Welcome to the 42nd Annual North Charleston Arts Fest!

A multi-venue, multi-disciplinary arts festival for every resident & visitor of North Charleston

The North Charleston Arts Fest features five days of events highlighting regional and local artists and performers in the areas of Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Literature. Residents and visitors are invited to experience a diverse array of free performances, exhibitions, and activities in a variety of venues, including libraries, businesses, community centers, and parks. The festival schedule offers something for everyone, including concerts, theatre presentations, dance performances, children’s programs, demonstrations, exhibitions, and more.

Schedule

April 30, 2025

Puppet Show – The Emperor’s New Clothes

10:30-11:30am

Otranto Road Regional Library - 2261 Otranto Road, North Charleston, SC 29406

What’s big and pink and loves to dress up in fancy clothes? Give up? It’s the Emperor himself in Grey Seal Puppet‘s clever adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Not only is this Emperor big and pink, he also happens to be a pig. The Hans Christian Andersen story takes on a whole new dimension as this classic tale is transformed into a fable. The crafty tailors are foxes; the prime minister is a near-sighted camel; and the councilor is a befuddled old walrus. Even the audience takes part – as animals, of course. It’s puppet fun for everyone!

Opening Celebration & Art Reception

6:00-8:00pm

Charleston Area Convention Center Complex Exhibit, Hall C - 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418

It’s Arts Fest time! Celebrate with food, music, and more, set among the hundreds of pieces of artwork on display as part of the Arts Fest’s many competitions and exhibitions. Award winners of the Judged Fine Art and Photography, SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft, National Outdoor Sculpture, and Tri-County Youth Art and High School Sculpture competitions will be acknowledged at 6:30pm. Smooth sounds for the evening provided by Alva Anderson and Porto Seguro. With Anderson’s captivating and soulful voice as centerpiece, the group delivers a heartfelt tribute to Brazilian music. Be sure to enter the FREE raffle for an original piece by this year’s Poster Design Competition winner, Amy Stewart. Local artist Scott Truman will offer a live painting demonstration and members of The North Charleston Artist Guild will also present live art demos in a variety of media throughout the evening. Complimentary beer, wine, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.

May 1, 2025

Interactive Children’s Theatre Performance – Diggery’s Dino Adventure

10:30-11:30am

Dorchester County Library – North Charleston Branch - 8620 Patriot Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29420

Join The Story Ship for this science-based immersive adventure featuring large interactive animated characters, dinosaur bones, a giant dinosaur egg, and beautiful puppets. Paleontologist Diggery discovers a “top secret” box the museum accidentally packed. Curious, he opens the box and unleashes the DinoSauroScope 3000, or DINA, transporting the audience back to the time of dinosaurs. All is well until he uses DINA on a large dinosaur egg. The egg hatches and an amazing thing happens – the dinosaurs in museums around the world start to come alive! The only way to stop this dinosaur regeneration is to return the baby dinosaur back to its mother. Come along to help Diggery save humanity! Suitable for ages pre-k – 4th grade.

Lunch & Learn

Fiber Art Lecture & Exhibition Tour

Noon-2:00pm

North Charleston City Hall, Montague Conference Room, 2nd Floor - 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406

Fiber art and textile enthusiasts are invited to bring a bag lunch or their favorite takeout meal and enjoy this lecture and guided tour of the 18th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition, In Praise of the Ancestors, led by curator Torreah “Cookie” Washington. Cookie is an award-winning master art quilter and curator who has been creating with textiles for more than a quarter of a century. Her current passion is fiber art muralism that celebrates the Divine Feminine and the contributions of her African ancestral heritage.

African Dance & Music Performance – Healing Sounds & Movements of the Diaspora

3:30-4:30pm

Keith Summey North Charleston Library - 3503 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406

Experience an electrifying fusion of rhythm, culture, and storytelling with Solae’ ENT! All ages can enjoy this dynamic dance performance that blends the vibrant traditions of West African dance, Gullah Geechee culture, and contemporary Afrobeat with the soulful influences of hip-hop and R&B. Featuring a live ensemble of drums, guitar, saxophone, shakers, and cowbells, this performance immerses the audience in a sensory celebration of African diasporic sounds and movements.

