Things to Do in September in Myrtle Beach (Updated for 2026)
While the beach is great in summer for the sunny rays and warm water, fall can be even nicer, with less heat and fewer crowds.
September isn't just the start of fall, It's also the start of festival season on the Grand Strand, when the calendar fills up with some of the area's most beloved annual festivals and events, making it the perfect time to plan your 2026 autumn itinerary.
This year brings some exciting new additions to the mix, too, including Fords at The Shore and a brand-new North Myrtle Beach festival, NMB! Live. Spend your days outside enjoying local festivals and markets, then head inside in the evenings to catch a show or spend quality time with friends and family.
The Quick Answer
What Should I Do in September in Myrtle Beach?
September is one of the best times to visit Myrtle Beach, with fall festivals and live music all month plus comfortable weather and smaller post-summer crowds. The month's biggest events include the SOS Fall Migration shag party and the Irish Italian Festival on North Myrtle Beach's Main Street, the Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach State Park, the Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down, Art-In-Common at The Market Common, the SeptemberFest grape stomp at Barefoot Landing, the Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally and the new Fords at the Shore car show. For live music, don't miss the free Waves of Praise Gospel Fest, the weekly Music on Main concert series, and shows at the Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre.
Can't-Miss September Events
Labor Day Weekend Events
Labor Day weekend is summer's grand finale on the Grand Strand, and it kicks September off with a packed lineup. Sing along at the free Waves of Praise Gospel Fest by the ocean, catch the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' final homestand complete with fireworks, and toast the season with end-of-summer fireworks festivals at Surfside Beach and Broadway at the Beach. There's live music at the House of Blues, the debut of the Fords at The Shore car show, and plenty of time for one last warm-weather beach day. Check out our full guide for everything happening over the long weekend.
End of Summer Bash!
Keep the summer fun going with a full weekend of live music, food, drinks and family-friendly entertainment at Myrtle’s largest beer garden, the new Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw Brewing at Broadway at the Beach. The lineup includes Urban Jukebox on Friday; Jebb Mac Band and 100 Grand Band on Saturday; and Chasing Rachel and Tru Sol on Sunday. Guests can also enjoy moonshine flights, stilt walkers, balloon makers and specials on food, beer buckets and moonshine cocktail pitchers.
2nd Annual Little River Patriots Day
Head to the waterfront for the 2nd Annual Little River Patriots Day, a free, family-friendly festival honoring the heroes and victims of 9/11 along with veterans, first responders and military members. Running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Little River Landing, the day is packed with live music, food and craft vendors, a Touch a Truck, and activities for kids and adults, plus a memorable boat flotilla out on the water. It's a heartfelt way to remember, honor and celebrate together as the Little River community comes out in force.
Art-In-Common
Art-In-Common is back again from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. This event showcases countless types of art created from various materials, including aluminum wire jewelry, wooden bowls, charcoal drawings, acrylic pieces, photography shots, pottery, glasswork, and so much more. It’s a great time to see different creative minds across the Grand Strand and enjoy a day outdoors. Afterward, you can walk around the local shopping district of Market Common or grab a bite at one of the eateries like Tidal Creek Brewery, CO Sushi, or Gordon Biersch.
SOS Fall Migration
Have you ever heard of the famous Carolina Shag? Learn all about the origins of South Carolina's state dance and see how dancers keep from fumbling over each other's feet with the Society of Stranders. Each year, thousands of people participate in the Shag Fall Migration to party, listen to music, and of course dance the night away. Each day has highly acclaimed bands, shag competitions, and fun all up and down Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. Watch experienced shaggers dance until they drop, or work up the courage to give it a try yourself!
SeptemberFest!
Barefoot Landing's Dockside Village turns into a fall party, with two celebrations happening side by side. The headliner is SeptemberFest and its Duplin Winery Grape Stomp: step into a barrel at one of several stations and crush as many freshly harvested grapes as you can, with live music and vendors rounding out the day (and even if you don't stomp, watching is half the fun). Right there at Crooked Hammock Brewery, the annual Crooktoberfest keeps the good times rolling with a weeks-long Oktoberfest celebration, complete with over-the-top backyard decor, German-inspired cookout specials like the Bier Me burger, and a fresh lineup of seasonal beers from malty Oktoberfest lagers to pumpkin ales. Make a day of it: stomp some grapes, then grab a cold seasonal pour next door.
46th Annual Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival
Back year after year, one of the oldest and largest festivals in the Carolinas is Aynor’s annual Hoe-Down. Established in 1979, this fest started with a crowd of around 1,000 people and has grown to an audience of nearly 25,000. Providing live music, a parade, arts and crafts, an antique car show, and more, it’s one of the most happening things every year. Events start at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. Admission is free; all you need to do is show up to the Aynor Town Park and get ready to jump into the fall spirit! Find more information about this festival and others here.
