Spring events: Cycling, music, fair fun, and more

Pro Cycling Spins Into Downtown Greenville

The tree-lined streets of Downtown Greenville will be filled with some of the nation’s top professional cyclists during a day of racing on April 30.

Entering its third year, the Greenville Cycling Classic presented by Prisma Health will include fast-paced professional racers competing in the heart of Greenville.

However, people in the community can also take part by cycling during “Ride with the Tour de France Legend.”

Men’s and women’s collegiate races will showcase talent from the Southeast Conference.

The event is part of USA CRITS, a series of criteriums with some of the fastest cycling in the United States.

“I’m thrilled to bring high-speed crit racing back to Greenville for its third year,” said George Hincapie, 17-time Tour de France veteran and five-time Olympian. “This event is a fantastic spring highlight for the entire community to enjoy, further enriching our blossoming cycling culture here in the Upstate.”

The enclosed, intricate one-kilometer course will wind its way through the city center, and spectators will have a free, close-up view of the action.

The event features tight turns and rapid straightaways; the start and finish line, along with evening festivities, will be on North Main Street at One Plaza.

“This event not only showcases the incredible talent of professional cyclists; it highlights Greenville’s commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Tim Brookshire, CEO for Prisma Health Greenville Memorial campus and its Upstate Market.

“Engaging in sports like cycling is a fantastic way for people to improve their health and well-being,” Brookshire said.

Races start at 3 p.m. and continue into the evening; collegiate events start at 3:35 p.m. The Ride with the Tour de France Legends is at 5:30 p.m.

The Tour de France Legends ride is free and open to anyone (riders must be age 12 and older). Cyclists in the community can join Greenville locals and retired professional cyclists George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde and Bobby Julich for a cruise around the course.

Greenville has a history as a premier cycling destination. The Michelin Cycling Classic became the first official pro race held downtown in 1986. The tradition continued for years.

Since then, Greenville has become a favored venue for high-profile competitions, including the Tour DuPont, the Olympic Torch Relay and several U.S. Professional National Championship events.

Since 2012, the Hincapie Gran Fondo has attracted thousands of cyclists to the city each year to experience the scenic terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

EF/ONTO Cycling began a junior development arm of the Hincapie Sportswear professional team in 2024 to create opportunities for emerging North American talent. The junior riders program has produced five National Championships, nine appointments to the U.S. National Team, eight professional contracts, seven World Championship appearances, and a World Championship medal.

Some EF/ONTO Cycling junior riders will take part in the Greenville Cycling Classic.

For a full schedule of races and events, a list of sponsors, volunteer opportunities and additional details, go to GreenvilleCyclingClassic.com.

To register to ride, go to bikereg.com/greenville-cycling-classic-pb-prisma-health. The registration deadline is April 29.

From Hincapie: “We are a people-who-ride-bikes company. Cycling inspires everything we do, and every day we work harder to improve the sport, make it more accessible to others, and build a strong community for future cyclists.” For information, go to hincapie.com.

NOTUS Sports is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to attract, create and manage high-profile sporting events to showcase the Upstate. For information, go to notussports.org.

USA CRITS works to elevate criterium racing in America by spotlighting elite racing talent, urban culture and community engagement. All events will be streamed live on Outside.tv.

Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival Hits Stage

The Mauldin Cultural Center is set to kick off its outdoor festival season with the sixth annual Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival from 4 to 9 p.m. April 18 at the outdoor amphitheater, 101 E. Butler Road.

The free festival will feature four performers on the main stage: Absinthe Minded, Alex Kramer, Ping Rose and headliner Zac Person. Between sets, jazz ensembles from Greenville Jazz Collective will perform on a second stage.

The festival will also host food trucks on-site and beer and wine from Growler Haus. Children’s activities include face painting, balloon art, lawn games and a 20-foot inflatable obstacle course.

“The Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival promises an unforgettable celebration of music and art,” Event Manager Caitlyn Pendleton said. “There will also be a pre-show unveiling of the newest sculpture added to our public art trail. We hope guests will join us for a dynamic day honoring creativity, community and artistry.”

The lineup of performers on the main stage is:

Absinthe Minded, 4 to 4:30 p.m.
Alex Kramer, 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Ping Rose, 6 to 7:05 p.m.
Zach Person, 7:30 to 9 p.m.

And on the second stage:

Greenville Jazz Youth Ensemble, 4:35 to 4:55 p.m.
Greenville Jazz Youth Ensemble, 5:35 to 5:55 p.m.
Greenville Jazz Youth Ensemble, 7:10 to 7:25 p.m.

“The Mauldin Blues and Jazz Festival has become one of those special traditions that brings our community together year after year,” said Taft Matney, City Council Member and Chair of the Economic Planning and Development Committee.

“It’s an opportunity for families, neighbors and visitors to enjoy the energy and hospitality that make Mauldin such a welcoming place. Events like this strengthen our sense of community and highlight the vibrancy of our city,” he said.

Those who attend are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Parking and entry are free, and leashed dogs are allowed. The festival will take place rain or shine. Weather-related announcements will be posted on the Mauldin Cultural Center’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Outside food/beverages are not allowed. For other prohibitions, rules and information about performers, food vendors and activities, go to mauldinculturalcenter.org and click on Events, then Festivals.

Upstate Forever Awards ForeverGreen

Upstate Forever will host its ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon on April 21 at The Annex at Judson Mill in Greenville.

The annual luncheon and awards presentation celebrates people who have made significant contributions to conservation and sustainable growth in the Upstate.

