Events in Gaffney today

Explore more than 150 tables of collectibles, including Pokemon and other trading card games, sports cards, die-cast vehicles, action figures, comics, Barbie, and more. A cosplay contest will be held.

At Milliken Arboretum, runners, joggers, and walkers unite for a cross-country fun run and 5K that supports local children facing cancer and the families who support them. The Upstate Strut for Childhood Cancer brings the community together to move, rally, and fuel vital assistance provided through Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas. Last year the event raised more than $65,000 for Upstate kids in treatment. Registration includes a race shirt, with sizes guaranteed for early registrants and limited availability afterward. Teams of friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors are encouraged, and playful names and matching outfits add to the spirit. After the race, trophies will be presented for Most Spirited Team, Largest Team, and Top Fundraising Team.

The Bethany Santiago Fire Department hosts an annual fall BBQ and bake sale, a community tradition featuring barbecue plates, sandwiches, sides, and hot dogs, along with tea and lemonade. The bake sale table offers cakes, pies, cookies, breads, and other homemade treats, and food is available until sold out. Prices are $10 for a BBQ plate, $3 for a sandwich, $12 per pound of barbecue, $3 per pound of slaw or beans, $2 for a hot dog, $4 for a 16 count pack of buns, and $1 for tea or lemonade. Sponsor and children’s T-shirts will be available at a dedicated table, with pricing posted there. Donations of baked goods are accepted in advance and on the morning of the event, and small businesses may include business information with their baked goods to be acknowledged. Assistance with smoke alarms is available upon request, and donations to the Bethany Santiago Fire Department are welcome. For more information, call 803-222-3010.

A musicians-only jam designed for players with intermediate or advanced skills, offering a chance to make music together without the usual public jam hassles. It is not a place to learn instruments, and those who are not yet players are invited to relax and enjoy the music from the audience. Lessons are available through the studio for anyone interested in learning. Electric guitars and electric basses are encouraged since the sessions can get loud and acoustic instruments may be hard to hear. Ear plugs will be available, and listening from the front lobby is an option if the volume feels high. Please do not bring microphones or XLR cables, and please do not adjust the soundboard. Using the equipment provided on site helps the jam run smoothly and supports a cooperative, team-minded atmosphere. The setting is family-friendly with clear rules. No drugs, no alcohol, and no outside beverages are permitted. There is no smoking or vaping inside the studio, while smoking and vaping are allowed outdoors. Admission is free, and complimentary refreshments include bottled water, soda, coffee, chips, snack cakes, and ice cream.

Master Praise will present two singing programs, offering two opportunities to hear their music.

Undercover Jazz brings its upstate South Carolina sound to Fretwell Spartanburg as part of Off the Clock Friday on the Fretwell Lawn. Formed in 2019, the group blends original compositions with timeless jazz standards and reshapes RnB, hip hop, rock, and pop favorites through a jazz lens. This free, family friendly outing showcases local talent and offers a relaxed way to unwind or pause a stroll along the nearby Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail. A wide range of food and beverages will be available from Little River Cafe, making the outdoor setting an easygoing backdrop for a casual community evening.

As night settles in, a lively market in Grover, NC brings together shopping and entertainment in equal measure. Hosted by Tiffany's Antique Mall and Stone Owl Studio, the experience blends local vendors with a broad mix of antiques, crystals, handmade goods, vintage finds, collectibles, art, food, and more. Music sets the mood while a fire performer who eats flames and other acts appear throughout the night, with surprises waiting around every corner. Whether hunting for unique treasures, supporting small businesses, or planning a fun outing with friends and family, this gathering offers a festive way to explore and enjoy. A few vendor spots are still being filled.

This two-and-a-half hour, moonlit kayak outing explores the Pacolet River in Spartanburg, South Carolina. All kayak equipment and a life vest are provided, and each participant receives a glow-in-the-dark fun pack. After paddling, relax by a campfire on the riverbank and enjoy included snacks.

A free local food and drink festival returns to Drayton Mills, celebrating favorites from across the Carolinas. Expect a welcoming showcase of regional flavors and local vendors. Vendor applications are free, and spots are limited across all categories.

A ticketed celebration marks the release of Threshing Day, a new read set in the world of Rebecca Yarros and not the fourth installment of the Empyrean series. Admission requires a ticket, capacity is limited to 20, and a preorder of the book includes a ticket to the party. To make the wait festive, attendees can craft friendship bracelets, play trivia, color, and enjoy giveaways and book specials. Light snacks are included with admission. Bookish pottery from Hearts of Clay will be available for purchase, and those who choose to paint pottery will have a $10 event fee. This is a BYOB gathering. Books will be distributed when the release officially begins. If publisher shipping delays occur, all attendees will be notified, with options for a refund, shipping of the book, or in-store pickup once copies arrive.

A weekly tournament series brings variety and friendly competition with a different focus each time. Registration takes place in person on a first come, first served basis. The first week of each month features ping pong, the second spotlights trivia, the third centers on cornhole, and the fourth highlights a rotating selection of video games.

Family Movie Nights take place every Wednesday with free popcorn and half-price burgers and Yardogs. Check the weekly events post and stories to see which movie is playing each week.

An open mic on the FR8yard stage welcomes musicians. Signups happen in person, followed by live sets. Participants should bring their own instrument, except for drum kits, and instruments equipped with pickups are encouraged. The open mic continues for a set stretch and then as long as there are names on the list. After signups conclude or the initial window ends, The FR8 Power Trio takes the stage. Arriving early helps secure a spot to play.

Converse Symphony Orchestra launches its 2026 to 2027 season with Crosswinds in Twichell Auditorium. The program features the Piccolo Concerto in C Major by Antonio Vivaldi, Clarinet Concerto No. 2, III. Rondo: Allegro by Carl Maria Von Weber, and Symphony No. 104 in D Major, 'London,' by Joseph Haydn. Admission is free and open to the public. A livestream will be available.

Wind down at Pregame Lounge with an easygoing atmosphere after Music On Main in Spartanburg and after Monarch. Enjoy a mellow close to the night in Spartanburg, South Carolina.