Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

SANTA’S SHOPPE

Santa’s Shoppe is the largest fundraiser for the Junior League of Spartanburg. Each year, thousands of shoppers head to downtown Spartanburg to find the perfect gifts from over 60 merchants and snap the perfect picture with Santa during Cookies with Santa. Tickets for Santa’s Shoppe and Cookies with Santa will be available in September, so start making your holiday gift lists, mark your calendars, and don’t miss this exciting shopping event that is sure to bring you many memories this holiday season!

This year’s Santa’s Shoppe will be held November 3 – November 5, 2023.

Friday, November 3rd: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, November 4th: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, November 5th: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tickets
Advance Tickets sales are coming soon. Get your tickets here!

Cost: $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Tickets purchased online will be available at will call under the name used for purchase.

Saturday, November 4th – Cookies with Santa
Our ever-popular, Cookies with Santa, will take place on Saturday, November 4th. Join Santa for a fun hour of pictures, crafts, cookie decorating, and more! Be sure to purchase tickets early as this event does sell out and additional seats/tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.

Cost: $20 per child.

(*ticket includes one free accompanying adult); Tickets sold ONLINE ONLY – starting September 15th, 2023.

Seating times are: 8:30 am | 10:00 am | 11:30 am | 1:00 pm | 2:30 pm

MERCHANTS

Interested in being a merchant? Complete an application to be a part of this year’s event!

ABOUT SANTA’S SHOPPE

Established in 1989, Santa’s Shoppe is the signature fundraising event for the Junior League of Spartanburg, Inc. (JLS), for which all proceeds are used to support our community projects. Held annually each November, thousands of shoppers head to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg to find the perfect gifts from over 60 merchants and a chance to snap the perfect picture with Santa during Cookies with Santa.

The three-day shopping event raised over $48,000 in 2021 to support our mission and community projects, which includes Mini-Grants for Teachers, and literacy and school readiness across Spartanburg County.

Santa’s Shoppe would not be a success without the support of our many shoppers and wonderful merchants who travel across South Carolina and beyond. We are thankful for your continued support!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Merchant? Contact [email protected]

Stay up to date on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

STATIONARY FUN – Creekside play area has a treehouse and wee slide ➤ The Big Barn has our Sound Silo full of instruments to play on and make noise, trikes on the trike track around a REAL tractor and cornhole boards(ask the staff for bags) ➤ On the grassy slope behind the Big Barn we’ve got our famous and fast culvert tunnel slides for all ages, hammocks on the hill and tetherball!

Availability: All stationary fun is available every day during business hours of 10-5, starting September 2nd, through the rest of the season- tetherball will be back in action starting September 6th!

ANIMALS TO SEE – We will have a brooder house full of chicks in various ages and stages all season, there will typically be mama pigs and piglets in agritourism pens on the hill, more rarely there will be grazing cattle in a nearby field.

FOOD TRUCK SCHEDULE

9/2 Sat  11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

9/16 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck – they will be serving HNG beef for their all-American burger!

9/24 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Root Down Farm Food Truck

9/30 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/7 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

10/14 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/15 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/22 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/29 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Grush’s Cajun Dino Grill Food Truck

11/4 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

FALL SEASONAL OFFERINGS

APPLES – Our partners in Edneyville, NC, Lyda Farms, bring some of the best in the region. Local and low spray, folks come every year to get the best of fall in NC by the bag to bake, stew, butter, sauce and of course, crunch into while sitting on the farm.

Availability: Apples will be available to buy starting September 9th, they will typically run out Mid to late October.

FRESH PRESSED CIDER – We press fresh apple cider every year, comprised of our historical orchard apples on the Old Sherrill’s Inn property and apples from our partner Lyda Farms. This is a raw, unpasteurized product – delicious and changeable as the season, no added sugar or seasonings.

Availability: 1st pressing September 13th, bottled cider will be in the store for purchase September 14th!

