Myrtle Beach St. Patrick's Day Festival
Usually held in conjunction with Myrtle Beach’s annual Canadian-American Festival, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival has been a tradition since March 1988. The festival began as a small event, held at North Myrtle Beach’s Surfwood Shopping Center, but quickly grew in popularity and moved to a much larger locale at Ocean Boulevard and Main Street.
The event is not always held on St. Patrick’s Day proper but usually the weekend before the actual holiday. The day begins with a gala parade, which generally steps off at 9 am. Groups begin lining up as early as 7 am for the festivities and parade goers file out to the streets by 8 am, anxiously awaiting their chance to view bands, floats, clowns, bagpipers, and other community groups. While the Irish theme is predominant, organizations of all sorts participate in the parade, making this truly an event for all to enjoy. There’s also a grand marshal chosen each year, usually an individual who has made an impact on the community in some way or another.
Once the parade has concluded, the festival begins and continues until approximately 4 pm. Entertainment happens continuously throughout the day. There are two stages set up in the festival area, each offering a variety of performers presenting a host of different musical genres that appeal to all age groups. It isn’t unusual to see the audience dancing in the streets to their favorite tunes! Entertainment might also include comedians, magicians, or a host of other acts. In addition to those performing on stage, street entertainers also make their way up and down Main Street, wowing the crowds with their antics.
Another important part of the day is the chance to browse the more than 50 arts and crafts booths set up for the festival. Offering a variety of mostly homemade wares, these artisans peddle everything from jewelry to turned wood masterpieces to fine art. Many of the vendors are local or regional artists.
For the children, there’s a special kids area where young visitors can enjoy a number of fun activities including amusement rides for all ages. You might also find a climbing wall, face painting, midway-type games, and a host of other things to keep the younger crowd busy.
Food is also an integral part of any celebration and this Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Festival is no exception. Food vendors also line the festival area, offering a wide variety of dishes including plenty of Irish cuisine but also lots of typical “fair fare” like hot dogs, popcorn, and other snacks.
The parade and festival are both sponsored by the City of North Myrtle Beach and the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce as well as other local businesses. The festivities depend largely on the willingness of locals to get involved and the volunteers are many, ranging from kids to senior citizens.
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