Annual meeting Holiday Fair & Kringle Holiday Village unite at the Greenville Convention Center December 5-7

Greenville Convention Center and Rotary Club of Greenville announced the partnership of their respective signature events at a joint press conference. The Greenville Convention Center’s annual Holiday Fair and the Rotary Club’s annual Kringle Holiday Village, to be called Holiday Fair & Kringle Village, will unite to delight locals and draw visitors to the Upstate for three days of holiday fun December 5-7, 2024 at the Greenville Convention Center.

For more than 54 years, Greenville Convention Center’s Holiday Fair has offered the region’s largest selection of holiday arts, crafts and gifts under one roof. Exhibitors include approximately 350 crafters and commercial vendors in the three-day, award-winning fair that gives shoppers a chance to support small businesses during the holiday season, while also providing an opportunity to give back to the community.

For more than 50 years, the Rotary Club of Greenville has raised millions of dollars to support Rotary charities through holiday events, including the Singing Christmas Tree and the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights. In 2021, Rotarians created Kringle Holiday Village at Fluor Field to bring a European inspired festival to the Upstate.

Holiday Fair & Kringle Village will allow shoppers who have made Greenville Convention Center’s annual Holiday Fair a tradition, experience additional festivities and holiday happenings, while prior attendees of Kringle Holiday Village will be introduced to more than 350 vendors to do their holiday shopping.

“Combining our annual Holiday Fair and the Rotary Club’s Kringle Holiday Village is a big win for our community,” said Matt Holander, general manager, Greenville Convention Center. “Working together, our two organizations will create a true holiday extravaganza for thousands of local and out of town visitors alike that will build on the traditions of the past while offering new elements that create memories for the future.”

“With inspiration from the Rotary Club of Greenville, sponsors and volunteers along with the resources and team at the Greenville Convention Center, Holiday Fair & Kringle Village will celebrate the merriment of the season,” said Jane Dyer, event co-chair, Holiday Fair & Kringle Village. “It brings joy to thousands of people and raises money for our Rotary charities. We give a gift to the community and the community gives back.”

This year’s beneficiaries include Alexander Elementary School, RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), Greenville County Teacher of the Year program, Rotary Family Literacy Partnership and Service Above Self college scholarships.

Holiday Fair & Kringle Village elements will include:

• Mingle @ Kringle – Don festive apparel and welcome local favorite, RANDOMONIUM, to the main stage for the opening night party. It will take place 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 5. Purchase group tickets for your holiday office party or enter with your Thursday general admission ticket.
• Vendor Market – More than 350 crafters and commercial vendors offering the region’s largest selection of holiday arts, crafts and gifts under one roof. Exhibitors will be selling a wide range of products, from holiday décor, jewelry, beauty items, home and garden goods, artisan goods, toys and games, clothing, pet products and more. The vendor market will be open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on December 5 and 6, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on December 7.
• Friday Movie Night – Join the community from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday, December 6 for a showing of a family friendly Christmas movie, to be announced in October based on fan votes. Bring blankets and fuzzy slippers and enjoy popcorn, hot cocoa and visits from a local cast of holiday characters that bring the film to life.
• Enchanted Tea Party – Generations will come together to make memories in a magical atmosphere where they can listen to holiday stories, share visits with elves, take home special photos and enjoy delicious treats on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m.
• Little Miss Kringle Pageant – Ages eight and under are invited to parade across the main stage in their most festive and charming costumes for proud parents and community members in this informal environment that celebrates creativity and joy. All registered participants will receive a holiday tiara and pictures with a winter princess. Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m.
• Kringle Village Main Stage – All three days of Holiday Fair & Kringle Village will feature live entertainment on the main stage from local bands, community choirs, performance and dance troupes, holiday DJ’s and an Oompah-Band. Magicians, acrobats and circus performers will surprise and delight attendees throughout the event. Event organizers are now accepting performance applications and the full entertainment schedule will be released in October.
• Gluhwein, Bier Garden and Holiday Treats – Throughout all three days of Holiday Fair & Kringle Village, enjoy authentic European mulled wine and a variety of craft beers paired with giant pretzels, brats, homemade strudel, cinnamon buns and all your favorite holiday treats. Alcohol sales are 21+ and a photo ID is required.
• The North Pole – Bring your kids for snowball fights, giant inflatable snow slides and bouncy gingerbread houses. Visit Santa’s workshop and make gifts for family and friends before riding the old-world Carousel and taking photos with Santa. Open December 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and December 7 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Silent Auction and Kringle Cash – Throughout the event a silent auction featuring gifts from local businesses and one-of-a-kind travel destinations will take place. Participation in the silent auction doubles your holiday giving, providing an opportunity to bid on holiday gifts where proceeds benefit the community. Additionally, guests can purchase $5 tickets to win a 50/50 cash drawdown at the end of the event. Auction items will be announced online prior to opening night and bidding will occur in-person and virtually.

Tickets and Additional Information:

• Admission to Holiday Fair & Kringle Village is $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased online starting on Labor Day at www.meetGCC.com in advance or onsite the day of the event.
• Parking at the Greenville Convention Center is $10 per car. Parking can be purchased online at www.meetGCC.com in advance or onsite the day of the event.
• Daily admission includes access to all vendors in the market, Mingle @ Kringle, Friday Movie Night, Kringle Village Main Stage and all events at The North Pole.
• Tickets to the VIP reception, Enchanted Tea Party, and registration for Little Miss Kringle Pageant are available for an additional fee at www.meetgcc.com.

About Greenville Convention Center

As one of the Southeast’s largest venues, boasting 280,000 square feet of impressive exhibit and event space in one of the most sought-after cities, the Greenville Convention Center is committed to providing you with the resources you need to turn your event into an experience that brings your plans to life.

About Greenville SC for the Holidays

The City of Greenville and VisitGreenvilleSC invite guests to enjoy a wide variety of holiday experiences the first weekend of December. Special hotel rates are available through participating hotels. Visit meetgcc.com for more details. Holiday Fair & Kringle Village wrap up just in time for attendees to meet up downtown for the annual Poinsett Parade on Saturday, December 7th.

About the Rotary Club of Greenville

Established in 1916, the Rotary Club of Greenville is the oldest Rotary Club in South Carolina. Rotary is an international service organization whose mission is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. In Rotary International, there are 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members worldwide dedicated to “Service Above Self.” Each year, the Rotary Club of Greenville organizes various service and fundraising projects allowing its approximately 200 members to give back to the local community and beyond. Funds raised by the Rotary Club of Greenville are directed to its philanthropic arm “Rotary Charities,” which supports many non-profit organizations both locally and around the world. For more information, visit greenvillerotary.org and follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GVLRotary.