Charleston Jazz Festival April 13-21

The Charleston Jazz Festival Artists Herlin Riley and Danilo Pérez

The Charleston Jazz Festival returns April 13–21, 2026, for nine days of spectacular performances, community events, and educational programming set across Charleston’s historic venues. Bringing together internationally acclaimed artists, celebrated local musicians, and dynamic cultural leaders, the 2026 Festival offers a powerful celebration of jazz in the cultural heart of the city.

From intimate listening rooms to grand concert stages, this year’s Festival reflects jazz’s global reach and deep American roots. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the 2026 Charleston Jazz Festival highlights jazz as one of America’s original art forms—born from resilience, creativity, and cultural exchange—and honors its continuing evolution.

'The Charleston Jazz Festival has become a cultural cornerstone for our region — bringing extraordinary artists and engaged audiences together while deepening our commitment to education and community impact. More than a series of concerts, the festival celebrates creativity, connection, and the uniquely American art form with roots in Charleston that continues to evolve here today. We’re proud to showcase our city as a destination for world-class jazz while ensuring meaningful access and inspiration for audiences of all ages.' -Tatjana Beylotte, Executive Director

Education and community engagement remain at the heart of the Festival’s mission. This year, Festival artists Danilo Pérez and Herlin Riley will each present programs in Charleston County public schools, connecting directly with students through performance and conversation. Riley will also lead a free public masterclass at the Charleston Jazz Academy. In collaboration with the University of South Carolina Department of Jazz, the Charleston Jazz Academy proudly presents the annual Jazz Girls Day—an open invitation for middle and high school girls to participate in a day of masterclasses, meaningful mentorship, live performances, and an exciting jam session. The Festival culminates with Rhythm and Flow: America’s Story at 250, a free panel discussion and performance exploring how jazz reflects the American experience as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

2026 Festival Schedule

Monday, April 13 – 6:00 PM
Ann Caldwell & LooseFitt Jazz Ensemble
The Establishment Restaurant

Tuesday, April 14 – 7:30 PM
College of Charleston Faculty Jazz Ensemble
Simons Recital Hall, College of Charleston

Wednesday, April 15 – 7:30 PM
Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
Simons Recital Hall, College of Charleston

Thursday, April 16 – 6:00 PM
 Jazz Messengers - A Tribute to Art Blakey Feat. Abdiel Iriarte Sextet
American Theater

Thursday, April 16 – 8:00 PM
Rebel With A Cause - Nina Simone Tribute Feat. Alva Anderson Quartet
American Theater

Friday, April 17 – 6:00 PM
The Al Di Meola VIP Package
Charleston Music Hall

Friday, April 17 – 7:30 PM
Al Di Meola Acoustic Quartet
Charleston Music Hall

Saturday, April 18 – 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Global Connections featuring Danilo Pérez with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra
Charleston Music Hall

Sunday, April 19 – 5:00 PM
Herlin Riley Quartet + Gullah Collective
Charleston Music Hall

Monday, April 20 – 6:00 PM
Herlin Riley Masterclass (FREE)
Charleston Jazz Academy

Tuesday, April 21 – 6:00 PM
Rhythm and Flow: America’s Story at 250, Panel Discussion + Performance (FREE)
Fox Music House

Tickets for all events are on sale now at CharlestonJazz.com.

Founded to celebrate Charleston’s rich jazz heritage and showcase artists from around the globe, the Charleston Jazz Festival has grown into a premier cultural event in the Southeast. Each year, the festival presents unforgettable performances featuring world-renowned musicians, rising stars, and collaborative artistic experiences that highlight the vibrancy of Charleston’s arts community.

