May in Charleston is marked by warm, sunny weather and a vibrant atmosphere, making it one of the best times of year to experience the city.
The weather in May is ideal for those who enjoy the heat, with average daily high temperatures in the low 80s, often reaching the 90s on particularly hot days.
The biggest Charleston events in May are the Spoleto Festival and its cousin, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, both beginning over the Memorial Day weekend, and the North Charleston Arts Fest, usually held at the start of the month.
Other May events in Charleston include the Charleston Greek Festival, special Mother’s Day events, Charleston’s popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, spring events at local attractions, races, plus other food, arts and music events, and the ongoing selection of concerts and performances at the city’s arts venues.
Things to do in Charleston in May are abundant and varied. This is a great time for outdoor sightseeing, activities and attractions — parks, historic cemeteries, plantations, visits to nearby Morris Island and its lighthouse, kayak tours of scenic Shem Creek, and other natural and historic sights near the city.
Many May days are hot enough for the beach, with the several beaches near Charleston attracting plenty of visitors on sunny weekends. Historic house tours and local museums are a draw year-round, and there is also a wide range of historical tours, focused on topics such as Black history, Charleston’s ghosts and folklore or its food culture.
Interested in a specific type of event? See Charleston’s calendars of upcoming:
– Concerts
– Comedy shows
– Musicals
– Food festivals
– Farmers markets
See also:
– Free things to do in Charleston
– Things to do in Charleston
– Charleston’s biggest festivals
!Event dates, venue and other details can change at short notice. Please check all information at the official website before making plans to attend an event.
– Legally Blonde, April 9 - May 4 2025
Musical at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. More details
– Pleasure Never Lies, April 10 - May 3 2025
Musical at the Cannon Street Art Center. More details
– Into the Woods, April 18 - May 4 2025
Musical at the Queen Street Playhouse. More details
– Beetlejuice Jr, April 26 - May 4 2025
Musical at South of Broadway Theater, North Charleston. More details
– North Charleston Arts Fest, April 30 - May 4 2025
Popular annual arts festival featuring a range of visual and performing arts performances, concerts, exhibitions, demonstrations, and more. More details
– Kishi Bashi, May 1 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Brass & Organ Chamber Concert, May 1 2025
Concert at Grace Episcopal Church. More details
– Lucy, May 1-10 2025
Play at Threshold Repertory Theatre. More details
– Ballet Hispánico, May 2 2025
Ballet performance at the Gaillard Center. More details
– Intocable, May 2 2025
Concert at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– ArtWalk, May 2 2025
Monthly first Friday art walks in downtown Charleston galleries. More details
– Brother Ali, May 2 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Melanie Fiona, May 2 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Party at the Point: The Reckoning, May 2 2025
Family-friendly summer concert series at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. More details
– Charleston Farmers Market, Saturdays April through November 2025
Very popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, with produce, prepared foods and other goods from local vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances. More details
– Dragon Boat Charleston, May 3 2025
Annual dragon boat races on the Ashley River to benefit local people who have had cancer. More details
– Garden Tour, May 3 2025
Annual tour of the St Paul’s Garden Club, visiting selected private gardens in Meggett, Ravenel, Hollywood and Yonges Island, plus plant sale and lunch. More details
– Jim Gaffigan: Everything is Wonderful!, May 3 2025
Comedy show at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Cody Johnson & Friends – The Leather Tour, May 3 2025
Concert at the Credit One Stadium. More details
– Nicotine Dolls, May 3 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Zoso – The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, May 3 2025
Tribute concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– AtomaCon, May 3-4 2025
Annual sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal culture convention and film festival at Trident Technical College, North Charleston. More details
– The Glenn Miller Orchestra, May 4 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Disciple of the Garden, May 4 2025
Tribute concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestras Spring Concert, May 4 2025
Concert at the Scottish Rite Center. More details
– Lucy, May 1-10 2025
Play at Threshold Repertory Theatre. More details
– Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone, May 6 2025
Concert at the Gaillard Center. More details
– The Acacia Strain, May 7 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Alice Cooper, May 7 2025
Concert at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– Glowing Fest, May 8 2025
Arts and crafts festival at Woodlands Nature Reserve to benefit people impacted by Hurricane Helene. More details
– Donna the Buffalo, May 8 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, May 9 2025
Comedy show at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Hudson Westbrook, May 9 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Party at the Point: On the Border, May 9 2025
Family-friendly summer concert series at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. More details
– Hank Williams, Jr – Live In Concert, May 9 2025
Concert at the Credit One Stadium. More details
– Charleston Greek Festival, May 9-11 2025
Big annual festival of Greek food and culture, with authentic Greek foods and wines, live music and dancing, vendors and more. More details
