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North Myrtle Beach News

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Thomas Beach Vacations keeps you connected to what’s happening across North Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand — new openings, local events, community news, and development updates, organized monthly since 2020.

2026

November 2026

South Carolina’s First Wawa May Be Coming to Little RiverHorry County planners backed a convenience store, gas pumps and car wash at S.C. 9 and Water Grande Boulevard, and the developer says the brand is Wawa. It would be the chain’s first store in South Carolina. Read more

Grand Strand 2026 Holiday Calendar Released: Dates From Six TownsThe Myrtle Beach Area Chamber has published its 2026 holiday lineup: Lighting of the Landing on Nov. 21, the Pelicans Ballpark light show from Nov. 23, the North Myrtle Beach Christmas Parade on Dec. 5, a boat regatta and more. Read more

Myrtle Beach Council Leans Toward “Broadway on Main” for Downtown’s New 300-Seat TheaterCouncil reached general consensus on keeping the 1938 theater’s original name across three restored Main Street storefronts, with Coastal Carolina University set to operate the venue when it opens late this year. Read more

October 2026

Rivers Edge Golf Club to Close May 17, 2027, for Greens and Irrigation OverhaulThe Arnold Palmer course on the Shallotte River will rebuild all 18 greens with TifEagle Bermudagrass and replace its irrigation system, reopening in early fall 2027. Read more

Main Street Nightlife Block Listed for $12.5 Million as O.A.K. Prime Keeps Grand Strand’s Only Michelin NodSkyBar, Pirate’s Cove, Tequila Beach Cantina and Nathan’s go on the market together, O.A.K. Prime earns a second Michelin listing, Lost Mine mini golf will become a restaurant, and two longtime restaurants close. Read more

Grand Strand Ukulele Ensemble Ukes by the Sea Draws Regional Television SpotlightLive 5 News profiles the 25-member Myrtle Beach ukulele group led by Tom Woodle, most of whose players picked up the instrument for the first time two years ago. Read more

BooFest at Barefoot Landing Sets Costume Contest Lineup for Saturday, October 24: Three Kids’ Divisions, a Pet Contest and Prizes
Kids’ costume contests for ages 3 and under, 4-7 and 8-12, a pet costume contest, stilt walkers and balloon twisting from noon to 4 p.m.; registration opens at 11 a.m.Read more

Sea Haven Duck Derby Returns to Captain Archie’s on October 24 With $5 Duck Adoptions and Three Cash Prizes
Adopted rubber ducks race the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday, Oct. 24 to support Sea Haven’s shelter and services for runaway and homeless youth in Horry County.Read more

Beach Ball Classic to Bring 58 High School Basketball Teams to Myrtle Beach This December
The 28th girls tournament runs Dec. 21-23 and the 46th boys tournament Dec. 27-30 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and John T. Rhodes Sports Center.Read more

Horry County Plans Walking and Biking Trail Network Linking Conway and Myrtle Beach
The county’s new trail master plan targets a continuous walking and biking route between Conway and Myrtle Beach, with $2 million allocated so far and public meetings set for November.Read more

Breeze Airways to Add 11 Myrtle Beach Routes in 2027, Becoming the Airport’s Largest Carrier
Daily Boston flights, Buffalo, Latrobe and eight more cities join the Myrtle Beach map in 2027 as Breeze nearly doubles its nonstop destinations at MYR to 25.Read more

Thomas Beach Vacations Joins Silver Sponsors as Woman’s Club Domestic Violence Walk Nears on Oct. 17
Thomas Beach Vacations is a Silver Sponsor of the free What a Difference a Mile Makes walk this Saturday, Oct. 17, at the NMB Park & Sports Complex.Read more

SpaceX Launch Could Light Up the Grand Strand Sky Before Sunrise Tuesday
A Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral at 6:33 a.m. Tuesday. Look low to the southeast around 6:35 a.m. for a glowing plume before sunrise.Read more

Long Bay Theatre Opens Its New 200-Seat Home in Downtown Myrtle Beach With Mary Poppins
The community theater doubled its seating in a new Main Street home, the first theater in downtown’s arts district. Mary Poppins runs through Oct. 25.Read more

Cosmic Baseball’s Blacklight Show Is Coming to Pelicans Ballpark in 2027
The glow-in-the-dark baseball tour that sold out 74 games in 2026 adds Myrtle Beach for 2027, its only South Carolina stop. Tickets will be sold by lottery.Read more

Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks Oct. 20 to 22, With the Best Views Before Dawn on North Myrtle Beach
The Halley’s Comet shower peaks Oct. 20-22. A bright evening moon makes the hours before dawn the time to watch from North Myrtle Beach’s ocean-facing beaches.Read more

