There’s Nothing Better Than This Epic Festival In South Carolina

Springtime in the South is the perfect time of year to enjoy outdoor festivals right after the rainy season and right before the sweltering hot summer arrives. South Carolina is home to a whole host of fabulous springtime festivals perfect for enjoying the great weather and some quality time with family and friends.

To that end, there’s one South Carolina festival that’s so epic it’s rivaled by none other in the Palmetto State. It’s known world-wide as America’s premier performing international arts festival. It also has a regional sister festival and together these two set the stage (no pun intended) for a colossal event.

Yelp/Spoleto Festival USA

The festivals take place jointly each year for 17 monumental days right here in the Palmetto State beginning in May. Hundreds of thousands of people head to the Charleston area for the two festivals: Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto -- or "Little Spoleto."

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of events scheduled for these two festivals, including many outdoor events like the one shown above. But we'll get to those in a second.

Facebook/Spoleto Festival USA

Facebook/Spoleto Festival USA

Yelp/Spoleto Festival USA

The indoor events include everything from international dance and performing arts, to theatre and music. The festivals are a legendary melting pot of just about anything you can possibly imagine in the performing arts world.

Facebook/Piccolo Spoleto Festival

Events provide the perfect opportunity to get inside some of the historic venues downtown, which aren't limited to traditional performace locations. You'll find events even take place in the beautiful churches in the Holy City.

Facebook/Spoleto Festival USA

The outdoor events are equally spectacular -- and many of them are even free. The photos immediately above and below are the annual kick off ceremony. The city shuts down the streets at the Four Corners of Law for this spectacular opening hosted by the Mayor. Not surprisingly, it always includes some kind of entertainment.

Facebook/Spoleto Festival USA

Facebook/Piccolo Spoleto Festival

Later that night Piccolo Spoleto hosts the Sunset Serenade with live music on the steps of the Customs House facing the Charleston harbor. Bring a chair, everyone else does.

Facebook/Piccolo Spoleto Festival

By the time Spring arrives you'll be primed and ready to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. These two festivals are perfect for doing just that.

Piccolo's "Family Day" and the legendary Piccolo event known as The Parade of The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable Band (shown in the next two photos below) are both grand events -- and free.

Facebook/The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable

Facebook/Piccolo Spoleto Festival

Facebook/Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Piccolo also hosts an Outdoor Art Exhibition as well as the Annual Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Show where you can just admire the work or purchase something that you see and decide you can't live without.

From one end of the arts spectrum to the other, these two South Carolina festivals are destined to have something of interest for every taste and budget.

Facebook/Spoleto Festival USA

The two amazing South Carolina festivals take place May 26 – June 11, 2017 in Charleston, SC. Find out more about each at these two links: Spoleto Festival USA and Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

For more outdoor activities to enjoy this upcoming Spring in the Palmetto State, visit South Carolina’s top outdoor attraction or tackle one of these 9 easy hikes.