Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011
Grand Strand is in the holiday spirit
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Christmas events
• ‘Laser Holidays’ music show
When | 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 23 and on Dec. 30
Where | Ingram Planetarium, 7625 High Market St., Sunset Beach, N.C.
How much | $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $4 ages 3-4, free ages 2 and younger
Information | 910-575-0033 or museumplanetarium.org
• Holiday Carriage Rides
When | 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 17
Where | From front of Tommy Bahama’s, at The Market Common, off Farrow Parkway in Myrtle Beach
How much | Free
Information | 839-3500 or www.marketcommonmb.com
• ‘Movies on Main Street’
Who
What and when | All 7 p.m.:
Monday – “Miracle On 34th Street” (1947)
Where | Main Street Theatre, 337 Main St., Conway
How much | $5 each
Information | 488-0821, www.theatreoftherepublic.com and www.wezv.com
• Coastal Carolina University
What | 12th annual Holiday Concert
Who | CCU Concert and Chamber choirs, with the Carolina Forest High School Advanced Chorus and a chamber orchestra that includes members of the Long Bay Symphony
Works include | Handel’s “Messiah,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and the “Hallelujah Chorus”
Where | CCU’s Wheelwright Auditoriun, in Conway
When | 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
How much | Free with ticket
Information | 349-2502 or www.coastal.edu/culturalarts
• Holiday Open House
Who | With authors including Stan Atamanchuk, Edith Edwards, Don Glander, Terry Godwin, James Kaufman, Sean Keefer, Joan Leotta, Becky Shulford and Al Strohmyer
When | 1-4 p.m. Thursday (gallery open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays)
Where | Sunset River Marketplace, 10283 Beach Drive (N.C. 179), Calabash, N.C.
Information | 910-575-5999 or www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com
• ‘A Christmas Story’
Who | Atlantic Stage
When | 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Dec. 3, and Dec. 8-10 and 15-17; and 3 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18
Where | 79th Avenue Theatre at the Coastal Carolina University Myrtle Beach Education Center, at U.S. 17 Bypass
How much | $25 individuals; $20 educators, military personnel, and anyone 55 and older; and $15 students, including Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members
Information | 877-287-8587 or www.atlanticstage.com
• Steve Wariner ‘An Acoustic Christmas’
When | 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Where | Brunswick Community College Odell Williamson Auditorium, Supply, N.C., 150 College Road N.E., south of U.S. 17
How much | $27 adults, $25 ages 65 and older, and $10 children
Information | 910-755-7416, 800-754-1050, ext. 7416, www.bccowa.com and www.stevewariner.com
• Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach
What | Christmas concerts
When | 7 p.m. Dec. 2 at St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Church, on U.S. 17 in Litchfield Beach, next to the Hampton Inn; and 3 p.m. Dec. 4 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2061 Glenns Bay Road, west of Surfside Beach
How much | Free
Information | 293-6162 or www.festivebrassofmyrtlebeach.org
• ‘Nights of a Thousand Candles’
When | 3-10 p.m. Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 15-17
Where | Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Brookgreen Gardens
How much | Through Wednesday, discounted tickets $9 for Brookgreen members ages 13 and older, and $5 ages 5-12, otherwise $13 and $7, respectively; as of Thursday: $11 members ages 13 and older, and $5 ages 4-12, otherwise $16 and $7, respectively. Free for ages 3 and younger.
Information | 235-6000, 800-849-1931 or www.brookgreen.org
• Second annual ‘Santa on the Beach’
What | Bring your own camera for photos of families, including leashed pets, with Santa
When | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3 (park open 6 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Where | Myrtle Beach State Park
How much | Free with park admission: $5 ages 16 and older, $3.25 S.C. seniors, $3 ages 6-15
Also | Bake sale, and roasting of marshmallows (four for $1), all to benefit park programs
Information | 238-0874 or www.myrtlebeachsp.com
• Holiday Fair
Who | Calabash Elks Ladies Auxiliary
Benefiting
When | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 3
Where | Calabash Elks Lodge, 937 Carter Drive, Calabash, N.C.
