Whether you’re seeking a break from the snow- and ice-filled weather back home, a chance to chip away at your holiday shopping list or an opportunity to visit the Carolina coast without the summertime crowds (or, even better, all of the above), a winter getaway on the Grand Strand offers plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit. This time of year brings a wealth of annual festivals to the Myrtle Beach area, and Compass Cove Resort puts you in a comfortable and convenient spot for catching all of them. During your next off-season getaway, make plans to catch one of these fun Grand Strand festivals and events – they’re sure to put some extra cheer into your winter retreat:
Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals – This award-winning holiday tradition, back on the Grand Strand for its 36th year in 2017, decks the Myrtle Beach Convention Center’s exhibit hall with unique arts, crafts and gifts. With a Victorian Era theme inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” the event features more than 300 vendors sporting period-appropriate attire. Victorian Teas, a “Santa Through the Ages” exhibit and even a chance to visit with St. Nick himself round out the list of reasons to put this on your holiday to-do list. The event runs November 9-12 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Visit dickenschristmasshow.com for more info.
Lighting of the Landing – A 22-foot-tall Christmas tree adorned from top to bottom with twinkling lights and decorative ornaments serves as the centerpiece for this holiday celebration at Barefoot Landing. The North Myrtle Beach shopping/dining/entertainment hot spot tops off 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.
Visiting the Grand Strand a bit later in the season? Swing through the nearby town of Surfside Beach for its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m. More info can be found at surfsidebeach.org.
Intracoastal Christmas Regatta – Putting a nautical twist on the traditional Christmas parade, the 33rd Annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta in North Myrtle Beach features a fleet of festive boats decked out in lights and brimming with holiday cheer. Crowds gather along the Intracoastal Waterway shoreline to cheer and soak in the spectacle as this boat parade makes its way from Little River Inlet to Dock Holidays Marina. The floating fun 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; in Conway on Saturday, December 9; and in Surfside Beach on Saturday, December 10.
Nights of a Thousand Candles – Murrells Inlet’s Brookgreen Gardens shines even brighter during the holidays as more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and 100,000-plus twinkling lights illuminate the sculpture gardens’ beauty. Christmas music from handbell choirs, carolers and other musicians, as well as hot cider to warm you up as you enjoy the spectacle, further add to the attraction’s holiday cheer. The event runs on various nights November 30-December 17. Visit brookgreen.org for more info.
Holiday Shows – A can’t-miss any time of year on the Grand Strand, the area’s theaters turn things up a notch in November and December as their Christmas-themed shows deliver the holiday cheer. 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 the Myrtle Beach area during the holiday season. Get in the holiday spirit with us at Compass Cove Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront – we can’t wait to be your home away from home for the holidays.
