Good Monday morning, Simpsonville! 🌞

Spring is definitely showing up around the Upstate this week with beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures, and the nice weather looks like it will stick around through the weekend — perfect for getting outside and enjoying a little fresh air.

Of course, spring also means pollen season is kicking into high gear, so if your allergies are already acting up, you’re not alone.

And one quick reminder before the weekend: Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, so don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening around town.

🌤️ Weather

🩸 Community Call: Red Cross Reports Critical Blood Shortage

📅 Upcoming Events & Things to Do

🫶 Get to Know Your Neighbors - Sara’s Event Services

🏡 On the Market (Real Estate)

⚡ Local Quick Hits

🆕 New & Noteworthy

😁 Just for Fun

Recent winter storms across South Carolina have forced the cancellation of dozens of blood drives — and now the American Red Cross says the situation is urgent.

Nationwide, the organization lost nearly 20,000 units of blood due to storm-related cancellations. In South Carolina alone, the Red Cross typically collects around 400 units per day (about 5,000 per month). That supply has taken a significant hit.

Blood donations support:

Each single donation can potentially help up to three people — and a unit of blood only has a shelf life of about 40 days.

Right now, there’s especially high demand for:

…but all blood types are needed and appreciated.

Scott Brown, Red Cross Region Donor Services Executive for South Carolina, shared a simple perspective: If someone you loved needed blood, you wouldn’t hesitate. Sometimes it’s just a matter of making the time.

If you’re able, please consider stepping up for our neighbors.

🔗 Find a local blood drive or schedule an appointment:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

📅 Mar 6 - First Friday
First Friday at New Realm Brewing Company!
Join every First Friday from 6 PM to 9 PM for an evening of family-friendly fun at New Realm Brewing Company!
🕝 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 New Realm Brewing Company - 912 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 7 - Dinner Detective Interactive True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show!
Solve a hilarious crime while feasting on a fantastic dinner. The only True Crime Show in America where YOU could be the Prime Suspect!
🕝 6:00 PM
📍 Cambria Hotel Greenville - 135 Carolina Point Parkway, Greenville, SC 29607
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 7 - Live at the VFW Post : The Kevin Pickens Band
Sip, Swing, and Socialize! Wine, golf lessons, and golfing fun —no experience needed. Ages 21+
🕝 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM
📍 18 Charles Gandy Way, Piedmont, SC 29673
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 7 - Simpsonville Cards & Collectibles Show
230 tables -Sports,non-sports cards (Pokemon, onepiece, magic, lorcana, Disney, etc) comics, video games, toys, coins, other collectibles.
🕝 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
📍 City Of Simpsonville Activity & Senior Center
310 West Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 9 - Leprechaun Hunt
Story time followed by a leprechaun scavenger hunt for ages 5 & under.
🕝 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
📍 Greenville County Library - Mauldin
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 10 - Seed Starting
Learn how to grow plants from seeds in this hands-on workshop.
🕝 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
📍 Greenville County Library - Fountain Inn
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 10 - A Taste of Geneva
Explore Geneva one winery at a time via a unique, curated wine tasting event.
🕝 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
📍 Sweet Sippin' - 103 West Curtis St., Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

📅 Mondays - 🤔Trivia @ Tipsy Taco Simpsonville
Grab your team, test your knowledge, and enjoy tacos, drinks, and a fun night of friendly competition.
🕝 7:00 PM
📍 Tipsy Taco - Simpsonville

📅 Tuesdays - Painting Party Every Tuesday - Create a Masterpiece!
Join us on any Tuesday evening for a Painting Party and unleash your inner artist to create your own masterpiece! MINIMUM ATTENDANCE IS 6.
🕝 6:30 PM
📍 Simpsonville Fine Art Gallery, 106 West Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

📅 Wednesdays - ❓Trivia @ Bullwinkle’s Tavern
Midweek plans? Enjoy a fun night of trivia, drinks, and bragging rights at one of Simpsonville’s favorite hangouts.
🕝 7:00 PM
📍 Bullwinkle’s Tavern - Five Forks
🔗 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

📅 Thursdays - Family Night- Kids eat FREE at select restaurants!
Experience the best of local and international cocktails, beers, and cuisine.
🕝 5:00 PM-10:00 PM
📍 Warehouse at Vaughn's, 109 West Trade Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

If you believe some of the best memories in life are made around a table, you’re going to love this one.

Meet Sara Bullock, the heart behind Sara’s Event Services — a growing Upstate catering company built on passion, perseverance, and a leap of faith.

Sara always dreamed of being an entrepreneur. For years, she imagined owning a restaurant — but her true love was catering. Then in 2024, after the unexpected loss of her dad, she made a decision that changed everything:

Life is too short to sit on a dream.

She started small — with a charcuterie cart her brother built — setting up at festivals and getting her name out there. From there, she stepped into the wedding industry, private chef events, and full-service catering… and business took off.

And honestly? You can feel the heart behind it.

Sara and her team specialize in:

Whether it’s a wedding, private party, business event, or special celebration, she’s focused on creating memories over meals.

Sara puts the customer first. Always.