North Myrtle Beach Halloween Lands on One Saturday: BooFest and the BOOnanza Both Set for Oct. 24
The city’s $5 Halloween BOOnanza and Barefoot Landing’s BooFest share Saturday, Oct. 24, with trick-or-treating at Barefoot Landing on Halloween night.Read more

Grand Strand Kite Festival Heads to The Point in Cherry Grove for Its 9th Year, Oct. 24-25
Klig’s Kites brings its free festival to the north tip of Cherry Grove on Oct. 24-25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., after recent editions in Myrtle Beach.Read more

32nd Carolina Beach Music Awards Set for Nov. 8 at the Alabama Theatre
The Cammys return to the Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., honoring the performers and people who keep beach music alive.Read more

Dashing Through the Glow Adds Trolley Shuttle to the Start Line for 2026 Light Show Run
The 2-mile holiday walk and run through The Great Christmas Light Show returns Nov. 20-21, with new trolleys carrying participants to the start line.Read more

Barefoot Landing Sets Lighting of the Landing for Nov. 21 With Tree Lighting, Fireworks and Santa
Barefoot Landing lights its waterfront Christmas tree Saturday, Nov. 21, with a 6 p.m. holiday program, fireworks and visits with Santa. Free admission.Read more

100-Plus British Cars Roll Into The Market Common Saturday for 13th Annual Myrtle Beach BRITFEST
Jaguars, Minis, Range Rovers and a Bond-famous Lotus line Johnson Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 3, for the free BRITFEST car show, with entry fees supporting two local charities.Read more

North Myrtle Beach Weighs Amazon Drone Launch Pad on Water Tower Road
Amazon has applied to launch Prime Air delivery drones from its Water Tower Road facility, and city planners have paused the decision for further review.Read more

September 2026

Little River Waterfront Goes All-In on Halloween With Giant Air Sculptures and WaterFright Nights
Giant air sculptures now crown Little River’s waterfront restaurants for WaterFright Nights, running through Oct. 31 with a free Trail of Fear, a $25 haunted house, Trunk or Treat and a costume contest.Read more

North Myrtle Beach Proclaims Oct. 25–31 GFWC Advocates for Children Week
Mayor J. Baldwin and City Council proclaimed Oct. 25–31 as GFWC Advocates for Children Week in North Myrtle Beach, spotlighting the Woman’s Club’s work for the health and safety of Horry County children.Read more

Myrtle Beach’s Last Piggly Wiggly to Close Oct. 11 After 54 Years
Myrtle Beach’s last Piggly Wiggly, a family-owned store at 1700 N. Kings Hwy. that opened in 1972, will close Oct. 11. Here is what we know and where visitors can shop nearby.Read more

Myrtle Beach Fire Department Offers Free Car Seat Safety Checks Sept. 24
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department hosts a free car seat safety event Thursday, Sept. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m., where certified technicians will check seats, help with installation and answer parents’ questions.Read more

Big Fish Opens at Broadway at the Beach in the Former Liberty Building
A 21,000-square-foot seafood restaurant opened September 18 at 1321 Celebrity Circle, filling the space Liberty Brewery & Grill left vacant in 2020. It brings a 5,000-square-foot covered deck over Lake Broadway with a live music stage, a 70-seat bar and a 26-seat oyster bar.Read more

SCDOT Begins Overnight Intersection Work on U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has started safety improvements at five U.S. 17 intersections, adding concrete medians, ADA-compliant crossings and upgraded signals. Crews work 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. with closures possible, and the project runs through June 2027.Read more

Army Corps Completes $72 Million Grand Strand Beach Renourishment
The Charleston District placed 2.15 million cubic yards of sand across 28 miles of shoreline, repairing erosion from Hurricanes Ian and Debby. North Myrtle Beach received 675,000 cubic yards over eight miles, finished January 31, 2026, at no local cost.Read more

357 Brewers Breaks Ground on Nearly $10 Million Brewery and Music Venue at Grande Dunes Marina
Brothers Nick and Jesse Vaugh started construction September 15 on a three-acre waterfront campus pairing a 10,000-square-foot brewery and restaurant with an outdoor pavilion built to seat 3,000 to 4,000 for concerts. The target opening is summer 2027.Read more

NMB Woman’s Club Sets Oct. 17 for Sixth Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Walk
The GFWC North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club has set Saturday, Oct. 17, for the sixth annual “What a Difference a Mile Makes!” Walk for Domestic Violence Awareness — and this year’s flyer lists the morning as a free event open to the public.Read more

Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown Myrtle Beach: Inside the 50,000-Square-Foot Restaurant, Arcade and Bowling Complex
Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown held an official grand opening ribbon cutting at the Myrtle Beach Mall on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, three months after the 50,000-square-foot restaurant and entertainment complex opened to the public. The venue occupies the mall’s former JCPenney anchor and includes 14 duckpin bowling lanes, more than 100 arcade games and a tiki bar. It is the second Downtown Flavortown in the country.Read more

Myrtle Beach Adult Tap Ensemble Gives Dancers a Second Act — and It’s Taking New Members
The Carolina Rhythm Tap Ensemble, an adults-only tap group founded in Myrtle Beach in May 2024, has drawn national attention for giving dancers in their middle and later years a way back to a stage they left decades ago. The group rehearses at Coastal Dance Centre, performs at nursing homes and community showcases, and is open to adults who have never tapped before.Read more

New Cherry Grove Restaurant The Grove House Opens in Former Basil’s Pizza Space
The Grove House has opened at 219 Sea Mountain Highway in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach, taking over a restaurant space that previously held The Twisted Penguin and, before that, Basil’s Pizza. The menu runs from hand-tossed pizza and wings to fried seafood baskets and tacos, with indoor seating and a covered porch. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.Read more

Myrtle Beach City Council Advances $150 Million Surf Park at Broadway at the Beach
Myrtle Beach City Council has approved the first reading of an ordinance for a $150 million surf park and hotel on the former Palace Theatre site at Broadway at the Beach, backed by up to $20 million in city incentives that would be paid only after the project is about 80% complete. Council also advanced a new Fire Station 1 and Coast RTA transit center and expanded golf cart parking on the city’s north end.Read more

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q Nears Opening in Carolina Forest as Soft Openings Begin
Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q is holding private friends-and-family soft openings at 79 Rodeo Drive in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, with a public opening expected shortly. The Alabama-based restaurant will be the company’s fifth in South Carolina and its first on the Grand Strand. No official grand opening date has been announced.Read more

F1rst Friday ArtWalk Returns to Downtown Myrtle Beach — Every First Friday, 5 to 8 p.m.
Downtown Myrtle Beach’s free F1rst Friday ArtWalk returns Friday, October 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., with live music, spoken word, galleries and local makers spread across the Arts & Innovation District. The self-guided event runs the first Friday of every month.Read more

Three SC Beach Destinations Among Top in World for Travel From Airport to Sand
A new global study ranks Myrtle Beach No. 13 out of 100 beach destinations worldwide for how quickly travelers get from the airport to the sand — 4.1 miles and about 12 minutes. Folly Beach and Hilton Head also placed in the top 100.Read more

Children’s Author Miss Bri Thomas to Host Book Signing at The Crazy Mason in Myrtle Beach September 5
Children’s author and educator Miss Bri Thomas brings her picture book “Having a Giraffe as a Classroom Pet” to The Crazy Mason on Saturday, September 5, with local school visits to follow for International Literacy Day.Read more

August 2026

NMB Live! Reveals Full Lineup, Parking, and Shuttle Plan for Its September 26 Main Street Debut
Five bands, fire dancers, live speed art, and roaming street performers headline the inaugural festival on September 26 — and the city has released its full parking, shuttle, and street closure plan.Read more

Magic at the Beach Returns to Wonders Theatre September 10–12 With Only 50 Public Seats Per Show
South Carolina’s premiere magic convention gathers award-winning illusionists from around the world at Wonders Theatre September 10 through 12 — and only 50 seats per show have been released to the public.Read more

Horry County Approves Highway 31 Extension to Highway 17 Bypass After Residents Reshape the Plan
The Pine Ridge development agreement clears its final hurdle — extending the Carolina Bays Parkway south to the Highway 17 Bypass, minus the overpass that drew more than 80 resident complaints.Read more

37th Annual Beach Sweep/Creek Sweep Returns to North Myrtle Beach September 19
Volunteers on foot, by boat, and by kayak will clear litter from beaches, dunes, marshes, and parks across North Myrtle Beach on Saturday, September 19 — part of South Carolina’s largest one-day volunteer cleanup effort.Read more

World Am Week Arrives: 3,000 Golfers Descend on the Grand Strand August 31
The 43rd annual Play Golf Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship tees off August 31 with a sold-out field of 3,000 players, more than 50 host courses from Pawleys Island to the North Carolina line, and the return of the nightly party known as the World’s Largest 19th Hole.Read more

Labor Day Fireworks at Barefoot Landing Set for Sept 5, 2026
A free fireworks show over the lake on Saturday, September 5 at 10 PM will give the holiday weekend its grand finale — one week after the summer’s regular Monday-night series wraps up.
Read more