African American Fiber Art Exhibition Reception

5:00-7:00pm

North Charleston City Hall, 2nd Floor

2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406

Join curator Torreah “Cookie” Washington and many of the featured artists for a public reception in honor of the 18th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition, In Praise of the Ancestors. The artworks selected for this year’s exhibit honor legends of the Diaspora, known and unknown, who’s lives and sacrifices gave birth to our many celebrated accomplishments and have brought the culture to where it is today. Cookie will make remarks and acknowledge the artists in attendance at 6:30pm. Live music will be provided by poet and kora player Kurtis Lamkin. Refreshments will be served.

Improv Theatre

6:00-7:00pm

Park Circle Community Building - 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

Create “instant theatre” with Charleston County School of the Arts Improv Troupe, The Fighting Gnomes. The group will take audience suggestions to perform an hour of family-friendly improv and sketch comedy.

Chamber Music Concert

7:00-8:30pm

Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel (on the former Charleston Naval Base) - 1096 Navy Way, North Charleston, SC 29405

Coming off its second sold-out North Charleston Arts Fest performance in 2024, the Colour of Music Festival Chamber Orchestra returns to present an evening of classical gems spanning centuries of classical musical brilliance. This performance will showcase 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 in an intimate chamber music setting.

Concert – Music Builds Bridges

7:00-8:00pm

Fox Music House - 4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405

Fox Music Friends consists of nine seasoned Lowcountry musicians from different backgrounds. Join Charles Miller (keyboards/vocals), Mark Barrett (keyboards), Mathew Maisie (percussion), Kain Naylor (drums), John Holenko (fretted instruments), John Kennedy (bass), Mike Kaufman (guitar/vocals), Joe Marlow (fretted instruments), and Brent Lacasce (trumpet) as they come together to present a concert that spans styles, genres, times, and places with a common language – music.  

May 2, 2025

Children’s Theatre Performance – The 3 Little Circus Pigs

10:30-11:30am

Dorchester Road Regional Library - 6325 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29418

Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth invites one and all to step right up to the big top in this interactive adaptation of The Three Little Pigs where the Big Bad Wolf might just turn out to be the hero of the story. Best suited for grades K-5.

Puppet Show – Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets

3:30-4:30pm

Northwoods Park Community Center - 8348 Greenridge Road, North Charleston, SC 29406

Hobey Ford is internationally renowned in the puppetry field as an award-winning performer and a Kennedy Center Partner in Education teaching artist. He designs and constructs all his Golden Rod Puppets as well as the beautiful sets that surround them in his performances, which incorporate a variety of puppetry styles like Bunraku, rod, marionettes, “Foamies,” and shadow puppetry. Hobey adapts folk tales from various cultures for many of his shows and always adds a special “Golden Rod” twist.

Jazz Concert

6:00-9:00pm

Park Circle Community Building - 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

Atlanta singer/guitarist Grant Green Jr., the son of Blue Note Recording artist Grant Green, is a legend of Jazz in his own right. His band, The Grant Green Jr. Group, has delighted fans at events like the New Orleans JazzFest, High Sierra Fest, Savannah Jazz Festival, Rio Das Ostras Jazz & Blues, North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Detroit Jazz Festival. His 2022 tribute album, Thank You Mr. Bacharach, features Susan Tedeschi on the lead single What the World Needs Now. The making of the album has been made into a documentary now available on Amazon Prime. Join us for an evening of Jazz classics, featuring Grant’s classic and melodic jazz styling of originals as well as hits from Herbie Hancock, Django Reinhart, Santana, George Benson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Johnny Cash. Chanel’s Gullah Cuisine will be on site serving up some tasty dinner options.

Pop-Up Opera

6:00-8:00pm

COAST Brewing Company

1250 Second Street, North Charleston, SC 29405

A varied selection of craft brews, cocktails, delicious bites, and Nomadic Vocal Drama with Small Opera (SMOP) are a match made in heaven! SMOP seeks to make the timeless art form of opera fun, fresh, and accessible to all with interactive audience games and a variety of beautiful music, both operatic and non. In this presentation, SMOP’s singers will perform an assortment of opera, musical theater, and standard favorites.

