Signature Events

Saturday, Jan. 13, 2023, at 11 a.m.

This annual parade in Georgetown celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. and is held on the Saturday before MLK Day. The parade, organized by the Howard High School Alumni Association, begins at 11 a.m. with lineup starting at 10 a.m. at the Beck Center on Church Street. The parade runs along Merriman Road to the Howard Center in the West End community.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday recognized on the first Monday after King’s birthday, Jan. 15. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in Memphis, Tennessee, supporting sanitation workers who were on strike.
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Howard-High-School-Alumni-Association-1378710608825130/

Sample signature dishes from each of the eight award-winning restaurants lining the half-mile boardwalk during the Taste of the MarshWalk. This event will coincide with MarshWalk Restaurant WeekThe event also has local artisans, crafters, live music, and kids’ activities. Small dish tastings will include the areas freshest local seafood, as well as non-seafood items for the land lovers, available at $3-$5 per sample. Don’t miss the annual Bloody Mary Showdown at the MarshWalk, sponsored by Tito’s Vodka. During Taste of the MarshWalk, visit each of the following restaurants and sample their own unique Blood Mary at their own Tito’s Bloody Mary Bar! Each sampling will be $6 for drinks purchased at the designated Tito’s Bloody Mary Bar at each of the participating restaurants.
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MarshWalkMI/

Local restaurants, microbreweries, and wine distributors will offer tasty selections for this family-friendly event, which is being organized by the Georgetown Business Association. The event will be held on Front Street, between Screven and Broad streets. It will also include live music, arts and crafts vendors and a kids’ zone with inflatables, face painting and clowns. A portion of the proceeds will support Friendship Place, a local charity that helps less fortunate people in the community.

Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/gfbwfestival/

The South Carolina Maritime Museum in Georgetown invites you to usher in the coming of spring and the arrival of boating season during the annual Burning of the Socks event in mid-March. 

In addition to the sock-burning festivities, where attendees take turns throwing their socks into a bonfire, there is musical entertainment and local cuisine. This year’s event will also include a sock donation drive for Friendship Place, a local nonprofit that helps less fortunate people in the community.

Capt. Bob Turner, who now lives in Pawleys Island and is active in the Georgetown community, began the Burning of the Socks tradition in the mid-1980s at a boatyard in Annapolis, Maryland. One year, on the first day of spring, Turner and his friends ceremoniously removed their socks, placed them on a paint tray, doused them with lighter fluid, set them on fire and then drank a beer to celebrate! Thus, began the tradition of sock burning to celebrate spring, and today there are sock-burning events in coastal communities across the country. Turner and his family attend the annual event in Georgetown, and he usually reads his “Burning Socks for the Equinox” poem.

All proceeds benefit the South Carolina Maritime Museum.
Phone: 843-520-0111
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SCMaritimeMuseum
Website: https://scmaritimemuseum.org

Saturday, March 30, 2024

The family-friendly Murrells Inlet 2020 Race for the Inlet is usually held in late March or early April in Murrells Inlet. The race features a 5K run, 5K walk, and 10K run through the breathtaking views of the Inlet.
The event has a shotgun start at 8 a.m. in front of the Murrells Inlet 2020 office, across from The Wicked Tuna. Registration for the 5K and 10K races includes a chipped bib (all runners and walkers are chipped), a MI2020 Race for the Inlet T-shirt, a swag bag, and a post-race breakfast buffet at The Claw House.
Location: 4124 Hwy 17 Business
Phone: 843-357-2007
Website: http://www.murrellsinletsc.com
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Murrells-Inlet-2020/1562611027294706

Each spring, the Prince George Winyah Church Women hosts the annual Tours of Historic Plantations & Homes, a unique opportunity to tour many historic sites on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast. Tickets are required and organizers recommend that you purchase them in advance. All proceeds are allocated to community outreach and preservation of historic church buildings. The success of the tours has made a difference in the lives of the poor, the friendless, and the needy in the community, which continues to be the church’s prayerful aim in this endeavor.
Plantation tours include an Afternoon Tea and an Oyster Roast and Pig Pickin’ at 6 p.m.
Location: 708 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC
Phone: 843-545-9217

Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prince-George-Winyah-Episcopal-Church/258937018122611
WEBSITE: https://www.princegeorgeplantationtours.com

