The 42nd annual North Charleston Arts Fest is just one month away, set to take place April 30-May 4. The celebration of arts and culture highlights the talents of regional and local artists and performers in the areas of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and literature. Performances, activities, and exhibits take place in a variety of venues throughout the city of North Charleston with free admission for all.
Residents and visitors can enjoy concerts, dance performances, theatre presentations, art demonstrationss, kid’s programs, a variety of exhibitions, an Arty Block Party, and more. Complete details about the five-day event are available at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.
Exhibit Hall C at the Charleston Area Convention Center will host the Arts Fest’s Judged Art & Photography, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft, and Tri-County Youth Art & High School Sculpture Competitions & Exhibitions during the entire run of the festival, April 4-May 4. Viewing hours are Wednesday, April 30, 6-8pm; Thursday-Saturday, May 1-3, 10am-6pm; and Sunday, May 4, noon-5pm. Award winners of the competitions will be acknowledged at 6:30pm during the Arts Fest Opening Celebration on Wednesday, April 30. The event, which takes place from 6-8pm, features food, music, and more, set among the hundreds of pieces of artwork on display. The Exhibition Encore on Sunday, May 4, from 2-5pm, serves as a closing reception, allowing patrons to view the artwork in a festive atmosphere and make final decisions on purchases. In addition to a final look at the exhibits, the event offers musical entertainment, fiber art demos, and complimentary “bites and bubbles.”
Other visual art highlights include a solo exhibit at Park Circle Gallery featuring paintings by the Arts Fest’s poster design competition winner Amy Stewart and the 19th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition installed at North Charleston Riverfront Park. North Charleston City Hall will display the 18th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition – In Praise of the Ancestors throughout the festival dates and beyond, remaining on display until June 15, 2025.
Music, theatre, and dance offerings during this year’s Arts Fest run the gamut. Concerts range from bossa nova and bluegrass to rock and reggae, and take place in a variety of venues, including libraries, a chapel, and local businesses. The World Dance Showcase at the Park Circle Community Building will be held from 11:30am-4pm on Saturday, May 3. The event showcases traditional, folk, and modern dances of cultures from around the world by local performers in vibrant costumes. This venue will also host a jazz concert by Atlanta-based singer/guitarist Grant Green Jr. (May 2) and a dance matinee performance featuring Dance Moves of Charleston, Collective SC, and ensembles from Charleston Dance Space (May 4). The Colour of Music Festival returns to the Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel on the former Charleston Naval Base at 7pm on Thursday, May 2, showcasing both baroque giants and 20th century Black composers, including J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto and Brandenburg Concertos, William Grant Still’s Mother & Child, George Walker’s Lyric, and Coleridge Taylor Perkinson’s Cavalry. And, of course, the performing and visual arts come together at the Arts Fest Arty Block Party on Saturday, May 3, from 5-8:30pm on East Montague Avenue. The street art market features vendor booths with local artists, makers, and arts-related businesses and organizations, live music by North Carolina-based American roots rock band The Fool Hardies (5-6:30pm) and Roots Reggae group Amanis Smith and the Give Thanks Band (7-8:30pm), along with a variety of roving entertainers.
Complete information on all 2025 North Charleston Arts Fest offerings and participation opportunities is available at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com. Applications are currently being accepted for vendor space at the Arty Block Party. Entry instructions for the Festival’s Judged Fine Art Exhibition, Judged Photography Exhibition, Tri-County Youth Art Exhibition, and Tri-County High School Sculpture Exhibition, as well as volunteer sign-up forms are also available. Forms can be downloaded at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/
