Barbecue festival, celebrating Irish heritage among affordable events

May the luck of the Irish be with you! If you’re looking for a good Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day party, you’re already in luck.

We’ve got three great ones to choose from next weekend, and they’re all free. This weekend also looks to have some fun free and cheap activities. Here’s what’s happening:

Friday, Saturday and Sunday (3/4-3/6)

On Friday and Saturday, the town of Surfside Beach is holding a BBQ Festival on Surfside Drive. Admission is free. This event includes food and craft vendors, live music and kids’ activities. Hours are from 6-8 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Myrtle Beach Mall is hosting a Spring Home Show Expo on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. The show will feature home improvement, renovation and home décor vendors. There will also be giveaways every two hours during the show. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and to celebrate Literacy Month, the Children’s Museum of South Carolina is holding a Whoville event on Saturday. Admission is free with paid museum admission ($6 for locals; $8 for non-locals). In addition to museum admission, this event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., includes Seuss-themed stories and activities.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, all Home Depot stores are holding a free workshop for kids ages 5-12.

The kids will be building a toy wagon. Go to http://workshops.homedepot.com and click on the “kids workshops” tab to register your child.

Saturday (3/12)

The annual Downtown Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place from noon to 10 p.m. in downtown Myrtle Beach. Admission is free. This event includes live music, a beer garden, Irish food for purchase, kids’ activities, vendors and more.

The Market Common is holding its 7th annual Irish Fest from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Valor Park. Admission is free. This event includes Irish food and beer for purchase, live entertainment, kids’ activities and vendors. You might want to bring a chair.

The North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 9 a.m. on Main Street, and is followed by the North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day festival, which runs until 4 p.m. This event includes live entertainment, food and craft vendors, a children’s area with rides and games and more. Admission is free.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Barbecue festival, celebrating Irish heritage among affordable events."