By admin 
Fall is right around the corner, and even though the weather is still scorching, autumn events are nearly here.
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Seasonal activities and events are a great way to spend time with the family, but as the cost-of-living continues to rise, it’s getting harder to find affordable things to do.
As a result, South Carolina families are preparing to drive the extra mile to enjoy free activities, according to a survey from MarketBeat, a financial media company.
The group polled over 3,000 families across the country to find out how rising costs are affecting fall plans and where they’re going to enjoy free events.
“Free festivals, concerts, trails and community celebrations allow households to enjoy the season without placing further pressure on already stretched budgets,” said Matt Paulson, the founder of MarketBeat. “With 65% of respondents saying traditional fall activities are becoming unaffordable, free admission is no longer simply a bonus. For many families, it is what makes the outing financially possible.”
Here are the three best autumn activities that are free to attend in SC, according to fellow South Carolinians:
Best free Fall events in SC
Fall for Greenville, Oct. 9-11
To start the list off, South Carolinians said that the best free event for autumn is Greenville’s annual Fall for Greenville. The food and music festival first started more than 40 years ago, back in 1982.
Now it’s one of the city’s biggest annual events and draws in giant crowds to downtown from all over the Palmetto State. Between Oct. 9 and 11, people can enjoy over 80 musical acts, 60 restaurants and food trucks, and over 50 wine and beer vendors throughout Main St.
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It’s one of the six fall festivals in the U.S. where Eating Well magazine says you can eat well and stay active at the same time.
Midlands Fall Plant & Flower Festival, Oct. 9–11
In Columbia, the Midlands Fall Plant & Flower Festival was named the best free fall event.
Between Oct. 9 and 11, the whole family can celebrate the season at the South Carolina State Farmers Market, where there will be a wide selection of fall plants, flowers, pumpkins, and seasonal décor for your home and garden, along with handcrafted items from local vendors.
The festival runs Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 3483 Charleston Highway.
AutumnFest at the Greenville State Farmers Market, Sept. 25-26
Back in Greenville is the AutumnFest, a two-day gathering at the Greenville State Farmers Market.
At the market, they will have the Upstate’s largest selection of fall plants, flowers, pumpkins, gourds, home & garden decor, handcrafted items, and more. There will also be food and drinks for sale throughout the event.
The event offers a smaller Greenville counterpart to the larger Plant & Flower Festival held at the state market in Columbia.
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The address for AutumnFest is 1354 Rutherford Rd.