Memorial Day weekend in myrtle beach
What is Memorial Day without a parade or cookout to attend? Luckily the Grand Strand has a few public events to give our residents and tourists somewhere to wear their newest red, white and blue gear. Check out the round-up of the best events over Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach.
And if you’d rather avoid the traffic on one of the busiest beach weekends of the year then we got that covered too. We’ve made a wish list of some festive new goodies to make it a real celebration!
memorial day parades in myrtle beach
You’ve got two parade options for Memorial Day. One is happening in the Market Common and one down in Surfside. And they’re on different days so if you’re a big parade fan you can make it to both!
Military Appreciation Days Parade | The Market Common | Sat, May 28 at 10:30am. The parade route will start on Pampas Drive, take a left on Howard Ave and another left on Farrow Parkway to go through the heart of Market Common.
SURFSIDE BEACH GOLF CART PARADE | Surfside Beach | Mon, May 30 at 10am. Line up on 16th Avenue North and the parade will run southbound on Ocean Boulevard.
other memorial day weekend events
BROOKGREEN GARDENS 9TH ANNUAL 5K RUN | Sunday, May 29 at 6pm
Military Appreciation Events | Saturday, May 28 – Monday, May 30
The City of Myrtle Beach is hosting multiple events over Memorial Day weekend to recognize our military heroes. There are picnics, exhibits, and ceremonies so check the schedule.
MURPH Challenge | Monday, May 30
If you’re not familiar with this then it’s probably not for you. The Murph Challenge is to honor a fallen veteran, LT. Michael P. Murphy, and fund a scholarship in his name. It’s a physical feat – 1 mile, 100 pull ups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, another mile… wearing a 20 pound vest. So, likely not kid friendly but if your kids like seeing their parents in pain then maybe consider bringing them along. This event is hosted by two local, veteran owned businesses and will take place at Carolina Forest Community Church from 8am-12pm.
Okay, and what if we just stay home?
Memorial Day conjures of memories of hot dogs, the first decent tasting watermelon of the season and homemade ice cream. Those are all treats best enjoyed in someone’s backyard and beat sitting alongside hot asphalt for a couple handfuls of candy.
If you want to give Memorial Day a fresh spin then here are a few kid focused items that can breathe new life into your long weekend plans!
1 | I loathe water splash pads but I can get behind this cute little turtle. First of all, he squirts water far and wide so no big pooling in the yard, he can’t be easily punctured, and he’s easy to move so the grass underneath won’t turn radioactive yellow. I trust the 4500+ Amazon reviewers who gave this guy 4.5 stars.
2 | I am the queen of turning household items into an activity. And this is a go to. Buy this food coloring and keep it OUT OF THE HANDS OF YOUR CHILDREN. Instead ration out 2-3 drops of a few colors into old yogurt containers (or whatever else you have on hand), fill them with water, and let them mix up concoctions that’ll make you gag.
3 | These are marketed as a 4th of July product but your kids won’t know the difference. Window clings can keep the 3+ crowd busy for a little while and also functions as holiday decor. Win-win!
4 | This is a low tech way to keep the kids entertained and outside so the adults can talk and chill, especially if you offer a prize to the kid who finds them all. These scavenger hunt games are an easy download and printable that can be reused on trail walks, trips to the park, etc.
5 | This series of mini books on the various military branches is a great way to introduce kids to the armed forces and the sacrifices some have made for our freedom and safety.
6, 7, 8 | Old Navy always does Americana well. Head over there for a fresh suit for the kids and maybe a top or new dress for mama.
don't forget to remember
We all look forward to Memorial Day for all it’s come to mean to us – a long weekend, the unofficial start of summer, permission to wear white pants without the granny’s glaring at us. But to really connect to the meaning of the holiday consider paying a visit to a national cemetery or battlefield.
The nearest cemetery is in Florence and while this may be an unpopular opinion, they can be so peaceful and oddly inspiring. Decorate a few gravestones with flags or flowers or maybe even leave a note.
And the Battle of Eutaw Springs occurred just over 2 hours from Myrtle Beach and would make an interesting and educational day trip. You can visit in person or do a virtual tour of many of SC’s battlefields.
However you choose to celebrate we hope it’s a mix of riotous family fun and somber gratitude. God bless those who served for our sake!