Make plans to be at the Grand Strand this year
With 60 miles of coastline and mild temperatures year-round, Myrtle Beach is always hopping no matter the season. Of course, you can simply relax in the sand along the Grand Strand or play mini golf at one of the dozens of courses or even just enjoy the coastal views from the 187-foot-tall SkyWheel. But to really get a taste of how Myrtle Beach keeps its events calendar packed, take a look below.
This year, you can dig into food festivals. Attend a sports events. Dance along to music. Enjoy some arts and culture. It’s all happening at THE Beach in South Carolina. You might even be inspired to come for one, and then plan a return trip later in the year.
Fill your plate
Blackbeard, the famed pirate, once called the fishing village of Murrells Inlet home; today, it is known as the “seafood capital of South Carolina” thanks to numerous restaurants offering the day’s catch. Visitors not only go to the inlet for fishing, water sports, birding and eco tours, but also to stroll the MarshWalk, a half-mile wooden boardwalk set along a saltwater estuary. On Feb. 22–23, the 11th annual Taste of the MarshWalk offers live music, kids’ activities and, of course, fresh seafood prepared by its restaurants.
At the World Famous Blue Crab Festival (May 17–18), around 250 vendors set up their stalls in Little River, on the northern end of the Grand Strand. What started in the early 1980s as a small community event to support the local waterfront businesses has grown into one of the largest festivals in the Southeast with live music and entertainment. It still retains its homegrown feel though as the event relies on contributions from attendees and the community to keep going. For more crustacean conversation, head to the Little River ShrimpFest (Oct. 11–12). The festival serves up not only shrimp of all kinds, but also renowned crab cake sandwiches, mahi-mahi and more.
Non-seafood lovers have plenty of foodie events to attend as well. More than 90 food vendors and 20 craft vendors participate in the Myrtle Beach Food Truck Festival (April 11-13). While this year’s vendors have yet to be announced, past participants have included Island Noodles, Wicked Weed Brewing, Little Latin Kitchen and Holt Grill and Co. There is free onsite parking for 1,500 cars.
The Beach ‘n Chili Fest happens every September at the Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place. One of the highlights is the World Championship Chili Cook-Off. Register in advance to compete in the chili event or just show up to eat day-of; the festival also includes live music and a car show.
To really rub elbows with the locals (about 35,000 of them), head to the Loris Bog-Off Festival (Oct. 18), which celebrates the beloved chicken bog. This South Carolina staple is a pilaf dish loaded up with chicken and sausage. At the festival, home cooks compete while pros sell ready-made chicken bog.
Rev up
Thousands of runners participate in the Myrtle Beach Marathon (March 1), which takes place on the first Saturday of each March. (Annual late winter temps in the high 50s/low 60s help make things easier on the competitors.) Whether you run the marathon, half marathon or 5K, there’s a post-race party on the beach with live music, food and drinks.
Car aficionados may flock to Myrtle Beach for the Run to the Sun Car Show (March 13-15), which showcases thousands of vintage (pre-1989) cars and trucks from around the country. The show includes raffles and celebrity appearances by Joe and Amanda Martin from Martin Bros Customs and Iron Resurrection TV Show.
For a quieter experience, there’s always golf in Myrtle Beach, which is home to 90 championship golf courses. The Grand Strand made its PGA Tour debut last year, and the Myrtle Beach Classic returns May 8-11 at the Robert Trent Jones-designed Dunes Golf & Beach Club. Tickets are on sale now.
Embrace local traditions
A serene paradise, Brookgreen Gardens is an award-winning National Historic Landmark that spans 9,000 acres in Murrells Inlet. Open year-round, springtime of course brings blooming trees, bushes and flowers. It also signals the Brookgreen Gardens Art Festival (April 26-27), where regional and national artists and artisans present paintings, sculpture, fabric art, pottery, glass and more for the public to buy.
More than 30,000 people usually attend the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival (March 15), now in its 35th year. The street party begins with a parade of more than 100 floats, Irish bands and dancers. The fun continues at the festival with about 120 vendors, live music and a shepherd’s-pie eating contest. There’s even a leprechaun and "junior leprechaun" contest for the costumed kids and babies.
Myrtle Beach celebrates the Fourth of July with more than just fireworks. Look up at the Salute from the Shore, when a parade of military aircraft flies overhead. Decorate your own golf cart or just watch the festivities at the Golf Cart Parade. Head to the MarshWalk early on the Fourth of July for a front row seat to the 41st annual Murrells’ Inlet Boat Parade.
If you visit the inland town of Aynor as summer turns to fall this September, you can catch a local claim to fame: the Aynor Harvest Hoedown Festival, celebrating 45 years in 2025. Expect music, pony rides and vendors galore (this is another great place to try chicken bog).
Get into the holiday spirit by attending some of the most beloved local events taking place through December. The boardwalk gets a little brighter with Winter Wonderland at the Beach (Nov. 28, 2025–Jan. 3, 2026), a lights display featuring both classic and beach-themed scenes.
Sway to the rhythm
Myrtle Beach is home to some of the hottest (no pun intended) concerts, such as the sold-out 10th anniversary of Carolina Country Music Fest this June. Even if you miss out on the show, with The Carolina Opry Theater, House of Blues Myrtle Beach and Legends in Concert offering nightly shows, plus the live music at bars, you're bound to find tunes you enjoy. Many outdoor festivals are family-friendly and also include live bands, so your whole crew can dance away.
Now in its 70th season, the Sun Fun Festival celebrates the unofficial start of the summer season each May with live music, family-friendly activities and an aerial display from the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team.
Bring your own cooler and chairs to the 8th annual Ocean Drive Beach Music Festival (May 3). Various bands, including The California Honeydrops, Jim Quick & Coastline and Band of Oz, will perform. Conway Riverfest (June 28) also encourages visitors to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the bands and fireworks. This year’s performers include the Grammy-nominated Thompson Square, Ricochet and Mariah Faith. Keep that lawn chair handy even in October as Myrtle Beach is blessed with warm temperatures well past Labor Day. At the 8th annual Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival (Oct. 17–19), you can listen to regional and local jazz artists.
Offering a world-class experience, Muzika! The 24th Annual Varna International Music Academy will once again hold performances in various Myrtle Beach venues before heading off to Bulgaria, Italy and Spain. Gregory Buchalter, of The Metropolitan Opera, will conduct a French voice recital (June 20), a performance of Broadway favorites (June 21) and instrumental chamber music (June 22). Reserve your tickets here.