Artisphere and Aloft Are Popular Upstate Festivals

The Greenville, South Carolina area hosts two popular festivals each spring.  Artisphere is a celebration of arts, culture, and life held in downtown Greenville.  Aloft, which was previously known as Freedom Weekend Aloft, takes place in nearby Simpsonville each Memorial Weekend.  Both family friendly festivals draw large crowds to the Upstate region.  Here are the highlights of each.

The 2013 Artisphere is scheduled for May 10-12 in the West End of downtown Greenville.  The festival selects 120 high quality artists through a jury process to display their works for the outdoor show.  Seventeen different mediums are represented including watercolor, acrylics, photography, ceramics, digital art, glass, woodworking, and fiber art.  The Founder’s Room above Larkin’s on the River restaurant, located behind the Peace Center, will showcase special selected works by 18 Upstate artists.  A local performing arts showcase will feature music, dance, and theater presentations.  A Kidsphere will provide creative activities for children to enjoy.  The kids will be able to make and take lots of fun projects including masks, Chinese lanterns, and basket weaving.  Other festival activities will include art demonstrations, wine tastings on Saturday and Sunday, and local cuisine from some of the city’s finest restaurants.  Festival admission is free, and parking is available in downtown lots and parking garages.

Aloft will take place at Heritage Park in Simpsonville on May 24-27.  One of Upstate South Carolina’s favorite festivals for more than 30 years, Aloft will have a fresh look for 2013.  The festival has added new and exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy, with an emphasis on adventure attractions.  Aloft will still feature more than 70 colorful hot air balloons which will launch all four days during early morning or evening hours.  Festival attendees can enjoy tethered balloon rides, helicopter rides, and a zipline.  Ultralight aircraft will fly in during the weekend, and spectators can enjoy radio controlled aircraft demonstrations.  General admission on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will include an evening concert at the park’s Charter Amphitheatre.  Headliners will be country artist Kip Moore, country rocker Corey Smith, and Third Eye Blind.  There will be a variety of other festival activities to enjoy including patriotic tributes, live musical and comedy entertainment, a corn hole tournament, 5K race, Boy Scout camping adventure area, craft beer tastings, family fun zone, and amusement rides.  Advanced general admission tickets are $8.  General admission during the festival will be $12.  Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free with a paid adult.  Onsite parking will be $5 per vehicle.

Allison Reinert is the Senior PR & Marketing Consultant for the Holiday Inn Express Simpsonville hotel. The property is located just south of Greenville and only minutes from Mauldin, Fountain Inn, Laurens, and the Greenville Zoo.  Situated just off I-385 at exit 27 with easy access to I-85, I-185 and I-26, this Simpsonville hotel offers a full range of services and amenities to make your stay exceptional. 

For more information visit:  http://www.SimpsonvilleHotel.com