51st Annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival
Dozens upon dozens of vendors are taking over the Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park the last weekend of the month. Experience fine art, high-quality crafts, local food, beautiful scenery, and live music at this hopping event. Numerous vendors will showcase displays in and around the castle, so you can witness the amazing craftwork while also discovering the former home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Food vendors will offer a variety of cuisines, including seafood, barbecue, desserts, and all kinds of tasty dishes. Entry to the fest is $10 and is free for those 15 and under. It will start at noon on Friday and conclude at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
2026 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally
Myrtle Beach is bringing you the 87th annual Bike Week Rally. This multiple-day event will have rides, entertainment, vendors, and more all the way from North Myrtle Beach down to Georgetown. All bikers and enthusiasts are welcome to join events at the various participating businesses; some will extend the rally to ten days, and others will keep it to eight. Come meet new people, try delicious food from local restaurants, and cruise along Ocean Boulevard after a nice night out.
Live Music & Entertainment
Myrtle Beach Waves of Praise Gospel Fest
Head into the heart of Myrtle Beach over Labor Day weekend to listen to gospel music next to the ocean. The Myrtle Beach Waves of Praise Gospel Fest is a free event, with a lineup of over 25 gospel artists performing at the Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place. The fest starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday with performances by Luther Barnes, Beverly Crawford, Jarell Smalls, and others. Plan to wear some comfy clothing and bring a seating setup; you may be hanging around for a while!
Sounds of Summer Concert Series
Just one night this month, bring a blanket or lawn chair to catch a live show at the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Sports Complex amphitheater. It's a free concert open to all and is the last one until next year when the weather starts to warm up again. Shotguns & Roses, a tribute to Guns N' Roses, will take the stage from 7 to 9 p.m. Small concessions and other light refreshments will also be available for your enjoyment.
NMB Live!
Main Street in North Myrtle Beach gets turned all the way up for NMB Live!, a free, family-friendly street festival packing three stages of live music into one big day. Wander from stage to stage for everything from yacht rock and beach vibes to party bands and tribute acts, browse 150-plus vendors and local businesses, and eat your way down the street with food trucks and Main Street restaurants and bars. There's a Kids Zone with rides, games, Bubble Fairies and jugglers to keep the little ones busy, plus a hula and fire show and interactive stage games throughout the day. Best of all, admission and parking are free, rain or shine.
Charles Bach Wonders Theatre
Prepare to be amazed at the Charles Bach Wonders Theatre, home to one of Myrtle Beach's most jaw-dropping shows. This 90-minute, Vegas-style spectacular blends grand illusion, magic, comedy and dance, with giant puppets, dazzling costumes and high-energy production numbers that keep audiences of all ages guessing. The man behind the magic, international illusionist Charles Bach, has performed in 55 countries, appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and headlined at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Hollywood's famous Magic Castle. Tucked into Broadway at the Beach, it's the perfect way to cap off a day of activities with a little wonder.
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
Set sail for adventure at Pirates Voyage, Dolly Parton's swashbuckling dinner show near Barefoot Landing. Rival Crimson and Sapphire pirate crews battle it out aboard two full-size ships in a 15-foot-deep indoor lagoon, with high-flying aerial acrobatics, sword fights, pyrotechnics and even tropical animal encounters. While you take in the action, you'll dig into a hearty four-course feast, making it a full night of dinner and a show the whole family will love. It's about 90 minutes of nonstop fun and a perfect way to cap off a day at The Beach.
Fun Activities for September
With smaller crowds and cooler, comfortable weather, September is one of the best months to get out and explore the Grand Strand as a family. From fall golf and new downtown attractions to boat cruises, camping and miles of trails, here are some of the best ways to make the most of the month.
Fall Golf
Myrtle Beach isn't the "Golf Capital of the World" for nothing, and fall is prime time to tee off. As the summer heat fades, the Grand Strand's 80-plus courses deliver comfortable temperatures and some of the best rates of the year. Take a swing at bucket-list layouts like the historic Pine Lakes Country Club (nicknamed "The Granddaddy"), the Pete Dye Course at Barefoot Resort, and the Lowcountry-beautiful Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.
Explore What's New in Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand is always evolving, and downtown Myrtle Beach has a fresh crop of new attractions, shops and hidden gems worth discovering. Use the slower-paced fall days to check out the creative Arts & Innovation District, the latest additions at Broadway at the Beach, and up-and-coming local eateries like Honey Bees Breakfast & Lunch and Sun City Cafe.
Get Out on the Water
September's warm water and calmer crowds make it a perfect time to head out on the water. Set sail on a dolphin cruise, cast a line on a fishing charter, or wind down with a sunset sail. Popular operators run all month, from the dolphin and wildlife cruises at Crazy Sister Marina to the nostalgic Barefoot Queen paddlewheel and Blue Wave's small-group dolphin tours.
Fall Camping
Cooler nights and thinner crowds make September a fantastic time to camp along the coast. The Grand Strand is home to some of the East Coast's most popular oceanfront campgrounds, including the massive Ocean Lakes Family Campground, family-favorite PirateLand Family Camping Resort with its Pirate's Oasis waterpark, and amenity-packed Lakewood Camping Resort, all offering everything from tent sites to full-hookup RV spots steps from the sand.
Outdoor Activities
With the summer heat behind you, fall is ideal for exploring the area's trails and parks. Spend a morning at the two oceanfront state parks, Myrtle Beach State Park and Huntington Beach State Park, where you can walk trails like Huntington's Sandpiper Pond Nature Trail, tour the historic Atalaya Castle, and spot alligators, shorebirds and other wildlife out in the marsh.