As locals, we know when Myrtle Beach is at its best. It's fall!
The peak summer season starts to set but the days remain pleasantly warm and there's still plenty to do and room to do it.
It's the perfect time of year to spend the morning by the ocean, return to a place tied to a favorite memory or discover something new.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy live entertainment, celebrate local culture or create seasonal memories with family and friends, Myrtle Beach’s fall events calendar is packed with can’t-miss experiences.
For September and October, here are some events you won't want to miss and best yet, many of these are free to attend!
New For Fall 2026
Little River’s new and exciting event lineup begins Sept. 12 with the Patriots Day Festival, honoring service members and first responders, while fundraising for 10-Mile Reef, designed as a diving and fishing destination as well as a coral restoration effort.
New for 2026, Fords at the Shore rolls into the Myrtle Beach area Sept. 5–13 for nine days of car shows, cruise-ins, meetups and special events celebrating Ford and Mustang enthusiasts. Events will take place at venues across the Grand Strand, culminating with the 16th Annual Grand Strand Stampede All Ford Show at Broadway at the Beach.
From Sept. 24-Oct. 31, the new Little River Waterfront Fright Nights adds a Trail of Fear, waterfront decor, a haunted house, a costume contest and pirate-themed ‘Boos’ cruises on the Intracoastal Waterway.
On Sept. 26, the new NMB Live! will bring three stages of free music to Main Street in North Myrtle Beach during the SOS Fall Migration, a celebration of the Carolina Shag dance held Sept. 18-27.
Savor the flavors of Coastal South Carolina at the annual Grand Strand Chef’s Table on Oct. 16, 2026. New this year, the event will take place at the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach and provide a unique culinary experience that brings together local chefs and James Beard-recognized talent from across the country for inventive tasting plates, curated beverages, live chef demonstrations and hands-on experiences.
Brookgreen Gardens also enters its first fall with the newly-opened Purdy Center, a spacious venue and conservatory gardens that features a light-filled Great Hall, changing botanical displays and a floor-to-ceiling tropical Green Wall.
Unmistakably Myrtle Moments
Lift your spirits with live gospel music during the Waves of Praise Gospel Fest, Sept. 4-5, bringing several days of uplifting performances, worship and community to downtown Myrtle Beach, including free concerts at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place.
Browse the work of more than 100 artisans while enjoying live music and local food at the Atalaya Arts & Craft Festival, held Sept. 25-26 amid the historic architecture and natural beauty of Atalaya Castle and Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet.
Indulge in fresh local catches at the Little River ShrimpFest, Oct. 10-11, along the Historic Little River Waterfront. The two-day festival celebrates the area’s seafood heritage with shrimp and fresh seafood from local restaurants and vendors, along with live music, arts and crafts, entertainment and more than 200 vendors.
On Oct. 17, downtown Loris serves up Southern tradition at the 47th annual Loris Bog-Off Festival celebrating the region's signature chicken bog—a flavorful mix of rice, chicken, smoked sausage and closely guarded seasonings. What began in 1980 as a cooking contest now pairs fiercely guarded family recipes with plenty of things to explore and a grand fireworks finale as the cherry on top. Visitors can taste the dish where it’s most deeply rooted and see how a local meal became one of the Grand Strand’s most distinctive traditions.
That same morning, costumed surfers paddle into the Atlantic for the fifth annual Witches Sunrise Surf in North Myrtle Beach. The sight of black hats and broomsticks against a beautiful sunrise has become one of the area's most delightfully unexpected Halloween traditions.
A short drive inland, Conway makes its transformation official for the month of October. By mayoral proclamation, the historic river town is deemed City of Halloween, S.C., filling its walkable downtown with jack-o-lantern trees, floating witch hats, oversized creatures, immersive lighting and a packed calendar of family fun like their Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Race on Oct. 17.
Myrtle Beach Jazz Fest celebrates its 10th anniversary Oct. 16-18 at 2501 N. Kings Hwy. in Myrtle Beach, a fairly new location for the three-day celebration that allows the festival to grow while keeping its community roots. Filling the spacious grounds are nearly two dozen live jazz performers along with numerous food options and cultural experiences.
Satisfying Your Fall Cravings
Experience small-town Southern charm at the 46th annual Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival on Sept. 19, at Aynor Town Park, with a parade, arts and crafts, food vendors, children’s activities and live musical entertainment.
Celebrate the season at the Surfside Beach Fall Family Festival on Oct. 3, along Surfside Drive, featuring more than 125 arts and crafts vendors, festival food, a Kids Zone and live entertainment on two stages.
Traditional fall activities abound at Harvest Home Weekend, held Oct. 3-4 at Brookgreen Gardens. Families can pick their annual pumpkin, build and take home their very own scarecrow, get lost in a hay maze, create a festive craft and enjoy an Autumn Creek Adventure amid the sculpture gardens and Lowcountry landscape.
Discover original paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, woodworking and more at Art in the Park, returning Oct. 10–11 and Nov. 14–15, 2026, to Valor Memorial Garden at The Market Common - Myrtle Beach, where artists from across the country showcase and sell their work.
Admire hundreds of classic, custom, muscle, vintage and modern vehicles at Cruisin’ the Beach, Oct. 15–17, at Broadway at the Beach, where car enthusiasts can enjoy three days of displays, vendors and automotive fun.
Experience the tastes, sights and sounds of Greece during the Myrtle Beach Greek Festival, Oct. 15-18 at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Myrtle Beach. The annual celebration showcases Greek food, music, culture and heritage and includes church tours and other opportunities to experience Greek traditions.
Spot an eye-catching collection of classic, custom and modern Mopar vehicles around the Grand Strand during 8Fo3 Mopar Fever, Oct. 21–25, as enthusiasts gather at The Beach to showcase their rides.
Look for colorful, customized and adventure-ready Jeeps around town during Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam, Oct. 30–Nov. 1, bringing plenty of unique vehicles to The Beach for a fun fall weekend.
For Your Calendar:
September 2026
- Sept. 4–5: Waves of Praise Gospel Fest
- Sept. 5–13: Fords at the Shore
- Sept. 12: Patriots Day Festival
- Sept. 18–27: SOS Fall Migration
- Sept. 19: Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival
- Sept. 24–Oct. 31: Little River Waterfront Fright Nights
- Sept. 25–26: Atalaya Arts & Craft Festival
- Sept. 26: NMB Live!
October 2026
- Throughout October: Halloween, S.C., Downtown Conway
- Oct. 3: Surfside Beach Fall Family Festival
- Oct. 3–4: Harvest Home Weekend
- Oct. 10–11: Little River ShrimpFest
- Oct. 10–11: Art in the Park
- Oct. 15–17: Cruisin’ the Beach
- Oct. 15–18: Myrtle Beach Greek Festival
- Oct. 16: Grand Strand Chef’s Table
- Oct. 16–18: Myrtle Beach Jazz Fest
- Oct. 17: Loris Bog-Off Festival
- Oct. 17: Witches Sunrise Surf
- Oct. 17: Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Race
- Oct. 21–25: 8Fo3 Mopar Fever
- Oct. 30–Nov. 1: Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam
