It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We’re quickly headed towards Christmas, and one of the things that makes this time of year so special along the Grand Strand is Brookgreen Gardens ‘Nights of a Thousand Candles.’ I make every effort to attend each year, and I know I’m not the only one. For three weekends in December, the already majestic sculpture gardens are transformed by the evening light of over 4,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. Attendees can wander the paths from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a cup of hot chocolate…

Those lucky enough to be spending the Thanksgiving holiday in the Myrtle Beach area are well positioned to take advantage of countless outstanding Black Friday shopping opportunities. From outlet malls to local specialty stores to national retailers, the Grand Strand is home to plenty of great shopping year round. But on Black Friday, many of these places open their doors as early as Thanksgiving night and offer incredibly steep discounts for those willing to brave the crowds and early hours. Below is a brief round-up on some of our favorite…

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year for a family reunion or trip. And with a variety of accommodations and fun events and activities, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is ready to help you ring in the holiday season this year. Several outstanding restaurants along the Grand Strand host Thanksgiving Day dining specials (so there is no need to cook!), and weekend events can help keep your crew entertained when not eating turkey leftovers. Thanksgiving Weekend Events 49th Annual South Carolina Bluegrass Festival Myrtle Beach Convention Center…

Halloween season along the Grand Strand is full of fun (and frightening!) events. While Myrtle Beach is already home to a few year-round haunted houses and tours, like Ripley’s Haunted Adventure and Nightmare Haunted House’s ‘Zombie Zone, ’ the area also boasts a packed fall lineup of Halloween events and celebrations. We’ve included several of them below: Tuesday, October 23, 2018 The Great Pumpkin Hunt HCPR Socastee Recreation Park 2830 Oak Street Conway, 29526 6 to 8 p.m. Join in for a night of family fun at the Great Pumpkin Hunt, where…

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…