2.  Wind Your Way Through Some of the Southeast's Largest Corn Mazes

Denver Downs was recently ranked one of the "Top 10 Best Corn Mazes in the U.S. to Visit This Fall" (USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice).  At night, bring your flashlights and glow sticks, but know this corn maze stays family-friendly and is never haunted. The farm is actually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been owned and operated by the Garrison Family since 1869. It started as a cotton farm, switched to dairy, and is now devoted to agritourism and entertainment. And, if you've ever been to Denver Downs you know that the corn maze is just the beginning of the fun. Enjoy tons of other attractions and activities while you're there, such as live music, s'mores and bonfires, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, the PigTucky Derby 🐷, swings, slides, ziplines, gem mining, a cow train, food, and special weekend events.
1515 Denver Rd., Anderson
Open September 27 thru November 10 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays)

Want more? Look no further than Stewart Farms, which has spooky and not-so-spooky options at their Peanuts-inspired corn MAiZE, created to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic comic strip. "The Big Boo" (their haunted MAiZE) runs on select October nights and is not recommended for children under 6; if you've got young ones, get through the corn maze before dark. When it is dark outside, Stewart Farms offers nighttime wagon rides with a lit-up wagon trail where you can see fall and Halloween scenes and jack-o-lanterns. If you're interested in making your own jack-o-lantern, they have a 10-acre UPIK pumpkin patch featuring over 70 varieties of pumpkins! While you're there, you can also visit the farmyard animals and see the Bee Barn 🐝 where the bees turn pumpkin pollen into honey! Before you leave, stop in at their Farm Market for fall décor, fall veggies (think cabbage, broccoli, and collard greens), and colorful mums perfect for giving your porch that autumn touch.  
6600 Highway 92, Enoree
Open September 21 thru October 27 (Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays)

The folks at Strawberry Hill USA are having their 14th annual corn maze this year, with 3 corn mazes in 1! 🌽 The theme for 2024 is The Wizard of Oz. The maze design has the original film's main characters, a tornado, and the Wizard's palace in Emerald City for your family to navigate. After making your way out of the maze, be sure to relax on a hayride! The weekends-only hayride takes you to a farm playground where you can jump, slide, swing, and then visit with farm animals. Enjoy lunch or ice cream across the street at the Strawberry Hill USA Café, and before you leave, make sure you shop for pumpkins and other fall essentials before taking some fun family photos with their outdoor backdrops. 
3097 Hwy. 11 W., Chesnee
Open September 28 thru October 27 (Daily, 10a-6p)

4. Pop into the Farmer's Market Where Life is Gourd. 

Give 'em pumpkin to talk about! Stock up on fruits, veggies, and other fun treats at the local farmers’ market, the TD Saturday Market, held every Saturday morning, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., through October 26th on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Vendors include organic farmers like Gibson Organic Farms, specialty food vendors like Banana Manna, and handcrafted and artisan goods like Gardner Carpentry's handmade kitchen utensils and cutting boards. Don’t miss the Autumn Harvest on Saturday, October 26; it features children's trick-or-treating, family photo opportunities, and a children's Halloween costume contest. 

If you're visiting Greenville on a different date, check out another local favorite: the Greenville State Farmers Market. Open year-round Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., it offers fresh produce, plants, seasonal selections, and various craft vendors (Saturday mornings only). 

5.  Scream Your Head Off!

Madworld has been voted the "#1 Must-See Haunted Attraction in SC" and one of the top-ranked haunted attractions in America. Considered by some to be "intense and psychologically paralyzing," it's a self-guided half-mile of self-inflicted horror, and 2024 ushers in a brand new Madworld with new creatures, haunted scenes, more than 175 actors and even more scares!  Experience Haunted Pirates, Zombie Outbreak, Carnival of Clowns, have your mind bent (or blown) in the Pinehurst Asylum, experience sheer terror in the Chainsaw Massacre House or Haunted Doll House, and check out the Salem Witch Village. Think you might be bored while waiting in line? Think again. Madworld has a live DJ, bonfires to warm up by, food and drink, an 18-hole Ghost Town Mini Golf course, axe throwing lanes, carnival games, face painting, a gift shop, and more. If you've got scaredy cats 🙀 (aka chickens 🐔) in your group, Madworld offers the option to purchase a No-Scare Medallion for $10 more—meaning you won't be targeted or scared by the professional actors. 
147 Country Manor Rd., Piedmont
Open September 6 thru November 2

Looking for another truly spooky experience? Add Sweet Dreams Scare House to your horror bucket list for a terrifying 1/4-mile haunted trail full of screams, howls, maniacal laughter, chainsaws, crazed cannibals, and deviant dolls. Sweet Dreams even offers a "Touch Tour" for those 18+ for the most immersive (and scariest) experience possible. 
250 Saco Lowell Rd., Easley
Open September 13 thru November 2

Why not check out the paranormal if you're not feeling the haunted houses and trails? Greenville Ghost Tours offers downtown Greenville paranormal walking tours along with Boos & Booze, a spooky and haunted bar crawl. Both experiences are led by certified paranormal investigator Gabe Mathews of Truth Searchers: Paranormal Investigators. 