World Music Café

7:00-8:00pm

Fox Music House - 4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405 

World Music Café, now in its 9th year, presents ethnic music performers from all over the world in an intimate, listening room atmosphere. This Arts Fest edition features Free Planet Radio, an Asheville, NC, based duo performing an exciting and innovative blend of world, jazz, and classical music. Consisting of River Guerguerian on an extensive array of global percussion instruments (Middle Eastern frame drums and doumbek, the Indian kanjira, African djembe, and Western drum set) and Chris Rosser exploring melody on guitar, piano, melodica, seventeen-stringed Indian dotar, Turkish çümbüs, and oud, the pair “explore the infinite and seamless relationships between musical cultures through the universal language of sound.” World Music Café creator Peter Kfoury, aka, The Oud Dude, will sit in as a guest for a few tunes.

Hip Hop/Soul/New Age Concert

8:00-9:30pm

Burgundy Lounge at The Starlight Motor Inn

3245 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405

Philadelphia-based duo, Küf Knotz & Christine Elise, present a high energy, uplifting live show featuring Küf’s soothing landscape of boom bap inspired sound and story-filled lyrics and Christine’s harp and ethereal vocals. Their unique blend of hip-hop, soul, and classical traditions takes audiences on an era fusing, genre bending journey. And, you can dance to it!

May 3, 2025

Workshop – A.I and the Content Creator

10:00-11:30am

Park Circle Community Building

4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

For 40 years Julian Gooding has been working as a television producer, documentary filmmaker, and continuing education program developer for institutions of higher learning in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. In this workshop, he will demonstrate how A.I. is used for starting and managing business for artists, examining ChatGPT for writing and research, text to art, voice cloning for podcasting, video production, and more. The workshop will also explore ethics related to using A.I.

Jazz Concert for Youth

Young People’s Jazz Concert

11:00am-12:00pm

Keith Summey North Charleston Library - 3503 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406

The Javier Vega Jazz Quartet features retired educators and experienced musicians led by jazz trumpeter and Latin percussionist, Javier Vega. In their program, Young People’s Jazz Concert, the group will offer an introduction on how to enjoy Jazz and the Blues. While tailored for young listeners, the concert is sure to entertain music lovers of all ages.

World Dance Showcase

11:30am-4:00pm

Park Circle Community Building - 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

Experience a mesmerizing display of traditional, folk, and modern dances of cultures from around the world by local performers in vibrant costumes. Roe Roe’s and Kona Ice will be on hand to serve up some tasty food options.

11:30am-Noon – Deninufay African Drum & Dance Co. – Rhythms of the Soul, a fusion of West African drums and Gullah Geechee dance

Noon-12:30pm – Palmetto Oasis – Legacy, celebrating dance styles from Spain, Turkey, Egypt, and more

12:30-1:00pm – Hiyas-Min Philippine Cultural Society of Charleston – folks dances of the Philippines

1:00-1:30pm – Charleston Allegro Dance – Italian folkloric dance

1:30-2:00pm – Lowcountry Pasifiki Dance – authentic Polynesian dances from Tonga, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Somoa

2:00-2:30pm – India Association of Greater Charleston – folk, classical, and fusion dances of India

2:30-3:00pm – Troupe Naya Sama – folkloric fusion dance and belly dance

3:00-3:30pm – Peruvian Folklore – Costa, Sierra y Selva, highlighting folkloric dances from different regions of Peru, including Valicha, Anaconda, Marinera, and Festejo

3:30-4:00pm – Wona Womalan West African Drum & Dance Ensemble – traditional drum rhythms & dances from Guinea

Arty Block Party

5:00-8:30pm

Olde Village area of North Charleston

East Montague Avenue (between Jenkins & Virginia Aves.), North Charleston, SC 29405

Shop local while enjoying live music and roving entertainers! Vendor booths featuring local artists and makers will line the street. Musical entertainment for the evening kicks off with The Fool Hardies (award-winning, North Carolina-based American roots rock band with blazing guitars, a locked-down rhythm section, ripping horns, and vocals that drip with soul) from 5-6:30pm and Amani Smith and the Give Thanks Band (Roots Reggae with a heavy hitting rhythm section, guitar solos with rock flair, and smooth vocals) from 7-8:30pm. Other entertainment includes pedal-powered spin art from Good Clean Fun, Lute, the living statue, unicyclist Mark Lippard, craft activities, and balloon twisters from Island Paradise Balloon Art. It’s an art-filled evening of fun for the whole family!

