Looking for a fun, engaging, and educational event to share with your little ones? The beloved Lollipops Concert Series is back and better than ever for the 2025–2026 season! Hosted at libraries across Greenville County, these interactive musical storytimes bring beloved children’s books to life through music, performance, and imagination.
Your kids will get to hang out with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Traysie Amick of the South Carolina Children’s Theatre. Each Lollipops concert is designed with preschoolers and young children in mind, but older kids and parents alike will enjoy the storytelling, rhythm, and creativity that these free events offer. With multiple performances at different library branches, it’s easy to find a date and location that fits your family’s schedule.
Why Families Love the Lollipops Series
These concerts are more than just music — they’re mini-performances filled with storytelling, cultural education, and musical appreciation. Each session connects young children to literacy through the arts, building excitement for both books and performances.
Whether you’re new to the series or a returning fan, the Lollipops concerts offer a wonderful way to explore local libraries, enjoy time together as a family, and ignite your child’s love for reading and music.
2025-2026 Lollipops Concerts at the GCLS
Fall 2025 Lollipops Concerts
Lollipops: The Remarkable McFarkle by John Lithgow Five Forks Library 🗓 September 6, 2025 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 September 6, 2025 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Lollipops: Creepy Pair of Underwear by Adam Reynolds Greer (Jean M. Smith) Library 🗓 October 11, 2025 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 October 11, 2025 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Lollipops: King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin by Costanza Stephen Pelham Road (F. W. Symmes) Library 🗓 December 6, 2025 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 December 6, 2025 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Winter & Spring 2026 Lollipops Concerts
Lollipops: Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama Five Forks Library Branch 🗓 January 17, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 January 17, 2026 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Lollipops: Manuelo the Playing Mantis by Don Freeman Travelers Rest Library Branch 🗓 March 7, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 March 7, 2026 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Lollipops: Lady Liberty’s Holiday by Jen Arena Greer (Jean M. Smith) Library 🗓 April 4, 2026 | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Hughes Main Library 🗓 April 4, 2026 | ⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
More FREE Things to Do In Greenville, SC
About the Author
Erin is a Greenville, South Carolina native who loves taking her two young daughters on adventures around the Southeast. Erin enjoys gardening, hiking, and dabbling in DIY projects. Her favorite things to do with her husband and kids include sensory activities, swimming, playing with their dogs, and exploring the local state and national parks.
Looking for some great hikes for toddlers and young children near Greenville, SC? Hiking with young children is possible! We put together this great list of the best hikes in and around Greenville, SC for toddlers. Peruse the list to find trails that are perfect for little ones in the Upstate.
Greenville and the Upstate have some great hiking spots. Beautiful trails, scenic views, mountains, creeks, waterfalls. And there are even several trails that are perfect hikes for toddlers and young kids.
Until I became involved with Hike it Baby Greenville, it never occurred to me I could hike with toddlers, let alone babies. While I can wear my little one, my three-year-old does not like to ride in backpacks–he likes to walk. But he’s little and can’t walk far. And he can’t hike anything that’s too rugged. Luckily there are still plenty of trails we can hike together.
There are lots of wonderful, short and easy, unpaved trails that are perfect introductory hikes for toddlers, early walkers, and young kids new to hiking! For important tips on recreating responsibly, please see this story on the seven Leave No Trace principles.
17+ Great Hikes for Toddlers Near Greenville & the Upstate
Lake Placid Trail at Paris Mountain State Park
This is a simple trail through the wooded park that passes the lake, dam, and waterfall and ends up at the docks. When you drive into the park the lake is just to your right and the parking lot is the first lot on your left.
The Lake Placid trail is a .75 mile loop around the lake. There are bridges, docks, and benches to rest if necessary. There is an entrance fee to enter Paris Mountain if you don’t have a State Park passport.
Paris Mountain State Park 2401 State Park Road Greenville, SC 864.244.5565
Wildcat Wayside
This is one of my favorite places to hike and explore with my little guys. The waterfall, swimming hole, and trail are located right off SC 11 in Cleveland. There are stone steps leading up to the trails – the Wildcat Wayside loop is an easy mile.
