The North Charleston Arts Fest returns April 28 to May 2, 2027: five days of free concerts, theater, dance and art shows across the city. Free parking.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the North Charleston Arts Fest website and the City of North Charleston’s special events calendar and poster competition announcement.

The 2027 North Charleston Arts Fest runs Wednesday, April 28, through Sunday, May 2, the city says. It is five days of dance, music, theater, visual art, media art and literature in libraries, community centers, schools, businesses and parks across the city, and every event is free. The 2027 schedule is not out yet; this page shows how the 2026 festival worked and will carry the new lineup once it is posted.

Who to call

At a glance
2027 dates Wednesday, April 28, to Sunday, May 2
2026 dates Wednesday, April 29, to Sunday, May 3
Where Venues across North Charleston
Cost All events free; some need pre-registration
Parking Free at all locations
Organizer City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department

What the festival is

The Cultural Arts Department produces the festival. It began in 1982 as a one-day community celebration in Park Circle, moved to the North Charleston Coliseum in 1995 and grew to nine days once the convention center and Performing Arts Center opened around 2000; it now runs five days. The Southeast Tourism Society named it a Top 20 Event in 2008 and again in 2018.

How the 2026 festival ran

The 2026 schedule is the best guide to what 2027 will look like:

  • Opening Celebration and Art Reception, Wednesday evening, 6 to 8 p.m., in Exhibit Hall C at the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive. Hundreds of pieces from the festival’s competitions hang there, including the judged fine art and photography, SC Palmetto Hands fine craft, national outdoor sculpture and tri-county youth art shows, with awards at 6:30 p.m., live jazz and free beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres.
  • Children’s shows most mornings and afternoons: theater, puppet shows, a magic show and a family kalimba concert.
  • Evening concerts and theater Thursday through Sunday, from chamber music, jazz, bluegrass and gospel to improv comedy and a World Music Cafe.
  • World Dance Showcase, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Park Circle Community Building, 4800 Park Circle: Scottish, Filipino, Irish, Polynesian, Italian, Peruvian, Indian and West African dance, with food trucks.
  • Arty Block Party, Saturday evening: an art market with live music, spin art, street magic and balloon artists.
  • Exhibitions and receptions through the week, and a multi-disciplinary performance at the Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel, 1096 Navy Way, at Riverfront Park.

What to know

  • Everything is free, and parking is free at every venue, the festival says. Some workshops and children’s programs ask you to pre-register on the event’s own listing.
  • Venues are spread out. Check the address on each event before you go; the opening night is at the convention center and much of the weekend is around Park Circle.
  • Rain plans. Weather can move outdoor events. In 2026 the Arty Block Party moved to the Park Circle Community Building and a new time because of the forecast, and the festival notes that schedules can change, so confirm on the day.

The poster competition

Every festival has an official poster chosen by competition. Entries for the 2027 poster are open now:

  • Who: South Carolina residents 18 and older.
  • Deadline: Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, online at the Cultural Arts Department’s Slideroom.
  • Cost: no entry fee.
  • Prize: a $2,000 purchase award, a solo exhibition at Park Circle Gallery in May 2027, and a place in the city’s Public Art Collection.
  • Media: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, watercolor, fiber, printmaking and 2-D mixed media.

More in spring

The St. Patrick’s Day Block Party and Parade on East Montague Avenue comes first in March. For the rest of the year, see Park Circle, free things to do and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the North Charleston Arts Fest in 2027?

Wednesday, April 28, through Sunday, May 2, 2027, the City of North Charleston says. The schedule will be posted on northcharlestonartsfest.com.

Is the North Charleston Arts Fest free?

Yes. The festival says all events are free and parking is free at every location, though some programs require pre-registration.

Where is the North Charleston Arts Fest held?

At venues across the city. In 2026 they included the Charleston Area Convention Center, the Park Circle Community Building and the Eternal Father of the Sea Chapel at Riverfront Park.

How do I enter the Arts Fest poster competition?

South Carolina residents 18 and older can enter online by Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026. There is no entry fee, and the winner receives a $2,000 purchase award and a solo show at Park Circle Gallery.