The 2nd Sunday on King Street Community February 2026

Hampton Watts | True Lucia | McCaulley Griffin Home | Wiks & Stone | Pure Fluff | DFTI § CALLERY ART | Daniela De Art3 | Hidden Gem Jewelry | Brophy Ink | Vivi Bubble Tea | Rosie Big Gurl | River Street Sweets | A Touch of Chocolate | State and Liberty | Craft DIY | Kenny Flowers | Charleston County Clemson Club | Nick Kawczynski Art | Cluck Norris Trading Company | WoofGang | Beckett Boutique | OluKai | CO | Millie Lynn Boutique | Matcha Made in Heaven | Spoleto Festival USA | Shades of Charleston | Something About Me | ZolaVida | Beach Puddles | Beachy Keen | Stoney Clover Lane | Psychic Room on King | Cinder & Loam | Lauren Art | Uncommon James | Earth and Air Studios | Marsh Wear Clothing | Finicky Filly | 2nd Sunday Tent | My Sister’s Cottage | Bushel of Prints | Oyster House | V2V | Flowers by Vanessa | Daily Details Boutique | Imbali Charleston | Bright Light Bakery | Fish Print Girl | HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | Magari Boutique | Indulge in Art | Palmetto City Ballet | Mama Maddies | Shark Bowls & Bites | Lowcountry Lemonade | Lowcountry Lemonade GS Troop #3618 | Vineyard Vines | Collared Greens | Kendra Scott | Hazel Twenty | Meeting Green | The Restoration | CHS Wagyu | Mr. Narwhals | Charleston Sugar Studio | Lacrima Mortis Vintage | Pool Boy | Sir Wieners | AD Folk Art | Renewal By Andersen | Tulips & Tillie | Walsh Woods | The Heart Knot | La Casa Love | Alfred and Lu | Aster Boutique | Rebecca Illustrated | Tate Nation | KJ BBQ | Ari Foss Foundation | Evergarden | Mabel Mae’s Bakery | Liv Bella Vita | Elyse Carmichael | Raine & Grace | James Brown | &Lobster | Natural Blonde Mix | Glace | Stitchen It | High Rise Beverage | Barry’s Bootcamp | Danielle Spuur Art | Folly Golf | SEWE | Goldbird Collective | Gretchen Scott | Spartina | Stradley Davidson | Deluxe Special | Sweet Jessamine | Pet Wants Lowcountry | Little Bird CHS | Pineapple Paw Prints | Max T Art | We Shell Sea | Southern Pottery | Well Designed Wood and Sons | Fizza Kombucha | AW Shucks | Charleston Battery | Lumos | Bianco Company Limited | MayFlowerDesign | Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee | The Head Baker | Illuminate Artisan | IGearrings LLC | Qubit Toy | Christmas Touch of Nature | Sea Flower Jewelry | Maris DeHart | Girl Scout Troop 3210 | Coastal Folk Art | Fray Pearls | Lenore Collective | From the Sea | Low Country Caviar | Codfather at Nexton | Fat Buddy’s BBQ | Krystynas Polish Food Truck | Shaka Shrimp | Tuttichurros | Estuary Co | Dough Boyz

Thanks for the memories

Jaime Emfinger with Meraki Photo by Jaime sent us the best gift, a professional photoshoot of 2nd Sunday on King Street. A relative newcomer, this talented photographer is going to make a big splash. Meet Jaime at the 2nd Sunday VIP Tent in front of the Apple Store March 8.

Images by Jaime Emfinger

At the Gaillard 2026 When the Trees Become the Monuments

Monuments by Craig Walsh February 27–March 31, 2026 | Nightly from 6:30pm to 10:00pm (free and open to the public)

In 2026, the Charleston Gaillard Center will present artist Craig Walsh's Monuments—a striking outdoor installation that honors local community members who make an extraordinary impact in quiet ways. 

This spring, Charleston’s idea of a monument changes.

Instead of bronze figures on pedestals, Monuments turns living trees into portraits of real community members — projected onto bark and branches after dark. The free outdoor installation runs February 27 – March 31, 2026 at the Gaillard Center grounds.

Walsh’s work honors people who rarely receive formal recognition: educators, advocates, mentors, caregivers — the civic infrastructure of a city. Rather than memorializing distant history, it highlights the people actively shaping Charleston right now.

Set near the future Anson Street African Burial Memorial site, the project quietly asks a question Charleston continues to wrestle with:

Who deserves to be remembered — and how?

You don’t stand in front of these monuments.

You walk among them.

Free · Nightly · Outdoors

Spring in Charleston: Where Design Meets Discovery

Spring in Charleston: Where Design Meets Discovery

The Historic Charleston Foundation wants to tell you about the Charleston Festival (March 18-April 11) and Charleston by Design (March 12-15) as well as present some of the artifacts found at two museum houses during archaeological digs.

Every spring, Charleston doesn’t just show off — it opens up.

Behind gates, inside historic rooms, and even beneath floorboards, the city reveals how it has actually lived.

From March 12–15, Charleston by Design begins the season.

