Santa visits beach while Atalaya’s decked out | Best Bets
SATURDAY | 12.03
State park celebrations include ‘Spokesdog Contest’
Both local state parks have major events on Saturday.
▪ Myrtle Beach State Park (843-238-0874 or www.myrtlebeachsp.com), on U.S. 17 Business, outside the city’s south limits, will have its annual “Santa at the Beach!” day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with activities – in addition to nominal park admission – including short rides on horseback for $5, cash only; “FantaSea Playland,” for $1; creating pinecone holiday tree crafts, for $3, while supplies last; a Christmas music puppet show, noon-12:30 p.m., and photos with Santa on the beach, free with your own camera, and with all pets leashed, noon-2:30 p.m. (also same time, Sunday). Kris Kringle also will return for half-hour story times, 1 p.m. Dec. 10-11, 17-18, and 24, in the nature center.
Also on Saturday at the park, the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium (843-349-2839), based at Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, will have its 2017 Grand Strand’s Canines for Clean Water Spokesdog Contest at 1:30 p.m., with the winner helping with a yearlong outreach campaign, helping encourage cleanup of all pet waste. Entries welcome from residents of Horry and Georgetown countites; download free form at cwsec-sc.org/25/announcements; also, space permitting, applications accepted 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on site. Competition will comprise “walking the runway,” showing off each dog’s personality, and answering water quality questions.
▪ Huntington Beach State Park (843-237-4440 or www.huntingtonbeachsp.com), on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, has its annual “Atalaya Holiday Celebration,” by the Friends of Huntington Beach State Park (www.friendshbsp.com), at the historic winter residence of Brookgreen Gardens’ founders, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., for $3 plus park admission. Activities include holiday decorated rooms and musical entertainment.
Admission to both parks is $5 for ages 16 and older, $3.25 S.C. seniors, $3 ages 6-15, and free ages 5 and younger. Park passes, good at 47 sites statewide, are $75 or $99.
SATURDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY | 12.03, 12.05, 12.06
Trapeze troupe, ‘Playing for Hope’ benefit among CCU arts events
Coastal Carolina University has a few more events for the rest of 2016, all on the main campus, accessed from U.S. 501 or S.C. 544 in Conway:
▪ “Retrospective,” by Fly-by-Night Dance Theater, a trapeze troupe from New York, 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Wheelwright Auditorium. $17.
▪ “Playing for Hope: A Musical Fundraiser to Assist Our Neighbors in Need,” with CCU music students and faculty in solo, chamber and ensemble performances – for recovery efforts for local and international groups facing adversity resulting from Hurricane Matthew, in the Carolinas and Haiti – 7:30 p.m. Monday in Wheelwright Auditorium. Free; donations encouraged. Details at 843-349-2352, or email atully@coastal.edu.
▪ “Portfolios: Senior Exhibition” with works by graduating seniors with degrees in studio art and graphic design, Monday-Dec. 16, in Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery, open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, in Edwards College. Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 15. Free. 843-349-6454 (call to arrange up-close parking for anyone with a disability or mobility matter) or www.coastal.edu/gallery.
▪ “Guitar Series I,” with Acoustic Songbook ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Edwards Recital Hall. $7.
Details at 843-349-2787 (ARTS) or www.coastal.edu/culturalarts.
SATURDAY | 12.03
Run, walk in Red Cross’ RiverTown Reindeer Race in Conway
Join the eighth annual annual RiverTown Reindeer Race – benefiting the American Red Cross Eastern S.C. Chapter, based in Myrtle Beach, and its Rescue Racers’ 10th anniversary charity training team of Myrtle Beach Marathon – 8 a.m. Saturday, for 5k (3.1 miles) to and from Conway’s Riverfront Park area, off Second Avenue.
Runners and walkers are welcome, also with dogs and strollers, on this tree-lined course, and wearing of festive attire, reindeer antlers, elf ears, and jingle bells is encouraged.
Regsiter for $25 advance at runsignup.com/Race/SC/Conway/TheRiverTownReindeerRace, or $30 7-7:50 a.m. on race day.
Details at 843-477-0020 or www.redcross.org/local/sc/locations/eastern-sc.
SATURDAY | 12.03
Outings for families with children with autism start at SkyWheel
The Champion Autism Network, coordinating outings for families with children with autism, begins a busy month, with three sensory friendly events in Myrtle Beach:
▪ Saturday at Myrtle Beach SkyWheel (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Land Shark Restaurant (noon-3 p.m.), at 1110 N. Ocean Blvd. Buy ride tickets/food on site; free for CAN Card holders.
▪ Santa visit, 9-11 a.m. Dec. 17 at Ripley’s Aquarium, at Broadway at the Beach, on 29th Avenue North. $7.
▪ Screening of “Sing,” 10 a.m. Dec. 23 at Grand 14 Cinema, at The Market Common. Free for first 100 people, otherwise $5.
Details at 609-744-0099, championautismnetwork.com, or email beckylarge66@gmail.com.
TUESDAY | 12.06
‘Love Lights’ ceremony at HGTC campus in Myrtle Beach
Join the Mercy Care Love Lights Memorial and Tree Lighting Ceremony, an annual service to remember all patients whom Lower Cape Fear Hospice Mercy Care served in the past 12 months. Loved one’s names will be read and commemorated.
It’s 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Horry Georgetown Technical College Thomas C. Masser Auditorium, on the Grand Strand campus, 950 Crabtree Lane, Myrtle Beach, off Pampas Drive, near Grand Park and The Market Common, and free to see.
To buy a love light tribute, for a suggested $20 donation, call 843-848-6497, or 910-796-8099, ext. 6. More details at lovelightsmercycare.org.
This story was originally published December 1, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Santa visits beach while Atalaya’s decked out | Best Bets."