After Helene delay, downtown’s Fall for Greenville festival to return. Here’s what to expect.

GREENVILLE — After Fall for Greenville was postponed following Tropical Storm Helene, the popular festival will return in November — and despite the storm’s widespread destruction, without major changes.

The three-day music and food event will offer at least 81 concerts and 57 food vendors when nearly 150,000 visitors flock to downtown Nov. 8-10 — one of the largest festivals in the Upstate that has platformed the likes of Jason Isbell and Dawes.

“People should definitely expect to come and still experience the top-level event that they are used to experiencing,” said Anna Catherine Miller, tourism administrator for the city. 

Why was Fall for Greenville canceled?

The longtime event normally takes place in October. But Helene delayed the festival for a month after it hit the Upstate on Sept. 27, knocking down trees, leaving over 1 million without power and killing at least 49 people in South Carolina.

Miller said the city made the tough decision to postpone the 43rd annual festival because of the storm’s impact and logistical issues with its suppliers.

“The resounding feedback was that the community needs the event,” she said, “(but) not right now.”

Since then, she said the focus of the event has shifted to “being an opportunity to give back,” specifically to Helene recovery efforts.

The city has increased the revenue that participating restaurants receive and created opportunities for visitors to donate to hurricane relief.

“We’re not fully healed, but I think that we’re getting there,” she said. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together. … This is coming downtown and listening to music while eating food that is ultimately helping these restaurants.”

What will Fall for Greenville look like?

Despite the one-month delay, regular visitors will not see many major differences. The only noticeable change is the city canceled the Thursday night kick off.

The Spinx Beer Garden and GSP International Airport Wine Garden will still take place. Local restaurant staples like Sum Bar, Larkin’s and White Wine & Butter will still set up booths.

Only a handful of performers pulled out, with most of the original lineup returning — albeit on a revised schedule. They also added eight new performers, including blues artist Liam St. John.

The festival will be headlined by a number of nationwide acts, including 18-year-old “guitar prodigy” Grace Bowers, Grammy-winning bassist Victor Wooten, and Sudanese-American genre-bending artist Sikane. 

It will also feature local staples like Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, Randomonium and Darby Wilcox & The Peep Show. 

The music is free to hear, though food and drink costs money through a ticketing system.

For more information on who will be performing and what to expect, visit fallforgreenville.com.