What is Spoleto?

I was in Charleston for Memorial Day Weekend and what a surprise to find that the Spoleto Festival was going on! It is a festival that runs for 17 days every spring in Charleston. It is nationally recognized as America's premier performing arts festival and 2014 is it's 38th season!

The festival is in historic theaters, churches and outdoor spaces with incredible performances and renowned artists. There is opera, theater, dance, chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music.

Piccolo Spoleto focuses primarily on artists of the Southeast and is the perfect complement to the Spoleto Festival USA.

We stayed right near Marion Square where the park was set up with artists tents and craft booths!!

I loved this gorgeous Charleston photography by Mike Nocher Photography.

Here are just a few more pieces that caught my eye:

(artist unknown)

It was great to watch Kathy Clark in action!

"Sweet Decisions" by Jennifer Koach

I really loved this "paper cut" art by Sherry Browne!

Of course I had to buy a souvenir or two.....

After we left the visual arts and craft area, we made our way to Market Street to watch a group called the "Seed and Feed Marching Abominable". They are a street band from Atlanta consisting of volunteers. There are serious professional musicians and some "not so serious" that include dancers and baton twirlers. With colorful crazy costumes and zany antics they were extremely entertaining. The band was formed in 1974 and play in support of community events and fundraisers of all kinds. It was a total blast!!