Let the fall fun begin in the Myrtle Beach area
Fall starts a season of festivals across the Grand Strand, and September brings a bunch of special events and things to do.
The ninth annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, outside Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College, continues to grow, said Mari-Lou Wong-Chong, its chairwoman for the past few years.
The Philippines native said its expansion into a “multicultural event,” covering such swaths of the globe as eastern Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America, with entertainment and an “International Pavilion” of cultural dishes from the variety of countries, all fits with the fest’s theme, to “bring the world to Brunswick County.”
Wong-Chong said the presentation has diversified, thanks to “our local residents from different backgrounds.”
To engage children, the 2012 festival has a “Passport to Culture,” in which youth learn about Africa, Asia, Colombia, Guatemala, Germany, Honduras, Mexico, Poland, Romania, and Trinidad and Tobago, through displays.
“They get their passport stamped,” Wong-Chong said, noting the various activities geared toward different age groups, which “will give them an opportunity to express their artistic capabilities” by learning special things about a country, such as its flower or other cultural symbols.
She said the festival aims to “bring the community together,” because “we are many faces, but one world.”
South by Southeast music feasts
South by Southeast, which raises funds for instruments in local school music programs, begins its fall monthly benefit concert series at the Myrtle Beach Train Depot with a pot-luck dinner and concert Saturday by The Steamboat Springs Band.
Sam Hannaford, master of ceremonies, said this concert – “Jeff Fest” in memory of Jeff Roberts – and two other groups’ shows this fall, will wind up the 10th year for the cause, which started under a different name and progressed through many places in this order: a living room, motel recreation room, restaurant brewery and ballfield, to its current home in the restored train station.
Gary Davis, Steamboat Springs’ guitarist, said the bluegrass-Southern rock band, established in 1974, last played Myrtle Beach in 2010, a few months after Roberts’ death.
“We had a good time getting together,” Davis said. “We hadn’t played together in 30 years.”
The tribute then, and the gig this weekend, an idea that Hannaford said the band suggested, resulted because Roberts “meant so much in the community there,” Davis said.
“He meant so much to us,” said Davis, who lives in northwest Arkansas. “He was the first person we met when we started playing there.”
The group pulling this off also strings together quite a map, for the other bandmates hail from Las Vegas; Atlanta; Florida; Mobile, Ala.; and two members come from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Hannaford said for the 2010 reunion, at 2001 Nightclub, just north of Myrtle Beach, “We packed that place.”
South by Southeast, which donated 22 instruments to local schools in 2010, and made various donations in 2011, continues Roberts’ legacy, Hannaford said, honored to have Steamboat Springs back.
“It was his favorite band,” Hannaford said. “That’s why we’re doing it.”
What follows is a list of Grand Strand festivals and events taking place in the month of September.
Ninth Annual Brunswick County Intercultural Festival
When | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Where | Outside Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College, on College Road, south of U.S. 17 in Supply, N.C.
How much | Free admission
Scheduled entertainment | Filipino-American Association of the Lower Cape Fear, Life As Art Productions (African dancing), Mexican Folklore Dance Group, Middle Eastern dancers, Miyagi Ryukyi Japanese Dance School, Polynesian Island Praise Dancers, Rinku Bhattacharya Das Indian Dance Group, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (Japanese dancing and drums), and Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dance.
Information | 910-842-6566 or www.bcifestival.org
‘BBQ at the beach’
Who | Rolling Thunder SC3
Benefiting | Help 4 Kids/Backpack Buddies
When | 11 a.m.--3 p.m. Saturday
Where | Boulineau’s (Foods) of Cherry Grove parking lot, 212 Sea Mountain Highway, North Myrtle Beach
How much | $7 a plate
Information | 685-1793
‘Jeff Fest’
What and who | Music feast with the Steamboat Springs Band
Benefiting | South by Southeast, for local school music programs
In memory of | Jeff Roberts, founder of South by Southeast
When | Saturday -- dinner at 6:30 p.m., concert 7:30
Where | Myrtle Beach Train Depot, 851 Broadway St.
How much | $20 members, otherwise $25, which includes a pot-luck dinner and beverages
Information | Email reservations to info@southbysoutheast.org or southxsoutheast@aol.com, or call 251-6402
More details | www.southbysoutheast.org
Other fall concerts | The Davin McCoy Band Oct. 13 and Verlon Thompson Nov. 17
24th Annual ‘Beach Sweep/River Sweep’
When | 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 15:
Information | 953-2078 or www.scseagrant.org
Also | “Big Sweep” 9 a.m. Sept. 29 from N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, on U.S. 421, just south of Kure Beach. 910-458-7468, www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher or email NCAFFregistrar@ncaquariums.com
‘Hope 4 Conway’
Benefiting | Needy people in Conway area
When | Opens 9 a.m. Sept. 15
Where | Langston Baptist Church, 763 S.C. 905, Conway
How much | Free admission
Includes | Inflatable rides, live music, and free flea market.
Information | 365-5141 or www.langstonbaptist.com
33rd Annual Harvest Hoe-Down Festival
Who | Pilot Club of Aynor
When | Sept. 15
Where | Aynor Town Park, off U.S. 501
How much | Free admission
Includes | Parade at 10 a.m., musical entertainment 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and street dance with The Party Favor Band 7-10 p.m.
Information | 358-1074 or www.aynorharvesthoedown.org
Fourth Annual Mr. Myrtle Beach Contest
Who | 12 men: Craig Atkins, William Baker, Sean Fredericks, Brandon Herring, Chris Nash, Brandon Herring, Andrew Phillips, John David Ray, Alan Reid, Ron Roberts, Christian Sliker and Merle Sutphin
Benefiting | Katie’s Project of Myrtle Beach
When | 6 p.m. Sept. 15 – doors open 5 p.m.
