It’s almost here! The 31st annual Freedom Weekend Aloft at Simpsonville’s Heritage Park (6th year at that venue) kicks off in just two weeks, and it’s gearing up to be an exciting one! Freedom Weekend Aloft is the largest Memorial Day festival east of the Mississippi, and this year will feature more than 80 hot-air balloons, nationally recognized recording artists, amusement rides, food, and much more! The festival has attracted an average of 150,000 visitors per year!
As logo might lead you to believe, hot-air balloons are a major part of the festival, and this year, they’ve taken it to another level. For 2012, the Balloon Federation of America has chosen Freedom Weekend Aloft as the home to the Southeast Regional and South Carolina State Championships! This is sure to take the participation to new heights. (no pun)
As in years past, Freedom Weekend Aloft is also home to a US Disc Dog Nationals Qualifier. On Saturday, freestyle teams from around the country will compete, and the winners will continue onto to the national competition. On Sunday, a toss and fetch competition (open to the public) will take place.
Headline performers at this year’s Freedom Weekend Aloft are sure to bring out the crowds. On Friday, May 25th grammy-winning artist Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, and Andy Grammer will rock the Charter Amphitheater at Heritage Park at 7pm. On Saturday, May 26th at 7pm, Jake Owen will perform, and on Sunday, May 27th Simpsonville will welcome Eddie Money to the stage. Advance tickets for the concerts can be purchased at area BI-LO grocery stores.
Admission tickets for Freedom Weekend Aloft are $8 if purchased in advanced at area BI-LO grocery stores, or $12 at the gate. Children 12 years and under are free, but parking is $5 per day.
It’s certainly shaping up to be a busy Memorial Day Weekend at Heritage Park in Simpsonville. Certainly not a weekend to miss, but keep your fingers crossed for sunny skies and little to no wind so those hot-air balloons can fill the skies over the Greenville area!
For more information, visit this link to Freedom Weekend Aloft, or download the Android or iPhone app!
Tags: events, freedom weekend aloft, memorial day, outdoor events, simpsonville sc, things to do
Every Greenville News subscriber saw the front page story back in February, proclaiming that Greenville’s real estate market was showing positive signs in January. Of course, our market never saw near the decline that many areas of the country have had to suffer through over the past three years. In fact, based on data from the Greater Greenville MLS, resale homes have appreciated by an average of 1.23% per year since 2003. The fact is that our market never had a bubble, and by definition, has always been a buyer’s market.
Was the January data just a fluke? Short answer: No! Oddly, unless I missed it, I have never seen a follow-up article in the Greenville News. So, here’s the follow-up. Below, you will find data for single-family homes sold in the first four months of the year, compared to the data from the same month in 2011:
- January 2012 – 383 homes sold (+23.2%), in an average of 113 days (+2.7%), for a median price of $144,900 (+7.1%).
- February 2012 – 425 homes sold (+11.5%), in an average of 113 days (-5.8%), for a median price of $137,500 (+7.8%).
- March 2012 – 570 homes sold (+9.2%), in an average of 113 days (-8.1%), for a median price of $146,850 (+5.3%).
- April 2012 – 543 homes sold (+5.6%), in an average of 104 days (-13.3%), for a median price of $145,000 (+3.6%).
I doubt that four straight months of positive data is simply a fluke, and I believe my clients would agree. In fact, I have had more buyers miss out on properties in the past 6 weeks, than ever before in my 9 years of selling Greenville SC homes. A client coming in from North Carolina last week, had to postpone their trip to this Saturday. Over the past 5 days, 4 of the 9 homes we were planning to see have gone under contract. Three of those homes had been on the market for less than a month.
Needless to say, the real estate market in Greater Greenville, South Carolina is definitely headed in the right direction.
- Cameron Keegan
Tags: days on market, greenville sc real estate, greenville sc realtor, greenville sc relocation, home prices, market reports, real estate, real estate statistics, simpsonville sc real estate
Moonlight Movies, sponsored by Fidelity Investments, kicks off the 2012 season this evening with The Muppet Movie (1979) at Falls Park*.
This free event takes place every Wednesday night in May and September, and features classic movies on an outdoor screen. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy some classic movies from 50s, 60s, and 70s. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase ($1 wristband required).
Movies begin at approximately 8pm. This is a smoke-free event, and please leave your pets at home.
May 2012 Movie Schedule
May 2 – The Muppet Movie (1979)
May 9 – An American in Paris (1951)
May 16 – Angels in the Outfield (1951)
May 23 – The Magnificent Seven (1960)
May 30 – Viewer’s Choice (Vote Here)
- All the King’s Men (1949)
- Marooned (1969)
- Citizen Kane (1941)
* Due to the construction at the Peace Center Amphitheater, the May movie lineup will be held at Falls Park. It is expected that the Moonlight Movie Series will return to the Peace Center Amphitheater in September 2012.
Tags: best city parks, events, falls park, greenville sc, outdoor events, peace center, things to do
That’s right, Greenville’s award-winning Saturday Market is back for 2012! Beginning May 5th, and continuing every Saturday until October 27th, Main Street in beautiful downtown Greenville, SC is blocked off and transformed into a farmer’s market with a little bit of everything for everyone.
