Events & What’s Happening
One of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of riders to the Grand Strand each spring.
💡Stick to the beachfront boardwalk areas during daytime hours for a lively but family-friendly atmosphere; avoid the busiest evening strips.
Free beachfront air show featuring military and civilian aerobatic performers soaring over the Atlantic Ocean along the Grand Strand.
💡Bring ear protection for little ones — the jets are loud but thrilling; the beach fills up fast so arrive well before the 3 PM start.
One of South Carolina's oldest festivals, celebrating the official start of summer with a parade, live music, sand-castle competitions, and fireworks on the beach.
💡Arrive early along Ocean Boulevard for the parade route to snag a shady spot; the sand-castle contest is a must-see for kids.
A major multi-day country music festival held on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront, featuring top national country artists on multiple stages.
💡Daytime sets are more family-friendly; take advantage of the beach backdrop between performances and leave before the late-night headliners.
The autumn edition of the famous Myrtle Beach Bike Week, offering a slightly smaller but equally festive motorcycle rally experience along the Grand Strand.
💡Fall rally coincides with cooler beach weather — a great excuse to enjoy the sand and boardwalk while the event energy surrounds you.
A beloved annual holiday parade through downtown Myrtle Beach featuring floats, marching bands, and a visit from Santa Claus to kick off the holiday season.
💡Line up along Kings Highway early for the best views; bring a wagon or low chairs so young kids can see over the crowd.
Annual multi-day festival celebrating the strong ties between Myrtle Beach and its many Canadian visitors, featuring live entertainment, discounts, and special events across the Grand Strand.
💡Many participating hotels and attractions offer family discounts during the festival week — check the official site for deals before booking.
A scenic oceanfront marathon, half marathon, and 5K race along the Grand Strand shoreline, attracting runners from across the country.
💡The kids' fun run is a highlight for little ones; stake out a spot near the finish line on Ocean Boulevard to cheer finishers.
Weekly outdoor farmers market held in the Broadway at the Beach complex featuring local produce, fresh seafood, handmade crafts, and prepared foods.
💡Grab breakfast bites from food vendors and let kids explore the stalls before the summer crowds descend — the playground nearby is a bonus.
Weekly interactive story time for young children at the Myrtle Beach branch of the Horry County Memorial Library system, featuring books, songs, and simple crafts.
💡Best suited for ages 2–6; arrive a few minutes early as seating fills quickly during summer tourist season.
Weekend artisan and vendor market at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, offering local crafts, jewelry, artwork, and specialty foods along the Intracoastal Waterway.
💡Kids love watching boats pass on the waterway while you browse; the adjacent Alabama Theatre plaza often has free family entertainment on market days.
Weekly Sunday afternoon open swim sessions at the City of Myrtle Beach Recreation Center indoor pool, open to all ages and skill levels.
💡A perfect rainy-day backup when beach weather turns; the indoor pool is heated year-round and life guards are always on duty.
Free live music performances on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade featuring local and regional bands covering a variety of genres.
💡Bring a blanket and picnic snacks; the open boardwalk gives kids room to dance while parents relax with ocean views.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach at Broadway at the Beach offers combo tickets bundled with WonderWorks and the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum — buying the combo at the aquarium box office saves roughly $15-20 per person versus buying each separately at the door.
- 💡The 2nd Ave Pier charges a $2 beach access fee for non-fishing visitors, but if you arrive before 8am during summer, the gate is typically unmanned and the pier walk is free — the early morning view back toward SkyWheel is one of the best photo spots on the Grand Strand.
- 💡Myrtle Beach State Park's beach is free for children under 6 and only $4 for kids ages 6-15 — on crowded summer Saturdays, the state park beach is significantly less packed than the central Ocean Boulevard beach, which has no admission gate to control volume.
- 💡Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament on Kings Highway offers a Knights Kids free promotion where children under 12 eat free with a paid adult ticket during select weeknight shows in May and September — check their website before booking and avoid the Friday-Saturday premium pricing.
- 💡The free SkyWheel observation from the base boardwalk plaza at 1110 N Ocean Blvd gives you the same SkyWheel backdrop photo that most visitors pay $15 per person to get — the gondola ride itself lasts about 12 minutes and is worth it for older kids, but infants and toddlers often enjoy the ground-level lights just as much at no cost.
- 💡Barefoot Landing's T.I.G.E.R.S. Preservation Station animal encounters sell out days in advance during summer — book online at least 3-4 days ahead if visiting between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as walk-up availability is nearly nonexistent by 10am.
- 💡The Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing offers a free Kids Club Saturday morning performance series in June and July — a full 45-minute live show with no ticket cost, though they do ask for a small donation. It's one of the genuinely free high-quality family activities in the area.
- 💡Family Kingdom Amusement Park at the south end of the Boardwalk sells an unlimited ride wristband that's meaningfully cheaper per ride than Broadway at the Beach's WonderWorks or individual SkyWheel tickets — at roughly $30-35 for an all-day wristband, it's the best value for a family with multiple kids who want to ride repeatedly.