18 Best Performing Arts in Charleston, South Carolina

Regularly hosting big-name bluegrass, blues, and country acts, the beautiful 900-seat Charleston Music Hall shines. Home to the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, it's in the heart of Upper King and within easy walking distance of numerous popular bars and restaurants for pre- and postshow refreshments.

Since 2005, this annual fete has served as the city's marquee event for foodies. Spread over five days, it brings together the nation's leading chefs (including local James Beard Award winners), food writers, and, of course, regular diners who love to eat and drink. Held the first full weekend of March, it emphasizes the Lowcountry's culinary heritage. Marion Square serves as the hub with its Culinary Village, but savvy attendees grab up tickets quickly for the numerous dinners and special events held around the city.

For 17 glorious days in late May and early June, Charleston gets a dose of culture from Spoleto Festival USA. 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 the College of Charleston's Cistern beneath a canopy of ancient oaks or inside a centuries-old cathedral.

A mix of formal concerts and casual performances is what Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti 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 look and because its residents love the arts—not to mention any cause for celebration. He wanted the festival to be a "fertile ground for the young" as well as a "dignified home for the masters."

Some 45 events—with most tickets averaging between $25 and $50—include everything from improv to Shakespeare, from rap to chamber music, from ballet to salsa. Because events sell out quickly, buy tickets several weeks in advance (book hotel rooms and make restaurant reservations early, too). Tickets to midweek performances are a bit easier to secure.

About 10 minutes from downtown, this local favorite hosts its own film festival every March. Its carpeted halls and theaters have the feel of an old-school cinema, screening a mix of new releases and indie films. Concessions include beer and wine.

Toasting emerging designers and models with runway shows, competitions, and exhibitions, the main events at this five-night festival in March are held beneath tents in Marion Square. Smaller shows are hosted by downtown boutiques. The festival has helped several designers launch their fashion careers. But perhaps even more impressive than the festival are the tony after-parties.

This city-owned grand performance hall hosts symphony, theater, and ballet companies, as well as concerts by renowned musicians and numerous events during Spoleto Festival USA.

With a season that runs from late September through April, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra hosts full-scale symphonic performances, chamber ensembles, a pops series, family-oriented events, and holiday concerts at Gaillard Performance Hall. This symphony is nationally renowned and serves as the Spoleto Festival Orchestra.

Sponsored every October by the Preservation Society of Charleston, the Fall Tour of Homes provides an inside look at Charleston's private buildings and gardens, from stately mansions on the Battery to intact Revolutionary-era houses.

More than 100 private homes, gardens, and historic churches are open to the public for tours during the Festival of Houses & Gardens, held annually during March and April. There are also symphony galas in stately drawing rooms, oyster roasts, and candlelight tours.

In a charming theater built in a former cotton warehouse tucked into the French Quarter, this troupe—in continuous operation since 1931—produces original plays, musicals, and other events throughout the year.

Held each year in late September and early October, this festival celebrates the region's African heritage and Caribbean influences on local culture. It includes theater, dance, and music performances, lectures, art shows, and films. The free Sunday afternoon finale, featuring concerts, dancing, and plenty of food, is a marquee city event each year.

Touring Broadway productions and big-name bands frequent the 2,300-seat North Charleston Performing Art Center. In recent years, performers such as Bon Iver, Tony Bennett, and Willie Nelson have taken the stage. It's worth paying extra for seats in the front half of the venue.

The spirited companion to Spoleto Festival USA showcases the best in local and regional talent from every artistic discipline. There are as many as 700 events—from jazz performances to puppet shows, chamber music concerts, and expansive art shows in Marion Square—from mid-May through early June. Many of the performances are free or inexpensive, and hundreds of these cultural experiences are kid-friendly.

In a space on Cannon Street, this local troupe produces timely comedies and thoughtful classics throughout the year, as well as special holiday performances.

This grand art deco–style multiplex is Charleston's most modern cinema, with comfortable stadium-style seats and the usual popcorn and treats.

Performances by the College of Charleston's theater department and chamber and classical musical recitals are presented at this theater inside the Halsey Institute during the school year.

One of Charleston's biggest annual events, this celebration of the region's flora and fauna takes place in mid-February, offering fine art by renowned wildlife artists, bird of prey demonstrations, dog competitions, an oyster roast, and a gala. Spread across three days, the expo generally attracts more than 500 artists and 40,000 participants to various venues around the city.