October is one of my favorite months here along the sunny Grand Strand. Summer heat has begun to subside along with the humidity, and it’s an all around great time to be outdoors—especially with little ones! This month also offers a ton of free festivals and events, and I’ve included five of my kiddos’ favorite October festivals below. We also have a ton of neat activities scheduled for Halloween, as well, and we’ll share those in a coming post! 1. Brookgreen Gardens Harvest Home Weekend Festival This two-day celebration of the fall season…

Saturday, October 19, 2019, will mark the 40th year that Loris, South Carolina, has hosted the ever-popular Loris Bog-Off Festival. The festival, sponsored by the Loris Chamber of Commerce, happens on the third Saturday in October every year in downtown Loris. While the fun, family-friendly event initially began as a chicken bog cooking competition, it has transformed into a huge celebration over the past four decades. The thousands of attendees that go now get to experience an entire day packed with entertainment, vendors, food, and fun for…

Fall is a great time to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Temperatures are comfortable, space is plentiful, rooms are budget-friendly, and there are a wide-range of spectacular special events and festivals to enjoy! In addition to the beautiful 60-mile beach, family-friendly attractions, theaters and restaurants that thrill Myrtle Beach visitors year-round, if you visit this September, October or November, you can also enjoy some very popular events. From ethnic celebrations, to music, food and fall fun, there is something for everyone! The…

Long before Myrtle Beach was valued as a vacation destination for visitors, the towns slightly inland from the coast were the centers of activity in Horry County, South Carolina. The historic town of Loris began as a railroad town serving the lumber industry in the late 1880s, and is located just a short drive inland from the coast on the northern end of the Grand Strand. Not far from the North Carolina border, Loris offers a quintessential Southern experience for those enjoying small-town life and charm. And with a small Southern town comes…

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…

Explore more than 20 African American cultural sites along the Grand Strand, in both Horry and Georgetown Counties. The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission (SCAAHC) has created The Green Book of South Carolina, the first mobile web travel guide to African American cultural sites across South Carolina. This mobile book offers visitors and residents a user-friendly guide to celebrating and enriching cultural experiences across South Carolina, including several historic sites throughout the Grand Strand. It’s a contemporary homage…

Summer is the perfect time to visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s stunning 60 miles of coastline, known as the Grand Strand. Looking for a little insider knowledge for your trip? From hidden gem attractions to the best spots to sample local fare, check out these recommendations – approved by locals, of course – for maximizing your Myrtle Beach getaway. Witness a different type of parade If you’re lucky enough to be in Myrtle Beach for Independence Day, be sure to check out the 32 nd annual Murrells Inlet 4 th of July Boat Parade. The best…