Spoleto Festival USA

Spoleto Festival USA

For 17 glorious days in late May and early June, Charleston gets a dose of culture from the Spoleto Festival USA (843/722-2764. www.spoletousa.org). This internationally acclaimed performing-arts festival features a mix of distinguished artists and emerging talent from around the world. Performances take place in magical settings, such as beneath a canopy of ancient oaks or inside a centuries-old cathedral. Everywhere you turn, the city's music halls, auditoriums, theaters, and outdoor spaces (including the Cistern at the College of Charleston) are filled with the world's best in opera, music, dance, and theater.

The 140 events include everything from improv to Shakespeare, from rap to chamber music, from ballet to salsa. A mix of formal concerts and casual performances is what Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Minotti had in mind when, in 1977, he initiated the festival as a complement to his opera-heavy Italian festival. He chose Charleston because of its European looks, and because its residents love the arts -- and any cause for celebration. Most events are between $25 and $50.

The finale is a must, particularly for the younger crowd. Staged outdoors at Middleton Place, the plantation house and lush landscaped gardens provide a dramatic backdrop. The inexpensive seating is unreserved and unlimited. The lawn is covered with blankets and chairs, and many cooks prepare lavish spreads. After the Spoleto Festival Orchestra plays a spirited concert of contemporary and classic pieces, spectacular fireworks explode over the Ashley River.

Because events sell out quickly, insiders say you should buy your tickets several months in advance. (Tickets to midweek performances are a bit easier to secure.) Hotels fill up quickly, so book a room at the same time. While you're at it, reserve a table at that trendy downtown restaurant. You won't be able to get in the door if you wait until the last minute.

The Italian word piccolo means "little," but this hardly applies to Piccolo Spoleto (843/724-7305. www.piccolospoleto.com). The only thing small about this younger sibling of the Spoleto Festival USA is the ticket prices. Most are inexpensive, and some are even free, making this a popular attraction for everyone from young children to senior citizens.

Each year this cultural celebration -- which runs concurrently with Spoleto -- becomes richer, with visual-arts exhibits, poetry readings, film, theater, music, dance, and a wealth of children's activities. Not to be missed is the Reggae Block Dance, a free party that takes place in front of the U.S. Customs House at the corner of Concord and Market streets.

The events at Piccolo Spoleto are more casual, and more spontaneous, than Spoleto. Most of the 700 events focus on local and regional artists, most of whom are innovative and offbeat. Performances can be hilarious, even ribald.