Fall For Greenville celebrates 39th year with virtual experience starting Oct. 9

Bank of America Fall for Greenville presented by Pepsi will celebrate its 39th year October 9-11, and throughout the month of October, with a virtual experience.

The lineup of virtual events includes a musical performance from American country music singer-songwriter Nikki Lane, live cooking demonstrations presented by US Foods, a Mich Ultra Virtual Beer Garden, Demos for Donations with local chefs and much more.

A new initiative this year is A Taste of Our Town Digital Discount Book, presented by Truist Culinary and Hospitality Innovation Center. The discount book features 35 local restaurants and more than 40 discounts.

Patrons who use their digital discount book at more than half of the participating restaurants will be entered into a 2021 festival weekend grand prize giveaway. The winner will receive two festival t-shirts and $100 in Taste Tickets, parking vouchers and one night’s stay at the AC Hotel Greenville for the 2021 festival.

Digital discount books are $20, with restaurant discounts valid from October 1, 2020 until February 28, 2021. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the books will benefit five local nonprofit festival partners. To view a listing of all participating restaurants and purchase a digital discount book, visit the festival store.

“We are thrilled to have found new, engaging and creative ways to deliver an experience that is in line with what our community looks forward to every year,” said Megan Finnern, Fall for Greenville Board Chair. “While the festival may look different this year, our mission remains the same in shining a spotlight on the restaurants, musicians and nonprofit organizations that make our community such a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

During the Virtual Experience weekend, Bank of America Fall for Greenville will offer free online concerts featuring local fan favorites, including progressive bluegrass/folk band My Girl My Whiskey & Me and Greenville native Nikki Lane on Friday night; blues legend Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues (followed by a special question and answer session) on Saturday night and Greenville Jazz Collective and the Sharon Jones Tribute Band featuring Jamie Wright, Shannon Hoover, Tez Sherard and more on Sunday.

A Local Musician Support page has been added to the festival website with information about local bands and where to purchase their music. Additionally, music fans can check out the festival’s Spotify playlist, which features over 20 hours of music by festival bands from the past decade. To download and listen to the playlist, visit the festival website.

The Virtual Experience also includes cooking demonstrations presented by US Foods. Viewers can learn new recipes and techniques as chefs from US Foods, Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream and Table 301 Catering & Kitchen create some of their favorite dishes. Here is the full schedule of virtual offerings for the festival weekend:

Friday, October 9 

• Chef Bevins with US Foods Culinary Demonstration - 6 p.m.
• My Girl My Whiskey & Me – 7 p.m.
• Nikki Lane – 8 p.m.

Saturday, October 10

• Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream ”How to Make Fudge” Demonstration – Noon
• KW Beverage Virtual Happy Hour featuring Brewery 85, Catawba Brewing, Bold Rock Cidery, New Belgium Brewing, Steel Hands Brewing, Wicked Weed and Palmetto Brewing – 4 p.m.
• Chef Martin with US Foods BBQ Demonstration– 5 p.m.
• Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues – 6 p.m.
• Q&A with Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 11

• In the Kitchen with Chef Freidank from Table 301 Catering & Kitchen – 11 a.m.
• Greenville Jazz Collective – Noon
• Chef Leamons with US Foods, “Fall for Favorites” Culinary Demonstration – 4 p.m.
• Sharon Jones Tribute Band - 5 p.m.

Every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of October, beer lovers can tune in for a Mich Ultra Virtual Beer Garden featuring Tap Takeovers from six popular breweries, including Brewery 85, Wicked Weed, Bold Rock Cidery and New Belgium Brewing. Tour guides will offer a glance inside their facilities, share what they are currently brewing and answer viewer questions. Additionally, Brewery 85 FFG Festbier, the signature brew for the festival, will be available at select restaurants as part of the festival’s Taps on the Town. A map showing where to find the popular beverage will be posted on the festival website. Local chefs and business owners have also teamed up to host Demos for Donations, offering private demonstration packages with 20 percent of the proceeds benefiting the five nonprofit festival partners.

Viewers can livestream the Virtual Experience offerings on the Bank of America Fall for Greenville Facebook page and the City of Greenville Events and Cultural Affairs Instagram page.

Custom festival t-shirts featuring new designs by Dapper Ink will also be available for purchase online through October 15. For a full rundown of the Virtual Experience, visit fallforgreenville.net.

Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, Bank of America Fall for Greenville has donated more than $600,000 to local charities over the past 15 years. This year’s beneficiary program will support Harvest Hope Food Bank, Newcomers of Greater Greenville, Vocal Matrix, Boy Scout Troop 260 and Boy Scout Troop 266.