The holiday season is a special time of year on the Grand Strand, and Bay View on the Boardwalk is the best place to spend your Myrtle Beach holiday vacation. From Christmas parades and shows to special events and light displays, there are plenty of things to do that will put your family in the holiday spirit. Here are some of the top events worth the trip to Myrtle Beach:
* Intracoastal Christmas Regatta (Nov. 26): You’ve seen traditional Christmas parades roll down Main Street, but have you ever seen one that floats down the Intracoastal Waterway? This boat procession features brightly decorated vessels cruising their way down the Waterway between Little River and North Myrtle Beach, with several viewing points along the parade route. See the flotilla pass the Little River waterfront around 6 p.m. and arrive at The Marina at Dock Holidays at approximately 7 p.m. — or watch from the banks anywhere along the route. Bring an unwrapped Christmas toy for a child, and drop it off at the collection point at the after-party.
* Nights of a Thousand Candles (Dec. 1-3, 8-10 and 15-18): For 10 glorious evenings in December, Brookgreen Gardens opens its gates after hours to give guests a unique perspective of the botanical sculpture gardens at night. Illuminated by thousands of hand-lit candles and electric bulbs, this former rice plantation in Murrells Inlet becomes a winter wonderland for patrons who stroll the walkways and witness the beauty of the property in full decoration. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on event days and features live music, holiday-themed performances and a wide variety of displays like you won’t find anywhere else. Find out more at www.brookgreen.org.
* The Great Christmas Light Show (Nov. 25-Dec. 30): The North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex flips the switch on this spectacular event the day after Thanksgiving and keeps the lights burning brightly beyond Christmas Day. Guests can drive along the 1.5-mile path and see more than 1.7 million lights illuminating over 400 unique displays. After seeing the sights from your car window, park and visit Santa’s Village, which features fun and games for kids, as well as hot chocolate and s’mores. The event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly.
* Holiday Shows (November-December): The Grand Strand’s many theaters go all out for the holidays with a wide variety of Christmas shows. The Alabama Theatre’s The South’s Grandest Christmas Show, The Carolina Opry’s Christmas Show of the South and Legends in Concert’s Christmas Legends shows spread holiday cheer with seasonal song-and-dance routines, comedic skits and even a cameo appearance by Santa Claus himself. For dinner and a show, Pirates Voyage and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament provide a holiday feast to go with an entertaining show for the whole family.
* Holiday Shopping: From the Black Friday kickoff of the holiday shopping season the day after Thanksgiving to last-minute searching for gifts and bargains, the Myrtle Beach area offers a wide selection of venues to knock out your gift list while also having a good time. Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach and even the shops along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk are decked out for the holidays and offer special entertainment as well as great deals on gifts. Turn your shopping obligations into an opportunity to have a good time by visiting Myrtle Beach during the holidays.
Those are just five reasons to visit Myrtle Beach this holiday season, and there are many more for the whole family to enjoy. But there’s only one best place to stay during your holiday getaway, and that’s the comfortable and convenient Bay View on the Boardwalk. We look forward to hosting your family for the holidays as you create memories that will last a lifetime.