Want more? For pre-picked pumpkins and other fall fun, be sure to visit: 

• St. Matthew United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch (Greenville)
  Open Daily 10a-7p 
  701 Cleveland St.

• Disciples United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch (Greenville)
  Open M-Sat, 9a-6p; Sunday: 12-6p
  185 Riley Smith Dr. 

• St. Giles Presbyterian Church Pumpkin Patch (Greenville)
  Open Weekdays 10:30a-6:30p; Saturday: 8:30a-6:30p; Sunday: 12-6:30p (thru Oct. 31)
  1021 Hudson Rd.  

• Denver Downs (Anderson)

• Strawberry Hill U.S.A. (Chesnee)

• Happy Cow Creamery (Pelzer)
   

7. Take a Hike to See Beautiful Fall Leaves 

Lace up those hiking boots and experience the colorful fall leaves on the trails of Table Rock State Park, located just 45 minutes northwest of Greenville. This scenic park is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering breathtaking views and great trails for all skill levels. For first-time visitors, the Carrick Creek Trail offers an easy, scenic introduction to the area with a 2-mile loop, while the Mountain Laurel Trail provides a moderate 1.9-mile trail to explore. After a day on the trails, stick around for the Music on the Mountain series of bluegrass jam sessions, where live tunes meet stunning mountain views each month.

Insider's Tip: Based on fall foliage prediction models, our autumn foliage is expected to peak in Greenville County in late October. By early November, fall foliage should be seen in Downtown Greenville. Leaves will change color first in the northern part of the county. 🍁
 

8. Find a Fall Festival

With crisp, cooler weather, 🍂 the smell of fall in the air, and Halloween on the horizon, there's nothing better to do than mark your calendar for an upcoming fall festival! (Or two, or three, or four...) Here are some options to consider when you're in town: 

• Oktoberfest | Sept. 27-29 | Fireforge Crafted Beer
  Stein-hoisting competitions, live music, German-inspired food and drink
   
• The Cook’s Station Fall Festival | Oct. 5 | 9am-4pm | The Cook's Station
  Tent sales, food sampling, raffle prizes
   
• 2024 Kroc Fest | Oct. 5 | 11am-2pm | Kroc Center
  Floating pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, trick-or-treating, 360-degree photo booth
   
• City Scape Winery's Annual Food & Wine Fall Festival | Oct. 5-6 | City Scape Winery
  Live music, food trucks, dessert trucks, wine, vendors, and more! 
   
• Fall Festival | Oct. 26 | 3-7pm | Barefoot Acres
  Join in on the fun with a trick-or-treat trail, hay rides, food trucks, live music, a bounce house, a vendor market, and more! 
   
• Bank of America Fall for Greenville | Nov. 8-10 | Downtown Greenville
  This family-friendly three-day smorgasbord of food and entertainment showcases 50+ local restaurants serving some 250-plus dishes with more than 50 beers on tap, wine vendors, and more than 80 musical acts.

9. Dress Up the Kiddos in Their Halloween Costumes

For an unforgettable evening at the Greenville Zoo's Boo in the Zoo 👻 (Oct. 16-20 and Oct. 23-30), you can expect trick-or-treating, friendly (but slightly spooky) decorations, Ghost Town, Dragon Alley, and did we mention the animals?! 

Want more? Here are some other great events to venture to with dressed-up kids in tow:  

• Pumpkins and Costumes | Tues., Oct 15 | 4:30-7:30pm | Greer City Park
  Wear your costume and enjoy the Greer Farmers Market while trick-or-treating, listening to live music, noshing on grub from Food Truck Court, and taking a SPENGA yoga class. 

• Halloween Costume Party | Sat., Oct 19 | 12pm-4pm | Southernside Brewing Co. 
  Face painting, costume party, balloon twisting, candy, and more. Live music all day!

• Green Monster Mash | Fri., Oct 25 | 4-8pm | Fluor Field at the West End 
  Trick-or-treat with the Greenville Drive along the Fluor Field concourse, and bring the pups along for the fun! Take a hayride, watch a live animal show, and dance during a family-friendly silent disco! .

• Boo!seum Trick-or-Treat at TCMU | Sat., Oct 26 | 9am-5pm | The Children's Museum of the Upstate
  Halloween-themed programming, mad scientist experiments, face painting, carnival games, food trucks, and more! 

• Halloween at Heritage Park | Sat., Oct 26 | 10am-2pm | Heritage Park
  One of the largest annual community events in Simpsonville, join kiddos and their parents with bounce houses, face-painting, candy, and touch-a-truck. 

• Downtown Trick-or-Treating | Sat., Oct 26 | 3-5pm | Downtown Travelers Rest
  Grab the kids for an afternoon outing filled with face painting, games, trick-or-treating, and all the candy you could wish for! 

• Nightmare Rides: Creatures, Cars & Candy | Sat., Oct 26 | 5-9pm | Spare Time Entertainment
  Have fun at this outdoor, family-friendly event featuring a car show and trunk-or-treat.

• Jeepers Creepers Cruise Inn | Sat., Oct 26 | 6-9pm | Downtown Fountain Inn
  Trunk-or-treat in style as you wander through 175 spooky Jeeps, listen to ghoulish tunes by the Vinyl Junkies, and eat Halloween-themed food. Contests, games, pumpkin painting, and more!