A product of the American labor movement that became an official federal holiday in 1894, Labor Day was created to honor the countless contributions that the American workforce has made to our nation’s well-being. And, considering that the holiday is meant to recognize Americans’ hard work, it’s hard to imagine a better way to celebrate it than by doing as little work as possible. Ideally, it’s observed by spending the long weekend enjoying some hard-earned relaxation and quality time spent off the job.
On that note, in the South, there are few better places to do just that — and to mark the end of summer in style — than along the Carolina coast on the famously family-friendly Grand Strand. To make your planning for the three-day weekend as hassle-free as possible (and to guarantee the widest range of available accommodations), consider booking your stay at Ocean Reef Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront today — then get ready to enjoy some of the following fun activities and events set to be held in the area over the extended holiday weekend:
Fireworks and Family Entertainment: The skies over the Grand Strand will light up one last time this summer with two fireworks shows scheduled in the Myrtle Beach area over Labor Day weekend.
At Myrtle Beach hot spot Broadway at the Beach, Saturday, August 31, will bring the season finale of the Great American Summer Nights entertainment series, which is set to feature an array of family activities like face painters, dancers and other strolling entertainers; then, on Sunday, September 1, the season-ending Labor Day Fireworks Extravaganza will be presented over Lake Broadway at 10 p.m.
Farther north at North Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot Landing shopping/dining/entertainment complex, the season finale of the SummerFest entertainment series on Friday, August 30, will bring live music (including the Paul Grimshaw Band at the Dockside Village amphitheater), roaming entertainers and other family-friendly activities. And on Saturday, the Craig Sorrells Project will deliver the live music at the amphitheater at 7 p.m., while later at 10 p.m., the complex’s Labor Day Weekend Fireworks Display will deliver a dazzling pyrotechnics show high above Barefoot Lake and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Water Parks and Amusement Parks: At many of the Grand Strand’s water parks and amusement parks, including Wild Water & Wheels, Splashes Water Park and Myrtle Waves, Labor Day weekend will mark the official end of the summer season — so visitors can get one last chance to experience the parks’ thrills and excitement before the attractions close for the fall and winter.
More Events — Long holiday weekends always seem to spur a buzz of activity on the Grand Strand, and Labor Day weekend 2019 will be no exception. On the Thursday evening (August 29) leading into the long weekend, the Music on Main Concert Series in North Myrtle Beach will get the fun started as Chocolate Chip plays a selection of Top 40 hits. On Sunday, September 1, in Myrtle Beach, Saving Abel will perform in “the Best backyard in Town” alongside the Intracoastal Waterway to wrap up the Boathouse’s summer Sunday Concert Series. Later, Labor Day itself will feature the kickoff to the 18th Annual Mustang Week, which sees hundreds of Ford Mustang owners and enthusiasts gather for car shows, cruise-ins, races and more at hot spots throughout the Myrtle Beach area. Additionally, farmers markets are set to be held at Myrtle Beach’s The Market Common, as well as in Conway and in Georgetown.
After celebrating a Labor Day weekend to remember on the Grand Strand, head back to the comfortable oceanfront accommodations and wide range of fun amenities at Ocean Reef Resort to get some more rest and relaxation before returning home to the daily grind. Book your Labor Day getaway today — and start planning an unforgettable holiday celebration on the Carolina coast!
