Where to Watch Fireworks in Myrtle Beach (Every Night of the Week)
You don’t have to wait for the Fourth of July to catch a sky full of color at The Beach. All summer long, the Grand Strand puts on free weekly fireworks shows over lakes, the ocean and the ballpark, so almost any night of your vacation can end with a bang. Here’s where (and when) to watch, plus what to know before you buy or light your own.
The Quick Answer
Where can you watch fireworks in Myrtle Beach?
During the summer, the Myrtle Beach area has free fireworks almost every week: Mondays at 10 p.m. over the lake at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. over Lake Broadway at Broadway at the Beach, and Wednesdays around 9 p.m. from the Second Avenue Pier along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans also launch postgame fireworks after every Friday home game, plus summer Sundays. Shows generally run from early June through Labor Day (Pelicans fireworks run all baseball season, April through early September), weather permitting.
Where to Watch Fireworks
From early June through Labor Day, you can catch free fireworks three nights a week, and the Pelicans add postgame shows from spring through summer. All shows are weather permitting.
Barefoot Landing
Start your week with a show over the lake at Barefoot Landing. The weekly fireworks are part of the SummerFest! entertainment series, which fills the waterfront with free live music and strolling performers most summer evenings. Grab dinner at one of the lakeside restaurants, browse the shops along the boardwalk, then find a spot along the water before 10 p.m. Shows run from early June through late August.
Broadway at the Beach
Broadway at the Beach’s summer fireworks light up the sky over Lake Broadway every Tuesday night, and the reflections on the water make it one of the prettiest shows on the Grand Strand. The bridges and lakeside boardwalks that wrap around the lake all offer good views, so make an evening of it with dinner, a ride on the attractions and a little shopping before the show starts. Shows run from early June through Labor Day.
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Second Avenue Pier
For fireworks over the ocean, head downtown on a Wednesday. The show launches from the Second Avenue Pier, and you can watch from anywhere along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, from the 14th Avenue Pier south to the Second Avenue Pier, or spread a towel on the sand. Get there early for Hot Summer Nights in Plyler Park, where Wednesday evenings bring free live music before the sky lights up.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Pair America’s pastime with a postgame fireworks show at Pelicans Ballpark, right next to Broadway at the Beach. The Chicago Cubs’ Single-A affiliate lights up the sky after every Friday home game, and fireworks also follow Sunday home games through the heart of summer (mid-June through Labor Day weekend). After the show, kids 12 and under can run the bases. A game ticket gets you in, and the season runs April into early September, so this is the one weekly show you can catch in spring, too.
Fourth of July Fireworks
Independence Day is the biggest fireworks night of the year at The Beach, with shows from the Cherry Grove Pier to the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, plus special Fourth of July displays at Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. Dates, times and the best places to watch change from year to year, so we keep everything in one place in our Fourth of July guide.
Where to Buy Fireworks
Planning a show of your own? Fireworks stores are easy to find around the Grand Strand, including the big three: Phantom Fireworks, Mr. Fireworks and Willard’s Fireworks. Most sit just outside city limits in unincorporated Horry County, along main roads like U.S. 17, U.S. 501, S.C. 9 and S.C. 544, and seasonal tents pop up ahead of the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. A few things to keep in mind before you shop:
- South Carolina law prohibits selling fireworks to anyone under 16, and some local ordinances (including Horry County’s) don’t allow anyone under 18 to set them off.
- Buying fireworks is legal in more places than lighting them. Check the rules below for where you’re staying before you shop.
- Heading home over the state line? North Carolina doesn’t allow aerial fireworks or anything that explodes, so many items sold in South Carolina are illegal there.
- Flying home? Fireworks aren’t allowed in carry-on or checked bags.
Fireworks Rules & Safety
Fireworks are explosives, and every year they cause burns, eye injuries and fires along the coast. The rules also change as you drive up and down the Grand Strand, and in most places one rule is clear: do not set off fireworks on the beach. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at a professional show, and there’s one almost every night of the week in summer.
