It only happens once a year. Nope it’s not Christmas or July 4th, in fact it’s not even a holiday. It’s Greenville’s annual winter storm.
Okay – so it’s not a guarantee. But for the past few years I’ve lived here, at least one winter storm has passed through. And, weirdly, I find myself looking forward to seeing Greenville in the snow.
I know what you’re thinking. Me? Snow? Looking forward to it? Because if there’s one thing that’s no secret, it’s that I hate the cold. The winter. The biting wind. The freezing rain. The wind chill. After four years in Ohio and two in Pittsburgh, winter has quickly become my least favorite season.
But there is one thing I do miss about winter. Snow. Especially those first few snows of the year. Where seeing the flakes fall to the ground brings a smile to my face. I feel this almost giddy, child-like joy take over as I bundle myself up to run out into the white.
And in Greenville I only get around one chance a year to experience it. So when Winter Storm Helena passed over the south and dumped 3-4” of snow in Greenville, I piled on the layers for an afternoon outdoors.
Alright, so maybe I didn’t rush out at the break of dawn. Instead I woke up lazily, made blueberry waffles, played a round of Mario Kart, and then headed out at around noon. Now the roads were crazy, and Ryan and I were not going to risk driving anywhere on them. At least not until the snow melted. So instead, we headed out on foot.
The neighborhood was not exactly deserted, there were people about, but still it seemed quiet. There’s just a silence to snow that I love. The only sound the soft crunch of your steps as you head down a snow covered sidewalk.
I stopped often in that first half mile or so, trying to capture the glistening trees and silent streets. I felt almost giddy when I spotted a tree covered in both pink flowers and snow.
After about a half mile, we decided to extend our walk and head into town. Not a lengthy distance, but also not one we make regularly. We left our neighborhood, passed through another, and reached downtown.
Here were the people. It seemed the braver souls had ventured downtown that morning to also get a glimpse of Greenville in the snow. We passed through, heading for Falls Park at the far end.
Now, if you’ve never been to Greenville, then you might not know we have a waterfall in our downtown. And there’s just something about it that draws people there. Maybes it’s just the novelty of having a waterfall in the middle of your city, but it seems every walk I take in town passes me through the Park at one point or another. And today was no different.
I took my time, photographing the snow covered falls from every angle. Enjoying the fact that, even though there were people about, it wasn’t the crushing crowds you get on warmer days. I even braved the ice covered pathways and headed down to the base of the falls. Amazingly I had it to myself for a few minutes.
But then I forced my eye to turn away. To take in the small details of Falls Park, the ones that sometimes get overlooked.
We continued onwards until the cold started to seep into my bones (see comment above about me and winter). And I knew there was only one thing that could warm me up.
A Guinness.
So we headed to a couple of our favorite bars – played some pool and darts and, of course, drank my favorite dark beer.
It’s our yearly tradition, our snow routine. Walk the neighborhood. Head into town. Be dazzled (once again) by the waterfall. And finish the day off with a beer in one of our favorite bars.
In any other city, I would probably groan at the thought of snow. I would let my hatred for winter overtake me. (And trust me, I did in Ohio and Pittsburgh.) But here I know it’s rare. A treat once a year (if we’re lucky). A chance to see this city in a different light.
Oh Greenville in the snow…why do you happen just once a year?
Hello. Gosh can I relate to your story. I grew up in Meadville PA; having been a Pittsburgher you’ve most likely heard of Meadville. Now we live in NW Ohio do I know winter weather as well as you do. Like you, I hate the cold, the ice. However, if one bundles up warmly it’s not too bad of a problem. I’d like to move southward but my husband can’t stand the heat. I tell him thats what air conditioning was invented for. 😃 My brother who lives in California tells me that Phoenix Arizona is the place to be. Idk but sign me winter weather warrior. 😃
Northwest Ohio gets some crazy winter storms so I know you are well used to the snow! After so many years, I had to move South. The heat in the summer can get quite intense at times, but I love it compared to the cold.
This article is a bold face lie. It doesn’t blizzard, but it does snow/ice up… Most times it is gone by around 1pm… The scariest part of winter in Greenville would be the lack of driving skills the locals have… Honestly, it’s just like everywhere else here… Over priced due to gentrification, more about the money than it’s citizens (unless you pull six figures annually). ultimately a slap In the face to the life long locals, and middle class. I’ve met many who were priced out of their homes that now live on the street. It’s funny they can put millions of dollars into orange lights to make geese stop pooping near the river at night, AND billions into the gawdy grand Bohemian hotel… Yet the elderly, disabled, and homeless (who often cook food in places like the Charleston sports pub) can’t even get faith based shelters to get rid of mold, and pestilence. Let alone make enough income based housing.. Yet they’ll charge the homeless to essentially get sick, and infested with bed bugs for trying to do the right thing. Greenville SC is a disgrace to the bible belt, and everything country/southern life embraces…if you want more bang for your buck.. Try new Hope pa, or maybe the east village in ny..(it seems like that’s what they want to emulate albeit poorly.
@Fluffy Switchblade, don’t you think your response is a bit harsh and inappropriate for the OP? All she was doing was writing about a day when Greenville had some snow and she decided to get out and explore a bit. The article has nothing to do with what you replied and your response is completely irrelevant. If you are one of those people you described above, my heart goes out to you or anyone else that is struggling but that should be voiced in a more appropriate forum.
Now as I moved back south after 6 years in the midwest, I can only hope Greenville’s snow day is truly once a year😁