Plans have already been set for the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in downtown Myrtle Beach, and this year, it’s actually on St. Patrick’s Day.
That’s because the “holiday” falls on a Saturday this year.
The Oceanfront Merchants Association, which puts on the celebration, has booked a variety of entertainment for the third annual event, including Rusted Root, a Pittsburgh band that has been around since1990 and plays a fusion of acoustic rock and other styles, including drawing percussion inspiration from Latin, African and Indian sources.
Some of their music has been used in movie soundtracks such as “Ice Age” and “Matilda,” and on TV shows like “Ally McBeal” and “Chuck.”
Several other bands will take the stage throughout the day, including Trevor Hall, The Delta Saints, Mother’s Finest, The Dirty Guv’nahs, Joal Rush, Bullfrog, Three Legged Fox and Band on the Run.
A strolling Dixieland band will perform on the boardwalk, as will the Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe Band. For more details, visit www.mbdowntownstpats.com.
Each year, the downtown merchants group has organized the festival to bring people downtown in “shoulder” months, and so far, OMA President Jonathan Staton said, it has worked.
While the bands hired to play the festivals tend to draw their own followers because they advertise the festivals on their own websites, and the off season is seeing more visitors, many more of the people who turn out for St. Pat’s Day and Oktoberfest are locals, he said.
Many residents have tended to avoid downtown, either because of the tourist traffic or because “The Boulevard,” they feel, is for visitors.
But that is changing, downtown merchants say.
Russ Stalvey, whose family owns and operates Oceanfront Bar & Grill, said since the boardwalk was built, he sees more locals downtown -- which hadn’t been the case for many years.
“It’s not a surprise to see locals down here anymore,” he said. “Even in the summertime I see quite a few.”
Nan Trout, whose husband, Chris, runs the Sky Wheel, told the Downtown Redevelopment Corp. board of directors recently that she hears from a lot of locals who like to bring their children to the Monday night kids’ carnival during the summer, feeling it’s a safe, family-oriented place for kids to have fun.
During the festivals, Stalvey said, he sees a “good mix” of locals and visitors all day and into the evening. He said it’s close to a 50-50 split.
“I see people I haven’t seen in years,” Stalvey said. “People come for the food and music and atmosphere.”
The city will close off Ocean Boulevard from Eighth Avenue North to Mr. Joe White Avenue, where Plyler Park stands, and OMA arranges to have an alcohol-free Kids’ Zone for activities, but the rest of the area is a big street party. Vendors sell Irish food and beer, and there’s music all day long on two stages.
Stalvey said his place really benefits from the off-season festivals OMA puts on.
“An increase in business is an understatement,” he said.
Peaches re-opening Thursday
Peaches Corner, remodeled inside last year and outside this year, is ready to reopen for the season Thursday -- earlier than in years past.
The outside remodeling, including new signage, lights, woodwork, a roof, shutters and facade, is done except for one 8-foot strip of railing for the roof that holds lighting that still needs to be installed. The new iconic feature -- a giant spinning peach on top of the building, is up and running.
Inside, people will find a somewhat different menu with two new burgers and two new hot dogs.
Briggs Dickerson, whose family owns and operates Peaches, said the new Boardwalk and Boulevard burgers and dogs will feature toppings never before seen at Peaches.
The Boardwalk Burger will have a barbecue-bleu-cheese sauce, along with a fried onion ring, while the Boardwalk Dog will feature a new sweet-and-spicy relish. The Boulevard Burger will have cheese sauce and chili, while the Boulevard Dog will have cheese sauce, chili, sour cream and crushed Fritos, Dickerson explained.
The menu this year is also going to include a bigger burger and dog for the diner’s 75th anniversary -- the celebration of which is being impacted by the increase in business Stalvey referred to.
Dickerson said he will piggyback on OMA’s Oktoberfest success for Peaches’ anniversary party, carving out a few hours during the festival for Peaches’-focused events.
The family plans to roll back prices to those common in 1943, when they took over.
“My wife’s grandmother said they used to sell hot dogs for 15 cents apiece, two for a quarter, so we’ll do that,” he said, “and 25-cent burgers, 25-cent beers -- although we’ll probably limit that to one 12-ounce beer -- and fries.”
He said there could be an attempt to set a world record -- perhaps for the biggest milkshake, and possibly a professional eating contest, too.
The date hasn’t been set yet for Oktoberfest, but as soon as OMA announces it, Dickerson said, Peaches will be able to announce its party date. He said people can keep track on Peaches’ website, www.peaches-corner.com.
“There are just so many people who come down here for the festivals, especially locals,” he said. It’s important to him and his family that locals take part in the celebration, because they have been such a large part of Peaches success all these years.
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