The best arts & culture spots in Spartanburg County

Whether your kiddo needs to climb, tinker, or just burn off the zoomies, The Childrens' Museum of the Upstate keeps it fun and low-stress for grownups too. The Spartanburg spot is built for ages 0-6, with hands-on exhibits that turn rainy afternoons into mini-adventures.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, September 6, 2026

SCPL Planetarium is your this-week brain treat, turning any evening into a trip across the cosmos with a 50-foot domed theater, the Kitty Black Perkins Maker Lab for hands-on tinkering, and a mesmerizing Foucault pendulum in the lobby that quietly proves we’re spinning through space.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, September 8, 2026

Spartanburg Science Center packs real-deal STEM fun into hands-on exhibits, a Fossil Room stocked with bones, skulls, rocks and minerals, plus Spartanburg County’s only public collection of exotic animals, from reptiles and amphibians to fish and a young alligator. Easy, low-key outing that still sparks big wonder.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, October 6, 2026

Step back into Spartanburg's rail roots at Hub City Railroad Museum, where vintage memorabilia, intricate models, and a restored caboose turn a quick visit into a full-on nostalgia trip. It's a low-key, kid-at-heart kind of stop, and the gift shop scratches that "just one more souvenir" itch.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, October 22, 2026

From author talks to dance, science, and live music, Chapman Cultural Center is basically Spartanburg’s arts living room. Peek at the calendar this week for George Singleton: Author Reading & Signing on August 25 and other happenings, then treat yourself to a night that feels surprisingly worth leaving the couch.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, October 14, 2026

Spartanburg Art Museum is the Upstate’s only contemporary art museum, always free to wander, and right now it’s showcasing “From Our Permanent Collection,” a 120-year sweep of standout works running through September 30, 2026.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, October 11, 2026

Step into Walnut Grove Plantation this week for guided tours through the Moore family’s 18th-century manor, kitchen cabin and Rocky Spring Academy, plus outbuildings like the blacksmith forge, smokehouse and doctor’s office, then wander the newly updated nature trail.

From the Spartanburg newsletter, August 21, 2026