fest, yet? ICYMI, tickets to the Michelin-star, multi-course dinner, In The Stars, are 15% off with the promo code, “SPRING.” Plus, there are still tickets left for Sips & Tips and Roast & Toast. Pro tip: Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 12 — euphoria’s September schedule goes live.
Talk
The Greenville Chamber is launching Diversity Dialogues — a diversity, equity, and inclusion discussion series — on Thursday, May 11. The series, which will eventually feature five workshops, is open to Greenville Chamber investors, employers, employees, and community members.
Drink
An electric wine opener is one of those inexpensive kitchen gadgets that you don’t know how you lived without once you get one. We especially love this one for its sleek design and ergonomic grip. To upgrade your wine even further, this set includes an automatic wine aerator and reusable vacuum stopper.
Outdoors
🪶 To the rescue
Flew into the window or just saying hello? | Photo by GVLtoday
Kyle, here. This week, I found a cardinal on my doorstep. Thankfully, it flew away seemingly unhurt. Had it been injured, I wondered where I could have taken it.
Short answer: A local wildlife rehabilitator.
There are multiple nonprofit organizations in the Upstate with the mission of rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned wild animals, like squirrels and raccoons, deer, and birds. Each differs on what species it can take in and areas of service in the region.
"A Cat so clever as Magical Mr. Mistoffelees!” I was so excited to see the opening night of “CATS” at the Peace Center on Tuesday. Though I consider myself someone who loves musicals and Andrew Lloyd Webber (I played his “Best Of” compilation CD on repeat as a kid), I had never seen “CATS” before this week. From the cast to the set — I had a ball.
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