From March 18–April 11, The Charleston Festival expands that conversation across the peninsula.

Together they form a single idea: preservation isn’t nostalgia — it’s investigation.

Charleston by Design shows the intention. The Charleston Festival shows the evidence.

Charleston, uniquely, allows both conversations to happen in the same month, sometimes in the same house. You might walk through a perfectly restored dining room in the morning… and that afternoon learn what was thrown away just outside its door 200 years ago.

Because preservation is often mistaken for decoration. But in Charleston, preservation is forensic.

It asks not just what survived — but whose stories were buried. Spring is when the city answers.

Meet the Charleston Historic Foundation in front of H&M at 281 King Street.

Charleston County Clemson Club

Clemson Design Center at the Cigar Factory

This weekend you can see a lot of orange at Clemson on the Coast.

Find Charleston Clemson Club swag, information about Clemson's operations in the Lowcountry (Clemson Design Center at the Cigar Factory, Clemson Restoration Institute in North Charleston) in front of Earthbound Trading Co. at 343 King Street.

Palmetto City Ballet

Meet the fabulous Palmetto City Ballet in front of Lululemon at 279 King Street.

Palmetto City Ballet

Spoleto Festival USA

Spoleto is dance. It's music. It's Brandi Carlile under the oak trees. It's Ken Burns in the Sotille. It's 17 days and 100+ performances. Spoleto representatives will be at 330 King Street, College Corner on 2nd Sunday.

Spoleto Festival USA

Here’s your valentine!

Every February the same ritual repeats: bouquets appear in grocery carts, florists work overtime, and for about four beautiful days the house smells like romance. Then — quietly — the petals drop, the water clouds, and the Valentine is over. Don’t get us wrong, flowers are lovely. We want fresh flowers around the house every day! But when it comes to valentines, they’re temporary.

Art, on the other hand, keeps showing up.

It hangs on the wall years later.

It sits on the bedside table.

It becomes the mug they only use in the morning.

It turns into the bowl that holds keys every day for a decade.

It becomes part of a person’s routine — which is really what love is anyway.

This Valentine’s Day, give something that stays.

And in Charleston at 2nd Sunday on King Street, you don’t have to search far to find it.

Heart on My Sleeve by Tate Nation

Here’s local artist Tate Nation’s ode to love… available as a limited edition print. “Heart On My Sleeve"

7 x 9 inches

Edition is limited to 143 signed & numbered prints, printed on heavyweight, acid-free paper with archival inks, unframed

$110 includes insured shipping

SEWE at Second Sunday

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) will be at 2nd Sunday on King Street in Charleston on Sunday, February 8th, offering attendees the opportunity to purchase SEWE Day Tickets and official SEWE lanyards in person. With online Day Ticket sales closed, this is a convenient way to secure your tickets ahead of the event.

SEWE representatives will be on hand to answer questions, share event details, and provide SEWE show brochures and information about what to expect during the weekend celebration of wildlife art, conservation, and sporting traditions.

Stop by the SEWE table during 2nd Sunday to grab your tickets and lanyards and get ready for SEWE the following weekend! They’ll be near 237 King Steet, Amalfi of Florence.

Thank a Cop

2nd Sunday on King Street is safe. It’s a way to enjoy downtown Charleston with her many cultural offerings, shared with your friends and neighbors. Security is provided by the City of Charleston’s finest, and in 15 years we’ve never had an incident to report. Why do we, 2nd Sunday’s staff, buy lunch for the cops? Pretty small thank you for the safety and protection they provide. Stop and thank those men and women who put our safety over their own.

How local artists, academic institutions, and community events like 2nd Sunday on King Street work together to shape Charleston’s cultural life

From the George Street Box Office February Newsletter

Fall in love with our exciting offerings! The George Street Box Office is thrilled to announce our February selections of music events, theatre productions, professional opportunities, and school spirit activities. For any ticketing questions, call at 843.953.GSBO (4726) or email gsbo@charleston.edu.

International Piano Series presents Drew Petersen

February 3 | College of Charleston Sottile Theatre

Tickets & More Information

College of Charleston Department of Music presents "2nd Monday Series: Jazz Faculty Showcase"

February 9 | College of Charleston Simons Center Recital Hall

Tickets & More Information

College of Charleston Department of Theatre and Dance presents "Romeo and Juliet"

February 19-26 | College of Charleston Black Box Theatre

Tickets & More Information

College of Charleston Opera presents "Hänsel und Gretel"

February 20-22 | College of Charleston Sottile Theatre

Tickets & More Information

Let’s All Enjoy Restaurant Week Downtown at 2nd Sunday!