If you do plan to use your own, know the rules where you’re staying first. Here’s a quick look at the area’s largest communities. Ordinances can change and violations can mean fines, so when in doubt, check with the local police or sheriff’s office before lighting anything.
Where | Are fireworks allowed? | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
City of Myrtle Beach | On private property only, with the owner’s permission | Never on the beach or other public property. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (until 12:30 a.m. on July 5 and New Year’s Day). Not within 500 feet of a church, hospital or school, or 300 feet of a gas station. Minors need a parent or guardian. Fines: $250, then $500. |
North Myrtle Beach | No | Fireworks are not permitted anywhere in city limits, including the beach. Enjoy the city’s professional shows instead. |
Surfside Beach | Yes, with limits | The town allows fireworks, including on the beach, but not overnight or within 500 feet of the Surfside Beach Pier, churches, daycares, gas stations or town parks. Fines up to $500. |
Unincorporated Horry County (Garden City, Little River, Socastee and more) | On private property | Never on public beaches, parks or other public property. In more populated areas, no fireworks from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (until 12:30 a.m. on July 5 and New Year’s Day). No one under 18. Some neighborhoods are posted fireworks-free zones. |
Georgetown County (Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawleys Island) | Varies by location | Many county beaches are fireworks-free zones, and fireworks are banned entirely in the Town of Pawleys Island. Fireworks debris on the beach is litter. Call the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office at 843-546-5102 to check your spot. |
Statewide, cherry bombs, M-80s and other high-powered salutes are illegal everywhere in South Carolina, with penalties that can include heavy fines and jail time.
Fireworks Safety
Even where fireworks are legal, a moment of carelessness can lead to a serious injury or a fire. If you choose to use them, please:
- Leave lighting to sober adults. Never let children light or handle fireworks, and watch them closely around sparklers, which burn hot enough to cause severe burns.
- Read the label and follow the directions. Only use consumer fireworks sold by licensed retailers, and never make or alter your own.
- Light one at a time, then back away quickly. Never lean over a firework, hold a lit firework in your hand, or point or throw fireworks at people, animals, buildings or vehicles.
- Never relight a dud. Wait at least 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water before throwing it away.
- Keep water close. Have a bucket of water or a garden hose on hand, and soak all used fireworks before putting them in the trash.
- Stay clear of dunes, dry grass and buildings. Sea oats and dune grass catch fire easily, especially on dry, windy nights, and dunes are protected habitat.
- Keep pets indoors. Loud bangs frighten animals, and many pets run off during fireworks.
- Clean up. Leftover debris is litter and can injure people and wildlife.
If someone is burned or injured, or a fire starts, call 911 right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fireworks at The Beach, answered
What night are fireworks at Broadway at the Beach?
Broadway at the Beach hosts free fireworks over Lake Broadway on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. from early June through Labor Day, weather permitting.
What night are fireworks at Barefoot Landing?
Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach hosts free fireworks over the lake on Monday nights at 10 p.m. from early June through late August as part of its SummerFest! series, weather permitting.
Are there fireworks on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk?
Yes. During the summer, fireworks launch from the Second Avenue Pier on Wednesday nights around 9 p.m. as part of Hot Summer Nights. You can watch from anywhere along the Boardwalk or from the beach.
Do the Myrtle Beach Pelicans have fireworks?
Yes. The Pelicans set off postgame fireworks after every Friday home game throughout the season, plus Sunday home games during the summer. Kids 12 and under can run the bases after the show.
Can you set off fireworks on the beach in Myrtle Beach?
No. Fireworks are prohibited on the beach and all public property in the City of Myrtle Beach, as well as on North Myrtle Beach and unincorporated Horry County beaches. In Myrtle Beach, personal fireworks are allowed only on private property with the owner’s permission.
Are the summer fireworks shows free?
The weekly shows at Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk are free to watch. Pelicans fireworks are included with a game ticket.