
Everyone in Greenville knows what happens in NOMA Square Thursday nights from 5:30pm-8:30pm. Now through August 29th, Downtown comes Alive! Featured bands play two sets of songs suitable for dancing – age limits do not apply! Entire families can be found “moving and grooving” to the music. The stage and large dance area tend to compromise the area’s seating space. It’s a good idea to bring your own chair. Another tip I learned (thirty dollars too late) – tickets are needed for all drinks, but you need cash/card for food purchases.
This year on the third Thursday of each month, Metropolitan Arts Council will add a very special event to Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive benefiting MAC. “Arts After Dark” will feature six tents filled with work from local artists. You will definitely want to take a break from dancing and eating to browse and buy unique works of art. Metropolitan Arts Council (a.k.a. MAC) proudly supports Greenville’s arts community. Free resources such as a directory, calendar of events, and newsletter help people plug into the art world. A good way for everybody to bolster the arts is to support Metropolitan Arts Council. MAC awards grants to individual artists, organizations and educational programs in and around Greenville. SmartARTS is a partnership with Greenville County Schools. Look for an article on this spectacular program SOON! Check out Downtown Alive’s music line up here.

Get lots of rest after Downtown Alive so you can get back to NOMA Square for Main Street Fridays. This particular party rocks from 5:30-9:30pm (kids can stay up later, no school the next day) through September 27th. Just like its’ Thursday predecessor, Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays present by Pepsi’s bands play two sets. All the suggestions mentioned for Thursday apply to Friday, as well. A few reminders for all city sponsored events; no smoking, no pets and no coolers. Downtown Alive and Main Street Fridays are both free events. The only costs are the drinks, food, and merchandise. Don’t miss Main Street Fridays’ music line up! Everyday in Greenville is special. This is the time of year, Thursdays and Fridays are extraordinary! P.S. Let’s also not forget Greenville’s TD Saturday Market 8am-12pm, May through October! We hope to see you there!