How much | Free admission
Information | 910-575-7630 or 910-575-7633
• Second annual Atalaya Holiday Celebration
Who | Friends of Huntington Beach State Park
When | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3 (Park open daily: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. through Wednesday, and 6 a.m.-6 p.m. December-February )
Where | Huntington Beach State Park, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach
How much | $2 in addition to park admission: $5 ages 16 and older, $3.25 S.C. seniors, $3 ages 6-15; mini-oyster roast meals $10
Information | 237-4440, www.huntingtonbeachstatepark.com and www.southcarolinaparks.com
• 16th annual Christmas Cantata
Who | Larry Elliott Memorial South Strand Community Choir
When | 4 p.m. Dec. 3, and 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 4
Where | Surfside Presbyterian Church, 8732 U.S. 17 Bypass, west of Surfside Beach
How much | $8
Information | 450-7546
• ‘Handel and Bach for the Advent Season’
Who | Long Bay Symphony Chamber Orchestra
Works | Bach’s “Sleepers, Wake! (Cantata No. 140)” and portions of Handel’s “Messiah” oratorio
When and where | 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at First Presbyterian Church Great Hall, on Robert Grissom Parkway in Myrtle Beach; and 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach
How much | $15 advance, $20 at door
Information | 448-8379 or www.longbaysymphony.com
Also
• ‘Holiday on Main Street: Christmas Wishes’
Who | Theatre of the Republic
Where | Main Street Theatre, 337 Main St., Conway
When | 8 p.m. Dec. 7-10 and 13-17; and 3 p.m. Dec. 10-11 and 17-18
How much | $18 advance, $20 at door
Information | 488-0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com
Christmas events have kicked into full gear across the Grand Strand, with such choices covering music, plays, art and carriage rides. Various tree lightings and parades also are on tap.
Huntington Beach State Park, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, will deck the halls Dec. 3 for the second annual Atalaya Holiday Celebration, with art, food and entertainment in the former winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, the founders of Brookgreen Gardens, which is just across U.S. 17 from Huntington.
Joan Crow, president of the 150 members who make up the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park, said turnout at the inaugural Atalaya Christmas event last December prompted expansion of the affair this year.
The organization fielded calls from area individuals, groups and merchants asking to help decorate Atalaya, and their artistic touch will be seen in 18 areas across the Spanish moor-style home, Crow said, commending this community effort.
“It’s really taken a life of its own,” she said.
Other additions for the 2011 event include a mini-oyster roast, a Lionel train display, and roving actors portraying the Huntingtons in 1930s dress and interacting with guests, Crow said.
The event, a fundraiser for the Friends group, follows up on years of inquiries from visitors about what the rooms looked like during the Huntingtons’ tenure of residence. Crow said although the Friends do not know for sure, because the couple kept their lives so private, “this is kind of our imagination,” with respect for Lowcountry history.
“We have heard from members of Anna’s family,” Crow said, “that they would have loved it. We try to keep it as authentic as possible.”
Merry music shows
Mark Jankowski, director of the Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach, N.C., likes adding its annual “Laser Holidays” music show among its Sky Theater programs for several weekends after Thanksgiving.
He said the 40-minute Christmastime show lights up the dome with lasers and graphics synonymous with the season, such as images of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus.
Reading from a lengthy song list covering a variety of artists, Jankowski said they include “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole, “Christmastime” by Smashing Pumpkins, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey and “Silent Night” by Enya.
“It’s a nice compilation of songs,” Jankowski said, appreciating its accent on old-fashioned carols for visitors of all ages. “They do a lot of imagining that would go along with Christmas.”
Skip Hogan of Socastee, a member of Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach, said the group began last week to set up the order of the repertoire for its two Christmas concerts: Dec. 2 at St. Paul’s Waccamaw United Methodist Church in Litchfield Beach and Dec. 4 at Trinity Presbyterian Church near Surfside Beach.
He said at this time of year, before winter vacationers arrive, the group adds about 10 more musicians to the ensemble, so close to 20 players shoulder the yuletide load.
Hogan said he plays among six trumpeters, joined by four people on trombone, two baritones, two French horns, and two on bass.
Festive Brass has coordinated Christmas concerts for at least six years, Hogan said, and marches, and classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Variations on a Christmas Carol” and “O Holy Night” remain popular numbers for its audiences.
“We kind of put everything in that most people would like,” he said, “that would try to meet the imaginations of all the people listening.”
Screening classic movies
Fidelity Broadcasting of Myrtle Beach, which simulcasts “Easy Radio” on WEZV-105.9 and WGTN-FM 100.7, has teamed up with Theatre of the Republic in Conway to show classic Christmas movies on the big screen, all at 7 p.m. on select dates.
“Miracle On 34th Street”plays Monday, and “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas” will roll on Dec. 19 and 22, respectively.
Matt Sedota, general manager of the radio stations, credited Chuck Stokes of Stages Video in Myrtle Beach with the idea.
“He thought we should be able to watch some of these classic movies on the big screen, the way they were originally shown,” Sedota said, glad to have partnered with Theatre of the Republic’s executive and artistic director, Tim McGhee.
“Some people will say why go to a theater to watch when we can watch these films on TV,” Sedota said. “But for those of us who love the movies, there is simply no better way to experience these films than on the big screen in a classic movie theater.”
Reach STEVE PALISIN at 444-1764.
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