Celebrate the Holiday Season in Myrtle Beach

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Trying to decide how and where to celebrate the holidays this season? The 60-day stretch from Halloween to New Year’s is the perfect time to escape to Myrtle Beach and add some salt-air spice to your festivities. Paradise Resort offers the same great accommodations and amenities at low rates, giving your family a home away from home to enjoy the holidays, and Myrtle Beach goes all out to make each one special. Here are five fun-filled reasons to visit the Grand Strand during the holiday season:

Halloween: The spookiest day of the year falls on a Saturday this year, so even grown-ups can have fun on this kid-oriented holiday in Myrtle Beach. In addition to the many family-friendly activities around town, there are also some adults-only festivities on Oct. 31 that will last into the early hours of November. Take the little ones trick or treating at Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach, Market Common or for the final evening of the month-long Fright Nights on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk. After the children are safely tucked in for the night, it's time for the older crowd to get rowdy. The highlight of the grown-up parties is at Broadway at the Beach's Celebrity Square, where a costume contest and live music are held outside on the main stage and more than a dozen clubs hold their own Halloween festivities inside.

Thanksgiving: There are two things that prompt folks to escape to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving, and we're not talking about turkey and cranberry sauce. Sure, there are plenty of great restaurants that serve the traditional Thanksgiving spread, along with some fresh seafood for a surf-and-turkey feast, so families can get away for a four-day weekend and still celebrate the holiday together without all the cooking and cleaning. But perhaps the biggest draw comes early the next morning – make that very early. Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, attracts bargain-shoppers looking to parlay their beach retreat with a chance to put a serious dent in their holiday shopping. The abundance of malls and major retail outlets on the Grand Strand allows many savvy shoppers to pay for their mini-vacation with the money they save.

Christmas: Few folks know that Santa is the ultimate snowbird and makes several stops in Myrtle Beach before his big tour around the world. The month of December is filled with Christmas tree lightings, neon light displays; special holiday shows at the local theaters and even a boat parade down the Intracoastal Waterway. Families can take advantage of the low rates at the Paradise Resort and the extended time off from school and work to create their own Christmas memories in Myrtle Beach. Families of faith can attend mass or church services at one of the multi-denominational houses of worship, including Hanukkah events at several local temples. If you've never experienced a relaxing Christmas Day at the beach, here's your chance.

Beach Ball Classic: OK, so this isn't an official holiday, but it is in Myrtle Beach. The week between Christmas and New Year's (Dec. 26-31) is the traditional date for this 35th annual high school basketball tournament, which brings in some of the top teams and talent from around the country to compete in this six-day hoops tournament. Past participants include NBA stars like Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and more. See the future college and pro stars before they hit the big-time at this hoops fest, which is held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

New Year's: The Grand Strand loves to celebrate the changing of the calendar with blowout parties on New Year's Eve and great food and football on New Year's Day. Hit hot spots like the House of Blues, Broadway at the Beach's Celebrity Square and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk for a fun night out on the town to cap 2015, then rest and recover with the traditional meal of hog jowl, black-eyed peas and collard greens at local restaurants like Big Mike's or Magnolia's. Then, kick back in your room at Paradise Resort and catch all the bowl games while resting up for a happy 2016.

No matter which holiday you decide to celebrate in Myrtle Beach, be sure to stay and play at the Paradise Resort for the ultimate celebration and experience.

 

(Posted: 9/23/15)