Summertime Festivals in Myrtle Beach

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First of all, let’s take a little drive west of the Intracoastal Waterway. If you drove into the area via Highway 501, you likely passed through the riverfront town of Conway. If you haven’t been before, you are in for a real treat – especially on Saturday, July 1. This is the date for the 2017 Conway Riverfest, and it’s the talk of the town! Conway is just a short drive down Highway 501 from Paradise Resort, and once you cross the historic bridge over the Waccamaw River, you will find a town that you will never forget. It offers Southern hospitality at its finest, and it’s centered around the beautiful Waccamaw River. The Conway Riverfest offers live entertainment, an Artisan Market, a Business Expo, a Kids Zone and more – everything from a golf cart parade to live bands and the night’s finale of fireworks over the river. Admission is $5 per person, with those 12 and under admitted for free. Chairs and blankets are allowed, so come over the bridge and make yourself comfortable on the river.

Fast forward a little bit to Labor Day weekend. This used to be the unofficial end of summer. Not so much anymore! The summer here in the Myrtle Beach area continues well into October with our beautiful weather and sandy beaches. With many schools not starting back until after the Labor Day holiday, and with most of our festivals held on the weekends, they are the perfect addition to a late-summer getaway.

The Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival is our next stop on the festival agenda. This event is held on Friday, Sept. 1, and Saturday, Sept. 2, at The Market Common, with FREE admission for all. Did we mention that parking and admission are both FREE? Friday will feature a wing competition and tasting, a beer garden, live entertainment and, of course, food and arts. Saturday brings the 2nd Annual BBQ derby, the Kansas City Barbecue Society BBQ Competition, a cornhole competition, a Myrtle Beach Car Club show, the beer garden and an awards presentation to end the day. Be sure to stick around for the announcement of the award winners from the weekend of fun!

We’ve been west, we’ve come back to the beach, and now we are going to head north. Our next stop is near the North Carolina border in the town of Little River, and the dates are the second weekend of October (Oct. 14 and 15) for the Little River ShrimpFest. If you have never been to this quaint little town, you need to make the short trip up Highway 17 past North Myrtle Beach. You will be glad you did. This north Grand Strand tradition features a children’s area, face painting, stilt walkers, balloon artists, live music and over 150 vendors. The best part, of course, is what everyone knows Little River for, and that is the seafood that will be served by the local waterfront restaurants. These restaurants are well-known up and down the eastern seaboard for their mouthwatering fresh seafood. What a better way to wind down the summer and say hello to fall than a day at the river with art, live music and incredible seafood?

This is the Grand Strand. We have something going on all the time. From Georgetown and Murrells Inlet to Little River and Calabash, Paradise Resort is happy to help you plan your trip in our little piece of Heaven in South Carolina.