She’s known for:

And here’s something I love — she doesn’t have formal culinary training. Everything she knows comes from years in the restaurant industry, hands-on experience, trial and error, and a whole lot of Food Network inspiration growing up.

Her passion fuels the experience she creates for her clients.

Sara’s Event Services works throughout:
Inman, Spartanburg, Simpsonville, Anderson, and across the Upstate.

Sara says one of her favorite parts of the job is exploring all the hidden gems in each county and getting to be part of celebrations in so many beautiful spaces.

She’ll also be participating in an upcoming open house at Adelaide Events Venue on March 14th — so if you’re planning something special, that’s a great chance to meet her in person.

🌐 SarasEventService.com
📱 Facebook: Saras Event Services
📸 Instagram: @saraseventservices
📧 [email protected]

If you’re planning a wedding, corporate event, or special gathering, this might be your sign to reach out.

And when you do… tell her you saw her on HEY SIMPSONVILLE! 😉

✨ Know a great local business, organization, or interesting person around town we should feature?
Just reply to this email or send me a message — I love getting to know the people and places that make our community special.

📄Simpsonville Housing Market at a Glance - Simpsonville continues to see steady housing demand. The average home value is around $370,000, with prices rising modestly over the past year. Homes typically go under contract in about 36 days, reflecting a still-active suburban market attractive to families and commuters.

📋Listings & Buyer Options Increasing - The median listing price is roughly $399,900, with homes averaging around $180 per square foot. Inventory has expanded to 600+ homes on the market, giving buyers more choices than in recent years as the market shifts toward balance.

📈Sales Pace & Pricing Trends - Homes are taking about 68–75 days to sell on average, slightly slower than the ultra-competitive pandemic market. Most homes still sell close to 99% of the list price, indicating steady demand despite a cooling pace.

More details…

More details…

⏰ Daylight Saving Time Begins This Weekend
Don’t forget to “spring forward” this weekend! Daylight Saving Time begins early Sunday morning, March 8. Before heading to bed Saturday night, set your clocks ahead one hour so you’re not running late on Sunday.

🌼 Pollen Alert: It’s About to Get Rough
If your car is already turning yellow, you’re not imagining it. Local meteorologists say pollen levels are about to spike across the Upstate, with breezy winds bringing pollen north while cedar, elm, and juniper trees start releasing locally. Levels are expected to hit extreme today, so allergy sufferers may want to start those preventative meds now.

(Translation: pretty much everyone in South Carolina is reaching for the Zyrtec.) 😅

📚 Simpsonville Library Temporary Closure
The Simpsonville branch of the Greenville County Library will be closed for scheduled maintenance March 11–20. The library is expected to reopen Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m. In the meantime, visitors can use other Greenville County Library locations nearby.

🌿 Conestee Nature Preserve Reopens Woodie Walk
Good news for nature lovers! The popular Woodie Walk boardwalk at Conestee Nature Preserve has officially reopened after being damaged by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Instead of rebuilding the path exactly as it was, the preserve redesigned it to follow the river’s new layout. The updated walk now offers beautiful views along the riverbank — including a new elevated bird-watching spot. The project took just over a year and more than $100,000 in community support to complete.

🥕 Support Local, Eat Fresh — If you love fresh, local produce, the Mauldin Open Air Market is a longtime community favorite worth a visit. Located at 699 E. Butler Rd. in Mauldin, this open-air market is stocked with locally sourced fruits and veggies, plus honey, canned goods, and other seasonal goodies.

The best part? They’re open 7 days a week, so you don’t have to wait for the weekend to grab something fresh for the dinner table.

🌼 Spring Event Season Is Around the Corner
As the weather warms up, community festivals, farmers markets, and outdoor events will begin popping up across the Golden Strip. Keep an eye out for announcements in the coming weeks.

🏥 New Emergency Department Opens in Five Forks
A new 24-hour freestanding emergency department from Bon Secours St. Francis Health System has opened on Woodruff Road across from Lowe’s Foods. The $23 million facility includes nine exam rooms, a trauma room, and on-site CT and X-ray services.

Why it matters: As the Five Forks area continues to grow rapidly, this new facility gives residents quicker access to emergency care without having to travel to a full hospital campus.

📍2814 Woodruff Rd, Simpsonville, SC 29681
📞864-823-5001

🌱 864 Outdoor Solutions Now Booking Weekly Lawn Care

Simpsonville-based 864 Outdoor Solutions is now booking weekly lawn care spots, and they’re filling up fast.

If you’ve been meaning to lock in reliable lawn service before spring kicks into high gear, now’s the time.

📱 Text: 864-361-5949 to claim one of the remaining weekly spots.

Today’s Trivia:
What carnivorous plant, first formally discovered in 1759, is only native to the wetlands of North and South Carolina?

(Answer at bottom — no peeking!)

As always, if you see something happening around town — a new business opening, an upcoming event, or just something interesting in the community — feel free to send it my way. I love sharing the stories that make Simpsonville such a great place to live.

Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy the sunshine, and try not to breathe too much pollen. 😄

See you Monday!

Venus flytrap.

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