JACKOLANTERN PUMPKINS – We work with several WNC veggie farmers in the area, including Hawkins Farms. We’ll have pumpkins arranged all around the Farm Store to display their beauty AND make sure you get *just the right one*. The seeds are dynamite when roasted, too…

Availability: Coming Mid-September, they will typically run out by end of October so make sure you get yours! 

EDIBLE SQUASH & DECORATIVE GOURDS – From Mr. Anthony Cole’s farms, we have some long-lasting festive gourds to decoarate for the season, and a broad variety of edible squashes and pumpkins perfect for pies, soups and pasta.

Availability: Coming Mid-September.

FRIDAY
2:00 PM Show Open
5:30 PM Reggie Bügmüncher
6:30 PM Heavy Metal Magician Nigel Blackstorm
7:30 PM The Daredevil from Down Under Alakazam
8:30 PM Verona Fink Burlesque Sideshow
9:00 PM Suspension
10:00 PM Tattoo of the Day
11:00 PM Show Close

Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.

ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

November 3-11, 2023

Directed by Jenny Martin
Music Direction by Roberta Whiteside
Choreography by Melanie Veazey

PLAY HOCKEY!

Saturdays through Dec. 16,
8 a.m.–noon through Nov. 18;

10 a.m.–1 p.m. Nov. 24–Dec. 16

Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.

ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

• WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Rd., Farmers Truck Shed #1, daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.
• ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

• *Black Mountain Tailgate Market, 130 Montreat Rd., Saturdays through Nov. 18, 9 a.m.–noon

• Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers markets. Nine markets in Buncombe County will offer extended seasons or special holiday dates in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, eggs, and bread, these markets will feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.

ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription. Both programs offer participants free market tokens that can be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. That includes in-season fall produce such as root veggies (including carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips), tubers (potatoes and sweet potatoes), brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage), winter squash, greens, and fruits like apples and persimmons.

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

SANTA’S SHOPPE

Santa’s Shoppe is the largest fundraiser for the Junior League of Spartanburg. Each year, thousands of shoppers head to downtown Spartanburg to find the perfect gifts from over 60 merchants and snap the perfect picture with Santa during Cookies with Santa. Tickets for Santa’s Shoppe and Cookies with Santa will be available in September, so start making your holiday gift lists, mark your calendars, and don’t miss this exciting shopping event that is sure to bring you many memories this holiday season!

This year’s Santa’s Shoppe will be held November 3 – November 5, 2023.

Friday, November 3rd: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, November 4th: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, November 5th: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tickets
Advance Tickets sales are coming soon. Get your tickets here!

Cost: $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

Tickets purchased online will be available at will call under the name used for purchase.

Saturday, November 4th – Cookies with Santa
Our ever-popular, Cookies with Santa, will take place on Saturday, November 4th. Join Santa for a fun hour of pictures, crafts, cookie decorating, and more! Be sure to purchase tickets early as this event does sell out and additional seats/tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.

Cost: $20 per child.

(*ticket includes one free accompanying adult); Tickets sold ONLINE ONLY – starting September 15th, 2023.

Seating times are: 8:30 am | 10:00 am | 11:30 am | 1:00 pm | 2:30 pm

MERCHANTS

Interested in being a merchant? Complete an application to be a part of this year’s event!

ABOUT SANTA’S SHOPPE

Established in 1989, Santa’s Shoppe is the signature fundraising event for the Junior League of Spartanburg, Inc. (JLS), for which all proceeds are used to support our community projects. Held annually each November, thousands of shoppers head to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in downtown Spartanburg to find the perfect gifts from over 60 merchants and a chance to snap the perfect picture with Santa during Cookies with Santa.

The three-day shopping event raised over $48,000 in 2021 to support our mission and community projects, which includes Mini-Grants for Teachers, and literacy and school readiness across Spartanburg County.

