Come to Myrtle Beach in the off-season and discover the myriad of Myrtle Beach Winter Festivals and things to do that are designed for family fun on the Grand Strand.
December
One thing you’ll learn if you visit Myrtle Beach in the off-season is that many of the lovely oceanfront residences are owned by people who live elsewhere. The crowds on the boardwalk dwindle and most of the shops are shuttered. If you want peace and serenity in Myrtle Beach this is your chance to get it, and the occasional warm day still comes along even after the cold snaps have driven out almost everyone but the die-hard wetsuit-wearing year-round surfers.
Murrells Inlet Christmas Parade marches down Business 17 with an entourage of floats, marching bands, beauty queens, dogs, and cycles. It starts at Booty’s on Wilcox Avenue and ends at Morse Landing Park next to Hot Fish Club, where the tree lighting takes place. Boy Scouts build a bonfire and Santa visits with children. Call (843) 357-2007.
Beach Ball Classic goes on for ten days in late December, a 16-team national high school basketball tournament with girls and boys divisions and a Carolina Challenge for college women at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Call (843) 213-0032.
January
New Years celebrations perk things up a bit at various locations. Celebrity Square at Broadway at the Beach has confetti cannons, champagne and club hopping. The Children’s Museum has a countdown to noon, celebrated with noisemakers and party hats, at 2501 North Kings Highway, phone (843) 946-9469. Ripley’s Aquarium has a kids only overnight party with karaoke, pizza, and crafts, 1110 Celebrity Drive, (843) 916-0888. On the boardwalk, Landshark Bar & Grill gives free Skywheel passes, party favors, island-inspired music and an appetizer buffet. And that’s just a sample of many ways to ring in the New Year at Myrtle Beach
February
After a bit of a lull, life begins to return to the city.
Myrtle Beach Marathon is a 5K, family fun run, bicycle ride and half marathon all rolled into the second or third weekend of February. Call (843) 293-7223.
In the annual South Carolina Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, judges choose one deceased and one living citizen to be honored for their contributions toward the advancement of the state. The Hall of Fame is located in the lobby of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center at 2101 North Oak Street. Call (843) 626-7444.
