Fall Festivals in North Myrtle Beach: Food, Music & Coastal Celebrations

As summer waves goodbye and the breeze adds a friendly edge, North Myrtle Beach puts on its favorite coat—sunsets with copper edges, music drifting down Main Street, and the kind of community festivals where you eat standing up because you’re too happy to sit. Fall here isn’t a season; it’s a reunion—neighbors, travelers, and the Atlantic all showing up with stories to tell.Bring an appetite, a light jacket, and your best walking shoes. Between Main Street block parties, marsh-side seafood feasts, and kid-friendly Halloween fun, you’ll find more to do than daylight to do it—though those sunsets do linger, like a song that won’t quite let you go.

Irish-Italian International Festival (Sept 27, 2025)

Festival Food Delight

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)

Surfside Beach family festival

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)

Little River Shrimpfest

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)

halloween trick orr treat

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.