Picture yourself sitting by the seaside, sipping on a cold beverage, listening to live beach music, and feasting on some of the best seafood you ever put in your mouth. There's no need to imagine this dream scenario when you can make it a reality by staying and playing at Long Bay Resort and attending this year's Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival.
Held in the heart of downtown Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, America's favorite family beach vacation destination, the Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival brings some fall magic back to the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion site. Once home to many fond vacation memories, the Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place breathes new life into the downtown district — and for a weekend in early October, it will smell a lot like the cool ocean breeze and the aroma of fresh seafood being prepared for hungry patrons.
The inaugural Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival drew such rave reviews last year that the second annual event will be spread out over two days and is expected to draw double the patrons and participating restaurants. The October 6-7 festival will feature a lot more than just seafood, including appearances by some of the biggest bands in beach music, vendors selling everything from arts and crafts to cold beer and souvenirs, and a whole lot more.
Of course, the big draw (aside from the fact that the festival is free) is the seafood, and visitors can expect a huge spread of fresh, local seafood served in a variety of ways. Patrons can purchase tickets to sample traditional favorites such as Calabash-style seafood baskets and classic dishes like shrimp and grits, as well as more sophisticated items such as sushi and she-crab soup. Non-seafood standards like chicken fingers, pizza and ice cream will be available for land(food) lubbers.
This year’s festival welcomes back several of last year's participating restaurants, including Drunken Jack's, the Sea Captain's House, The Noizy Oyster, Jimmyz Hibachi, ART Burger Sushi Bar, Big Mike's Soul Food and Hurricanes Daiquiri Bar & Grill. Even civic groups like the Omar Chefs (a unit of the Omar Shriners) and caterers like Unique Southern Eats get involved in the act of serving up the freshest fall seafood in town.
Patrons might not want to fill up on seafood before the music starts, especially if they like to dance. This year's beach music lineup will have folks shagging to the sounds of the crashing waves and the music of Jim Quick & Coastline, which gets things started Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday sees The Embers featuring Craig Woolard open the show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; The Catalinas play from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and The Fantastic Shakers serve as the closing act from 5 to 7 p.m.
Saturday's schedule also includes a vintage car show and a kids’ zone play area, which are open all day, and a cornhole tournament from noon to 4 p.m. Patrons can purchase cold beer, wine and mixed drinks from the various vendors on site, and there is plenty of space available to sit and enjoy the food, beverages and music. Patrons are encouraged to bring beach chairs and blankets for seating near the main stage, but coolers are not permitted on the festival grounds.
Long Bay Resort guests can enhance their trip downtown to the Myrtle Beach Seafood Festival by also enjoying other popular attractions along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, like Family Kingdom Amusement Park and the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. And when you’re not stuffing your face with seafood, kick back and relax in comfort at Long Bay Resort. Offering luxurious accommodations, an oceanfront location and first-class amenities that include indoor and outdoor pool decks, Long Bay Resort is the perfect spot for a family fall retreat.