Heading north on Route 11, the trail and pull-off parking are on the right side of the road. There is a brown wooden sign that says Wildcat Wayside, but it is easy to miss. It’s about 5 miles north of the 276/11 intersection.
While many readers love this particular trail, others have noted that there are steep drops along the mile-long trail that could be worrisome while hiking with smaller children. Always use caution and make your own determination about safety when hiking any trail.
Wildcat Wayside US 276/SC 11 Cleveland, SC
Lake Conestee Nature Park
Lake Conestee Nature Park in Mauldin is a great introduction to hikes for toddlers. With a combination of paved trails, unpaved trails and wooden walkways, plus a wildlife habitat this is a wonderful place.
This free park has two Learning Loop trails as well as numerous benches, observation areas, and a playground. The trails are beautifully maintained and well-marked. With forest and wetlands, there is a diverse wildlife population including beavers, river otters, deer, snakes, and more than 150 types of birds.
There is also a playground near the entrance to the trails.
Lake Conestee Nature Park 840 Mauldin Rd Greenville, SC 864.277.2004
Yellow Branch Falls
A moderate three-mile round trip hike near Walhalla with a beautiful waterfall payoff. Parking is trailside on the road. This one is fairly popular so try to get there early in the day to get a parking spot.
To find the trail, start at the Yellow Branch Picnic Ground in Sumter National Forest, just south of Stumphouse Tunnel Rd on Hwy 28. Use the short Nature Trail to make your way to the Yellow Branch Falls Trail.
Riverbend Equestrian Park
The sweet horses and nature trail that weaves through the woods are big reasons why this place is so awesome. When you enter the park go left and park back by the stables. The entrance to the nature trail is to the right of the parking area. Andrea Beam has some great photos and tips about this cool park.
Riverbend Equestrian Park is located across from Furman Golf Course on 75 acres. The trail loops around and might be too long for some little hikers. But a shortened hike paired with visiting some horses makes for a perfect outing.
Riverbend Equestrian Park 175 Riverbend Rd Greenville, SC 864.288.6470
Riverbend Equestrian Center | Photo courtesy of Andrea Beam
Hagood Mill
Hagood Mill in Pickens has a beautiful .75 mile nature trail as well as lots of interesting historical buildings such as a blacksmith shop, gristmill, and moonshine distillery to check out. You can hike or wander around the grounds every Wednesday through Saturday all year long. The nature trail is beautiful and short enough for little walkers to manage. When we went the trail was very shady.
Located in Clinton SC, there are two easy trails at Musgrove Mill, both about a mile long.
British Camp Trail
The British Camp trailhead is off the parking lot near the Visitor Center and includes a walk through a lovely meadow as well as scenic views of the Enoree River.
Battlefield Trail
The Battlefield Trail begins at Horseshoe Falls and is mostly wooded, winding along the site of a Revolutionary War battlefield. The falls are a nice spot to cool off after a hike on a hot day.
Musgrove Mill State Historic Site 398 State Park Rd Clinton, SC 864.938.0100
The Lakeside Trail begins at the main parking lot and is a 2-mile loop around Pinnacle Lake with stunning views of Table Rock. It might be too long for young toddlers, but it’s great for confident walkers.
Carrick Creek Trail
The Carrick Creek Trail is a 2.2 mile loop that begins at the Visitor Center across the street from the parking lot. You’ll hike along multiple cascading waterfalls and through the forest. This hike includes some altitude so young toddlers may need to be carried or in a hiking pack for parts of it.
You’ll have to pay an entrance fee to the park if you don’t have a state park passport.
Table Rock State Park 158 E Ellison Ln Pickens, SC 864.878.9813
Kings Mountain National Park
The Battleground Trail at Kings Mountain National Park right on the SC/NC border is paved with rubber material and is an easy 1.8 mile loop. It’s great for kids plus a fascinating history lesson about the battle that took place there during the American Revolution on October 7, 1780.