– Charleston Farmers Market, Saturdays April through November 2025
Very popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, with produce, prepared foods and other goods from local vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances. More details
– Cast Off Fishing Tournament, May 10 2025
Fishing tournament at the Mount Pleasant Pier. More details
– Osamason, May 10 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Jimmy Buffett, May 10 2025
Tribute concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Swan Lake presented by Grand Kyiv Ballet, May 11 2025
Ballet performance at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Honestav, May 11 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Choir Showcase, May 11 2025
Concert at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– LENS Foundation Neighborhood Block Party, May 12 2025
Fundraising event at Islander 71, Isle of Palms to benefit the Isle of Palms Police and Fire Departments, with live music, food, games and activities, performers, fire truck display and more. More details
– Maria Bamford, May 12 2025
Comedy show at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Dorothy, May 13 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Les Misérables, May 13-18 2025
Musical at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center. More details
– The Devil Wears Prada with Erra, May 14 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Health, May 14 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Isle of Paws Music Fest, May 15 2025
Annual festival at the Isle of Palms Recreation Department, with dog show, live music, pet-related vendors, pet adoptions, food trucks and more. More details
– Mat Kearney, May 15 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Arm’s Length + Prince Daddy and The Hyena, May 15 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Dancing on the Cooper, May 16 2025
Spring/summer series of live music and dancing on the Mount Pleasant Pier. More details
– Party at the Point: Folly Pirates Over 40, May 16 2025
Family-friendly summer concert series at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. More details
– Sunami + Pain of Truth, May 16 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Widespread Panic, May 16-17 2025 2025
Concert at the Credit One Stadium. More details
– Charleston Farmers Market, Saturdays April through November 2025
Very popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, with produce, prepared foods and other goods from local vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances. More details
– Cast Off Fishing Tournament, May 17 2025
Fishing tournament at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. More details
– Swingin’ the Blues, May 17 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Joywave, May 17 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Charleston RiverDogs: Run Charlie Run 5K, May 18 2025
Annual 5K race at Joseph P Riley Jr Park. More details
– The Crane Wives, May 18 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Dance Lab Presents Wonderlab, May 18 2025
Dance performance at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Of Mice and Men, May 19 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Darude, May 22 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Sturgill Simpson, May 23 2025
Concert at the Credit One Stadium. More details
– 49 Winchester, May 23 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Party at the Point: Dave Matthews Tribute Band, May 23 2025
Family-friendly summer concert series at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. More details
– Maybee Fest, May 23-26 2025
Art festival at Woodlands Nature Reserve, with immersive art project, camping, visual and performing arts and more. More details
– Spoleto Festival, May 23 - June 8 2025
Very popular annual festival of the arts, with performances at various Charleston locations. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto, May 23 - June 8 2025
Annual arts festival running alongside the international Spoleto Festival, featuring hundreds of events across the city by local and regional artists and performers. More details
– Charleston Farmers Market, Saturdays April through November 2025
Very popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, with produce, prepared foods and other goods from local vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances. More details
– Keith Urban – High and Alive World Tour, May 24 2025
Concert at the Credit One Stadium. More details
– One Irish Rover – Celebrating the Music of Van Morrison, May 24 2025
Concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Bobby Shmurda, May 24 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– Spoleto Festival, May 23 - June 8 2025
Very popular annual festival of the arts, with performances at various Charleston locations. More details
– Piccolo Spoleto, May 23 - June 8 2025
Annual arts festival running alongside the international Spoleto Festival, featuring hundreds of events across the city by local and regional artists and performers. More details
– Party at the Point: Sol Driven Train, May 30 2025
Family-friendly summer concert series at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. More details
– Reggae Nights Summer Concerts, May 30 2025
Outdoor summer concert series in James Island County Park. More details
– Erin Kinsey, May 30 2025
Concert at the Music Farm. More details
– The Prince Experience, May 30 2025
Tribute concert at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Charleston Farmers Market, Saturdays April through November 2025
Very popular weekly farmers market in Marion Square, with produce, prepared foods and other goods from local vendors, arts and crafts, and live performances. More details
– Chris Distefano, May 31 2025
Comedy show at the Charleston Music Hall. More details
– Karma! The Chappell Roan Tribute Band, May 31 2025
Tribute concert and drag performances at the Music Farm. More details
→ See more June events