Good morning, Simpsonville — Happy Friday! 🎉

We made it to the end of the week, and there’s plenty happening around town as we head into the weekend.

Whether you’re planning family time, getting out and about, or just looking for something fun to do locally, here’s your quick Friday roundup to keep you in the loop

👋 Welcome

🌤️ Weather

📆 Upcoming Local Events

⚽ Greenville Triumph Move GE Vernova Park Debut to June

🛍️ Haywood Mall Adds Three New Retailers

⚽ Mauldin Approves $2 Ticket Fee for New GE Vernova Park

😁 Just for Fun

📅 Feb 20-23 - 😱 Paranormal Cirque Specter
A magical and mysterious adventure! Rated R. No one under 13 permitted.
🕝 Show time vary. See website for info.
📍 Anderson Mall, 3131 N Main St., Anderson, SC 29621
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 21 - 🏒 Greenville Swamp Rabbits Military Appreciation Night
Honoring the men and women who serve our country.
🕝 Puck drops 7:05 PM
📍 Bon Secours Wellness Arena
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 21 - 🌿We Hike to Heal - Greenville, SC, FREE Women's Galentines Group Hike
Join SC We Hike to Heal Ambassador, Melissa, for this FREE Women's Group Hike!
🕝 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Conastee Nature Preserve
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 24 - 🏃‍♀️‍➡️ Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting with ATI Physical Therapy
This is the new date after being postponed from 1/26/26 & 2/3/26 due to weather.
🕝 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
📍 32 Magnolia Cove Drive, STE A, B & C,Simpsonville, SC 29680
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 24 - 🎨 Painting Party Every Tuesday - Create a Masterpiece!
Unleash your inner artist to create your own masterpiece! MINIMUM ATTENDANCE = 6.
🕝 6:00 PM
📍 Simpsonville Fine Art Gallery
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 25 - 🌟 Fountain Inn 25 Under 40
Celebrating Fountain Inn’s brightest young leaders making big waves before 40.
🕝 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Fountain Inn Activities Center, 610 Fairview Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644
🔗 More Info

📅 Thursdays - 🎶 Music Bingo @ Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster's - Greenville, SC hosts Music BINGO Game Night Thursdays. Join for great music, food, fun, and PRIZES! Free to Play!
🕝 7:30 PM
📍 Dave & Buster's - Greenville
🔗 More Info

🚧 Traffic & road work updates
Fairview Road and surrounding Five Forks corridors continue seeing ongoing road improvement work aimed at easing long-term congestion. Expect occasional lane adjustments and slower traffic during peak commute times.

🏗️ Growth continues across Simpsonville & Five Forks
New residential neighborhoods and retail spaces are steadily expanding across the area. Several commercial spaces along Fairview Road and Woodruff Road are preparing for new tenants, including restaurants and service-based businesses expected to open in the coming months.

🏫 School events & spring activities
Local Greenville County schools are entering a busy season of sports, performances, and spring events. Watch for spirit nights and community fundraisers that support local students and programs.

🌳 Parks getting busier with warmer afternoons
Heritage Park, Southside Park, and neighborhood playgrounds are seeing more afternoon visitors as temperatures stay mild. A great reminder to enjoy outdoor time before the summer heat returns.

🚓 Community safety reminder
Simpsonville Police are reminding residents to lock vehicles and remove valuables overnight as part of routine community safety awareness efforts.

New businesses, local gems & places worth a visit

☕ Exchange Co. Coffee House (Five Forks)
Still one of the busiest meet-up spots in the area. Great for morning coffee, remote work, or casual meetings with friends. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s worth the visit.

🍽️ BridgeWay Station dining scene
More restaurants and dessert spots continue opening and expanding. It’s quickly becoming a go-to destination for family dinners, date nights, and after-school treats.

🛍️ Local boutiques & service businesses
Keep an eye on the Fairview Road and downtown Simpsonville corridors — several new locally owned service businesses and shops are opening quietly without big announcements. Perfect time to explore and discover somewhere new.

🛍️ Explore downtown Simpsonville
Downtown continues to shine with boutiques, salons, and locally owned businesses. A quick afternoon visit can easily turn into discovering a new favorite shop or lunch spot.

The Greenville Triumph SC have announced a new opening date for GE Vernova Park, pushing their first match at the new stadium to June 3.

The club had previously planned to open the venue May 9, but January’s ice and snow storms caused construction delays. According to a team news release, the weather impacted “the timeline for the operational outfitting of the stadium.”

The new multipurpose venue, currently under construction at BridgeWay Station in Mauldin, will serve as the home field for the Triumph, who compete in USL League One. The stadium will also host matches for the Greenville Liberty SC, along with concerts and community events.

The Triumph will kick off their 2026 season in March at Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium on the campus of Furman University, followed by several road matches in April.

The location for the previously scheduled May 9 home match has not yet been announced, and a May 15 home game has been rescheduled to June 10.

GE Vernova Park is located at 1000 Via Corso Ave., near Interstate 385, and is expected to become a major sports and entertainment hub for the Simpsonville area once fully operational.

Shoppers will soon have even more reasons to visit Haywood Mall in Greenville. The mall has announced three new additions, each bringing something a little different to the mix.

Here’s a closer look at what’s coming soon:

💄 Miss A
Miss A is all about fun, affordable beauty. Shoppers can browse colorful makeup, skincare essentials, trendy accessories, and self-care finds — most priced with budget-conscious shoppers in mind. It’s the kind of place where you can experiment with new looks without committing to luxury-level price tags.

👞 Clarks
For decades, Clarks has built its reputation on shoes that feel as good as they look. From the classic Desert Boot to versatile everyday styles, the store will offer thoughtfully designed footwear that blends heritage craftsmanship with modern comfort. Whether you’re dressing for work, weekend, or travel, expect durable staples that don’t sacrifice style.

✨ Rowan
More than just a piercing studio, Rowan turns ear piercing into a milestone moment. Designed to be welcoming for kids, teens, and adults alike, every piercing is performed by licensed nurses using hypoallergenic jewelry. It’s a polished, safety-first experience that feels more like a boutique celebration than a quick mall stop.

These openings follow an earlier announcement that four additional stores and a restaurant are also on the way, continuing a wave of new activity at Haywood Mall.

Opening dates are expected to be announced soon.

At its February 16 meeting, Mauldin City Council gave final approval to a new $2 per ticket stadium facility fee for the multipurpose entertainment venue currently under construction at BridgeWay Station.

The new venue, known as GE Vernova Park, is expected to be semi-operational by May and fully operational in 2027.

Once complete, the stadium will host soccer matches for the Greenville Triumph SC and Greenville Liberty SC, along with concerts and other community events.

The project’s initial phase is expected to cost more than $28 million, with the City of Mauldin contributing approximately $4.5 million toward infrastructure improvements and premium seating.

City leaders say the $2 facility fee will help offset stadium-related expenses and support future capital improvements and infrastructure needs tied to the venue.

As construction continues, GE Vernova Park is poised to become a major entertainment and sports hub for Mauldin and the broader Golden Strip area.

Today’s Trivia:
What was the inspiration for the shape of the iconic Coca-Cola bottle?

(Answer at bottom — no peeking!)

We hope something fun makes its way onto your weekend calendar — whether it’s exploring a local spot, supporting a small business, or just enjoying some well-earned downtime.

Thanks so much for being part of this growing community.

Have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend — see you Monday morning! ☀️

The cocoa bean and pod - The iconic 1915 contour Coca-Cola bottle was inspired by the shape and ribbed texture of a cocoa pod (or bean), chosen to represent the product's ingredients.

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