Events May-June 2026

MAY

ArtWalk May 1, June 5 :Discover the vibrant art scene of Charleston during First Friday ArtWalks! Take a stroll downtown through some of the liveliest neighborhoods and enjoy this community event. Photo courtesy of CGA. Get a map at:  charlestongalleryassociation.com/map

Moonlight Mixers May 1, June 5: Dance the night away under the stars at the iconic Folly Beach Pier! Moonlight Mixers return for five Friday nights this summer, bringing music, ocean breezes, and classic Folly fun to the end of the pier. All ages welcome. Doors open at 7 p.m. (ccprc.com/event/moonlight-mixer/317/)

Lowcountry Strawberry Festival May 1 – 3: Sweeten your spring at the Lowcountry Strawberry Festival. Family-friendly weekend fun with live performances, magic shows, food and strawberry delights. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. (boonehallplantation.com)

Charleston Dragon Boat Festival May 2: The annual dragon boat race to benefit local cancer survivors takes place at Brittlebank Park between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  (dragonboatcharleston.org)

LiveWild Festival May 2: This Charleston’s homegrown health and wellness festival takes place at Firefly Distillery, bringing together movement, mindfulness, music, and community for a full day of connection and celebration. Designed for all experience levels, the day concludes with a live music experience. (livewildfest.com)

Charleston Air Show May 2: Head to the Charleston Harbor (south of the Cooper River Bridge between downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant) to watch the Blue Angels perform in the skies above you. This is a change from the original programming planned at the Joint Base Charleston. Passes are not necessary to enjoy the show.  (airshowcharleston.com)

Charleston RiverDogs Run Charlie Run 5K May 3: Join the Annual 5K race at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park to benefit MUSC Children’s Health, where you finish the race at home plate, congratulated by RiverDogs players and mascots. (runsignup.com/Race/SC/Charleston/RiverDogsMakeFun5K)

Silent Nights: Quiet Reading Club May 5: Calling all night owls to the Main Street Reads Bookstore in Summerville for a Silent Reading group from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. You must sign up. (mainstreetreads.com)

Sounds on the Square May 8: Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and enjoy the evening as the Town of Summerville hosts a concert on Hutchinson Square from 7 – 9 p.m. Local food trucks and live music.

Charleston Greek Festival May 8 – 10: Popular annual festival of Greek culture at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, with traditional foods and drinks, live music and dance performances, craft vendors, and more. (charlestongreekfestival.com)

St. Paul & the Broken Bones May 9: Groove to the tunes of these Birmingham, Alabama rockers, known for their soulful sounds that blend elements of classic R&B, funk, and Southern rock.  (charlestonmusichall.com)

Dancing on the Cooper May 15, June 12: On select Friday evenings during the summer, you’ll find the end of the Mount Pleasant Pier alive with the rhythm of live music and dancing. Gates open at 7 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 per person. Day-of tickets are $15 per person.

Atomacon Film Festival May 16 –17: Check out the 12th annual 2-day media convention at the Conference Center at Trident Technical College in North Charleston. (atomacon.org)

Spoleto May 22 – June 7: For 17 days and nights each spring, Spoleto Festival USA fills Charleston’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with performances by renowned artists as well as emerging performers in opera, theater, dance, chamber, orchestral, choral, jazz, and contemporary music. (spoletousa.org)

Piccolo Spoleto May 22 – June 7: Piccolo Spoleto was launched in 1979 by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs. The festival features everything from music to visual art to dance, as well as free concerts and outreach events. Photo by Tom Thompson of the Citadel. (piccolospoleto.com)

Declaration of  Independence on View May 22 – Aug 30: On loan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and in partnership with the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, The Charleston Museum will have on display an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Printed in Charleston by Huguenot descendant Peter Timothy in 1776, it brought the news of independence to South Carolina. (schistory.org/museum)

BBQ and Boots Festival May 23: Bring your appetite and western wear to the Charleston RiverDogs BBQ & Boots Festival. This year’s featured performer is country music artist Austin Burke. There’ll be live music, BBQ, vendors, games, and more! (rileyparkevents.com)

An Evening with Ken Burns May 23: A luminous celebration of America’s 250th year, this evening at the Sottile Theatre with acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns—creator of The Civil War, Jazz, and The Vietnam War. Part conversation, part concert, this narrative and musical meditation honors the spirit of independence. (spoletousa.org)

June

Hightide Festival Jun 5 – 6: Hightide is all about bringing the good vibes to the Charleston waterfront. Some of the biggest acts in dance music, including headliners The Chainsmokers and Louis the Child, will perfect a soundtrack for a day in the sun. Expect nonstop dancing from this crowd!  (hightide.com)

Mamma Mania! June 13: Prepare to be transported back to the vibrant 1970s with the #1 booked American ABBA Tribute! “Mamma Mania!” brings the classic hits of one of pop music’s most iconic groups to life. (charlestonmusichall.com)

Mt. Joy June 13: Celebrate 10 years of Mt Joy this summer at the Credit One Stadium when this American five-piece indie rock band with roots in Philadelphia comes to town.  (creditonestadium.com/events)

Rhythm & Roots Cultural Concert June 19: Summerville Parks and Recreation will host its first-ever Rhythm & Roots Cultural Concert at the Brown Family Park from 6 – 8 p.m. Celebrate local African American history and culture with food trucks, vendors, and a live musical performance.

SC250 American Revolution Symposium June 24 – 25: A multi-day event at Dock Street Theatre centered around the philosophical, political, and cultural foundations of the American Revolution through lectures, roundtables, and moderated discussions.  (sc250charleston.org)

Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show June 26 – 27: Country music titan Chris Stapleton comes to the North Charleston Coliseum this summer in support of his latest critically acclaimed album, “Higher.” Grace Potter will join him on Friday night, and Grace Bowers on Saturday night. (northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com)

Carolina Day June 27 – 28: Head to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island for a fee-free weekend to mark the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. Living historians in period clothing will portray both Patriot and British soldiers and civilians to help visitors learn about life in 1776. Events on Saturday run from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a commemoration ceremony for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island from 10 – 11:30 a.m., followed by activities until 4 p.m. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service. (nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/carolina-day-and-beyond.htm)