Kings Mountain National Park 2625 Park Rd Blacksburg, SC 864.936.7921
Campbell’s Covered Bridge
Campbell’s Covered Bridge is located in Landrum and includes an easy and scenic .5 mile trail at the only covered bridge left in South Carolina. This hike is great for hot days as there is a perfect spot for wading near the bridge.
The Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve is a beautiful 1.25 mile trail in Travelers Rest, SC. This heritage preserve was created to help protect the federally endangered bunched arrowhead plant. This trail is mostly level and shaded with some fun little wooden boardwalks.
The Natural Bridge-Raven Rock Trail is a really fun trail for kids. There are waterfalls and the hike overlooks Lake Keowee, which is beautiful. It’s about a four-mile hike in total and of moderate difficulty.
Toddlers will likely need to be carried for most of this hike, especially the Raven Rock Trail section. Take care at the overlook as the rock is smooth and has an abrupt drop-off.
Keowee-Toxaway State Park 108 Residence Dr Sunset, SC 864.868.2605
Station Cove Falls
Station Cove is an easy trail less than two miles round trip that has a huge, beautiful waterfall. It’s located at Oconee Station State Historic Site and is an easy trail perfect for little kids.
Oconee Station State Historic Site State Rd S-37-95 Walhalla, SC
Blue Wall Preserve
The preserve is close to Greenville, less than an hour away, and is a great trail for kids. There is hardly any elevation and if you take the Twin Ponds lollipop loop trail, you’ll see two ponds and a waterfall. The leaves here in the fall are stunning also. The trail is around 3.5 miles.
Twin Ponds Trail at Blue Wall Preserve Landrum, SC
Cedar Falls Park
Cedar Falls is a Greenville County Park located in Fountain Inn that have both paved and nature trails. The longest is only 1.5 miles and includes a beautiful waterfall with a little sandy area for kids to play in (watch for trash and glass though). Don’t play in the water though as bacteria levels are high.
Cedar Falls Park 201 Cedar Falls Rd Fountain Inn, SC
Chau Ram Park
There are several easy trails that are great hikes for toddlers across the bridge at Chau Ram Park in Oconee County. It’s a fun place to cool off in the summer as well since there’s a little sandy beach. There’s also a small entrance fee.
Chau Ram Park 1220 Chau Ram Park Rd Westminster, SC 864.647.9286
Great Hikes for Toddlers and Young Kids in Western North Carolina
Catawba Falls Trail
Catawba Falls Trail is east of Asheville and is a fantastic trail for families because it’s not long and ends at a stunning waterfall, like spectacularly stunning. Total mileage is around 2.5 miles and it’s a fairly easy trail.
Catawba Falls Trailhead 3074 Catawba River Rd Old Fort, NC
Glassy Mountain Trail at the Carl Sandburg Home
Located on the grounds of the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock, NC, the Glassy Mountain Trail is easy to moderate and climbs about a mile to the top of the mountain. It’s a beautiful view. You can also hike along the other trails on the vast property and even pet and play with goats at the barn, all for free.
Carl Sandburg Home 1800 Little River Rd Flat Rock, NC 828.693.4178
Moore Cove Falls
Take US 276 out of Brevard, NC and enjoy two waterfalls with easy access. Looking Glass Falls can be seen from the road, but you can also walk down the steps to get a closer look.
Drive a bit farther and you will find a small parking area by a stone bridge. Take the easy, 1.5 mile round trip trail to Moore Cove Falls where you can walk behind the waterfall!
Crabtree Falls
This waterfall right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in McDowell County is just stunning. It’s totally worth the drive up there and is about 2.5 miles round trip.
Hooker Falls
Located in Dupont State Forest in Cedar Mountain, NC, a .25 mile hike will take you to Hooker Falls, which is also a great spot to wade in the water. Dupont is very popular so it’s crowded. Get there early if you plan to go.
Dupont State Forest 1300 Staton Road Cedar Mountain, NC
Pearson’s Falls
Located in Saluda, NC this trail to Pearson’s Falls is a moderate, .75 mile hike through a botanical preserve. Most of the trail is made up of a stone stairway going up to the falls. The falls and the pond at the base of the falls are not accessible to the public, but there are multiple wading pools among the rocks at the top of the trail that are perfect for cooling off little feet on hot days.
