🍀🍝 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.