Participants sought for Opening Processional of 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is accepting applications from local performing arts groups of all ages for participation in the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival Opening Processional on Saturday, May 5th.

In past years the processional has been led by African drummers and dancers and has included groups dressed in brightly colored outfits and costumes, volunteers carrying giant puppets, banners and other crafted props, jugglers, dance troupes, theatre groups, and more. Applications can be found here and the deadline for applications is Friday, April 20, at 5 p.m. 

The Opening Processional has kicked off the Arts Festival’s Main Event festivities at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex for over ten years. Participants parade around the complex toward the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Once the Processional enters the North Charleston Performing Arts Center Auditorium, the celebration continues with a Performance Spotlight, featuring 3-5 minute performances by pre-selected groups.  Performance Spotlight slots may be requests on the Opening Processional application and are filled on a first come, first served basis.  

The North Charleston Arts Festival, scheduled May 4-12, is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing thousands of residents and visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event, held the first weekend in May, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances on four stages. Other Main Event activities include judged art, photography, and fine craft exhibitions, a gem and mineral show, children’s activities, arts and crafts booths, and an outdoor food courtyard. The Arts Festival continues with over 50 free or moderately priced ticketed events throughout the week at various locations concludes with fireworks over the Cooper River at the Grand Finale at Riverfront Park.    

For more information on the Opening Processional, contact Nancy Rodriguez at (843) 740-5851.  Visit northcharleston.org for more information about the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival and other participation opportunities, including downloadable applications for Judged Art, Photography, and Youth Art exhibitions; Arts & Crafts and Food Vendor space; and Volunteers. 

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