There are lots of great, easy hikes along the Blue Ridge Parkway like Graveyard Fields but during the winter, many parts close because of snow or ice – and that’s the best time to go hiking there! You’ll have to do a little research to find places to go but you can just walk along the Parkway and even run through the tunnels. It’s a lot of fun and super easy. Some our favorite places to hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway are at Black Balsam Knob (incredible 360 degree views), Rough Ridge near Grandfather Mountain, and Frying Pan Fire Tower.
Rough Ridge Trail
Tips for going on hikes with toddlers and young children
Go at their pace: let them wander, explore and stop.
Lower your expectations because unexpected things can happen on the trails – they get tired, they get cranky, you get cranky, the trail is closed, etc.
Be prepared to turn back if they get tired.
Make sure to bring snacks, water, and sunscreen.
Keep them within sight. Letting them explore is great but keep them close enough so if there’s a bear or loose dog or snake, you can be there to intervene.
Hike with others! Hike it Baby Greenville is a great way to find hikes or urban strolls, as well as meet other families who enjoy exploring the outdoors. For more information, check out Hike it Baby Greenville on Facebook.
Looking for things to do with toddlers in Greenville, SC? If you get the urge to take your mini-hurricane out and do fun stuff, we’ve got a list of things to do that will be 1) easy, 2) entertaining, and 3) designed to wear the little tikes out.
Kindermusik® Classes
Piano Central Studios offers music instruction for all ages – infants to adults – including Kindermusik®, Piano, Strings, Flute, Voice, Suzuki, and more.
Kindermusik Classes – Since 1994 Piano Central Studio’s award-winning Kindermusik® program and caring, licensed educators have been helping children get off to the very best kind of start—a musical start! Ages 0-7 years.
For more information or to get your enrollment started, visit the PCS website.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Designed for both big and small kids, TCMU really gets it when it comes to entertaining and fascinating children (heck, and adults). They have a special farm-themed area designed for kids under five years old and their exhibits are very engaging, especially for toddlers.
Swamp Rabbit Café & Grocery
Swamp Rabbit Cafe is one of my absolute favorite places to go because not only do my kids adore their freshly baked stecca, but their outdoor play area is perfect for hours of imaginative play. And it’s fenced in because….kids. Their coffee is also awesome and they are located right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, so I’ve often taken my kids in the jogging stroller for a run and then let them play after in the kids area.
The Library
Lots of free books, games and toys, and perfect no matter what the weather. I feel like I often overlook the library and I really shouldn’t. The Greenville Library system has tons of story times and free events geared towards smaller kids, which are totally worth checking out on a frequent basis.
Their little legs go further than you think and they may love the experience of finding new things outside or choosing their own walking stick (maybe a bad idea…). Here is a great list of places to hike with a toddler.
Go to the Gym
Ok, so this one is a teeny bit selfish but there are a bunch of family-friendly gyms in the area that have childcare. I read someplace that if you don’t take care of yourself, then you are going to have a tougher time taking care of the kids.
Roper Mountain Science Center
The Roper Mountain Science Center has tons of great events all year, like afterschool adventures and Starry Nights Planetarium Shows, but they also have two playgrounds. It’s shaded with slides, sandboxes, and a teeter-totter thing, which is perfect for the little people to play on.
Take a Free Class
A bunch of places offer free classes when parents want to try out their class. Piano Central Studios offers lots of classes from newborn to age 7. Gymboree Play & Music also offers fun classes for babies and toddlers. Check their schedule for a list of current classes.
Tot Time
There are lots of great places in the area that have times and days of the week set aside just for the littles to play without fear of getting run over by the big kids. me for the little people to play without fear of big people trampling them.
Greenville Zoo
A trip to the Greenville Zoo is always fun. It’s small enough that you can get to everything but large enough to be diverse. They also have a great little playground inside the zoo plus a farm animal exhibit, which is pretty cute. The playground outside the park is fantastic as well. You can bring a lunch and make a day of it.
