Spring is bringing sunshine (some days) and warm weather (here and there) to Travelers Rest.
It’s also bringing with it a fuller calendar and more of our favorite TR events. (New events like the Vintage Market at the Park and faithful favorites like the TR Farmers Market.)
From the first time we attended out of curiosity to the time we officially signed on as media sponsors to every single Friday night they’ve hosted, we’ve been fans of the TR Town & Art Crawl.
What’s better than a Friday night in pleasant weather with good friends and twinkling lights and shops open late and makers and crafters sharing their skills in our very favorite small town?
The TR Town & Art Crawl is in its third year and this season begins April 13 and it’s definitely a lucky Friday the 13th. Come downtown from 6 to 9 pm for live music, outdoor events, shopping specials and great food.
The April focus is an Earth Day theme celebrating our local treasures and our local parks and trails.
A new sponsor this year, Greer Real Estate Company, is hosting a rock painting station. (Their new office is right inside My Sister’s Store.) Right on the porch of My Sister’s Store you can bring the kids – but grown ups can come too (with or without the kids) – and paint a rock. Travelers Rest High School art students will be available to lend a helping hand. You’re welcome to take your painted rock home after it dries or to hide it along the trail or in town somewhere to keep the fun going. “We love seeing these painted rocks around town,” Event Organizer Kristin LaRoy says. “They add a little color to the city and are a fun surprise to find.”
There is also a fun new twist to every Crawl this year. A Find and Seek Hunt has been added to the good times. In order to play along, attenders will need to pick up a Crawl Card at one of three locations — the Gazebo or outside of My Sister’s Store or outside of TR Makers Co. Then you need to find at least one hidden TR Crawl rock and that enters you into the drawing for a $50 Crawl gift card. (That’s a prize worth playing for!) Clues will be shared on social media and at the pick up locations. (Be sure to follow TR Town & Art Crawl on Instagram and Facebook.)
Also set up outside of My Sister’s Store will be a plant sale hosted by the Travelers Rest High School FFA club. (We’ve all been itching to get our hands in some dirt this spring.)
Another special group will be featured in this location too. A community group that is changing lives and upcycling old wood, Soteria At Work’s mission is to provide transitional job opportunities to people who face significant obstacles to employment. It includes countywide deconstruction and reclamation services that contribute to sustainability within the community. Come talk with them and see what their new found artists can create with upcycled furniture and furnishings. Kristin says part of what excites her about this year’s Art Crawl is the opportunity to expose folks to even more incredible community groups, artists and activities like this. “We continue to find wonderful organizations like Soteria at Work, who are right in our area. It’s exciting to share these groups and let others know about them,” Kristin shares.
The Gazebo is another hub of activity on Crawl nights. (It’s directly across from Gray Mare Antiques – and they’ll be open late too!) There will be a pretty special guest waiting for y’all at the gazebo too. He’s familiar to many of us, but perhaps a new face to some of the younger audience. Smokey the Bear will be right here in TR. Stop by the gazebo and say hi and have your photo taken with Smokey. He’ll have a US Forest Service representative with him too.
Let’s Keep TR Beautiful will be on the lawn as well and they’ll have information about their plans to help Travelers Rest have a Strawless Summer.
Hang around the gazebo area for some kids art activities with Greenville Rec. and some upcycled games with Gateway Baptist Church. There will also be booths by local artists at the gazebo and up and down the streets. You can find work by jewelry designer Jorie Browder of JBJ Designs Artisan jewelry and electrified artwork by Will and Sherry Pelletier of Eclectic Adventures and woodwork by Andrew Ballew of Ballew Woodworks.
When you’re ready for a bit of a sit down break, make your way to The Grove at Upcountry Provisions. From 5 to 9 pm Alex Hunnicut will be performing at The Grove. (Don’t be afraid to hang your hammock and get comfy as you embrace the tunes.) Order up one of their wood fired pizzas and, if you’re lucky, one of the friends you brought along will serve you up hammock side with your delicious sandwich. (Maybe if you tip them.)
Next stop for your night should be in front of TR Makers Co. and the White Rabbit Fine Art Gallery – by Pink Mama’s. (And yes, a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone would be the right choice.) Here you’ll find tents and under these tents you’ll find a variety of artists including work by photographer Joe Hiltabidel, original artwork by Grace Blanche McDowell of Peaceful Pines Studio and Gayle Latuszek of Art by Gayle, and jewelry makers Pamela Wright of WeatherVain Jewelry and Katie Mann of My Celestial Phoenix- Consciously Crafted Jewelry.
Step inside TR Makers Co. to join in on some fun kids art activities.
And if you’re still needing another break, hang out at the Patio Flavor Arts Lounge in the same area. (We might as well go ahead and warn you – you’re going to fall in love with their outdoor furniture – it’s beautiful and comfortable.)
Don’t forget about the Art Crawl Cards too. All the crawl card details will be available on the card.
Plus, the cards also offer discounts at certain stores:
The Grove at Upcountry Provisions – FREE entry to live music
The Whistle Stop at The American Cafe – FREE live music and Dinner Specials all night
Boho Indigo TR – FREE gift with $10 purchase
Charlie’s Southern Rustiques – 10% off any item
TR Makers Co. – 10% off your entire purchase
Homebody – 10% off your entire purchase
Gray Mare Antiques – 10% off your entire purchase
You can pick up your crawl card (and a map) at each of the following locations:
Boho Indigo – Bumbyee Flowers and Seasonal – Charlie’s Southern Rustiques – Copperhead Mountain Distillery – Downtown Divas – FH Cigar – Finnamores General Store & Market Place – Gray Mare Antiques – Goose Feathers – Homebody – My Sister’s Store Books and More – Pace Running Shop – Pink Mama’s Ice Cream – Prowse on Main – RetroMarketplace with Through The Looking Glass – Shortfields – Sidewall Pizza Company – Silver Lily Boutique – Sunrift Adventures – The Cafe @ Williams Hardware – The Whistle Stop at the American Cafe – Travelers Rest Makers Company – Treehouse Cafe & Studio – Upcountry Provisions Bakery and Bistro – White Rabbit Gallery of Fine Art
And, in case you’ve forgotten or it’s your first time, the customary crawl greeting Friday night is …
Happy Crawl Y’all.
See you there!
