South Carolina’s Premier Arts Festival

The North Charleston Arts Fest is proudly produced by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department. The annual five-day celebration of arts and culture highlights regional and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Literature. For more than 39 years, the festival has made quality arts programming  accessible to the widest spectrum of the public, attracting residents and visitors to experience an array of free performances, workshops, exhibitions, and activities in a variety of venues, including libraries, community centers, schools, businesses, and parks. The event has matured into one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state of South Carolina with a schedule that offers something for everyone, including concerts, theatre presentations, children’s programs, workshops and demonstrations, exhibitions, public art installations, and much more. In 2018, the Arts Fest was selected as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society (an honor also received in 2008).

History and Goals

The North Charleston Arts Fest began in 1982 as a one-day community celebration in Park Circle with the goal of enhancing the quality of life of residents through showcasing the arts. As the annual event matured, the festival’s offerings began to appeal to visitors, prompting the addition of tourism development as a goal. In 1995, the Arts Fest moved from Park Circle to the North Charleston Coliseum and expanded to two days. By 2000, the opening of the Charleston Area Convention Center and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center provided the springboard for the festival to expand to nine full days of performances and activities for residents and visitors throughout the City. In 2008, the Arts Fest was recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event. It was awarded this honor again in 2018. Now, entering its 40th year, the festival continues to evolve with a solid five-day schedule of events that are offered with FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL. The Cultural Arts Department strives to produce an inclusive public celebration of the arts with a comprehensive, multi-discipline event schedule that exposes, engages, and inspires people of all ages and backgrounds.

Principal Festival Events

  • Opening Celebration – Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 6-8pm
  • Arty Block Party- Saturday, May 6, 2023, 5-8:30pm
  • Exhibition Encore – Sunday, May 7, 2023, 2-5pm

 

Future Festival Dates

  • May 3-7, 2023
  • May 1-5, 2024
  • Apri 30-May 4, 2025