The end of 2020 is around the corner and many of us are ready to celebrate the New Year more than ever before. However, parties and gatherings may look a little different this year for a few reasons—namely masking and social distancing requirements and a statewide ban on alcohol sales after 11 p.m. due to Covid-19. But Myrtle Beach area businesses have still managed to come up with some fun and creative events for those wanting to celebrate the arrival of 2021. Here are some of our favorites: New Year’s Eve at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk…

It’s hard to excuse not having your shopping done if you’re able to visit the Myrtle Beach area in December. From Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing to Tanger Outlets and Coastal Grand Mall, the Grand Strand is home to a wide variety of shopping opportunities packed with seasonal deals this time of year. Ensure you're on the ‘nice’ list by checking off any last-minute gift purchases at some of our favorite places to shop this Christmas season! If you’re looking for a sentimental souvenir, check out the downtown Myrtle Beach boardwalk…

It’s not Christmas at the beach without a visit to a live performance at one of our award-winning theaters! 2020 has been extra hard on live theaters everywhere, and the Myrtle Beach area was no exception. But thankfully, most live performance venues are open again with new safety measures in place. Wherever you go, you’ll experience reduced capacity, masking, extra sanitation and cleaning, social distancing and PLENTY of Christmas cheer. Here are a few of our favorite shows come the holiday season: The Christmas Show of the South The…

Visitors to Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach are in for a treat come the holidays. For the entire month of December, the aquarium’s ‘Festival of Trees’ is included along with regular general admission. Ripley’s Aquarium staff have decked the halls with over 55 decorated Christmas trees reprinting every state in the United States and more. The entire aquarium has been transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, bows, and trees that my family loves, especially when set against the backdrop of colorful aquatic galleries. The 85,000 square…

A seasonal souvenir to remind you of Christmas at the beach should be on everyone’s wish list! We locals love the holiday season in the Myrtle Beach area… so much so that visitors will find several stores dedicated to Christmas shopping and decorating year-round. From the north end of the Grand Strand inland to further south in Pawleys Island, here are a few of our favorite spots to pick up a Christmas ornament to remind you of your vacation: Christmas Mouse This year-round Christmas store has eight locations total and three of them are in the…

An annual holiday photo with Santa Claus is a tradition our family loves. And while photos with Santa are bound to look fairly different in 2020, local businesses have gotten creative to make it happen safely for visitors and the big man in red. You may see Santa behind plexiglass, in a mask, or positioned a little further from you than normal… but we’re looking at it as an opportunity to remember a different sort of year. Below is a round-up of just some of the places you’ll find Santa making the rounds: Grand 14 Theater at The Market Common…

If there is one bucket list holiday event not-to-be-missed, Brookgreen Garden’s Nights of a Thousand Candles is it. The Myrtle Beach area boasts so many great holiday activities, but this one shines extra bright. Attendees at Nights of a Thousand Candles have the rare opportunity to see the already spectacular sculpture gardens by the candlelight of more than 2,700 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights from 4 to 9 p.m. on designated evenings in December 2020. Attendees can walk the garden pathways with a warm cup of cider, cocoa, or…

I love heading down to the Myrtle Beach boardwalk this time of year. Not only because it’s less crowded, but because it’s home to one of my favorite area Christmas trees. The large, decorated tree makes for a great photo opp with the ocean in the background—a good reminder that Christmas is better at the beach! Another perk of heading downtown come December is the Oceanfront Merchants ‘Holidays on the Boardwalk’ event, happening every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. Enjoy strolling carolers, costumed characters, caricature…

The Market Common is a holiday hub this December, and we are loving it! The popular shopping/dining/entertainment area is hosting events all month long, including complimentary photos with Santa, The Polar Bus Express, happy hours with Santa, lunches, and bowling with Santa, and more. But one of our favorite activities this time of year is their horse-drawn ‘sleigh’ ride through The Market Common. Every Sunday in December, you can take a break from all of your shopping and enjoy complimentary carriage rides from 3 to 6 p.m. Pick up and drop off…

This year has been hard on so many people, and local shops, artisans, farmers, and craftsmen are no exception. As the holidays approach, one of the things we try to do is buy some of our gifts locally. The Waccamaw Market Cooperative has made that easy for us by hosting a series of ‘Holiday Markets’ at three different locations along the Grand Strand this Christmas season. The Holiday Markets are similar in nature to the Waccamaw Market Cooperative’s regular farmers market (one of my all-time favorite things about summer in the south), but…