This marks the 11th year for this weekly event, and you will find more than just fruits and vegetables. Cooking demonstrations, live music, special events and more will keep it fresh (no pun)
Saturday Market (5/21/11)
every week. They have even formed a partnership with The Children’s Museum of the Upstate to bring weekly activities ranging from seed planting, making their own bubble liquid, and even painting with vegetables. Touch-a-Truck is another extremely popular special event, and while 2012′s date has not yet been announced, check back and I will definitely keep you posted.
This promises to be another great year, as 53 vendors have already been announced! So come out and enjoy Main Street without the cars, and pickup some fresh local produce while you’re at it!
Tags: events, greenville sc, greenville sc main street, outdoor events, saturday market, things to do
Downtown Greenville, SC - N. Main St at Coffee St
Travel + Leisure Magazine has put together a ranking of “America’s Greatest Main Streets” in the May 2012 issue, and Greenville, South Carolina has made the list. One key reason was the transformation of Main Street into a “pedestrian-friendly destination”, including reducing Main Street from four lanes to two lanes, and creating free parking spaces with the eliminated lanes. Keyword: free.
I still believe that one of downtown Greenville’s biggest advantages is the fact that it’s not a hassle to get there and enjoy it! No feeding the meters, and two downtown parking structures (Richardson Street and E. Washington) that are free on nights and weekends. Encouraging visitors to come downtown and spend money is how you earn revenue, not by charging a quarter for someone’s car to occupy a piece of concrete for an hour.
Greenville, SC - S. Main St at Court St (facing east)
From the article: “Greenville has made tremendous strides over the last few decades, successfully turning its Main Street area into a lively and pedestrian-friendly destination (case in point: four lanes of traffic were reduced to two lanes with free parking). Its streets are lined with coffee shops, pubs, and antique shops. And each year, from spring until mid-fall, the city hosts Main Street Fridays, a series of live music performances, featuring everything from jazz to oldies to soul.”
This certainly isn’t the first time Main Street in downtown Greenville has been recognized. Just last March, Atlanta Magazine named Greenville, SC as the “Coolest Main Street in the South”, and back in 2009 Greenville’s Main Street was named as one of the “Top 10 Great Places in America” by the American Planning Association.
Source: Travel + Leisure
Tags: best lists, greenville sc, greenville sc main street, top 10 lists
Seventeen days from now, downtown Greenville will transform into an art lover’s heaven for Artisphere 2012. In its 8th year, Artisphere will feature 120 visual artists selected from a record-breaking 884 applications. This is likely due to the plethora of awards the arts festival has received in previous years. Just a few of those include Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast”, Sunshine Artist Magazine’s ”Top 100 Fine Art & Design Shows”, and a Top Ten ranking in The Sourcebook for top-selling fine arts and crafts festivals in the US. Artisphere isn’t simply a place to buy the artist’s wares, as the weekend is filled with performing arts, art classes, and demonstrations as well.
In 2012, four stages will be dedicated to performing artists including B Natural Jazz Quartet, Carolina Ballet Theatre, The Ryan Bonner Band, painting classes, South Carolina Children’s Theater, Mini Picasso Children’s Painting Classes, bluegrass music, and more. Headlining the performing arts in 2012 is nationally recognized Brian Olsen with “Art In Action”. He will perform a total of 10 shows throughout the weekend with the following schedule: Friday (4pm & 6pm), Saturday (11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, and 6:30pm), and Sunday (3pm and 5pm).
The festival runs Friday (4pm-8pm), Saturday (10am-8pm), and Sunday (11am-6pm). All outdoor activities and performances are completely free, but it’s always good to give the artists a reason to come back (read: buy something!).
Tags: artisphere, events, greenville sc, greenville sc main street, outdoor events, things to do, top 10 lists
Greenville, SC - N. Main St at E. North St
Where to Retire Magazine has been rating just that since 1992. Now, 20 years later, Greenville, SC has been ranked as one of the best places to retire in the US. The annual rankings will be featured in the May/June 2012 issue, which will be available nationwide on April 17th.
Mary Lu Abbott, editor of Where to Retire Magazine states that Greenville possesses many qualities important to today’s retirees. In her words, “In the last 20 years, Greenville has achieved one of the most remarkable urban makeovers, creating a vibrant riverfront and downtown. The pedestrian-friendly area celebrates the arts with five venues dedicated to performances and local artwork showcased along the streets, in galleries and at events. Hiking and biking through the Blue Ridge are among the popular outdoor activities attracting boomers.”
I help retirees relocate to Greenville, SC every year, and most state that they were attracted to our area due to the lower cost-of-living, moderate climate, and overall appeal of the downtown and surrounding areas.
