On any given day, area residents choose from a diverse array of live performances held throughout the Charleston region. In addition to nationally recognized performers, community-based musicians, actors and dance troupes regularly take the stage.

The School of the Arts at the College of Charleston adds to this dynamic environment with plays, dance performances, lectures and concerts, including the popular Monday Night Concert Series, the International Piano Series and International Guitar Series.

Among the venues and companies bringing performing arts to Charleston:

• The Actors' Theatre of South Carolina
• Charleston Ballet Theatre
• Charleston Music Hall
• Charleston Symphony Orchestra
• Dock Street Theatre/Charleston Stage Company
• Footlight Players/Queen Street Playhouse
• Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
• North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center
• Pure Theatre
• Sottile Theatre
• Theatre 99
• Village Playhouse

For a comprehensive listing of scheduled events in the area, visit the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Charleston Post and Courier, or the Charleston City Paper.

The Charleston region has become a destination of choice for many of today's most engaging visual artists. The region supports dozens of working studios and art galleries, with shows and exhibits held regularly in venues throughout the area.

The French Quarter Art Walk has become a popular activity for locals. Held the first Friday of the months March through December, Art Walks are one of the best ways to experience the local visual art scene. Visit the French Quarter Gallery Association for more information and a list of galleries involved.

For a comprehensive listing of the many galleries in the region, as well as related scheduled events, visit the Charleston Artists Guild.

Charleston's unique character is rooted in its history and dedication to preservation. The city's beginnings (circa 1670) are found at a site on the Ashley River, now preserved as the historic site and nature preserve, Charles Towne Landing.

Throughout the region are well-preserved remnants of centuries past, including former rice plantations, Revolutionary and Civil wars artifacts and early American architecture.

From colonial and antebellum history to local culture and the natural environment, the Charleston region supports a vast array of museums and other cultural attractions, such as:

• Avery Research Center for African-American History
• Berkeley County Museum
• Boone Hall Plantation
• Charles Towne Landing
• The Charleston Museum
• Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
• Cypress Gardens
• Drayton Hall
• Fort Moultrie National Monument
• Fort Sumter National Monument
• Historic Charleston Foundation
• The Hunley
• Magnolia Plantation
• Mepkin Abbey
• Middleton Place
• The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
• Patriots Point Maritime Museum
• South Carolina Aquarium
• USS Yorktown

For a comprehensive listing of area historic and cultural attractions, visit the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau or the Historic Charleston Foundation.

Searching for something to do is never a challenge in the Charleston region. A growing, diverse array of events and festivals are held throughout the year, with themes ranging from sports to music and from flowers to food. Perhaps the area's most famous arts event is the annual Spoleto Festival USA, a 17-day international tribute to the arts featuring an eclectic mix of visual and performing arts at venues throughout the region.

In addition to annually scheduled events, Charleston periodically hosts a number of events that rotate among locations, such as the World Cup of Golf, the Ryder Cup and the Around Alone sailing competition.

Charleston's special events provide ideal opportunities for corporate entertaining, and several offer pre-packaged entertainment options.

Charleston Fine Art Annual

For a comprehensive listing of scheduled events, visit the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Charleston Post and Courier, or the Charleston City Paper.