This year’s recipients:

Tommy Wyche Land Conservation Champion: Margaret and Bryant Harrison, for their leadership in farmland conservation, community service, and advancing equity for farmers in Greenville County and beyond
Clean Water Champion Award: Brian Stoddard, for decades of service and commitment to clean water and land protection in the Savannah River Basin
Land Planning and Policy Champion Award: Martial Robichaud, for advocacy toward balanced growth, rural representation and environmental stewardship in Spartanburg County
Marjorie E. Schmidt Stewardship Award: Tim Taylor, for decades of environmental education through leadership, mentorship and a lifelong passion for connecting people to the natural world

“Together, these leaders represent the breadth of conservation work happening across the Upstate,” said Aldon Knight, Executive Director of Upstate Forever. “We are grateful for their commitment to conserving and protecting the Upstate region.”

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Annex at Judson Mill, 701 Easley Bridge Road, Suite 4120, Greenville.

Tickets are $60. For tickets and information, go to upstateforever.org and click on Events, then scroll down and click on ForeverGreen Awards Luncheon.

Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters and the unique character of the Upstate. Its work focuses on Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union counties.

Since 1998, Upstate Forever has advocated for the protection of farmlands, forests, natural areas, rivers, mountains, green spaces and outdoor heritage.

Upstate Forever has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg. For information, go to upstateforever.org.

Anderson County Fair Starts April 30

The Great Anderson County Fair will return to the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center from April 30 through May 10.

The 11-day fair will include family activities, rides, new attractions, returning favorites, live entertainment and fair food. It attracts more than 75,000 guests each year.

Two new family rides are the Aeromax and Flying Cows. Designed for younger fairgoers, the Aeromax allows “aviators” to soar up and down. The whimsical Flying Cows gently lift riders into the air for a farm-themed adventure.

New acts on the ground are:

Royal Legacy Circus, an authentic big-top experience with aerial performances, acrobats, precision balance acts, theatrical storytelling and high-energy showmanship
Jay Mattioli Magic Show, an electrifying performance that combines fast-paced illusion, mind-bending tricks, comedy and audience interaction
The Amazing Bubble Factory, an interactive performance that uses science and entertainment to produce millions of bubbles, bubble sculptures and visual spectacle

Ground acts are included with the price of admission.

Two returning favorites are Rosaire’s Royal Racers pig racing and Eudora Farms Exotic Petting Zoo, with zebras, baboons, binturongs, other animals, and camel and pony rides.

Admission at the gate is $10; children ages 10 and under are admitted free; parking is free.

Ride tickets are available on-site, and unlimited ride specials are offered through the run of the fair. A Mega Pass, purchased online, includes admission and unlimited rides for one day.

Daily promotions and ride specials are scheduled throughout the fair – including an Opening Day Food Drive (April 30) and days with special prices for senior citizens (May 1), students (May 3 and May 4), teachers (May 5), college students (May 6), heroes (May 7), and Mother’s Day (May 10).

Rules about youths attending the fair are available online. To purchase the Mega Pass and for information about the schedule and special promotions, go to thegreatandersoncountyfair.com.

The Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center is at 3027 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Anderson.

Art Museum Shows American Stories

The Greenville County Museum of Art is presenting American Stories, an exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The exhibit, with no admission charge, runs through Sept. 27 and contains 51 works drawn entirely from the museum’s permanent collection, including 13 acquisitions made possible through the 2026 Art for Greenville and Greenville County Museum of Art Legacy campaigns.

American Stories explores pivotal moments – from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond – through works that reflect the complexity and evolution of the American experience.

Created by artists of different eras and working in different styles, the exhibit offers perspectives on how history has been recorded, interpreted, illustrated, challenged and reimagined through art across generations.

Highlights are recent acquisitions funded through the Art for Greenville campaign: Thomas Sully’s “George Washington and the Passage of the Delaware” (1818), Ida O’Keeffe’s “Roots” (1932), and William R. Christopher’s “Basin (No. 5—In Honor of Martin Luther King)” (1963).

Works span more than two centuries.

The Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College Street in Greenville, is among the premier American art museums in the South.

The museum is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by American artist Andrew Wyeth. The museum also has a collection of paintings and prints by contemporary artist Jasper Johns, the largest institutional collection of pottery by enslaved artisan David Drake, and the largest collection outside the Smithsonian of paintings by South Carolina-born artist William H. Johnson.

Tropical Smoothie To Open At Verdae Village

Tropical Smoothie Café will open a new location at Verdae Village in Greenville. The café will offer smoothies, wraps, flatbreads and bowls. It is scheduled to open late this spring.

The cafe is the ninth Smoothie Café owned and operated by Greenville-area franchisees Bill Ruby and Greg Powell. They opened their first café in 2017 and expanded across the Upstate.

Verdae Village is owned and managed by Aston company.

Ruby and Powell are enthusiastic about expanding their presence. “This area is experiencing meaningful growth, and we see a real demand for convenient, better-for-you dining options and smoothies,” Ruby said.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe fits with the growing mix of dining and lifestyle businesses at Verdae Village, according to a press release.

“The Verdae area continues to see meaningful momentum, and we’re focused on bringing in tenants that reflect how people live, work and prioritize convenience and wellness,” said Barnes Connell, Managing Director of Aston.

Food Lion and Lowe’s Outlet anchor Verdae Village, which has a mix of national and local retailers and services. Businesses include Planet Fitness, Massage Envy, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Greenfield’s Bagels & Deli.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national restaurant chain with more than 1,600 locations in 44 states.