North Myrtle Beach rolls out America’s 250th summer events

By AI, Created 10:16 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – North Myrtle Beach is adding patriotic concerts, outdoor movies and heritage-driven attractions to its summer calendar for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The campaign aims to draw visitors to the Carolina coast with free weekly events and classic local traditions through September 2026.

Why it matters: - North Myrtle Beach is using America’s 250th anniversary to market a summer of free, family-friendly events. - The lineup is designed to blend tourism with the city’s beach music, shag dance and coastal history. - The events give visitors a reason to stay in the area beyond the beach.

What happened: - North Myrtle Beach announced a summer slate built around patriotic themes, live music, outdoor movies and local traditions. - Music on Main, Celebrating America’s 250th runs Thursdays from June through September 2026 at the Horseshoe. - Movies at McLean Park runs on the second Friday of each month from May through October 2026. - The city also promoted nearby heritage stops tied to Main Street, The Carolina Shag and Waites Island.

The details: - Music on Main is a free concert series with a different band each week. - The series features beach music favorites, classic hits and tribute sets honoring America’s musical roots. - July concertgoers are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. - Concerts start at 7 p.m. - Movies at McLean Park is a free, family-friendly series with titles including National Treasure and Captain America. - Guests can bring a beach chair or blanket. - Concessions will be available. - Movies start at 7 p.m. - Main Street is home to nostalgic stops including Hoskins Restaurant, Melt and locally owned shops. - The Carolina Shag originated in North Myrtle Beach and grew out of beach music and a dance tradition rooted in the African American community of the late 1930s. - Early shagger Dino Thompson described the dance as something that “brings everyone together…to have fun and enjoy the music.” - South Carolina has recognized The Carolina Shag as its official state dance for more than 40 years. - The O.D. Pavilion site includes a historical marker for the 1936 Roberts Pavilion, an early oceanfront pavilion tied to the development of beach music and shag. - The Shaggers Hall of Fame Museum at Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort offers free admission. - Fat Harold’s Beach Club, known as the “Home of The Shag,” offers free Shag lessons every Tuesday night and paid lessons on Monday evenings. - Waites Island is a 1,380-acre coastal preserve with Native American archaeological finds dating to 600 B.C. and the site of Civil War-era Fort Randall. - A cannonball remains embedded on Battery Hill at Waites Island. - The original 10,000-acre tract was granted by King Charles III in 1767. - The North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum offers free admission and covers the region’s history from its earliest inhabitants to the rise of tourism. - North Myrtle Beach offers accommodations ranging from hotels and resorts to vacation rentals with ocean, marsh, marina, waterway or fairway views. - The destination is at the north end of South Carolina’s Grand Strand and about a 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach International Airport. - More information is available on Explore North Myrtle Beach.

Between the lines: - The campaign uses familiar local culture as a tourism hook, which helps North Myrtle Beach stand out during a milestone national summer. - The mix of free events and heritage stops lowers the barrier for families and day-trippers. - The 250th theme also reinforces the city’s identity around music, dance and history rather than only beach recreation.

What’s next: - Weekly concerts continue through September, while Movies at McLean Park runs through October. - Visitors can build a longer itinerary around Main Street, The Shag Trail, Waites Island and the historical museum. - North Myrtle Beach appears to be positioning the summer as a seasonal draw for both repeat visitors and first-time travelers.