🍀🍝 A Taste of Two Worlds: The 21st Annual Irish Italian International Festival
Walk down Main Street in North Myrtle Beach on a September morning, and you’ll hear it before you see it. A fiddle riff slides over the crowd, followed by the warm tenor of an Italian ballad drifting out from the next block. Laughter rises, the smell of garlic knots mixes with corned beef and cabbage, and suddenly you realize—this is no ordinary Saturday. It’s the Irish Italian International Festival, and it’s back for its 21st year, promising a day where two beloved cultures meet in one joyous celebration.
🎶 Main Street Comes Alive
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM, Main Street transforms into a pedestrian paradise. Roughly 15,000 people will gather—families with strollers, college kids clutching cannoli, old friends leaning on railings with pints in hand. It’s all free to enter, and whether the sun is blazing or the rain decides to join, the festival goes on.
Everywhere you look, there’s movement. Artisans line the sidewalks with colorful crafts, vendors hand out festival favorites, and jugglers, musicians, and street performers thread through the crowd, turning every corner into its own stage.
🍀 Irish Tunes & Italian Serenades
The festival splits its soul between two stages. On the Irish Stage, sponsored by Flynn’s Irish Tavern, the day begins with The Byrne Brothers (10:00–11:30), followed by the thunder of the Coastal Carolina Shield Pipes and Drums. Later, Clovers Revenge takes the mic, leading into the rollicking finale by Barleyjuice from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Meanwhile, the Italian Stage, sponsored by Freedom Boat Club, carries its own rhythm. Anthony Bucciero kicks things off, followed by Thomas Road, then the crowd shifts for the spaghetti showdown at 1:30. The day closes with Chris Taylor and The Rumor, serenading festival-goers until the final note fades into the evening air.
🍝 The Famous Spaghetti Eating Contest
At the heart of the Italian side lies the festival’s crown jewel: the Spaghetti Eating Contest, proudly sponsored by Ledo Pizza. Contestants, hands tied behind their backs, dive face-first into steaming plates of pasta. The rules are simple: first to finish wins bragging rights and a prize. The spectacle begins around 1:30 PM at the Italian Stage on Hillside Drive—but if you’re hoping to compete, sign-ups are open from 10 AM to noon at the Info Booth. It’s free to enter, but spots fill quickly, and you’ll want to show up hungry.
🎨 Vendors, Crafts, and Competitions
This isn’t just a feast for the ears and stomach—it’s a full marketplace. Artists and crafters display handmade treasures, and food vendors compete for the titles of Best Entrée and Best Dessert. Non-food vendors aren’t left out either; their booths transform into works of art, vying for the title of Best Decorated Booth. It’s part competition, part carnival, and part cultural showcase.
🚗 Parking & Practical Tips
The city makes it easy with free parking scattered around:
Lot beside Convenience Store & More (250 Main Street)
McLean Park (93 Oak Drive)
1st Ave North & Ocean Blvd. Lot
1st Ave South & Ocean Blvd. Lot
Arrive early to snag a good spot and give yourself time to wander before the stages get busy. The event runs rain or shine, so bring a hat or an umbrella—and maybe a little patience, as 15,000 folks can pack Main Street in a hurry.
✨ Why This Festival Matters
For over two decades, the Irish Italian International Festival has been more than an event—it’s a North Myrtle Beach tradition. It’s the one day a year where Celtic reels blend with Italian arias, where neighbors and tourists alike gather under strings of flags to share stories, food, and laughter. It’s a cultural handshake, a reminder that the Grand Strand thrives not just on sand and surf, but on the people and traditions that bring its streets to life.
🏖️ Stay Close to the Celebration
The best way to enjoy the festival? Pair it with a beachside stay. After a day of music, food, and laughter, nothing beats retreating to a cozy ocean-view condo or a spacious vacation home just minutes from Main Street.
Let Thomas Beach Vacations be your host. Book your festival getaway now at NorthMyrtleBeachVacations.com
or call us at (866) 249-2100. Come for the culture, stay for the ocean breeze—and leave with memories worth toasting to.
Fall Festivals in North Myrtle Beach: Food, Music & Coastal Celebrations
Irish-Italian International Festival (Sept 27, 2025)
Main Street bursts alive each September with the Irish-Italian International Festival. Expect more than 15,000 visitors enjoying food vendors, live music, dancing, a spaghetti-eating contest, and a mix of culture that only North Myrtle Beach could pull off. Cannoli meets corned beef, bagpipes join accordions, and every bite tastes like celebration.
SOS Shag Fall Migration (Sept 12–21, 2025)
The SOS Shag Fall Migration is the biggest dance party on the East Coast. Ocean Drive’s clubs and lounges fill with shaggers from across the Carolinas and beyond. Lessons by day, live bands by night, and the sort of dance floor fellowship that makes you want to kick off your shoes and shuffle until sunrise. It’s tradition, it’s culture, and it’s pure coastal joy.
Surfside Beach family festival (Oct 4, 2025)
The Town of Surfside Beach shines with its Family Festival on October 4, 2025—a full day of small-town charm and coastal cheer. Admission is free, making it an easy choice for families looking to enjoy autumn by the ocean. Visitors can stroll through rows of arts and crafts vendors showcasing handmade jewelry, home décor, and local artwork, while the scent of festival food drifts through the air—think funnel cakes, barbecue, and roasted corn.
20th Annual Little River ShrimpFest (Oct 11–12, 2025)
The Little River ShrimpFest is where seafood lovers and music fans unite. Held on the historic Little River waterfront, this event features fresh shrimp, local seafood, craft vendors, kids’ activities, and two stages of live entertainment. It’s one of the most beloved fall festivals on the Grand Strand—and a must for anyone who believes shrimp are best eaten within sight of the water.
BooFest! at Barefoot Landing (Oct 25, 2025)
Families flock to Barefoot Landing for BooFest!, an annual tradition filled with kids’ and pets’ costume contests, games, and trick-or-treating throughout the shops. The lakeside setting makes for beautiful fall photos while little ghosts and princesses gather candy under the Carolina blue sky.
Barefoot Landing Trick-or-Treat (Oct 31, 2025)
On Halloween night, Barefoot Landing becomes a trick-or-treater’s dream. Families stroll the boardwalk-style paths from 5 to 7 p.m., visiting shops and restaurants handing out candy. Safe, fun, and festive, it’s the perfect way to wrap up a beachside October with the kids in full costume.
Pro Tips for Festival-Goers
- Arrive early: Parking and crowds are easier to manage, and you’ll have the pick of food stalls.
- Layer clothing: Fall days can be warm, but evenings bring a cool ocean breeze.
- Bring cash: Some vendors, especially at ShrimpFest, may be cash-only.
- Check event websites: Weather updates or schedule tweaks are often posted the week of the festival.
Where to Stay During Fall Events
Whether your fall trip is built around shag dancing, shrimp feasting, or trick-or-treating, the perfect home base is waiting. Thomas Beach Vacations offers oceanfront condos, spacious homes, and cozy rentals near Main Street and Barefoot Landing. Book now to be close to the action—and closer still to the peace of the ocean at day’s end.