Whether you’re visiting Myrtle Beach to take a break from the snow and ice back home, to knock out your holiday shopping list or to enjoy the Carolina coast without the heavy summertime crowds (or, even better, to accomplish all of the above), a winter getaway on the Grand Strand offers a wealth of ways to boost your holiday spirit. A number of annual festivals are presented in the area this time of year, and The Breakers Resort offers you a convenient and comfortable spot for catching all of them. Make plans to catch one of these fun Grand Strand festivals and events during your next off-season getaway — they’re sure to add some extra cheer to your winter vacation:
Lighting of the Landing – Sporting twinkling lights and decorative ornaments from top to bottom, a 22-foot-tall Christmas tree serves as the centerpiece for Barefoot Landing’s biggest holiday celebration. The shopping/dining/entertainment hot spot in North Myrtle Beach closes out its official holiday-season kickoff with fireworks and a visit from Santa. The festivities are set for Saturday, November 18, starting at 6 p.m. Learn more at bflanding.com.
If your visit to the Grand Strand lands a bit later in the season, check out the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the nearby town of Surfside Beach on Thursday, November 30, at 7 p.m. More info can be found at surfsidebeach.org.
Nights of a Thousand Candles – During the holidays, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet shines even brighter as more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and 100,000-plus twinkling lights illuminate the sculpture gardens’ grounds. Further boosting the attraction’s holiday cheer, handbell choirs, carolers and other musicians will perform Christmas music, and visitors can warm up with some hot cider as they enjoy the spectacle. The event runs on various nights November 30-December 17. Visit brookgreen.org for more info.
Intracoastal Christmas Regatta – Enjoy a Christmas parade with a nautical twist at the 33rd Annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta in North Myrtle Beach. This Grand Strand holiday favorite features a fleet of festive boats decked out in lights and brimming with holiday cheer. Crowds of spectators gather along the Intracoastal Waterway to cheer and soak in the view as this boat parade makes its way from Little River Inlet to Dock Holidays Marina. The floating parade starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 25. Find more info at christmasregatta.com.
More traditional Christmas parades can be found in Calabash on Friday, December 1; in North Myrtle Beach and at Broadway at the Beach on Saturday, December 2; in Murrells Inlet on Sunday, December 3; and in Conway and Surfside Beach on Saturday, December 9.
Holiday Shows – Offering can’t-miss entertainment any time of year, the Grand Strand’s theaters step things up a notch in November and December with their Christmas-themed shows. Among the top draws are The Carolina Opry’s Christmas Show of the South, Alabama Theatre’s The South’s Grandest Christmas Show and the Pirates Voyage Christmas Show.
These are just a few of the many festive reasons to visit Myrtle Beach and The Breakers Resort during the holiday season. Get in the holiday spirit with us on the Grand Strand oceanfront — we can’t wait to be your home away from home for the holidays.
