Free Thursday night concert kicks off this weekend’s Fall For Greenville festivities

Bank of America Fall for Greenville presented by Pepsi kicks off Thursday night, October 10, with a free concert on Main Street at Augusta Street. The festival will continue October 11-13 with live music on six stages, culinary demonstrations, interactive mobile displays, children’s activities and signature tastes from 47 restaurants.

“As the festival continues to receive national attention, it has grown into the must-attend event of the year,” said Fall for Greenville Board Chair Tony McGuirt. “We welcome food and music enthusiasts from across the country to join us for one of the Southeast’s premier events.”

Festival goers will be treated to a taste of Greenville with more than 250 unique menu offerings. Additional highlights of the weekend include:

• The Challenge Butter Culinary Stage featuring the culinary talents of local chefs.
• Brewery 85 FFG Festbier, a signature brew for the festival.
• Total Wine Tasting Experience featuring a large variety of wines to sample. The area will be staffed with beverage professionals to assist attendees in finding wines to fit personal taste preferences.
• The Carolina Ale House Beer Garden serving up an assortment of over 50 craft beers. Souvenir sample cups will be available for purchase for those looking to enjoy smaller portions.

The festival’s Thursday night kick-off concert will be held at a new location on Main Street at Augusta Street. The free pre-event concert will feature country musicians the James Radford Band at 7 p.m. and Austin, Texas-based country band Reckless Kelly from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the CPI Security Stage. Food options from Mellow Mushroom, Smoke on the Water and The Pound Cake Man will be available for purchase.

Continuing throughout the weekend, Fall For Greenville visitors can enjoy free concerts from 71 popular national and local entertainers, including the Nashville-based alternative rock band Moon Taxi on the Carolina Chevy Stage; country, Americana singer-songwriter Lilly Hiatt on the CPI Security Stage; Charleston City Paper’s “Singer-Songwriter of the Year” award-winning band She Returns From War on the Live at Aloft Stage; Seattle-based “funk maestros” Polyrhythmics on the Furman Jazz and Blues Stage and local pop-rock band Cravin’ Melon on the QuikTrip Stage.

This year’s festival will feature a Chevrolet interactive mobile tour showcasing the latest in Chevy vehicles. Additional highlights include the Shipt Kids’ Area featuring an entire block filled with children’s rides and activities on Broad Street. National journalists and food critics will judge participating restaurants on their best dish and recognize the best entree and dessert with the US Foods Silver Spoon and Sugary Spoon awards.

Festival goers can enjoy complimentary parking at Greenville County Square and hop on Greenlink’s free downtown trolley which will drop off on South Main Street near the festival entrance. For those wanting to bike to the festival, a bike valet sponsored by Bikeville will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bike valet will be located on the Swamp Rabbit Trail under the Main Street Bridge.

Festival taste tickets can be pre-purchased online through October 9 and in-person at Table 301 Catering & Kitchen, 22 E. Court Street. Tickets are $5 for a sheet of 10 and can be used throughout the festival weekend to purchase festival food and beverages, merchandise and rides in the Shipt Kids’ Area. Those who pre-purchase $50 worth of tickets (10 sheets) will receive one free sheet of tickets. No refunds will be given for pre-purchased sales.

Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, Bank of America Fall for Greenville continues to support the local community by partnering with 12 local nonprofits this year. Over the past 15 years, the festival has donated over $600,000 to local charities.

For more information, visit the Fall For Greenville website or the Fall For Greenville Facebook page.