Kick off the weekend at Conway Riverfest on Saturday, July 1. The annual festival in Conway, located about a 30-minute drive inland from North Beach Plantation, will get you into the patriotic spirit of the holiday. It opens at 11 a.m. with the singing of the National Anthem and a color guard presentation of the flag, followed by a full day of fun for the whole family. A patriotic golf-cart parade will tour through the festival grounds at midday, so that everyone can enjoy the mini floats. There will be a kids’ zone with bounce houses, water activities and the perennial favorite Jello Jump! Meanwhile, adults can check out the Artisan Market, the Business Expo and the Bass Tournament. There will also be a Brew Garden and live music all day in Riverfront Park.
Also on Saturday, you can head on over to Little River’s La Belle Amie vineyard with your lawn chairs and blankets to nab a comfortable spot for spending the afternoon at the Independence Saturday Cookout. Enjoy barbecue, wine tastings and live music from noon to 5 p.m. There is a modest $5 admission fee, but the fee is reduced by $3 if you bring a can of food to donate to the local food bank!
Finish off the evening with a stop at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk for Hot Summer Nights, which boasts family-friendly activities, live entertainment and an early preview fireworks show set against a breathtaking oceanfront view.
The big day – Tuesday, July 4 – starts with a bang at Pawleys Island, where the 51st Annual 4th of July Parade will set off at 10 a.m. The local motto for the parade is that anything that moves can become a float, and they prove that motto time and again! Join in this fun tradition, and see what clever ideas the parade participants have come up with this year.
Celebrate your patriotism and your physical fitness by joining the Independence Day 5K and 8K races, starting out from The Market Common at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Brooks Running and Black Dog Running will be awarding a free pair of running shoes to the overall winners, so sign up early and get your competitive edge on!
When it comes to enjoying the day with your family, you can take your pick among local hot spots. Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach and Surfside Beach will all be hosting fantastic days of relaxed fun and national spirit with good food, live music and activities to appeal to all age groups. You can’t go wrong with any one of these great locations!
If you hear the sound of planes approaching in the afternoon, take a moment to pause and watch the skies. Shaw Air Force Base will be sending out vintage WWII aircraft to cruise the coastline for their annual Salute from the Shore! This is a great opportunity to show our respect and appreciation for the brave men and women who protect our independence. Wave your flags, get a picture, and post your salute on the event website at salutefromtheshore.org
And what would the Fourth of July be without fireworks and more fireworks? There will be dazzling displays going off all evening long on the Grand Strand, starting as early as 9:30 p.m. in some locations and as late as 10:15 in others. Pick your spot and grab a seat for the rockets’ red glare as we come together all over the nation to celebrate our American pride and our proven ability to come through even the darkest nights with our strength undimmed. Here’s a list of the fireworks shows planned in the Myrtle Beach area:
9:30 p.m. – Barefoot Landing – North Myrtle Beach shopping and entertainment complex on the Intracoastal Waterway
9:30 p.m. – Cherry Grove Pier – North Myrtle Beach on the ocean
9:30 p.m. – Surfside Beach Pier – Surfside Beach on the ocean
10 p.m. – Broadway at the Beach – Central Myrtle Beach shopping, dining and entertainment complex
10 p.m. – Second Avenue Pier – Myrtle Beach on the ocean
10 p.m. – Murrells Inlet MarshWalk – On the water in Murrells Inlet
Following the Myrtle Beach Pelicans ballgame – 21st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach
Don’t miss out on all the patriotic fun – make your Fourth of July plans at North Beach Plantation, North Myrtle Beach today!
