July offers a wide range of activities to keep your family busy and happy. While school is out, there are still plenty of ways for your children and teens to keep learning. Whether it is taking your family to visit one of the many museums or historical sites in the Upstate or visiting an educational library event, we have you covered. See our full list of things to do in July with kids below.
If your child is turning six in July (or turned six in June), don’t forget to pick up your free Pepsi Party Pack the first week of July.
Spartanburg Passport
Have you printed out your FREE Spartanburg Passport yet? Don’t miss this fun printable that will have you and your kiddos discovering new places in Spartanburg all summer long!
4th of July Events
Our 4th of July Guide tells you all the places in the Upstate your family can go to celebrate and watch fireworks. Here in Spartanburg, Red, White, and Boom! takes place at Barnet Park on July 4th beginning at 6:00 pm.
Love Where You Live
Your family has a wonderful opportunity to spend time together helping others by attending Hub City Empty Bowl’s Final Bowl Making Event. These pottery bowls that you design are used for Soup Day – a day to help the hungry in Spartanburg. This free event will take place on July 13th at Converse College.
Enjoy a free cultural experience at Chapman Cultural Center each Sunday for Sundays Unplugged. Families can visit the Spartanburg Art Museum and Spartanburg Regional History Museum for free between 2 pm – 4 pm.
Spend your Saturday morning at the Hub City Farmer’s Market, which runs from 8 am – 12 pm.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day on July 21st, 2019 at a local Spartanburg ice cream shop!
Science Fun
If your family has not made a visit to Roper Mountain’s Butterfly Adventure, you should pick a time to go before it ends on July 12th. In addition, Roper Mountain also hosts the amazing Friday Starry Nights (which has a tendency to sell out because it is so well liked). If that is not enough to encourage you to head to Roper Mountain, then hopefully the Blueberry Festival on July 13th will have you loading up the minivan.
Also, only in July can you experience Roper Mountain Science Center’s Summer Laser Shows and Summer Planetarium Shows. This is a great opportunity to “see the sky” during the day.
Spartanburg County Public Libraries is continuing its fun and educational summer reading events through July. Some of the events include Professor Whizzpop, Critter Keeper, Mini Makers Morning Out: Printmaking, and Wildlife Geeks. These events are hosted by Spartanburg County Public Libraries and will be hosted at various branches throughout July. Check the calendar to find out which branches will host these events.
Literature, Music and Theatre
Family Fun Day at Upcountry History Museum is a fantastic way to have your kids learn some history and have some fun. On July 27th from 10 am – 2 pm, the admission to the museum also includes the Family Fun Day events. This special day will explore upstate railroads in the Thomas and Friends exhibit.
The Upstate offers several opportunities to experience live music and professional theatre. In the summer, Shakespeare in the Park: The Tempest takes place in Falls Park for free Thursday – Sunday evenings from July 11th – August 4th. Pack a picnic and take the kids.
Spartanburg Little Theatre is performing The Rocky Horror Show beginning July 12th. Tickets start at $20. (Go for a date – this show is most appropriate for 17+)
The library offers opportunities for children to see puppet shows and children’s theatre programs as part of their summer reading program, such as the Moon Madness Shadow Puppet Show being performed July 16th -18th at Headquarters Library.
For music lovers, the Upstate has many live music events in July. You have the choice of Music on Main Thursday evenings in downtown Spartanburg.
You can also enjoy live music for free at the programs: Classical Concerts at Twichell Auditorium and Noah Guthrie in Concert in Woodruff. Plus, the library is hosting Drum 4 Work one last time this summer at Cyrill-Westside Library on July 16th.
Movies, Movies, Movies
Summer means your choice of free and cheap movies indoor and outdoor. See our guides to Free and Cheap Movies in Spartanburg and Outdoor Movies in the Upstate to get lots of ideas.
Greer’s Thursday Night Moonlight Movies take place at the Greer City Park Amphitheater each Thursday evening in July at dusk. These are FREE family-friendly movies. Visit the calendar to see all the movies they are showing in July.
Spartanburg’s Regal Spartan Stadium Dollar Movies continue in July. All $1 movies are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 am and are rated G or PG.
Cyrill-Westside Library hosts a free Family Movie Time each Friday at 3:00 pm. Visit the calendar to see all the movies they will be showing in July.
Events to Help Teens Get Ahead
During the summer, the library offers teens different programs to help them become more successful. For students needing (or wanting) to volunteer, Volunteens is a weekly Saturday program at Headquarters Library.
Teens also have the opportunity to take a Free SAT full-length practice test at Headquarters Library on July 15th.
Teens can learn Basic Coding Skills at the teenSTEAM event happening at Landrum Library on July 22nd from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm.
Before Summer Ends
Don’t forget to turn in your Summer Reading Record to Spartanburg County Public Libraries to get your prize! Be sure to check our calendar for dates and locations for the summer reading final parties at each branch.
Do you know of a fun, family-friendly local event we missed? Let us know in the comments.
