97. Festivals

The Carolina Country Music Fest (aka CCMF) takes place each June in downtown Myrtle Beach. This multi-day event features some of the biggest names in country music entertaining thousands of fans right on the beach. Don’t miss Myrtle Beach’s biggest festival!

Officially named the World Famous Blue Crab Festival, this annual Little River event draws more than 50,000 attendees each year, making it one of the biggest festivals in the South. The goal of the festivities is to showcase the area’s atmosphere, and over 200 fine arts and crafts and specialty food vendors will be on hand. And, of course, there will be plenty of steamed blue crabs to go around!

Conway, 20 miles or so inland from the shore, is a river town that dates back to 1734. This festival isn’t quite that old, but it draws a big crowd eager to celebrate America’s independence with neighbors and newcomers alike. The event features a boat parade, artisan market, kids activities, and, of course, a fireworks extravaganza at the end of the night. There will also be non-stop live music and plenty of food vendors to choose from when the hunger hits. 

It comes as quite a shock to locals the first time they meet someone from out of town who doesn’t know what chicken bog is. The reason for the surprise has to do with both the deliciousness of the dish and the simplicity – it’s just chicken and rice and sausage, more or less. At any rate, the town of Loris celebrates this regional delicacy with a day of bog-tasting, carnival rides, live music, a petting zoo, car and tractor pull, and much more. 

There isn’t typically much going on in the town of Aynor (population 560 according to the 2010 census), but the annual Hoe-down is certainly an exception, drawing around 25,000 people to the event. The Hoe-Down is a day full of parades, arts and crafts vendors, music, food, a street dance, and more. Also, admission is free to this Sept. 19 fun fest.

If you’re in Myrtle Beach during this year’s “everyone is Irish for a day” holiday, the downtown area will be hosting one of the biggest parties around. Featuring authentic food and drinks, live music all day, an alcohol-free kids area, and no admission fee, this event is sure to quench your thirst for Ireland. Just remember to wear green.

The original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany is a 16-day event that begins in September and wraps up in early October. It’s one of the biggest fairs in the world, attracting over 6 million people, and so much fun that you’d be hard-pressed to not be able to find one near you. But in case you can’t, Myrtle Beach hosts a party at The Market Common with live music, a beer garden, kids games, and more.

The city of Myrtle Beach greatly appreciates the relationship that it has with our neighbors north of the border, so much so that this festival has been going on for over 5 decades! The event will feature free live shows, discounted golf, dining, and attractions, and lots of other activities for snowbirds to enjoy. It’s as good a time as any for our Canadian friends to come down and enjoy the best that Myrtle Beach has to offer, including the refreshing spring weather.

If you love baklava, gyros, spanakopita, and other traditional Greek foods, or if you’re curious as to whether or not you do, then this is the perfect opportunity to taste some authentic Greek delicacies. In addition to the food, this family-friendly event in late September features live music and dancing, a play area for kids, arts and crafts vendors, and more.