While December may not be the first month that springs to mind when planning a beach trip, the final month of the year offers an abundance of reasons to head for the Carolina coast. For one thing, the off-season on the Grand Strand offers many of the same family-friendly attractions the Myrtle Beach area is so famous for — but without all the crowds that visit during the peak of summer. And on top of that, the events calendar stays sufficiently filled up in December, providing lots of options for keeping your vacation crew entertained.
Looking to get in a late-year getaway? Check out these (Christmas-themed and otherwise) shows, events, festivities and parades set to be held on the Grand Strand this December:
Shows
- The South’s Grandest Christmas Show — 1-Dec. 31, Alabama Theatre, North Myrtle Beach
- The Carolina Opry Christmas Special — 1-Jan. 4, The Carolina Opry, Myrtle Beach
- Christmas at Pirates Voyage — 1-Jan. 4, Pirates Voyage, Myrtle Beach
- Incubus — 7, House of Blues, North Myrtle Beach
- Billy Claus and the LuLuBelles — 7, Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, North Myrtle Beach
- Lunch With the Grinch — 7, Dave & Buster’s, Myrtle Beach
Events
- Designer Holiday Showcase — 18-Dec. 31, Kaminski House Museum, Georgetown
- Candlelight Open House — 5 & 12, 5:30 p.m., Kaminski House Museum, Georgetown
- 32nd Winter Arts & Crafts Show — 6-8, Double Tree Resort, Myrtle Beach
- North-South All Star Game — 14, Noon, Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach
- CresCom Bank Holiday Invitational — 17-21, Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach
- Family Night Open House — 21, 4 p.m., Kaminski House Museum, Georgetown
- Breakfast With Santa — 21, 9-10:30 a.m., Golden Egg Restaurant in Surfside Beach
- MarshWalk Santa Crawl — 21, Murrells Inlet MarshWalk
- Festive Four Miler — 21, Grand Park at Market Common, Myrtle Beach
- Beach Ball Classic — 26-31, Myrtle Beach Convention Center in Myrtle Beach
- Noon Year’s Eve — 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, North Myrtle Beach
- New Year’s Eve Fireworks Extravaganza — 31, 8 p.m., Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach
- Strauss on the Strand — 31, 2:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach
Festivities
- Drive Thru Nativity — Dates TBD, Church of the Resurrection, Surfside Beach
- The Great Christmas Light Show — 25-Dec. 30, North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex
- North Myrtle Beach Christmas Tree Lighting — 3, McLean Park, North Myrtle Beach
- Conway City Tree Lighting — 5, 6-8 p.m., Downtown Conway
- Surfside Beach Christmas Tree Lighting — 5, 6-8 p.m., Surfside Beach Town Hall
- Nights of a Thousand Candles — 5-21, 3-10 p.m., Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet
- An Inlet Christmas Weekend — 6-8, Murrells Inlet
- Christmas Cantata — 7-8, Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church in North Myrtle Beach
- Rivertown Christmas Celebration — 12 & 19, 6-8 p.m., Downtown Conway
- The Legends of a Beach Music Christmas — 14, 7 p.m., Spanish Galleon in North Myrtle Beach
- Christmas and All That Brass — 14-15, 4 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church in North Myrtle Beach
- Yuletide Music & Bonfire — 21, Noon to 5 p.m., La Belle Amie Vineyard, Little River
- Lighting of the Menorah — 22-30, 5:15 p.m., The Market Common in Myrtle Beach
- Light Up the New Year — 27-31, 6 p.m., Brookgreen gardens, Murrells Inlet
- New Year Bonfire — 28, Noon to 5 p.m., La Belle Amie Vineyard, Little River
Parades
- A Very Broadway Christmas Parade — 7, 11 a.m., Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach
- North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade — 7, 5:30 p.m., Main Street in North Myrtle Beach
- Surfside Beach Christmas Parade — 14, 2-3 p.m., Ocean Boulevard/Surfside Drive in Surfside Beach
- Conway Christmas Parade — 14, 10 a.m., Downtown Conway
The above is just an abbreviated list of the December events on tap in the Myrtle Beach area. When you’re ready to plan a late-year retreat to the Grand Strand, book a relaxing stay at Ocean Reef Resort on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. With our wide range of amenities and long list of comfortable accommodations, we’ve got everything you and your vacation crew will need to make some bright December memories on the Carolina coast.