Held the first Saturday of May, Belin Memorial United Methodist Church will host the Blessing of the Inlet Festival. It is highlighted by the “Blessing of the Inlet” ceremony that begins at 11:30 a.m. in front of Belin church (creek side). The blessing will be administered by the Rev. Dr. Mike Alexander and the Rev. Marty Nason. More than 70 arts-and-crafts vendors will be selling their handmade goods, including beautiful paintings, handmade jewelry, and more!
Tasty cuisine will also be prepared by some of Murrells Inlet’s finest restaurants and church groups. There are also children’s events, which include face and hair painting, inflatables, a climbing wall, and the ever popular “Dunking Tank,” where people can take turns trying to “dunk” their friends. There will also be a full day of outstanding entertainment featuring dance troops, gospel choirs, contemporary Christian musicians, and more. There is no admission or charge for parking, and the event will be held rain or shine.
Website: http: //www.blessingoftheinlet.com
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/blessingoftheinlet/

This event is a fun community event that allows residents and visitors alike to express their patriotism. 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 are decorated in true red, white, and blue. The parade starts at 10 a.m.
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 $15 in advance, the day of the parade it is $20. Applications will be available Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. until the day of the parade.
https://www.facebook.com/TownofPawleysIsland

Spend Independence Day in historic Georgetown. On the lawn of the historic Kaminski House Museum, you can experience a one-of-a-kind patriotic performance by the Indigo Choral Society with a concert at 6:30-8 p.m. Come out, bring a chair, your favorite snacks, and camp out on the lawn for the concert for beautiful music and stick around for a fireworks display like no other. 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 and can be seen from East Bay Park.

Phone: 843-546-7706
Website: http://www.kaminskimuseum.org/
Phone: 843-527-6763
Location: 1003 Front Street, Georgetown, SC
For the fireworks:
http://www.georgetowncityfire.org/

Don’t miss the annual fireworks display over the scenic waterfront along the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. The show starts around 10 p.m. and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Get there early to enjoy dinner and drinks at one of the restaurants along the MarshWalk. Parking will fill up quickly and there are usually crowds.
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MarshWalkMI/

Friday, Sept. 22, to Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023

Huntington Beach State Park hosts this annual event in September that features nearly 100 artisans. The Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival is held inside the castle built by the Huntingtons, founders of Brookgreen Gardens and who donated the land that where the state park now exists. Enjoy fine art, quality crafts and local food, along with the musical offerings of several of the area’s finest musicians.
Festival admission is $10/adult, and once you pay admission you may return to the state park throughout the weekend with your festival ticket. Tickets should be purchased at the gate during the festival. There are no advance ticket sales.
https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach/atalaya-festival

October 5 to October 21, 2023

Since the first performance event in 1991, the Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art has grown from a small community event into a mutli-week celebration of the arts attended by thousands. Past performers include Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Edwin McCain, Blood Sweat and Tears, and the Marshall Tucker Band. It also features visual art displays throughout the area. Ticket prices range from $20 – $175, depending on the artist and seating.

The festival opens with the Pawleys Island Wine and Food Gala. Sample nearly 100 wines from renowned vineyards around the world and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by eight of the area’s best chefs. The evening will also include a three-hour dessert tasting, a silent auction full of wonderful trips and a complimentary wine glass. Wines will be available for purchase at prices well below retail during this special event.
The Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art is a nonprofit organization with a mission to create and enhance cultural awareness and enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing quality performances, programs, and educational opportunities in music and the arts.
Phone: 843-626-8911
Email: sbryant01@strandmedia.com.
Website: https://pawleysmusic.com/

Scarecrow building, pumpkin painting and hayrides are the highlights of Brookgreen Gardens’ annual fall festival, called Harvest Home Weekend at the beginning of October. This is one of Brookgreen’s biggest family events and includes great food, live kid-friendly entertainment, opportunities to meet animals, and the entire Gardens are open to explore. This event is free with garden admission. For more information, click here.

Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023

Held on the third weekend in October, the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show is one of the most popular annual events in Georgetown County, South Carolina. The event, which will be held on October 21 and 22 this year, features one of the Southeast’s best wooden boat exhibits, more than 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water, children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, maritime art and crafts, food and music. A special attraction is Saturday’s Wooden Boat Challenge, where teams of two race to build a rowing skiff within a four-hour time limit and then test their boats for seaworthiness in a rowing relay on the Sampit River. Sunday is a fun-filled family-oriented day that includes a Corrugated Boat Regatta and an Opti Pram Regatta.
The Wooden Boat Show takes place on the waterfront and along Front Street in Historic Downtown Georgetown. The Wooden Boat Show is produced by the Harbor Historical Association, and all proceeds benefit the South Carolina Maritime Museum.
Location: Along Front Street, Georgetown
Phone: 843-520-0111
Email: boats@woodenboatshow.com
Website: woodenboatshow.com

