Halloween is one of my favorite holidays in the Myrtle Beach area. Perhaps it’s because South Carolina weather in October is so perfect one can’t help but feel festive with the change of season. Or perhaps it’s because there is so much to do this time of year. There are plenty of fall festivals and outdoor events throughout the month, and one of my favorites is the Conway Ghost Walk. The Conway Ghost Walk is presented by Conway Downtown Alive and takes place in the historic rivertown, about 12 miles inland from Myrtle Beach. This weekend,…

Runners flock from all over the country to participate in the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon race weekend, and I’ve never once been surprised when they all show up in town. The surfing themed half marathon is popular for many reasons. The course is scenic, flat and fast, the October weather in the Myrtle Beach area is as perfect as it gets, and all of the events take place in one of America’s favorite beach destinations. (I’m a little biased in favor of that last point.) The Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon kicks off Friday, October 19, 2018, with the…

This coming weekend, October 19 and 20, packs a lot of exciting events in the Myrtle Beach area. From the Loris Bog-Off in northern Horry County to the 29th Annual Wooden Boat Show on the southern end of the Grand Strand in Georgetown, South Carolina… there is a lot going on. The Georgetown Wooden Boat show is always held on the third weekend in October and features one of the Southeast’s best wooden boat exhibits. More than 140 classic wooden boats are displayed both on land and in water, and the festival features everything from knot tying…

Longtime visitors to the Palmetto State have probably heard of chicken bog--a southern comfort food generally prepared with chicken, sausage, rice, and varying spices. Aside from South Carolina barbecue (and Grand Strand shrimp and grits), chicken bog may be one of our state’s greatest culinary contributions. Here locally, we celebrate this beloved dish annually during the Loris Bog-Off Festival. What began as a chicken bog cooking contest in 1980 has evolved into one of our community’s largest and most well-attended fall festivals. Throughout…

October is one of my favorite times of year in the Myrtle Beach area for so many reasons. The weather is agreeable (goodbye summer humidity), the beaches less crowded, and the Grand Strand knows how to host a killer Oktoberfest event. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual Myrtle Beach Oktoberfest event, scheduled for this Friday, October 12, 2018, and Saturday, October 13, 2018, at Grand Park at The Market Common. This is definitely one of the area’s larger festivals as it features over 50 vendors, kids activities and inflatables,…

Here along the Grand Strand, we’re no strangers to a good food festival. Depending on the season, you can find anything from Italian festivals to seafood festivals to food truck festivals and more. One of the longest-running food festivals in the area, however, is the annual Taste of the Town event. It features the opportunity to sample fare from some of the Myrtle Beach area’s finest restaurants, tapas style. This popular fall food festival is actually a fundraiser for St. Andrew Catholic School, and attendees are bound to see many locals…

The original Myrtle Beach Boardwalk was built in the 1930s and it quickly became the focal point for the developing tourist destination. For many years, the Boardwalk was graced by US servicemen stationed nearby, by entrepreneurs whose imaginations were sparked by the boardwalk and the exciting Atlantic coastline, and by tourists who attended nearby dance halls, arcades, pavilions, restaurants, and attractions. The Bowery opened in 1944, and the Gay Dolphin gift shop opened in 1946, and no doubt their customers enjoyed a stroll on the iconic…

Hurricane Florence roared away from the Grand Strand and thankfully did minimal damage to our beautiful coastline. However, the massive storm dumped more than 11 trillion gallons of water on North and South Carolina, and much of that water has made its way to some of our communities. Florence the Flood arrived quietly and filled many of our beautiful neighborhoods with silently destructive water. Early estimates show that more than 1,000 homes have been flooded, and many will not be saved. Several of these homeowners do not have flood…

The Myrtle Beach Area, known locally as the “Grand Strand,” suffered only minimal damage from hurricane Florence. While our community is grateful that the storm did not wreak much havoc on our beautiful 60-mile shoreline, we are well aware that our neighbors were significantly impacted by Florence and the subsequent flooding. In the spirit of giving to those in need, many Grand Strand businesses are extending special discounts and offers to people who have been displaced by this terrible storm. People impacted from the flooding in South…

Travel Advisory as of September 22: Due to flooding and road closures surrounding the Myrtle Beach area, driving into the area will be very difficult for the next week or two. Fly, don’t drive. If you must drive into the area, expect heavy congestion, delays and changing detours. Check www.SCDOT.org , 511sc.org or call 511 for latest road conditions. Hurricane Florence has finally moved on from our beautiful Myrtle Beach destination. While we are thankful that the physical damage to our destination seems minimal so far, we’re very aware of…