Fifty Songwriters From 37 States to Headline Inaugural Songwriters Festival in Downtown Myrtle Beach This November
Selected from more than 300 submissions, the lineup includes a former Hank Williams Jr. bandleader whose songs have been recorded by Willie Nelson and Kenny Chesney, a Grand Ole Opry performer, and Carolina beach music award winners — with free admission and proceeds feeding Horry County children.
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South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday Returns August 7–9 as Grand Strand Retailers Prepare for One of Their Busiest Weekends
The 72-hour holiday waives state and local sales tax on school supplies, clothing, footwear, and computers statewide — and on the Grand Strand, where combined rates reach roughly 9%, the savings run deeper than almost anywhere in South Carolina.
Read more

July 2026

Tiny Tigers Kids Co. Opens in Little River SC on August 1
The new children’s clothing store brings a buy-and-sell shopping experience to US-17 in Little River, with a grand opening celebration featuring treats from Bean Lab and Make It Sweet Bakery.
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Travel + Leisure Ranks Myrtle Beach No. 8 for Affordability
The national travel publication ranked the destination No. 8 among the 10 most affordable U.S. places to visit this August, at an average of $486 for a round-trip flight and one-night hotel stay — and credited the Visit Myrtle Beach “Make More Myrtle Moments” promotion.
Read more

Myrtle Beach Reaches Millions in National TV Travel Feature
Travel expert Emily Kaufman, known nationally as The Travel Mom, closed her South Carolina coastal road trip series on the Grand Strand — and surprised two studio audience members with a $10,000 Myrtle Beach getaway.
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First-Ever Myrtle Duck Festival to Drop Thousands of Rubber Ducks Over The Market Common July 25
A helicopter duck drop over the Grand Pond will launch a charity race benefiting Make-A-Wish South Carolina, Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, SOS Care, the Kiwanis Club, and the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, anchoring a free, full-day festival with live music, food trucks, and a custom truck show.
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Myrtle Beach State Park Celebrates 90th Anniversary With History Walks, Cupcakes and a Monthlong Scavenger Hunt
South Carolina’s oldest state park marked nine decades with cupcakes, vintage photographs and a monthlong scavenger hunt that runs through the end of July.
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Conway Moves Forward on 808-Acre Waterfront Transformation With Inland Beach, Marina and Riverwalk Extension
The former Grainger Generating Station site — once home to 300-foot smokestacks and coal ash ponds — is becoming a public waterfront with a freshwater beach, a 100-slip marina, a 3.5-mile boardwalk and a mixed-use village, backed by an $80 million financing plan approved in December 2025.
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Contour Airlines Launches First-Ever Nonstop Vacation Flight From Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Myrtle Beach
The seasonal service, operating Wednesdays and Saturdays through August 22, cuts a ten-hour drive to a 110-minute flight and makes Myrtle Beach International Airport’s tenth airline.
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June 2026

South Carolina Sales Tax Holiday Returns August 7–9 as Grand Strand Retailers Prepare for One of Their Busiest Weekends
The 72-hour holiday waives state and local sales tax on school supplies, clothing, footwear, and computers statewide — and on the Grand Strand, where combined rates reach roughly 9%, the savings run deeper than almost anywhere in South Carolina.
Read more

Mathnasium Opens First Myrtle Beach Area Location with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony July 1
The math-only learning center for students in grades K–12 opens its doors Wednesday afternoon at 2080 Oakheart Road, bringing a nationally recognized tutoring model to the Carolina Forest community for the first time.
Read more

North Myrtle Beach to Open Cypress Nook Disc Golf Course on June 26
The City of North Myrtle Beach will open Cypress Nook Disc Golf Course to the public on Friday, June 26, with a 10:00 a.m. grand opening ceremony at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex — adding an 18-hole wooded course to a 160-acre recreation campus that already draws athletes and families from across the region.
Read more