For people who are seeking some spooky fun during the Halloween season, Huntington Beach State Park will host its annual Atalaya Fall Festival and Haunted Castle on Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6-9 p.m. The Atalaya “castle” will be the setting for an evening of fright-fully fun family entertainment.
Enjoy two separate haunted house attractions: Little Scare, a not-too-scary maze of creepy rooms for the younger children; and Big Scare, a haunted castle for the brave at heart. There will be carnival games, unique photo booth opportunities, face painting, a balloon artist, and ‘make and take’ arts and crafts stations in the courtyard.
There will also be vintage spooky cartoons on an outdoor big screen, a toast-your-own-marshmallow fire pit, local ghost stories around the bonfire, and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from local restaurants and businesses.
Entrance to both haunted houses, children’s crafts, carnival games, and marshmallows are included in the event admission. Admission to this event is $10 for adults; $7 for children 6-15; and children 5 and under are free. The regular park admission will be waived during the festival.
Website: https://southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach

**This event will not be held this year.

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023

The Tour de Plantersville is a community bicycling event along the Plantersville Scenic Byway in Georgetown, South Carolina. The 2023 event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28. There are three routes to choose from of 12, 25, and 62 miles. The 62-mile start will begin at 7 a.m., the remaining start times will be between 8 and 9 a.m., depending on distance.

There will be rest stops along the route.  Historical sites will have volunteer docents to introduce you to the history along the way, and with this tour, you will have special access to ride your bike on the properties of some of the select historical plantations along the Pee Dee River.

Registration includes: access to select plantations, rest stop support, event T-shirt (for the first 200 paid registrations), lunch at post-ride festival.

The Cultural Festival is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of Plantersville Elementary School. ReggaeInfinity will perform authentic Roots Reggae from noon to 2 p.m. The festival will also feature entertainment, food, and vendors. A children’s area will include inflatables, games and more, and there will be a Vendor Village coordinated by the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce.

Visit the event webpage for details on costs, registration, parking, types of bikes allowed and much more. Click here: www.tourdeplantersville.com

For more information, contact the following organizers: Michelle LaRocco, project director at tourdepville@gmail.com, or Nanci Conley, COO of The Village Group, at Operations@thevillagegroup.org. Or call 843-240-0534 with inquiries.

Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls of all ages will fill the MarshWalk during the annual Halloween on the MarshWalk on Halloween night. This event brings fun and prizes to the whole family! All seven of the MarshWalk restaurants will have great food and drink specials.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with trick-or-treating along the MarshWalk for the kids. The annual Children’s Costume Contest is at 6 p.m. in front of Drunken Jack’s at the Pirate Statue. Prizes will be awarded for the Most Creative, Best Group, Funniest, and Scariest for kids ages 3 and up. Kids ages 2 and under will compete for the Awes Applause award. Prizes include trophies, ribbons and candy bags.

The Adult Costume Contest begins at 7 p.m. More than $4,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top costumes. Categories include People’s Choice, Best Duo/Group, Best Individual, Big & Bulky, Murrells Inlet Themed and Honorable Mention. Final Judging will be at 10 p.m. at Bovine’s.

For rules, regulations and complete contest details visit www.marshwalk.com , the Facebook page (@TheMarshWalkofMurrellsInlet), or call the MarshWalk answering service 843-497-3450.
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MarshWalkMI/

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Running through the streets of historic downtown Georgetown, from the Sampit River Bridge to the Waccamaw River Bridge, the annual Georgetown Bridge2Bridge Run includes 12K and 5K races. This event is now held in March. This year’s event will be Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Runners can enjoy Georgetown’s signature tree-lined streets and beautiful Lowcountry architecture, then cross Georgetown’s gateway bridges with panoramic views of Winyah Bay. They will also see the city’s eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and historic landmarks.
All proceeds from this race will benefit a local charity, Friendship Place, which provides people with the opportunity overcome crises and work toward self-sufficiency. For more than 17 years, Friendship Place has fed the hungry, provided job readiness training, and worked to creatively and cost-effectively meet the unmet needs of the Georgetown County community.
Website: https://www.bridge2bridgerun.com/

Enjoy food from popular restaurants on the Hammock Coast during the annual Taste of Georgetown, usually held in October. Visit Georgetown for a day filled with food, drinks, music and fun! The Taste of Georgetown is a restaurant crawl format with restaurants located along Front Street and under a tent at Francis Marion Park.
Tickets are sold in advance and at the event for food samples from each of the over 20 participating restaurants and service organizations. Proceeds benefit the Family Justice Center of Georgetown and Horry counties. In addition, many retail shops offer discounted merchandise on the day of the event.
Website: www.fjcgtownhorry.org.