Exhibition Reception – Intersections

5:00-7:00pm

Park Circle Gallery

4820 Jenkins Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405

Meet the artist behind the 2025 North Charleston Arts Fest poster design and view an exhibition of her recent work. Amy Stewart’s solo exhibition features her winning design Intersections, along with a collection of abstract mixed media paintings that explore the ripple effect of our actions on others and vice versa. Every action we take, every place we go, or even the way we change direction can lead us to encounter someone, even if we don’t realize it at the time. We may never fully comprehend our network of connections, but they are undeniably part of our shared human experience. Refreshments will be served.

Motown Concert – Motown Magic

7:00-8:00pm

Fox Music House - 4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405

The smooth, soulful sounds of The Trané N’Chel Live Experience are sure transport you back in time with classic hits that defined an era. Experience the iconic music of legendary artists like The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and many more. With energetic performances and stylish flair, this show is the perfect prescription for music lovers of all ages!

May 4, 2025

Magic/Storytelling Show – Story Circus!

1:00-2:00pm

Park Circle Community Building - 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

Prepare to be dazzled and amazed by Yasu Ishida and his Story Circus! Combining traditional Japanese theatre, music, origami, magic, and storytelling, Yasu guides audiences to the enchanting land of Japan. This highly interactive storytelling show features Balloon Haiku (balloon animals coming to life with Haiku), Story-gami (storytelling with origami), and magic.

Latin/Jazz Concert

2:00-3:00pm

Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel - 1096 Navy Way, North Charleston, SC 29405

The Gregarious Grooves Trio is a vibrant musical ensemble that skillfully blends the rich traditions of Spanish, Latin, classical, jazz, popular, and original music. The lineup features Gregory Guay on Spanish guitar, Jacob Abarbanell on percussion, and Axel Rangel on bass. This trio creates a captivating fusion of sounds with a mix of original instrumental, Latin, and World Music, plus Latin/jazzy takes on classics and popular music by the Beatles and more.

Modern (+ more) Dance Matinee

3:00-5:00pm

Park Circle Community Building - 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston, SC 29405

This afternoon program features modern, hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary dance performances by youth and adult dancers from throughout the Lowcountry.

3-3:30pm – Dancers ages 8-18 from Dance Moves Youth Company will present modern dance selections from their season repertoire.

3:30-4:00pm – Collective SC, a professional contemporary dance company based in Charleston, SC, will perform excerpts from their most recent body of work REDEFINED.

4:00-5:00pm – Enjoy thought-provoking presentations from three adult dance companies from Charleston-based dance studio, The Dance Space – Charleston Modern Collective (collaborative modern dance), Dynamics (hip-hop), and the Charleston Dance Project (jazz and contemporary).

Bluegrass Concert

5:00-5:00pm

Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel - 1096 Navy Way, North Charleston, SC 29405

Often described as having the voice of an angel, Boonie Bevins got her start at the young age of 5 years old, singing in the band 4 Wheel Drive and regularly performing at Guy and Tina’s Pickin’ Parlor in Bethera, SC. She now performs regularly at venues throughout the Lowcountry. Along with creating her own original songs, Boonie and her husband John Henry Braun, father Kevin Bevins, and brother-in-law Bryan Jackson frequently perform together under the name Boonie Bevins and Carolina Drive. Join the quartet for an intimate afternoon performance featuring traditional and contemporary bluegrass as well as jazz, swing, and country.

May 5, 2025

Exhibition Encore

2:00-5:00pm

Charleston Area Convention Center, Exhibit Hall C - 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418

Last call! This event serves as a closing celebration for the Arts Fest’s many visual art competitions & exhibitions, including Judged Fine Art and Photography, SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft, and Tri-County Youth Art and High School Sculpture. In addition to admiring the vast array of artwork on display, patrons can enjoy a live painting demonstration by local artist and arts educator Kenish Harmon, along with Viva La Vida, a musical performance by John Cusatis & The Charleston County School of the Arts and Academic Magnet High School Rock Band. Ensembles of these classically trained music students will perform songs from the early 2000’s along with scripted segments that provide context for the selections, creating a “rockumentary” style music program. Complimentary “bubbles & bites” will be served.

Gospel Concert – Gospel Music at it’s Best

5:00-7:00pm

Fox Music House

4248 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29405

Project L.O.V.E. invites one and all to this uplifting evening of music and praise featuring The Tony Washington Singers, The Voices, The Ashley Heirs, James Patterson, Pastor Gary Bellinger & Radical Anointed Worshippers, and more.

Date: April 30 - May 5, 2025

Location: Various Venues in North Charleston

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