1. Folks In Greenville Only Wear Two Colors: Purple And Gold
With East Carolina University, the Brody School of Medicine, and multiple arts and science expositions throughout the year here, how could folks in Greenville not be all about the brains? But the love of learning goes well beyond cracking the books. ECU pride runs deep here in Greenville, mainly thanks to the love of the school’s athletics teams, The Pirates.
Community events and activities as well as personal events are scheduled around game schedules. Don’t be caught dead here in town without sporting some purple and gold. And if you’re an ECU purist, not just any purple or yellow will do – it’s royal purple and old gold. That’s how you can spot the real fans.
2. In Greenville The Little Leagues Are Small But Mighty
Most towns don’t know much about their little leagues other than maybe what their kids tell them. But in Greenville, the little leagues are a big deal. That’s because the little leagues and junior leagues here are on fire.
North State and Tar Heel have both represented the South Region in the Little League World Series through the semi-finals. And the softball teams have won multiple World Series titles. The town is also home to one of the six gyms of the Cheer Extreme All Stars, proving that big things really do come in little packages.
3. Greenville Folks Have Serious Barbecue Bragging Rights
Greenville might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of awesome barbecue. It might not even be the twentieth. But that’s okay, because it’s one of the town’s best kept secrets.
National Geographic named the Skylight Inn in Ayden as one of the best barbecue joints in the country, so clearly they know what they’re doing around here. And the North Carolina Barbecue Society (yes, they take it that seriously) lists Greenville’s B’s Barbecue and Farmville’s Jack Cobb & Son’s as being among the top destinations in the state, too.
4. Everyone In Greenville Is A Hardcore Swashbuckler
In Greenville, the pirate love is not something that can be avoided, like the sports fanaticism. The locals’ obsession with the Pirates has spilled over into everyday life.
The annual PirateFest is one of the most anticipated events in town and is unlike anything you could possibly assume. People go all out on their costumes, and we’re not talking your standard, cartoonish peg-legged pirates or silly Jack Sparrows. And hearing a chorus of “arggghs” and “mateys” isn’t just limited to International Talk Like a Pirate Day—it’s pretty much your average game day talk here.
5. Who Will Use Just About Any Excuse To Throw A Party
If Greenville isn’t already considered the Festival Capital of the World, it should be. The attitude with these folks have is that you don’t need a party to have a good time—but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t throw one anyway. And believe it or not, they’re not all pirate related.
Freeboot Fridays are an excuse for everyone to party pep-rally style every Friday with beer, wine, food, and live music. Everyone comes together for the First Friday Jazz fests and the Fall Fest along with cultural events like Festival Latino. And folks can always be found at seasonal events like the Bethel Harvest, Farmville Dogwood, Fountain Peanut and Winterville Watermelon fests. These are true party people.
6. Everyone In Greenville Stops To Smell The Magnolias
Every city looks forward to spring for some color after a long, bare winter. And in Greenville, it’s all about the magnolia trees. They can be found all over the city, filling up the air with an amazing springtime smell and making it look even better.
Magnolias are such a Greenville thing, they even named their Magnolia Arts Center in honor of their favorite tree. When locals leave town, it’s one of the biggest things they miss. The way the oversized petals bloom and then fall along the sidewalk, lining the streets in a blanket—it can’t be beat.
7. Greenville Folks Are Seriously Xtreme
Most outsiders might be surprised by just how huge the BMX community is here in town. Like, world-renowned big. In fact the town has become known as BMX Pro Town, U.S.A.
Greenville's calendar is filled with both amateur and pro BMX events—the BMX Fest at Five Points Plaza in particular is a huge draw for Xtreme sports fans across the country. But the biggest fans are the locals, obviously.
8. The Umbrella Is The Only Market Greenvillains Ever Need
The city is chock full of specialty boutiques, dozens of antique and consignment shops, and public markets, but everyone knows the very best is the Umbrella.
The Greenville Umbrella market is one of the most popular places in Greenville for the community to gather and shop around all the local goods. Starting in June, this open-air market runs every Wednesday evening at the Five Pointz location in Uptown Greenville, offering everything from fresh produce to handmade soaps and more.
9. Folks In Greenville Know The Town Wouldn’t Be Home Without The Tipsy Teapot
No, this isn’t Wonderland and you didn’t fall down a rabbit hole. But it might feel like it at first when you entire the Tipsy Teapot.
This local gem functions as a tea house, a used bookstore, a small bakery, and a bar featuring occasional live music and stand-up comics. You can get an awesome cup of boba tea here while browsing through used books and local drop-offs on some of the comfiest couches around, or at the rustic benches on the patio. One stop here and you’ll wonder why places like these don’t exist everywhere.
10. People In Greenville Are Always Getting Mistaken For South Carolina
No matter how great Greenville is or how much the town improves, it’s never quite able to carve a name for itself the way that it should. That’s because there’s a slightly bigger Greenville in South Carolina, and that one is almost always the first place people assume you mean.
Not that the North Carolina Greenville folks have anything against the other Greenville, but constantly getting overshadowed does start to wear thin at times. Locals endure it because they know exactly what they’ve got. As long as outsiders remember the other Greenville, then South Carolina will get all the crowds and traffic and the North Carolina Greenville will stay just as awesome as ever.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think is unique about Greenville in the comments below!