Try someplace new, or enjoy an old favorite. It’s Charleston Restaurant Week Downtown.

A Lithophane Nightlight Christmas

What an excellent choice these Lowcountry Lithophane Nightlights were for family, friends and corporate gifting! We used fancy monograms, Finnish symbols and photographs to create custom pieces for each recipient. We included a statement with each piece and the gratitude flowed. Thank you Blane Shirley for your unique historical creations and excellent customer service.

The hit gift of our Christmas season. You are the designer, making these an especially personal gift.

The best accent light!

Coming January 11 at the Queen Street Playhouse

Sinatra!

Life is a cabaret on 2nd Sunday evening. Join us for a fun experience on Queen Street.

At the 2nd Sunday Tent…Beautiful Wood!

Michael Johnson Woodworks will display some of his beautiful pieces. Follow @michaeljohnsonwoodworks on Instagram to see some of his mastery, and ask him questions about the next project on your wish list. Look for him in front of the Apple Store and the new Ladybird Books at King Street & Liberty.

Hotel Richemont & Two Bit Club presents a special 2nd Sunday event… with Santa!

It’s an art event/hotel tour that will showcase/benefit Charleston Pro Bono.

There will be three rooms room open for touring, with light bites and drinks, as well as a well loved artist in the court yard. Special guests - Santa Claus on the patio and the Pink Figgy in the valet area - will be in attendance for pictures. The Two Bit Club is baking holiday Vietnamese cookies and making hot chocolate for the kids. Patrons will be given a card with the locations to visit, and if they check them all off - they can return the card to the Charleston Pro Bono table in the garden room, where they will be entered for a chance to win a stay at Hotel Richemont. It is likely there will be a few other surprises along the way as well. All of this, along with live music, will make an exciting holiday event!

Here is a list of Hotel Richemont rooms/artists and locations to visit on Sunday:

Suite 201: Gallavantor and Don't Sass Me Soy Candles

Suite 202: Christy Kinard and Lil Tuft Co

Suite 214: Matt Hanagriff/HNGRFF and Pupcountry Candles

Courtyard: Danielle Cather-Cohen

Garden room: Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services information table

Patio: Santa Valet: The Pink Figgy

Introducing Laurel: A Collective

Thoughtfully crafted by renowned architects Sottile & Sottile and LS3P, Laurel is a forthcoming apartment and townhome community that marries timeless craftsmanship with modern sophistication. Situated in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, Laurel will offer four distinct building collections featuring studio, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom residences, including penthouses and townhomes. Its iconic King Street address, paired with curated onsite retail, will provide residents seamless access to the peninsula’s finest culinary and entertainment offerings. Pre-leasing begins early 2026, with first residences anticipated to deliver in May 2026. Look for reps from Laurel at 2nd Sunday.

2nd Sunday Holiday Happenings!

12/23/2025 Update: The team raised over $2500 for Make-A-Wish in just four hours at 2nd Sunday. Happy spirit of the holidays!

There will be helpful elves manning (elving?) 2nd Sunday’s gift wrap station at Hasell Square, (the intersection at King & Hasell). The station, sponsored by

Appreciated Asset

Kookoo Monkey

Tate Nation

Bushel of Prints

The gift wrap station will feature special, limited edition gift wrap and gift bags created by cherished local artist Tate Nation, wrapped by willing elf volunteers, children of Make-A-Wish supporters. Donations benefit Make-A-Wish, the organization whose only goal is to make special wishes come true for children who need them most.

Party of Five at 6:30

Volpe is such a lovely experience with good food served at its peak, family style, chef’s menu. The atmosphere is cozy, cosmopolitan and intimate. Reasonably priced Italian wines and all the courses.

The courses included chef’s excellent salads and burrata, Scallopine of Heritage Pork, Mushroom Marsala, Local Flounder, Torcino Style, Brown Butter Vinaigrette.

It’s that time of year when the golden hour for ambient light photography—my only and genuine style—is long past so I lifted this photo from their website. Mea culpa. The dishes were beautiful. 161 Rutledge Ave, corner of Rutledge and Doughty.