Tags: best lists, cost-of-living, greenville sc, greenville sc real estate, greenville sc realtor, greenville sc relocation, greenville-spartanburg, greer sc, real estate, simpsonville sc real estate, top 10 lists
Greenville, SC - S. Main St at Court St (facing east)
Greenville, South Carolina is one of the 10 fastest growing cities in the country, according to a ranking released by CNN Money yesterday. During the time from 2000 to 2010, Greenville’s population grew by 32.5%. The number one spot was claimed by our neighbor to the north, Charlotte, which saw its population increase by 64.6% during the same time period. Six more southern cities made the top 10 list: Raleigh, NC (63.4%), Cape Coral, FL (60.8%), Austin, TX (51.1%), McAllen, TX (39.3%), Knoxville, TN (33.1%), and San Antonio, TX (32.4%).
From the article: “Once known for textile manufacturing, Greenville has become an international powerhouse, hosting companies from all parts of the globe.
The city, along with Spartanburg, Anderson and other nearby towns known as ‘The Upstate,’ boast more than 250 international firms, including BMW (Germany), Michelin (France), GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) and Kyocera (Japan).
‘That’s the highest international investment per capita in the nation,’ said Nancy Whitworth, Greenville’s Director of Economic Development.
Whitworth said the area’s international flavor is actually derived from its textile past when people came from all over the world to buy and sell and study manufacturing techniques.
BMW, which arrived in nearby Spartanburg in the mid-1990s, is already on its fourth expansion, according to Whitworth. The factory has spawned other enterprises that supply parts and services to BMW. ”
The first BMW X3 off the line in Spartanburg
As I’ve stated in a few other posts, most people are very surprised to find out that the Upstate BMW plant is not only the largest single-site automotive manufacturing employer in the US, but also the largest exporter of automobiles in the US. Approximately 70% of everything produced at the Spartanburg plant is tagged for export.
CNN Money ranked the top 10 fastest growing cities in the US from 2000-2010, according to data obtained through the US Census Bureau. During the time period, the national average was less than 10%, while all 10 of the featured cities showed growth exceeding 30% during the decade.
Source: CNN Money
Cameron Keegan - Greenville SC Real Estate
Tags: best lists, greenville sc, greenville-spartanburg, top 10 lists
Celebrating 20 years, Main Street Fridays (fka Main Street Jazz) is back and ready to help you blow off some steam to end your week. Every Friday for 28 weeks in front of the Hyatt, music fills the air on Main Street in downtown Greenville, SC. The acts for 2012 mix everything from beach music to country to soul. This isn’t just an event for the adults either! Kids can enjoy inflatable rides, or just relax by mom and dad. After all, drawing on Main Street with sidewalk chalk isn’t usually advised!
This event is completely free to attend, not including adult beverages or food of course! Make sure you arrive early to claim your spot by the fountain, and grab a pizza from Antonio Bertolo’s Pizza!
Come on out some great music, food, drinks, and conversation!
2012 List of Entertainers
March 16 – Chocolate Thunder (Soul)
March 23 – Big Time Band (Variety / Beach)
March 30 – Gypsy Souls (Funk / Jazz / Blues)
April 6 – True Blues (Blue)
*April 13 – The Swingin’ Richards (Rock / Acoustic Covers)
April 20 – Fortunate Sons (Rock and Roll / Variety)
April 27 – Robbie Ducey Band (Blues / Rock)
May 4 – The Buchanan Boys (Country)
May 11 – NeSound (Neo-Soul)
May 18 – Vonna (Blues)
May 25 – Coyote Run & Alannach
June 1 – The Flashbacks (Beach / Variety)
June 8 – Wanda Johnson (Country)
June 15 – Bottom Line Band (Beach / Rock / Country)
June 22 – Southern Crescent (Variety)
June 29 – Zataban (Funk / Jazz)
July 6 – The Nightcrawlers (Blues)
July 13 – City Street Band (Beach / Country)
July 20 – Taylor Moore (Blues / Rock)
July 27 – Hott Gritz (Jazz / R&B / Funk)
August 3 – Encore (Beach / Variety)
August 10 – Hoodoo Hounds (Blues)
August 17 – Whitten (Country / Blues / Rock)
August 24 – Marcus King Band (Blues / Funk)
August 31 – Palmetto Swamp Congregation (Blues)
September 7 – Gas House Mouse (Blues)
September 14 – The Wiredogs (Classic Rock)
September 21 – 5th and York (R&B / Soul / Jazz)
September 28 – Jumpstreet (Variety)
* Writer Favorite
Come on out some great music, food, drinks, and conversation!
Tags: events, greenville sc, greenville sc main street, outdoor events, things to do
For the second consecutive year, and the third time in 4 years, fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) Magazine has ranked Greenville, SC as the North American Microcity of the Future. Let’s break that last sentence down. Greenville, South Carolina is the number one city (population less than 100,000) of the future, in the entire continent. fDi Magazine conducts 6 months of research across 50 different areas of judging criteria, including economic potential, human resources, cost effectiveness, quality of life, infrastructure, business friendliness, and more.
I will be the first to admit that Greenville is a much larger (county and metro) area than some of the other areas classified as a microcity. However, I cannot say that I think Greenville’s annexation policies are a fault. I personally applaud the City of Greenville for not grabbing up every surrounding residential area in order to increase their tax base.
Overall, another well-deserved accolade for the Greenville area!
Tags: best lists, cost-of-living, greenville economy, greenville sc, top 10 lists