Patriotic events celebrate the Fourth of July holiday on the Hammock Coast

Patriotic events celebrate the Fourth of July holiday on the Hammock Coast

With patriotic events like parades on land and water, live music concerts, fireworks, a laser-light spectacular and more, celebrating for the Fourth of July – and beyond – on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast® has a lot to offer. Below are seven of the best options in the area:

Pawleys Island July 4th Parade

This fun community event allows residents and visitors alike to express their patriotism on Thursday, July 4. Visitors and locals alike parade down the Island in anything that becomes a makeshift float – be it a boat, car, or flatbed truck – all of which will be decorated in a variety of themes incorporating red, white, and blue.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. on July 4. To enter a float in the parade, stop by the Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave., Pawleys Island, to fill out an application. The cost to enter is $20 in advance, but the day of the parade, the fee is $30. Applications will be available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the day of the parade.

Trophy categories include Best Overall Float 1st, 2nd & 3rd place; Best House; and Best Dock. For more information, call 843-237-1698 or email Daniel at info@townofpi.com. Click here to read about this year’s parade T-shirt design.

July 4th is a family tradition for many vacationers. Click here to read a story about three families who have, for generations, been visiting Pawleys Island every July 4th.

Patriotic Flyover along beaches

Crowds will gather on local beaches in Garden City, Litchfield, Pawleys Island and Georgetown around 1 p.m. for the annual Salute From the Shore on Tuesday, July 4. A variety of military planes will fly along the entire South Carolina coastline to the thrill of patriotic crowds.

The estimated time of arrival for the planes, coming from the north to the south, is 1:04 p.m. for Murrells Inlet and 1:06 p.m. for Pawleys Island.

You can help support Salute From the Shore by doing any or all of these things:

• Go “BIG” — Get a huge flag or get creative and head to the beach on July 4^th in red, white, and blue.
• Record your salute on camera and share it with the world – on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, a blog, or any other place you want.
• Take photos during the event. Photos of the aircraft are great. Photos of people saluting aircraft are better.
• Tag your Salute images and videos with #SalutefromtheShore
• Make it personal. Whether you love someone serving overseas or remember a fallen hero, share your tribute. You can do that by clicking here.

Murrells Inlet July 4th Boat Parade

The 41st annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. Boats decorated in patriotic themes will start at the point of Garden City Beach and make their way through Murrells Inlet, along the waterfront. Lineup starts at 4:30 p.m.

Preferred viewing areas are along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, Belin United Methodist Church, and Morse Park Landing.

Enjoy live music along with great food and drinks throughout the day. Be sure to get down to the MarshWalk early to snag yourself a good parking spot. Restaurants will be offering live music before the show begins! So, come out and relax before the show with a delicious meal and cocktail at one of our eight MarshWalk restaurants!

The parade committee would like to remind participants and spectators to protect our coastal wetlands and refrain from littering during this event. Boat and dock decorating participants are asked to avoid incorporating elements into their design that involve throwing objects into the water, including water balloons, which pollute the environment and are harmful to the local wildlife.

Commemorative T-shirts will be available, with proceeds benefiting the Belin United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 396. For more information about the event or where to buy T-shirts, visit the event’s Facebook page at Murrells Inlet Boat Parade.

Independence Day Celebration: Pawleys Island Concert Band at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church

Experience live patriotic music played by Pawleys Island Concert Band at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, 1633 Waverly Road, Pawleys Island. The Pawleys Island Concert Band is a group of local musicians who perform throughout the area. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, click here.

Georgetown Indigo Choral Society Concert and July 4th fireworks

Spend Independence Day in historic Georgetown. On the lawn of the historic Kaminski House Museum from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, you can experience a one-of-a-kind patriotic performance by the Indigo Choral Society. The museum is located at 1003 Front St. in Georgetown.

Come out, bring a chair, your favorite snacks, and camp out on the lawn for the concert of beautiful music. Also., stick around for a fireworks display.

Georgetown’s celebrated fireworks start at around 9:30 p.m. Directed by the Georgetown City Fire Department, fireworks will be set off at Morgan Park. They can be seen from East Bay Park and along the Harborwalk in Georgetown.

Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Murrells Inlet

The annual fireworks display over the scenic waterfront along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is an iconic event on the Hammock Coast.

Following dinner at any of the MarshWalk’s member restaurants, the live music and the fun times along the half-mile-long MarshWalk, it’s time to end the July 4th holiday with a 20-minute fireworks display that truly lights up the sky.

The show starts around 10 p.m. and is sure to delight folks of all ages.

For more information, visit the MarshWalk Facebook here.

Wave That Flag Festival in Pawleys Island

Still feeling patriotic even thought the Fourth is over and in the history books once more? We’ve got you covered on the Hammock Coast with another special event on Sunday, July 6.

“Wave That Flag” is a festival of family fun, vendors, concerts, and sports celebrating America and the Fourth of July holiday. It features a spectacular laser light show sponsored by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, Georgetown County, and New South Brewing, among others.

“Wave That Flag” is free of charge to attend. Hosted by the Georgetown County Parks and Rec Department and coordinated by VibeTime, the event will be held from 6-10 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, at Retreat Park in Pawleys Island. The park is located at 633 Wildcat Way in the Litchfield community of Pawleys Island.

The Laser Light show, produced by Stone Entertainment, will beam over the heads of festival-goers, creating a dazzling display that will be set to a playlist featuring patriotic-themed music. Multiple fog machines will be used, as well, creating the appearance of a roof overhead, enhancing the visual experience for attendees.

The “Wave That Flag” event will also feature live music by Elise Testone’s Psychedelic Soul Review, food, vendors and even kickball games. 

Compiled by Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®