Let’s say a big event is happening downtown. While you’re texting your friends + making plans to stop by (and making space in your belly for the tasty food that’ll be there), the City of Greenville’s special events team is waaaay ahead of you. They’ve already spent months planning for this.

The special events team of 11 people is responsible for planning 11 special events, which total 162 event days each year (plus permitting any event that happens on public property within the City) – you could call them the city’s biggest event planners.

🗓️ Here are the 11 special events they coordinate each year:

○ Greenville Heritage FCU Main Street Fridays | Every Friday, March 20-Sept. 25, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
○ Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive | Every Thursday, March 19-Aug. 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
○ Bank of America Fall for Greenville | Oct. 9-11, 2020
○ iMAGINE Upstate | April 4, 2020
○ TD Saturday Market | Saturdays, May 2-Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
○ Fidelity Investments Moonlight Movies | Every Wednesday, May and September (plus a special Halloween edition in Oct.)
○ Artisphere | May 8-10, 2020
○ Wells Fargo Red, White & Blue Festival | July 4, 2020
○ United Community Bank Ice on Main | Nov. 13, 2020-Jan. 18, 2021
○ Night of Lights | December 4, 2020
○ Poinsettia Christmas Parade | December 5, 2020

The first event of the year launches in March + the last event ends in January, so the special events team is coordinating marketing, operations, volunteers, entertainment, and finances all year long. It starts with knowing when + where each event needs to happen – most are during the same time every year (like Fidelity Investments Moonlight Movies in May + September). 🎥

Oftentimes, planning for next year’s events starts 16 months out.

Some members of the team begin to meet with sponsors (more on that later), the entertainment coordinator is working with + recruiting bands, and the volunteer coordinator is busy building community, business, + nonprofit relationships.

But the biggest question is – with all of these free events put on by the City + all the coordination required, how’s it all paid for?

Some larger events aren’t owned by the City, like Fall for Greenville (which is a nonprofit with its own board of directors).

For others, the funding then comes from a combination of City support, food and beverage sales, vendor fees, sponsors + community partners. That’s why city events are free + accessible for anyone walking down Main St. All that effort means it’s impossible to be bored in GVL – thanks, guys. ✌

Want to see your event in our newsletter? Head over to the Events Page and let us help you spread the word.

Poll