Online Holiday Guide Showcases Event Listings, Discounts & More

The 2022/2023 holiday season has begun and officials with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) say the Grand Strand is filled with affordable holiday excitement and shopping opportunities for residents and visitors.

“Myrtle Beach is the place to be for families seeking an abundance of holiday happenings this year,” said Karen Riordan, MBACC and CVB President and CEO. “We have an extraordinary number of festive events, joyful performances and holiday shopping opportunities all of which allow both residents and visitors to get a ton of bang for their buck. You don’t have to break the bank to have a good time at the beach.”

Along with the extended weekend of Nov. 24 - 27 where holiday shopping abounds after Thanksgiving, both Christmas Eve and Day as well as New Year’s Eve and Day fall over the weekend this year, which is expected to be an additional draw for the destination, the CVB reports.

According to hospitality industry metrics from KeyData, as of Nov. 17, Horry County adjusted paid and owner occupancy bookings for the next 60 days are pacing an average of 11.2 points ahead of 2019, and four points behind last year. “We’re seeing strong destination demand and expect average occupancy rates to increase up to the day of stay as travelers are booking later compared to the past two years,” Riordan said.

To help plan this season’s activities, the CVB’s online Holiday Vacation Guide is available at VisitMyrtleBeach.com and provides event listings, discounts and more. Holiday-inspired events and shows found on the guide include:

●             The 2nd annual Winter Wonderland at The Beach festival, which offers free lights along the Myrtle Beach boardwalk and entertainment options Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 23;

• The newly expanded MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights walk-through light experience in Murrells Inlet held through the New Year with the 8th annual Santa Crawl on Dec. 10;

• Ripley’s Festival of Trees held throughout December at Ripley’s Aquarium with special events like holiday workshops and breakfast with Santa;

• The Great Christmas Light Show at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex through Dec. 30;

• The Carolina Opry Christmas Special, “The Christmas Show of the South,” with performances through Dec. 17; and

• “The South’s Grandest Christmas Show” at the Alabama Theater with performances through Dec. 31.

Additional holiday shows include Christmas at Pirates Voyage through Dec. 31, Hot Jersey Nights Christmas Special at Broadway Theater through Dec. 30, and A Motown Christmas Tribute at GTS Theatre through Dec. 26.

For those looking for sporting action, the Myrtle Beach Bowl, an ESPN post-season college football bowl game will be held on Dec. 19; the Beach Ball Classic, a high school basketball invitational tournament, will be held Dec. 27-30; the United Bank Holiday Invitational, a matchup of dozens of girls’ high school and prep basketball teams, is set for Dec. 27-30; and the American Cornhole League Collegiate Championships will run from Dec. 29 through Jan. 1, 2023.