Visit Myrtle Beach's "Heart of Holiday Traditions" Events

(Photo Courtesy of Visit Myrtle Beach)

"Myrtle Beach is where generations of families and friends reconnect with what matters most," said Stuart Butler, president, Visit Myrtle Beach. "The holidays here have a feeling all their own, full of community, reflection and simple joy that makes this place so special. Whether it's watching the lights along the boardwalk, catching a favorite show or just taking a quiet walk by the water, there's something about this time of year that reminds people why they keep coming back."

Officials with Visit Myrtle Beach have compiled and described some of the many events and locales visitors can enjoy this holiday season in Myrtle Beach:

Twinkling Trails & Dazzling Displays

The Beach shines bright all season long with festive light displays throughout the area. Stroll the oceanfront Winter Wonderland at The Beach (Nov. 28–Jan. 3) for a free, mile-long boardwalk display or enjoy a display of 55 state- and territory-themed trees at Ripley's Aquarium Festival of Trees (Nov. 7–Jan. 4), complete with a festive scavenger hunt and surprise displays throughout the aquarium. Cruise through The Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach (Nov. 24–Dec. 30), where more than two million lights and 500 custom displays illuminate a two-mile route, or head to Murrells Inlet for the MarshWalk Wonderland of Lights (Nov. 28–Dec. 31), featuring synchronized lights, festive photo ops, and Santa's Village. At Brookgreen Gardens' Nights of a Thousand Candles (Nov. 28–Jan. 4), 2,700 hand-lit candles and millions of twinkling lights create a shining holiday spectacle, while the Conway Celebration of Lights (Thursdays through Sundays in December) offers a small-town holiday drive-through experience.

A Show-Stopping Season

The Grand Strand also has numerous live performances slated for the season. At Pirates Voyage Christmas Show (Nov. 5–Jan. 3), Captain Scrooge's swashbuckling quest unfolds alongside acrobatics, live animals, and a festive four-course feast. The Alabama Theatre's Christmas Show (Nov. 1–Dec. 31) and The Carolina Opry Christmas Special (Nov. 1–Dec. 31) both deliver grand productions filled with music and dance. For soulful flair, GTS Theatre's Motown Christmas Tribute (Nov. 1–Dec. 22) blends classic hits with holiday favorites, while Broadway Theater's Winter in the Air (Nov. 4–Jan. 3) brings audiences cirque-style acrobatics and winter theatrics. Rounding out the season, The Wonders of Christmas Holiday Magic Spectacular (Nov. 15–Dec. 31) brings illusionist Charles Bach's festive wonder and Long Bay Symphony's Candlelight Festive Fanfare (Dec. 16) offers an evening of holiday music in symphonic style.

Retail Revelry

Enjoy festive lights, décor, and a backdrop for holiday browsing at The Market Common, home to boutiques and retailers, or head to Broadway at the Beach for an array of festive retail and events, including their Annual Tree Lighting Celebration (Nov. 15) and Christmas Parade (Dec. 6). With a mix of waterfront boutiques and national chains, Barefoot Landing creates a holiday shopping experience, complete with fireworks displays, Holiday Golf Cart Parade, and a live music line-up at its restaurants and bars.

Feast & Be Merry

Myrtle Beach is a dining destination and home to more than 2,000 restaurants, making it a destination to savor a holiday meal with loved ones. Visitors can start their holiday mornings with a sweet touch at Croissants Bistro & Bakery or Johnny D's, where red velvet waffles and peppermint mochas can set a merry tone for the day. For an evening out, visitors can experience the coast at 21 Main at North Beach or The Brentwood, and end the night with holiday-inspired cocktails amid twinkling lights at JEM Social's Miracle Christmas pop-up.

Wander in Winter's Glow

Beyond the 1.2-mile oceanfront Myrtle Beach Boardwalk & Promenade, the Grand Strand offers myriad ways to enjoy the outdoors. Stroll through the nature trails and maritime forest at Myrtle Beach State Park or wander the 115-acre Vereen Memorial Gardens, where three miles of trails and boardwalks wind through scenic marshland teeming with wildlife. For an inland escape, head to Waccamaw River Park in Conway, a riverside retreat prime for a leisurely nature walk.

Cozy Up at Homebase

Visit Myrtle Beach officials recommend visitors can keep the seasonal spirit alive at Myrtle Beach's festive lodging options, where holiday-themed suites, oceanfront resorts and immersive experiences bring cheer and celebration to every stay. The Ellie Beach Resort invites guests to celebrate the season with a variety of festive experiences, from the resort's Hall of Trees (Nov. 15–Dec. 15) to seasonal sips at Ocean Blue and Southern Tide Bar & Grill, serving up pumpkin spice espresso martinis, smoked maple brown sugar old-fashioneds and festive mocktails for the whole family. Just up the coast, Kingston Resorts' Christmas Village offers twinkling lights, holiday movie screenings, an inflatable snow zone, cookie decorating, letters to Santa and weekend visits from Santa himself and special events every Friday in December. New for 2025, the decorated Humbug Suite (Nov. 28–Jan. 3) brings playful green holiday cheer, complete with a welcome treat, a credit at the Christmas Village Bar and a special take-home gift.

For additional festive getaway inspiration, check out Myrtle Beach's Holiday Vacation Guide here.

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