Piccolo Spoleto begins next week, and as usual, it’s sure to be a treat for visitors and locals alike. This year’s lineup features 500 events over the course of 17 days. There will be visual art exhibits, concerts (classical, jazz, choral, etc.), film screenings and other performances (dance, theatre and poetry readings). The festival will kickoff on Friday, May 22nd in front of the US Custom House on East Bay Street. The free, outdoor concert will include Rossini, Puccini, Tchaikovsky and Gershwin works performed by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The show starts at 8:00, but The Music Battery Drumline will greet guests with an opening act at 6:00pm