Santa’s Shoppe would not be a success without the support of our many shoppers and wonderful merchants who travel across South Carolina and beyond. We are thankful for your continued support!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Merchant? Contact [email protected]

Stay up to date on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

STATIONARY FUN – Creekside play area has a treehouse and wee slide ➤ The Big Barn has our Sound Silo full of instruments to play on and make noise, trikes on the trike track around a REAL tractor and cornhole boards(ask the staff for bags) ➤ On the grassy slope behind the Big Barn we’ve got our famous and fast culvert tunnel slides for all ages, hammocks on the hill and tetherball!

Availability: All stationary fun is available every day during business hours of 10-5, starting September 2nd, through the rest of the season- tetherball will be back in action starting September 6th!

ANIMALS TO SEE – We will have a brooder house full of chicks in various ages and stages all season, there will typically be mama pigs and piglets in agritourism pens on the hill, more rarely there will be grazing cattle in a nearby field.

FOOD TRUCK SCHEDULE

9/2 Sat  11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

9/16 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck – they will be serving HNG beef for their all-American burger!

9/24 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Root Down Farm Food Truck

9/30 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/7 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

10/14 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/15 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/22 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/29 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Grush’s Cajun Dino Grill Food Truck

11/4 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

FALL SEASONAL OFFERINGS

APPLES – Our partners in Edneyville, NC, Lyda Farms, bring some of the best in the region. Local and low spray, folks come every year to get the best of fall in NC by the bag to bake, stew, butter, sauce and of course, crunch into while sitting on the farm.

Availability: Apples will be available to buy starting September 9th, they will typically run out Mid to late October.

FRESH PRESSED CIDER – We press fresh apple cider every year, comprised of our historical orchard apples on the Old Sherrill’s Inn property and apples from our partner Lyda Farms. This is a raw, unpasteurized product – delicious and changeable as the season, no added sugar or seasonings.

Availability: 1st pressing September 13th, bottled cider will be in the store for purchase September 14th!

JACKOLANTERN PUMPKINS – We work with several WNC veggie farmers in the area, including Hawkins Farms. We’ll have pumpkins arranged all around the Farm Store to display their beauty AND make sure you get *just the right one*. The seeds are dynamite when roasted, too…

Availability: Coming Mid-September, they will typically run out by end of October so make sure you get yours! 

EDIBLE SQUASH & DECORATIVE GOURDS – From Mr. Anthony Cole’s farms, we have some long-lasting festive gourds to decoarate for the season, and a broad variety of edible squashes and pumpkins perfect for pies, soups and pasta.

Availability: Coming Mid-September.

Come on by for the opening of Warren Wilson’s brand new retail and community space on the iconic and beautiful College Farm! When the Asheville Farm School opened its doors 130 years ago, ethical stewardship of the land, service to community and access to education were all core values. These core values persist at the College today and are among the guiding principles of The Center for Working Lands. The store will be stocking all of our quality meat products, fresh vegetables, and items made by our Craft Crews and independent student makers. Our full line of Forest and Herb Crew products including teas, salves and tinctures will be available as well as coffee from our local partner Dynamite Coffee Company and College Farm memorabilia. The day will include tours of the College Farm, yard games, cute animals and live music so bring the whole family and relax with us in the beautiful Swannanoa Valley. Everyone who joins us will be entered into a raffle to win a choice of either an assorted meat package or an assortment of herbal and forest products.
The Farm School General Store will be open Saturdays, 10:00am – 2:00pm and will provide a space for the community to learn about opportunities to get involved with the College through workshops, lectures and demonstrations focused on the role of working lands in creating and protecting a vibrant and sustainable Western North Carolina.

“Riding for the Kids,” to raise money and toys in support of Eblen Charities Saint Nicholas Project who then distribute them to needy families throughout our community. In memory of Jerry Slagle, one of the original Toy Run founders who passed away this year.

HAYRIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for all ages, babies in arms are free, 16 people per ride.

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-4pm, last ride goes out at 3:30pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions.

PONY RIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for young children, supervision and helmets provided. If you’re interested in riding lessons or trail rides please reach out to [email protected]

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-3pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions