Piccolo Spoleto gives access to the Spoleto Festival experience for everyone. Many of Piccolo Spoleto’s performances are free or have minimal ticket prices.

Piccolo Spoleto’s Sunset Serenade turns the beautiful city of Charleston into a stage with a free outdoor pops concert overlooking the Charleston Harbor at the U.S. Custom House. This concert opens Piccolo Spoleto on Friday, May 22 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra plays big band music with guest artist, The Wycliffe Gordon Quartet. Then it’s time for the trombone players to take over. The unique group, The Palmetto Posaunen, consists of 40 trombone players with percussion. The group performs TROMBONES! at 6 p.m. on the East Bay Plaza of the U.S. Custom House. The music includes an interesting variety of music from Broadway tunes, to jazz, and also “76 Trombones” from The Music Man.

Piccolo Spoleto hosts many family-friendly activities. One of the most popular events is the Children’s Festival in Marion Square. The festival takes place on May 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., features a great selection of fun-filled activities for the younger crowd. Activities include; some of the Lowcountry’s finest student choral and dance groups, face painting, a “fun bus”, arts and crafts and much more.

Break it Down Now! is a special a block party taking place on Saturday, May 30 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the U.S. Custom House. The block party features music from the 80s, 90s and today. This event is organized by the college interns who encourage festival goers to “go green” for the event. There will be a “green carpet,” and other eco-friendly activities. Artists include 80s cover band Bueller, former American Idol contestant Quiana Parler & Friends, DJ and video artists Spaced Invaders and break dancing group The Electric Company.

From 5 to 9 p.m., June 6 in Hampton Park, everone is invited to Piccolo Spoleto Finale: A Global Village of World Music. This festive finale wraps-up the festival with a exiting line-up. Performers include Carolina Klezmer from Charlotte, N.C., and Sababah from Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Students in Carolina Studios after school program will open the evening with their original performance. Piccolo Spoleto is committed to maintaining a balanced and healthy habitat for the ecosystem in Hampton Park and as a result fireworks will not be included.

There is also a wide variety of theatre, dance, literature and film events during the festival.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the Piccolo Spoleto ticket hotline at 888-374-2656, or online at www.TicketMaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Piccolo Spoleto box office, located in the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium at 77 Calhoun St., with no service charges, or at area Publix Super Markets. For a ticket brochure and information on Piccolo Spoleto, call the Office of Cultural Affairs at (843) 724-7305 or visit www.PiccoloSpoleto.com.

Visit our events calendar for Piccolo Spoleto 2009, Charleston, South Carolina