Lighting of the Landing 2026: Barefoot Landing’s Tree Lighting, Fireworks and Santa

Barefoot Landing has a particular kind of glow on a late November evening. The lake goes still and dark, the boardwalk lights reflect off the water, and the smell of something good drifts out of the restaurants along the shore. People bundle into light jackets, kids tug at their parents’ hands, and everyone keeps glancing toward the big tree waiting by the water.

That is Lighting of the Landing, Barefoot Landing’s annual kickoff to the holiday season. On Saturday, November 21, 2026, the shopping and dining village on the Intracoastal Waterway will light its Christmas tree for the season with a holiday program, fireworks over the lake and visits with Santa. Admission is free.

For families spending Thanksgiving week at the beach, it is one of the loveliest nights of the year in North Myrtle Beach. Here is what to expect, how to plan the evening and how it fits with the other holiday events happening that same weekend.

Lighting of the Landing 2026 Schedule

Destination North Myrtle Beach lists the event at Barefoot Landing, 4898 Highway 17 South, and Barefoot Landing’s calendar places the 6 p.m. start at the Pepsi Stage in the Dockside Village area. Admission is free. Outdoor events depend on the weather, so check Barefoot Landing’s website or social media pages on the day of the event for any changes.

What to Expect on the Night

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a holiday program of seasonal entertainment and family-friendly fun near the stage. The big moment arrives at 7 p.m., when the tree is lit for the first time of the season and the crowd counts down together. In recent years Barefoot Landing has used a tall live tree by the water, about 25 feet tall in 2024, and the reflection of its lights in the lake is one of the prettiest sights of the season.

Fireworks follow the lighting. In past years they have burst over the lake, which means the best views are along the boardwalk with an open line of sight across the water. Santa sticks around for visits with children until 8 p.m., so if your little ones want a photo, head to his spot soon after the fireworks end to beat the line.

Planning Your Evening

Arrive early. Lighting of the Landing is a popular free event, and parking near the Dockside Village end of Barefoot Landing fills up as the program begins. Coming an hour or so ahead of time gives you a chance to park, walk the boardwalk and claim a good viewing spot before the crowds arrive.

Dress for the waterfront. A late November evening by the lake can feel cool and breezy even after a mild afternoon, so bring jackets, and consider a blanket for small children who may get sleepy by fireworks time. If you have a stroller, the boardwalks make it easy to get around, though the area near the stage can be crowded around 7 p.m.

For questions before the event, Barefoot Landing has listed (843) 272-8349 as its contact number in past event announcements, and its website, bflanding.com, posts the latest calendar.

Dinner and Holiday Shopping at Barefoot Landing

Destination North Myrtle Beach encourages visitors to make an evening of it with holiday shopping, dinner and the waterfront celebration, and Barefoot Landing makes that easy. Restaurants on the November calendar include Flying Fish Public Market & Grill, Big Chill Island House, Crooked Hammock Brewery, Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina and Dick’s Last Resort, and the village is also home to spots such as LuLu’s, House of Blues and LandShark Bar & Grill. Restaurants fill quickly on Lighting of the Landing night, so an early dinner before the program or a later meal after the fireworks is often the more relaxed choice.

With more than 55 shops, according to Destination North Myrtle Beach, the village is also a natural place to start your holiday list. Our local’s guide to Barefoot Landing covers the village in more detail.

Next door, the Alabama Theatre presents its holiday show, The South’s Grandest Christmas Show, through the season. Performance dates vary, so check the theatre’s schedule if you would like to add a show to your weekend. Earlier in November, the same theatre hosts the Carolina Beach Music Awards, a celebration of the music that grew up on this coast.

Pairing It With Dashing Through the Glow

The weekend of November 20 and 21 is a busy one in North Myrtle Beach. The city’s Dashing Through the Glow fun run takes participants through The Great Christmas Light Show on both Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 7 p.m., with park gate entry closing at 6:45 p.m. Because Saturday’s run overlaps with Lighting of the Landing, families who want to do both should register for the Friday run and save Saturday evening for Barefoot Landing.

That combination makes a wonderful start to a holiday week. Walk or jog two miles through two million lights on Friday, sleep in on Saturday, spend the afternoon on the beach and finish the day with a tree lighting and fireworks over the lake. When the drive-through light show opens on November 23, you can go back and see it again from the comfort of the car.

More Holiday Events in North Myrtle Beach

Lighting of the Landing opens a full season of holiday events. In 2025, the City of North Myrtle Beach held its Christmas tree lighting at McLean Park in early December and its nighttime Christmas parade on Main Street a few days later. Barefoot Landing has also hosted a holiday golf cart parade in early December. Dates for 2026 had not been announced when we wrote this, so check the city and Barefoot Landing calendars as the season approaches.

If you are planning to spend more of the season by the ocean, our guides to a Thanksgiving beach house in North Myrtle Beach and Christmas and New Year’s beach rentals are good places to start. For everything else on the calendar, browse our Myrtle Beach events guide and our pillar guide to things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Where to Stay for Lighting of the Landing

Windy Hill is the closest beach section to Barefoot Landing, which makes it easy to head home after the fireworks. Crescent Beach is just a few minutes farther north and offers a relaxed, family-friendly beach. Ocean Drive puts you near the restaurants and music of Main Street, and Cherry Grove offers quiet mornings and marsh views on the north end.

Families gathering for the holidays often prefer oceanfront homes, with room for grandparents, cousins and a big holiday meal. Couples and smaller families may choose oceanfront condos, where a cup of hot chocolate on the balcony is a peaceful way to end a busy evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Begin the Holiday Season by the Water

A tree glowing over a quiet lake, fireworks reflected in the water and a visit with Santa make for a memorable start to the holidays. Pair it with a few days by the ocean and you have a Thanksgiving week your family will want to repeat.

Sources: Destination North Myrtle Beach event listing (2026); Barefoot Landing events calendar (November 2026) and past event announcements; City of North Myrtle Beach. Event times, fireworks and Santa visits can change, so confirm with Barefoot Landing before you go.