Friday, Sep. 04, 2009

Several fall festivals upcoming in Myrtle Beach area

Get ready for a fun-filled fall with a variety of festivals throughout the Grand Strand. Whether you're looking for great food, arts and crafts, entertainment or family fun, there are plenty of festivals to choose from.

Say hello to fall during the 4th annual Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival at Grand Park at Market Common, which begins at 5 p.m. today and continues Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

``The Sun Fun Festival is truly the kick-off of summer and the Beach Boogie and BBQ Festival wraps up the season, but it also begins the fall season of festivals,'' said Amie Lee, director of festivals and special events. ``We're really happy to partner with the City of Myrtle Beach and the Omar Shriners, who do great things for the community and several charities. It's going to be a great festival.''

In addition to arts and crafts, an assortment of food vendors will offer everything from shrimp creole to home-made ice cream and, of course, the barbecue. Thirty to 40 judges from local media outlets will judge the ``Anything Goes'' competition featuring barbecue from the vendors today. South Carolina's Official Barbeque Championship and Kansas City Barbeque Society Cook-off begins Saturday and features barbecue from a team of regional barbecue specialists.

``The Shriners added the Kansas City Barbecue Society event this year, which opens the competition to a whole new lineup of barbecue extraordinares,'' Lee said. ``This will bring in a lot of people who are regionally known for their barbecue.''

The free festival includes concerts by the Tams, the Rhythm Pirates, Sea Cruz, Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, inflatables and fireworks. The Myrtle Beach Car Club sponsors the Wheels on the Beach Car Show, which features a wide variety of classic and antique cars and trucks. Proceeds from the car show benefit the Special Olympics.

New additions to the festival include appearances by kid-favorite cartoon characters Dora the Explorer and Diego, and water demonstrations by Carolina Wake Sports.

``There's not one thing that's not family-friendly. There is something for everyone,'' said Lee.

Another family-friendly festival is the 4th annual Little River Oktoberfest, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 11 a.m.-6p.m. Sept. 13. The festival features authentic German food, music, dance, arts and crafts and a children's area. This year's festival will be held in the Lowe's Grocery Store Plaza between U.S. 17 and S.C. 179 in Little River instead of the regular waterfront location. ``We have a 33-piece authentic German band and dancers who will teach people some steps. It's very interactive,'' said Mary Martin, director of festivals. ``If you've never been to Germany, then you haven't experienced a real German Oktoberfest. This festival is so much fun and a great ethnic thing to do.''

A Grand Strand favorite is the 18th Annual Greek Festival on Sept. 24-27, presented by St. Johns Greek Orthodox Church of Myrtle Beach. The festival features a variety of Greek foods including gyros, roasted lamb, greek salad, spanikopita and moussaka. There will also be entertainment, Greek music, Greek dancers and children's activities.

``We are always pleased and proud to host the festival,'' said Anastasia Spirakis, festival co-chair. ``It's nice to know people come back year after year. It's a fun, safe and affordable event.'' Admission is only $1 for adults and free for children 10 and under.

The 6th annual Irish/Italian International Festival will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 26 on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. The free festival features Irish and Italian food, arts and crafts, entertainment by several bands and children's activities.

``Of course we'll have a lot of great entertainment,'' said Callie Wise, recreation coordinator for the City of North Myrtle Beach. ``Instead of having typical food vendors, we have food from restaurans along the Grand Strand.''

Fall Festival Schedule: Sept. 4 & 5The Beach Boogie and Barbeque Festival at Grand Park, former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. 626-7444.

Sept. 5 The Summer Breeze Music Festival at La Belle Amie Vineyard, Highway 90 and St. Joseph Road, North Myrtle Beach, 399-9463; The 20th Annual Oak Island art Guild Arts & Crafts Festival, 910-201-4090.

Sept. 11-13 Grand Strand Freedom Fest at Freestyle Music Park, Myrtle Beach, 236-7625.

Sept. 12 Octoberfest at the Calabash VFW, 900 Carter Drive, Calabash, N.C. , 910-579-3577.

Sept. 12-13 The 4th annual Oktoberfest, Little River. 249-6604 or www.LittleRiverChamber.org.

Sept. 18-27 19th annual Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art. Various concerts and art exhibits are scheduled throughout Georgetown County, www.pawleysmusic.com.

Sept. 19 Autumn Magic Blues and Jazz Fest at La Belle Amie Vineyard, Highway 90 and St. Joseph Road, North Myrtle Beach. 399-9463.

Sept. 24-27 The 18th Annual Greek Festival, Myrtle Beach at 11 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and noon Sunday. 448-3773.

Sept. 25-27 The 34th annual Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, 803-734-0450 or 843-237-4440.

Sept. 26 Irish / Italian International Festival from 10 a.m. -4 p.m., Main Street, North Myrtle Beach, 281-3737.

Oct. 2 & 3 Gaither Music Festival at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 918-1225.

Oct. 3 Big Band Sounds Festival at La Belle Amie Vineyard, Highway 90 and St. Joseph Road, North Myrtle Beach, 399-9463; Live Oak Arts Festival in Norman Alley, downtown Conway, 248-2273; The North Myrtle Beach Christian School's Christian-American Music Festival, 910-315-3541.

Oct. 9-11 Broadway's 14th Annual Fall Festival, 444-3200.

Oct. 10 and 11 The 5th Annual Shrimp and Jazz Fest in Little River, 249-6604 or www.LittleRiverChamber.org; the Annual Sons of Italy Italian Festival at Broadway at the Beach, 444-3200.

Oct. 11 St. Michael Catholic School's 11th annual Harvest and Craft Festival, Garden City, 651-8773.

Oct. 17 The Loris Bog-Off Festival, downtown Loris, 756-6030 or www.lorischambersc.com; Rock Back the Clock Music and Wine Fest at La Belle Amie Vineyard, Highway 90 and St. Joseph Road, North Myrtle Beach, 399-9463.

Oct. 17-18 The 29th Annual N.C. Oyster Festival, Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., 800-426-6644.

Oct. 24 & 25 Harvest Home Weekend, Brookgreen Gardens, 235-6000.

Oct. 31 The Annual Endless Summer Festival on Main Street, North Myrtle Beach, 281-2662 or nmbevents.com.

Nov. 7 Island Fever and Music Fest at La Belle Amie Vineyard, Highway 90 and St. Joseph Road, North Myrtle Beach, 399-9463; 16th annual N.C. Pecan Harvest Festival Car Show on Madison St., Whiteville, N.C. 910-799-5830.

Nov. 11-15 The 15th annual Cucalorus Film Festival at different venues in Wilmington, N.C., www.cucalorus.org.

Nov. 12-15 The 28th Annual Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 448-9483 or www.dickenschristmasshow.com.

Nov. 26-28 The 40th Annual S.C. Bluegrass Festival, Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 706-864-7203 or www.aandabluegrass.com.