Local Events + Happenings

International Festival

Saturday, October 6 | 11:00am to 7:00pm

Barnet Park

You might be surprised to find one of the most diverse and thriving international communities anywhere in the nation in a former mill town in South Carolina. But by now, you've probably learned Spartanburg is full of surprises.

Held each October in Barnet Park, the Spartanburg International Festival draws 10,000 people annually, a fitting tribute to a community that sits in the middle of an economic region home to the highest amount of foreign investment per capita in the United States. From the German automaker BMW to Michelin, more than 150 foreign-affiliated firms call Spartanburg home. But the international influence does not begin and end in the workplace. Indeed, from restaurants to the cultural arts, Spartanburg's character has a strong international flavor and heritage -- all of which is celebrated at the Spartanburg International Festival.

The food alone -- you can sample fare from dozens of countries -- attracts hundreds of festivalgoers. And with a Kids Zone, non-stop music, dance and other entertainment, you can easily spend the entire day. You can even pick up a "passport" and get it stamped at every stop along the Avenue of Nations, learning a lot about each country along the way.