The legendary annual event Charleston Spoleto Festival 2025 is kicking off on May 23rd, 2025, and is lasting until June 8th, 2025, down in the Lowcountry. The Spoleto Festival down in the Holy City has been around since 1977, and it is an arts extravaganza showcase of the visual arts, spoken word, orchestra and jazz band performances, and opera.
Performers from around the world come to have their work showcased at this international arts festival. Performers through the years have been showcased at many venues throughout Charleston, like outside of City Hall, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Music Hall, and at local churches. It's kind of like the SC Upstate Artisphere Festival up in Greenville, SC, that happens in the month of May every year as well, but Spoleto USA is on a much grander scale.
Last year at Spoleto 2024, cellist Yo-Yo Ma made an appearance, and at Spoleto 2025 there would be performances by diverse entertainment icons such as saxophonist Branford Marsalis, an opera performance by Benjamin Britten, and pop music singing performances by Grammy award winners Mavis Staples, Patti Smith, and Lucinda Williams. So we have some wonderful entertainment performances to look forward to.
This would be Charleston. Mayor William S. Cogswell's second Spoleto Festival in his term of office. But he has grown up going to the Spoleto Festival in the past. Mayor Cogswell told WCBD News 2 about the first Spoleto Festival he went to as mayor back last year in 2024, "It's just what Spoleto and their program have been able to accomplish over these past several years; it's really incredible. And there's no question Charleston is the cultural capital of the South. And Spoleto has been a huge part of that foundation."
And people are excited to see legendary artist Patti Smith perform this year at Spoleto Festival USA 2025! This is what Spoleto Festival General Manager and CEO Mena Mark Hanna told Charleston City Paper about her upcoming anticipated performance this year: "Patti Smith is a total legend-punk rock icon, poet, artist…the works. Seeing her live is something you'll remember long after Spoleto. And can you imagine her in College of Charleston's Cistern yard? That setting combined with Smith's energy will be pure magic. It'll be an unforgettable night."
Spoleto Festival 2025 is off to a good start, and the event is anticipated soon to be a success this year. Everyone, make sure you get all your tickets for all the performing acts that will be showcased at the South's Greatest art festival, Spoleto Festival USA.
*************************************
Steven Hawkins is a freelance writer from Greenville, SC.