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Coming to Little River as Impeccable Restaurant Group Expands Along the Grand Strand
One of the Carolinas’ fastest-growing franchise operators is planting its next flag in Little River, adding Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to a busy Highway 9 East corridor already drawing new restaurants, grocery anchors, and thousands of new residents.
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Wingstop Coming to Conway’s Coastal Centre as Shopping Center Rebounds
The Texas-based wing chain will become the third Horry County location for the brand as developer Rise Partners presses forward with a $60 million transformation of the long-struggling mall on Church Street.
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North Myrtle Beach Launches Pet Supply Donation Month to Benefit Local Humane Society
The City is collecting pet food, cleaning supplies, and enrichment items throughout July at three convenient drop-off locations — with the drive kicking off at tonight’s City Council meeting.
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Original Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream Reopens in North Myrtle Beach with the Ice Cream King Back Behind the Counter
Dominic Anthony Munafo returns to the 74-year-old Highway 17 landmark after his family reacquired the business — with a rebuilt kitchen and made-from-scratch ice cream coming back to the menu.
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Sunday Fundays Are Coming to Downtown Conway This Summer
A new outdoor event series brings food trucks, live music, and family fun to the historic Town Green on five Sundays from June through August 2026.
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Myrtle Beach Native Mike Rogers Releases Debut Solo Album After Decades on Nashville’s Biggest Stages
A Socastee High School graduate who got his start at The Carolina Opry, Rogers has spent two decades playing with some of Nashville’s best — and at 50, he’s finally putting out a record of his own.
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North Myrtle Beach Urges Residents to Prepare as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins
NOAA is forecasting a below-normal season — but city officials are reminding the community that a quieter forecast is not the same as a safe one.
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Southwest Airlines Launches Nonstop Flights Between Myrtle Beach and Houston
The new Saturday service connects Myrtle Beach International Airport directly to William P. Hobby Airport — putting Houston, the largest city in Texas, within a single nonstop flight of the Grand Strand.
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North Myrtle Beach Asks Residents and Visitors to Conserve Water During Severe Drought
City issues voluntary conservation guidelines as South Carolina’s historic dry stretch continues — no mandatory restrictions currently in place.
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Golf + Pickleball Mobility Training Clinic Coming to Little River on June 16
The Mobility Lab brings a TPI-certified physical therapist to Pin Point Indoor Pickleball & Golf for a 45-minute session targeting the exact movements that drive your swing and your game.
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Myrtle Beach Moves Closer to Free Beach Wheelchair Program
City Council approved initial funding for a 16-chair accessible beach program — and the Grand Strand is watching to see if Myrtle Beach finally catches up.
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May 2026

OneBody Fitness & Yoga Hosts Free Yoga Warriors Class in Little River on May 27
OneBody Fitness & Yoga in Little River, SC is hosting a free Yoga Warriors class on May 27 led by certified instructor Michelle Schaffren. Open to all — no sign-up needed.
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North Myrtle Beach Playground Playdates Moves to McLean Park in 2026
North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation is hosting free monthly Playground Playdates at McLean Park in 2026 — May 19, June 16, July 21 & August 18. Perfect for preschool and elementary kids with a parent or guardian.
Read more

Grand Strand Health Opens Little River ER on June 1
A new 24/7 emergency room opens June 1 at 1586 U.S. Highway 17 in Little River. Grand Strand Health’s freestanding ER brings full emergency care to North Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach, and the northern Grand Strand — just in time for summer season.
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April 2026

New Pediatric OT Clinic for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays Opens in Myrtle Beach
Kidz With Abilities, specializing in occupational therapy for children with autism and developmental delays, has opened in Myrtle Beach with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
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New Craft Brewery Set to Open in Carolina Forest by End of May 2026
South Coast Beer Project — a family-friendly craft brewery and restaurant with house-brewed beers and 20,000 sq ft of outdoor space — is set to open at 5020 Carolina Forest Blvd. by end of May.
Read more

Tripadvisor Ranks Myrtle Beach No. 1 U.S. Destination for Summer 2026
Tripadvisor’s 2026 Summer Travel Index named Myrtle Beach the top domestic destination for summer travel, including the No. 1 spot for Fourth of July weekend bookings nationwide.
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North Myrtle Beach City Council Gives First-Reading Approval to Beach Smoking Ban
City Council unanimously approved a first reading of a beach smoking ordinance on April 6, with a final vote scheduled for April 20. The proposed ban would cover all public beaches within city limits.
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World’s Largest Rubber Duck Returning to Myrtle Beach May 1–2, 2026
Mama Duck — the world’s largest rubber duck — returns to Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place for a free family event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days of the May 1–2 weekend.
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Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Co. Set May Opening at Broadway at the Beach
Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw Brewing are opening a 30,000 sq ft combined distillery and brewery at Broadway at the Beach this May, bringing craft spirits, house-brewed beers, and a full dining experience to Myrtle Beach.
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Horry County Schools Approves $6.3M Land Purchase Along Highway 90
The district approved the purchase of 60 acres along S.C. Highway 90 for $6.3 million — its third land acquisition in six months — reflecting rapid population growth reshaping the North Myrtle Beach corridor.
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March 2026

February 2026

January 2026

2025

Paste 2024 and earlier year entries here using the same ul.nmb-news-list structure, with a new nmb-year-divider heading for each year.

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