Good morning, Greenville. Did you know that today is National South Carolina Day? What an exciting way to kick off the week + end the month of August. Side note: We seriously cannot believe that September starts tomorrow. 🤯

If you’ve never heard of South Carolina Day, don’t worry. It’s only been around for a few years. In 2017, the folks over at National Calendar Day decided to celebrate all 50 states with their own state day.

These state holidays are meant to celebrate and recognize the best that each state has to offer, from important cultural and historical facts to recognizing our state's beauty + sharing quirky tidbits.

Here are some fast facts about our amazing state

🌿 There are 30+ other Greenvilles throughout the nation. But we like to think South Carolina’s is the best one there is. #YeahTHATGreenville

👽 Jody Pendarvis, a Bowman resident, built a large UFO Welcome Center in his backyard, just in case any aliens wanted to drop by for some peaches, BBQ, or just to explore our awesome state.

🍖 Barbecue was born right here in South Carolina. Many believe barbecue comes from a marriage of Native American cooking techniques + Spaniards introducing the pig in the Saint Elena region (now Parris Island). But one fact that isn’t up for debate: SC does barbecue right.

🎬 We all know that Charleston is home to quite a few film productions, but did you know that Greenville + the surrounding Upstate have also been the backdrop to some pretty big movies? Movies like James Cameron’s The Abyss, Finding Jack Kerouac, and Leatherheads were filmed here.

🧶 In the early 1900s, Greenville was known as the Textile Center of the World. By the 1930s, sixteen major cotton mills + two dye/bleaching/processing mills were located in the Greenville area. Check out this documentary on our city’s Textile Empire.

Here are a few ways to celebrate South Carolina Day

Mice on Main | The Mice on Main are a delightful Greenville treat. Click here for clues to find all nine of these bronze cuties. And don’t worry, the mice are #MaskedUp.

Paris Mountain State Park | This park has more than just hiking spots. There is a designated fishing spot, a swimming area, and even a scavenger hunt.

Peace Center | The Peace Center is known for bringing in the most incredible shows from all over the world + is a huge pillar in the Greenville Community. Theatre looks a bit different right now because of the pandemic, but the Peace Center has partnered with EP+Co for a project called Allied in Art that you can check out now. More details on that below.

The Children's Museum of the Upstate | #DYK – Our children’s museum was the first to be affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution? This community staple is also the 7th largest children's museum in the US + the 10th largest in the world.

Southern Food | BBQ + southern foods are an SC staple, and we’ve got some of the best options in the South right here. Grab a meal from Bobby’s BBQ, Charlie's Barbecue, Henry’s Smokehouse, or any number of local gems.