Bass Pro Shops
Neither a hunter nor a fisherman, I still really like Bass Pro Shops and will bring my small children there on a rainy day. They have a little aquarium with lots of cool fish to see plus a large number of animals that have been stuffed and look totally real.
It’s easy to spend time here and let toddlers see the fish and learn about the animals. Sometimes the store will have fun special events where customers can try out some of the gear or Santa will pay a visit. And their fudge is very good if you’re looking for a treat to end the visit.
Barnes & Noble
With story times, a train table, and a café, Barnes & Noble is great place to knock out some time with little kids. Their story times often include a craft as well. See the schedule on their website.
What are your favorite things to do with your toddler in Greenville?
Looking for things to do with your baby in Greenville, SC? Babies are tricky. You can often take them to places not suitable for a preschooler running around yet finding baby-specific activities is harder than general kid ones. Luckily we have a few ideas of fun things to do with your baby in Greenville. Hope you enjoy and please add your own favorites in the comments!
Fun activities for your baby in Greenville, SC
Toddler areas at the playground
Nothing beats the outdoors so take your baby to the park. We have a list of parks with toddler playgrounds and they’re even fenced for extra safety! Most of these fenced-in playgrounds have baby swings so that even non-walkers can still have fun.
Pictures
So this might not be baby’s favorite, but capture those little grins now. You can do old school portrait studios or hire a freelance photographer to get some cute snaps of you at the park or anywhere you’d like. And if you’re looking for a photographer, we have a list of some of our reader favorites.
The Greenville Zoo
The zoo is full of fun animals to look at for even a baby in a stroller and the zoo playground has comfy chairs making it the perfect place to stop for a feeding.
Cloth Diaper Classes
Tired of running to the store for more nappies? Check out cloth diapers through an informative meeting! The main local group is Greenville Cloth Diaper Group on Facebook and they can point you towards a meeting.
Kroc Center
The Kroc Center in downtown Greenville, SC is a great place to take your toddler all year round to play in the water. They have an indoor water park with beach entry, so your little one can play in the shallows, climb the play structure, and ride down the slide. The pool is heated, but a wetsuit-style swimsuit for younger babies is ideal.
TCMU
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is fun for all ages but has a special corner for babies on the top floor. Grandma Betty’s Farm is where you’ll find an enclosed space for crawlers as well as story time in their special 5 and under classroom. The middle floor has some mirrors next to the climber that are great for babies, especially those just starting to sit. Downstairs, the Lily Pad has infant seats for water play.
TCMU of Spartanburg is also a great option – it’s included in your TCMU membership. They have wonderful exhibits specifically for kids ages five and under, including a crawling space for babies, water exhibits, and lots of interactive exhibits. It’s $8/person if you’re not a member.
Enjoy the children’s garden, flowers, and pretty paths at Linky Stone Park.
Attend a local playgroup
If working out isn’t your thing, try a moms group in Greenville. True your little one might not be “playing” right now but that’s no reason you can’t spend an afternoon walking around the zoo or getting some coffee with other parents.
The Little Gym
The Little Gym also offers fun classes for babies. Check their schedule for a list of current classes.
La Leche League
If you’re nursing or interested in starting (it’s possible to “relactate” even if you stopped) La Leche League of Greenville is a perfect spot. Attend a meeting and make some new “breast” friends for you and your nursling. Older siblings are welcome at almost all meetings and some are open to dads too (just ask as meetings frequently are moms only for privacy).
Both Haywood and Westgate have a padded play area for little kids. It’s a great way to introduce your baby to playground equipment with less fall risks and no worries about weather.
Bouncing Babies at the library
The Greenville library system has various story times at most locations, including Bouncing Babies especially for young ones. But most story times are still a treat for your baby so don’t hesitate to bring them to whatever fits your schedule.
Kindermusik
Piano Central Studios offers lots of these classes geared toward the youngest of music lovers.
Do you have an activity to add to our list? Share it in the comments!
This post was originally written by Lindy Wilson and has been updated by the Kidding Around Team.
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