Best Holiday Events in Myrtle Beach

Did you know that Myrtle Beach is one of the best beach towns for Christmas? That’s according to Coastal Living, which ranked the Grand Strand in the Top 10 for beach towns during the holidays. The mild weather provides opportunities for more outdoor holiday fun. Expect plenty of light shows, parades, family-friendly events, and so much more. Here are a few of the most renowned holiday events in Myrtle Beach.

Dickens Christmas Show

The annual Dickens Christmas Show and Festival tradition has been going on for over 40 years. Starting in November at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, this unique Christmas celebration has a Victorian Holiday Market Place with over 300 vendors in period costumes selling holiday decor, jewelry, crafts, and gourmet foods. Roaming entertainment is provided by Punch & Judy shows, musicians, tea leaf readings, and a live Santa. Visitors can take part in a Victorian Snow Globe challenge and Scrooge’s Hunt for the Missing Presents. Some off-site events include a high tea for kids and adults, a Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery, and Victorian Holiday Tours. 

Tickets are available in different packages. A single-day adult ticket starts at $11, and a single-day child is $4.

Carolina Opry Christmas Special

A show running for several decades now, the Carolina Opry Christmas Special is nicknamed the “Christmas Show of the South.” Performances start in November at this North Myrtle Beach performance venue. CNBC has named the show as a must-see family holiday tradition and a top attraction in Myrtle Beach. Each year’s show has rotating acclaimed artists and long-standing Carolina Opry favorites. Special guests in 2021 include Delvin Choice from NBC’s The Voice, Nashville recording artist Brad Law, and the renowned All That clogging group. The show contains a real horse-drawn sleigh and snow. The whole Opry venue transforms into a winter wonderland as spectacular as the special itself to accompany the show.

Adult tickets for 2021 range in price from $34.95 to $49.95. Child and student rates are available. Child pricing is for ages 3-16.  

The South’s Grandest Christmas Show

The Alabama Theater puts on an award-winning production called the South’s Grandest Christmas Show, a Christmas extravaganza. It runs six nights a week through November and December. The evening of songs combines holiday classics with contemporary musical favorites. The tone is festive and upbeat. Ticket prices range from $44.95 to $62.95 for adults, and kid tickets are $19.95.

Winter Wonderland at the Beach 

Head to the Myrtle Beach boardwalk in November for Holiday activities at Winter Wonderland at the Beach. The venue has activities like outdoor ice skating, walkthrough holiday shows, entertainment, and light exhibitions. Winter Wonderland is open from 3 pm to 11 pm daily starting December 14, 2021, at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place. It’s free to visit, but there are fees for various activities like ice skating.

A Night Of A Thousand Candles

Brookgreen Gardens comes to life with the soft glow of over 2,800 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. Stroll along the illuminated Garden Pathways as you sip a warm cup of cider, cocoa, or wine. Sprinkled around the park are carolers singing and holiday music. Travel + Leisure magazine has called it the “Best Christmas Lights In South Carolina.” For 2021, adult tickets cost $25, and children 4-12 cost $12. Garden members can secure discounted tickets. 

The Great Christmas Light Show

The North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex is transformed under the glow of 2 million lights along a 1.5-mile drive. You will see over 500 giant light displays and 30 animated figures and scenes that are tailor-made for this special event. The Great Christmas Light Show operates from late November through the end of December. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Gates open at 5:30 and stay open until 9:30 pm. Santa’s Village is open Thursday through Sundays from November to mid-December and nightly from December 16 through 30th. Santa’s Village has a free petting zoo, visits with Santa, and Santa’s Rockin’ Christmas tree. 

Admission is per vehicle. The cost for a regular vehicle is $15 when Santa’s Village is closed and $20 when the Village is open.

Pirate’s Voyage

The Pirates Voyage Dinner Show puts on a Christmas-themed show from late November and into December. The show takes a spin on the classic Dickens “A Christmas Carol” with Captain Scrooge and his first mate Bob Crachit. The family will be delighted by the acrobatics and the epic battle as the Pirates compete for the coveted Christmas treasure during the show. It all takes place while you enjoy a four-course Christmas feast. Adult tickets start at $60, and child tickets start at $30. 

Slow Roll: A Holiday Light Up the Night Event

Cover your bicycle (and yourself) with holiday lights for this special bicycling event through The Market Common. Presented by the City of Myrtle Beach and Tidal Creek Brewing, there are stops along the way for fun and games. Helmets are required. A post-ride party is hosted at Tidal Creek Brewhouse. The Slow Roll is free and takes place on December 7, 2021.

Intracoastal Christmas Regatta

Enjoy a maritime parade through the Intracoastal waterway with boats decorated in Christmas lights and accessories. This spectacular event occurs each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The flotilla starts at the Little River Inlet at 5 pm and heads South, arriving at the Dock Holidays Marina around 7 pm. There is no charge to watch the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta as it passes by various viewing areas along the waterway. 

The Festival of Trees

Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach goes to the woods, decorating its halls with dozens of Christmas trees. The entire aquarium becomes a backdrop of holiday fun with lights, trees, and mesmerizing aquatic galleries. All 50 states are represented in the trees, and more are decorated with fun and whimsical themes like Mardi Gras or golf. The festival starts in November and runs through December 24. Participating is included in the cost of admission. 

Christmas Towne

Enjoy a family-friendly holiday festival at the City of Myrtle Beach’s official tree lighting ceremony. There are fun and games for the whole family, including pictures with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate. Expect to see musical performances and other holiday-themed entertainment. Attending the festival is free.

Rivertown Christmas Celebration

Downtown Conway transforms into the North Pole during December, with store window displays, horse-drawn carriages, and a tree lighting ceremony. The celebration occurs Thursday evenings, and it is free for all guests. Enjoy the live entertainment that takes place every evening. All activities are first-come, first serve. For 2021, the festivities begin December 2 and continue through December 16. All of the shops are open until 8 pm each Thursday night. 

Myrtle Beach Christmas Parades

Myrtle Beach and its various towns host annual Christmas parades as a festive way to celebrate the holiday season. You’ll find parades in downtown Conway, Little River, Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Calabash. The dates and times change throughout the year, so check with the various cities to see when their Christmas parades are taking place. For 2021:

• North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade, December 4, 5:30 pm, Main Street from Bilo to Ocean Boulevard
• Surfside Beach Christmas Parade, December 11, 2 pm, Ocean Boulevard in Surfside Drive
• Barefoot Landing Holiday Golf Parade, December 12, 3 pm, Barefoot Landing

Celebrate the Holidays in Myrtle Beach

The end of the year is a special time in Myrtle Beach. What is already a great place to live really comes alive under the sparkle of thousands of lights and holiday events. Enjoy the festivities and one of America’s best beach towns.