Saturday, Nov. 20
Belly up to the table to enjoy all-you-can-eat freshly steamed oysters during the annual Murrells Inlet 2020 Oyster Roast in November, held in the Wicked Tuna parking lot, near the MarshWalk. There will also be a variety of other food options for those who are not oyster fans, cold libations, and musical entertainment. Tickets ate $36 in advance or $42 at the door.
Phone: 843-357-2007
Website: http://www.murrellsinletsc.com

Saturday, Dec. 3

The Kaminski House Museum in historic Georgetown will present Holiday Magic on Saturday, Dec. 3, which will include: a Holiday Market from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a Holiday Wreath Auction from 4:30-5:30 p.m., and Light Up the Lawn at 5:30 p.m., Candlelight Tours, and Family Night. Guided tours are Monday through Saturday through Dec. 23, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are adults $12, seniors 65 and over $10, and children 6-17, $6. Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. There will also be special Candlelight Tours on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each for members, $15 for non-members. The Kaminski House Museum is located at 1003 Front Street in Georgetown. Contact the Museum at 843-546-7706 or visit KaminskiMuseum.org for more details.

Saturday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 1

The Nights of a Thousand Candles goes into full swing beginning Saturday, Nov. 26, as Brookgreen Gardens comes to life amid the soft glow of more than 2,800 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights in the evenings, from 4 to 9 p.m. on select dates Nov. 26 to Jan. 2. Walk the garden pathways with a warm cup of cider, cocoa, or wine. Experience the sounds of holiday music, carolers singing, and celebrate the season with family and friends! Dates for the event in 2021 are: Nov. 26-27, Dec. 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, 28-31, and Jan. 1. Nights of a Thousand Candles has been named “Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina” by Travel+Leisure Magazine and was the winner of the 2018 Charles A. Bundy award for excellence in tourism from South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism.
This year, USA Today/10 Best has placed it in the running to be named Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in America for the third year in a row. It is competing against 19 other events for the designation. The contest is decided by public vote. To vote for Nights of a Thousand Candles click here.
Admission for Nights of a Thousand Candles is $30 for adults and $14 for children (members) and $35 for adults and $17 for children (non-members). Due to strict capacity limits, tickets must be pre-purchased. No drive-ups please. Also available for pre-purchase this year is The Sparkle and Fun Package add on. For $10, add-on this package that includes a glass of sparkling wine or cider, and holographic glasses to make the lights even more festive. Special Rates are available for groups of 15 or more arriving together. For ticket information, call 844-271-3410, or visit the website at www.brookgreen.org.

Location: 1931 Brookgreen Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC

Phone: 843-235-6000

Website: https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2020
Social media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BrookgreenGardens

Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Featuring floats and entries from local nonprofit groups, school bands and sports teams, community businesses and more, the Georgetown Christmas Parade is set to begin along Front Street in historic Georgetown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Designed to spread holiday cheer and get everyone in the spirit of giving, the Christmas parade is an annual tradition in Georgetown. For information and to register to be part of the parade, click here.
Phone: 843-527-8413

*Postponed from original date due to weather forecast concerns.

Thursday, Dec. 16, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Enjoy live entertainment and Georgetown’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting followed by a lighted Boat Parade hosted by the SC Maritime Museum. Entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. at Frances Marion Park and the tree lighting will start at 7:15 p.m., followed by the boat parade.  
The Christmas Lighted Boat Parade will offer a display of holiday lights in the Georgetown Harbor along the Harborwalk. All boats in the parade are lit up and many will play holiday music as they cruise by spectators. Prizes will be awarded for Best Crew and Best in Show.

Frances Marion Park is located on the waterfront at Front and Broad streets.

Phone: 843-546-8212

*Postponed from original date due to weather forecast concerns.

The Town of Andrews will hold its annual old-fashioned holiday celebration on Sunday, Dec. 11, starting at 3 p.m. The event includes a Christmas parade, vendors, merchant open houses, visits with Santa and a Christmas tree lighting. Andrews is a small rural agrarian South Carolina town whose main focus is on family, friends and church. Line-up for the parade will begin at 2 p.m. behind the Exxon gas station and Food Lion parking lot located at 430 E. Main St, Andrews. The parade will begin promptly at 3 p.m. and it will end at the National Guard Armory (401 W. Main St.). Deadline for entries is Wednesday, Dec. 7. There is no entry fee. For information, visit the Town of Andrews Facebook page, or call Town Hall at 843-264-8666.

Phone: 843-264-8666
Website: http://www.townofandrews.org/

Sunday, Dec. 4, 3 to 5 p.m.

Join Murrells Inlet 2020 and the rest of the community for the staple event of the season, the Murrells Inlet Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m. The parade starts at 3 p.m. near the beginning of December at Wilcox Avenue and travels down Highway 17 Business until it ends at Wachesaw Road. With local high school bands, community groups and businesses participating, the feature of the parade is the grand finale, Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Phone: 843-357-2007
Website: http://www.murrellsinletsc.com