Spartanburg’s late-summer calendar is giving us a little bit of everything. Over the next few weeks, locals can catch a full-scale Michael Jackson tribute show, hunt for wonderfully weird finds at a punk flea market and check out a new drive-thru coffee spot that’s already proven it knows how to draw a crowd.
Here are three things worth having on your radar:
Michael Jackson’s greatest hits take the SMA stage
Michael Jackson fans won’t have to travel far to experience the music, dancing and unmistakable energy of the King of Pop.
“INVINCIBLE — A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson” comes to the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, 385 N. Church St., on Friday, Aug. 21. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
The production takes audiences through Jackson’s career with his biggest hits, signature choreography and plenty of familiar details — right down to the moonwalk and sequined glove. The show features choreography crafted under Lavelle Smith Jr., a longtime Jackson collaborator, along with state-of-the-art visuals and a cast of performers recreating some of pop music’s most recognizable moments.
The performance also includes a 20- to 25-minute intermission. Tickets are available through the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, with Ticketmaster serving as its official online ticket provider. Tickets can also be purchased without a service charge at the auditorium box office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Find show and ticket information at crowdpleaser.com.
7 Brew is officially brewing on East Main
If the lines wrapped around the building are any indication, Spartanburg was ready for 7 Brew.
The drive-thru coffee company officially opened its new Spartanburg stand at 1624 E. Main St., near the intersection of East Main Street and Drayton Road. The menu goes well beyond traditional coffee, with flavored coffees, teas, smoothies, energy drinks, lemonades, sodas and plenty of customizable combinations.
My family stopped by Saturday during the opening festivities, and “busy” would be an understatement. Cars wrapped around the building and police were directing traffic, yet the line moved surprisingly fast. Even more noticeable was the atmosphere. Employees were smiling, talking with customers and genuinely seemed to be having fun despite the crowd. We tried the Cookie Butter and Sweet & Salty drinks along with Dragon’s Blood 7 Fizz sodas, scored free T-shirts and left understanding some of the hype.
August also brings a new reason to make a return trip. The chain’s “Back to Brew” featured menu includes a Cherry Limeade 7 Brew Energy with cherry, lemon concentrate and lime; Sweet & Salty Macchiato with salted caramel and white chocolate plus caramel drizzle; Tiki Tango 7 Fizz with passion fruit and pineapple; Banana Bread Cold Brew with banana and hazelnut, topped with cold foam and dark chocolate drizzle; and Bubble Gum Lemonade with banana, strawberry and vanilla. Sugar-free options are available for several of the featured flavors.
The Spartanburg stand opens at 5:30 a.m. daily, closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find the menu and additional information at locations.7brew.com/sc/spartanburg/1624-east-main-street.
The Punk Flea Market returns
For shoppers who prefer their flea markets a little less traditional, the Spartanburg Punk Flea Market returns to the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds, 575 Fairgrounds Road, beginning Saturday, Aug. 29.
The market brings together DIY sellers, artists and vendors offering the kind of merchandise you probably won’t find at your average Saturday craft fair. Expect vintage clothing, vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, original artwork, handmade jewelry, toys, retro video games, comic books, VHS tapes, taxidermy, horror and B-movie memorabilia, oddities and plenty of other unexpected finds.
The event is open to all ages and includes both indoor and outdoor shopping. General admission is $10, children 12 and younger get in free, and admission is available at the door rather than through presales. One admission is good for both days. Vendors accept cash, with most also accepting cards.
Whether your ideal weekend involves moonwalking, finding a new favorite coffee order or digging through crates of vinyl and vintage treasures, Spartanburg has something a little different waiting this month.
