One of the biggest annual events in Charleston is the great convergence of arts and energy that happens for 17 days each Spring. The Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto Festivals began last weekend here in Charleston, and there is an amazing array of things to see and do at a wide variety of price points. Free outdoor concerts and theater events, high end opera, photography, jazz, you name it: every arts venue in the area will be providing something great. You can download the Spoleto Brochure here.  Bob and Connie really enjoyed a beautiful chamber orchestra performance at Mepkin Abbey.

Piccolo Spoleto happens at the same time, and includes more of a focus on local artists:

Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast region, Piccolo Spoleto is the perfect complement to the international scope of Spoleto Festival USA, its parent festival, and its 700 events in 17 days transforms Charleston into an exhilarating celebration of performing, literary and visual arts. Piccolo Spoleto’s traditional program offerings include visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children’s activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and film. (from their website)

One of our own Dewees Residents, Joseph (Bubber) McAlhany will have two photographs exhibited at Piccolo Spoleto this year. Bubber has exhibited at Spoleto in the past, and this year his photos are of exotic animals from their trip to Africa. We’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.  The photos are part of an exhibit from the Charleston Center for Photography at the Old City Jail– we’ve been to check them out, and it’s a neat chance to see that building as well as some fabulous photos.

Dewees Island’s Rebecca Eggers visits in spring so she can take full advantage of the great Spoleto schedule of events.  She says,

Dayna and I went to bela fleck and Abigail Washburn last night. Despite the seemingly inappropriateness of being in a basketball arena, they made us feel like we were on their front porch in the  Appalachians. I am a huge fan of them both and Spoleto encouraged them to come as a pair (which is nice since they are married and have a one year old) and they worked on their duet this past year. They were extremely complimentary of Spoleto staff as have been all the performers, even the young Argentinians of Acca secca. Their performance in the cistern yard was magical… it was a perfect cool evening with mellow Latin rhythms and soft soulful harmonies. 

Today on the Isle of Palms is the annual sand sculpting contest; check it out if you have a chance.