Photo essay: The dawns of a festival city

It takes a lot of work by a lot of people in Charleston to get the Holy City ready every day for Spoleto Festival USA and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Even before the sun fully rises, there are plenty of folks working or soaking in the sights and sounds of the Lowcountry.

Restaurants and stores have to place trash and recycling containers along streets so they can be collected early before visitors and residents stream into shops to get jolts of coffee. Exercisers get on bikes or run at sun-up before streets become crowded. Others meditate as the sun rises over the Cooper River.

Journalism graduate students from Syracuse University rose during the first week of the festivals in the wee hours to capture some waking images of Charleston so you can see what it looks like before you head out in the morning. Here’s what they found:

Cleaning up and waiting for the morning rush

Mornings in Charleston have their benefits, including the empty roads where future husbands and wives can take wedding photos without the disturbance of automobiles. This couple and the wedding photographer stand in the middle of Meeting Street. The sun is high enough where the lighting creates a picturesque moment. Credit: Henry O'Brien
Trey Martin, 22, a Grand Bohemian Hotel valet from North Carolina, checks his phone as he waits for the morning rush to commence. He has this downtime since most guests and visitors are still asleep at 6:30 a.m. The hotel valet entrance feels cool and has the smell of a spa. Credit: Henry O’Brien
Restaurants and shops on King Street, George Street and surrounding areas leave trash out overnight. Garbage collectors come between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. to clear it so the roads are clean for locals and tourists. The sometimes nasty, tangy smells will wash away thanks to the efforts of these collectors. Credit: Henry O’Brien
People start their day off at Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer at 7:30 a.m. Orders vary from coffee and other drinks to one of Kudu’s banana nut muffins. The store’s air conditioning wafts the scents of coffee and milk. Credit: Henry O’Brien
The College of Charleston Cistern Yard has been and will continue to be a venue throughout Spoleto Festival USA. But in the early morning, with no performers or students for that matter, the gates to the stage are open. The peace and quiet is in stark contrast to the wonderful sounds audiences will hear from the likes of Jeff Tweedy on June 6. Credit: Henry O’Brien
Workers at Palmetto Carriage Works prepare for another day of tourism by feeding the horses, taking out trash and preparing the carriages. The barn itself takes on the smell of the horses, including when it’s quite yucky.
A biker rolls down Wentworth Street just as the sun starts to rise. The biker misses the sun’s rays by a matter of minutes. Instead, there is dewiness and dampness in the air. Credit: Henry O’Brien
And they say print journalism is dead! Three houses near the corner of Wentworth and East Bay Streets had print copies of The Post and Courier on doorsteps. The wrappings had droplets of water on them, but the papers were dry. Credit: Henry O’Brien

— Photos by Henry O’Brien.

The sun illuminates the city

The Waterfront Park pier, with the sun shining through its columns. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay
A bright orange hue of sunlight illuminates Queen Street, and just beyond is the Vendue Range. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay
Lower King Street is empty in the morning, except for delivery trucks making their trips before the morning rush. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay
A man sits on a swing with luggage at his side at the Waterfront Park pier, observing the sun rising in full bloom. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay
The sun rises at 6 a.m. on a Thursday, shining over the city of Charleston and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay
Rows of trees illuminated by the sun in Waterfront Park. Credit: Ankit Bandyopadhyay

— Photos by Ankit Bandyopadhyay

Running, sweeping, cleaning

Trash and recycling ready to be picked up from restaurants on King Street, such as Virginia’s On King. Credit: Emily Rutkowski
An El Jefe employee sweeps around 6 a.m. after a busy evening. Credit: Emily Rutkowski
Morning deliveries occur at the restaurants on King Street around 6 a.m. Credit: Emily Rutkowski
Morning running groups frequent the French Quarter. A group of women crosses the street to continue a run after waiting at the stoplight. Credit: Emily Rutkowski
Morning clouds break over Marion Square around 6 a.m. Art booths sit unmanned, awaiting opening hours for the day. Credit: Emily Rutkowski
A man wearing headphones stares out over the water at The Battery around 7 a.m. Credit: Emily Rutkowski