Where | Revolutions Nightclub at Broadway at the Beach, in Myrtle Beach.
How much | $5 general admission, VIP $20
Information | 282-0454 or www.katiesproject.org
‘Fall Fling’
What | Community concert and dance
Who | Briarcliffe Saints Dixieland Band and Avatar Blue, with vocals by Ermitt “Mr. Blues” Williams
When | 6-10 p.m. Sept. 15
Where | Myrtle Beach Train Depot, 851 Broadway St.
How much | $15
Information | 272-4511
Second Annual Fall Crawl Broadway Sampler
When | 4-8 p.m. Sept. 21 and noon-4 p.m. Sept. 22
Where | Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach
Also | Fireworks 9 p.m. Sept. 22
Information | 444-3200, 800-386-4662 or www.broadwayatthebeach.com
Harvest Fest On The Hill
Who | The Samaritan House
When | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 22
Where | Cherry Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 504 Church St., Conway.
How much | Free admission
Includes | Pony rides, entertainment, and health screeningss
Information | 248-4900, ext. 103, or www.cherryhillconway.org
‘Dog Days Blues & Jazz Fest’
When | Open noon Sept. 22
Where | La Belle Amie Vineyard, 1120 St. Joseph Road, Little River, at S.C. 90 and St. Joseph Road, just west of North Myrtle Beach High School
How much | $8 ages 18-79, otherwise free, and bring two canned/dry good items for area food banks for $3 off admission
Information | 399-9463 or labelleamie.com
‘Georgetown Rocks the Equinox’
Benefiting | Tara Hall Home for Boys of Georgetown County (Details at 546-3000 or tarahall.org)
When | 2-11 p.m. Sept. 22
Where | Front Street in Georgetown, between Screven and Orange streets
Scheduled entertainment, on two stages | Georgetown Drumline 2-2:30 p.m., Danny Hess Trio 2:30-3:30, The Mark Roberts Band 3:30-4, Paul Grimshaw Band 4-5, Sawgrass 4:30-5:30, Dustin Ashenfelder and Company. 5:30-6:30, The Fourclosures 6-7, Henry’s Attic 7-8, Ten Toes Up 7:30-9, The Corduroy Road 8:30-9:30, and The Blue Dogs 9:30-11.
How much | Free admission
Also | Prints of a painting of the historic Cathou Fish House in Georgetown are $45, available from Limpin’ Jane’s Old South Eatery & Taproom, 713 Front St., Georgetown. Details at 465-0590.
Information | 485-4954 or www.georgetownbandfest.com
‘Bark and Roll’ Bowl-A-Thon
Benefiting | Grand Strand Humane Society of Myrtle Beach
When | Sept. 22 – registration begins at noon
Where | Waccamaw Lanes Bowl Center, off U.S. 501, near River Oaks Drive, just west of Myrtle Beach
How much | $20 for three games
Information | 918-4913 or www.grandstrandhumanesociety.com
‘Rivertown Rhythm’
What and who | Long Bay Symphony concert with four singers: David Bankston, Tom Becker, Sam Broussard and Bobbie Rowe Holt
When | 6 p.m. Sept. 22
Where | Conway’s Riverfront Park, on Elm Street
How much | $25 advance, $30 at gate
Information | Conway Chamber of Commerce: 248-2273 or www.conwayscchamber.com, or Long Bay: 448-8379 or www.longbaysymphony.com
21st Annual St. John’s Greek Festival
When | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 28-29, and noon-7 p.m. Sept. 30
Where | St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, at U.S. 17 Bypass and 33rd Avenue North in Myrtle Beach
How much | Free admission
Also | Church tours and lectures about its iconography and the Orthodox faith at 11:30 a.m. and 1, 4 and 6 p.m. daily.
Information | 448-3773 or www.stjohn-mb.org/festival/festival_2012.htm.
22nd Pawleys Island Festival Of Music & Art
When | Sept. 27-Oct. 14
Where | Various sites across Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach, but mostly the Reserve Golf Club of Pawleys Island
Events and artists | Wearable Art Luncheon 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, Gallery Crawl 2-6 p.m. Sept. 30 at sites from Murrells Inlet to Georgetown, independent films (Oct. 2 – “Young at Heart” 3 p.m. and “The Baruchs of Hobcaw” 7 p.m., and Oct. 3 – “ World’s Smallest Airport: The True Story of the Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus” at 3 p.m. and “Jack Kerouac, King of the Beats” 7 p.m.), Pawley’s Island Wine Gala 7 p.m. Oct. 5, Steve Tyrell 7 p.m. Oct. 6, Mac Arnold 5 p.m. Oct. 7, “A Classical Evening featuring Soprano, Taylor Johnson” 7 p.m. Oct. 9, Fireworks Ensemble 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Waccamaw High School, Deborah Silver 7 p.m. Oct. 12, “Legends of Motown” starring Horizon 7 p.m Oct. 13, and Family Day Oct. 14 (Chalk Walk 1 p.m. and Bright Star Theater’s production of “Once Upon A Time” 3 p.m.)
How much | Ticket prices vary
Information | 626-8911 or pawleysmusic.com
37th Annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival
When | noon-6 p.m. Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 29, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m Sept. 30
Where | Huntington Beach State Park, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Brookgreen Gardens
How much | Festival $6 daily or $10 multiday pass, park admission free on this weekend only
Scheduled entertainment |
Information | 237-4440 or www.atalayafestival.com
Fifth Annual Oktoberfest
Who | The Market Common
When | 4-9 p.m. Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 29, and noon-5 p.m. Sept. 30
Where | Myrtle Beach’s Valor Memorial Garden, on Farrow Parkway
How much | Free admission
Includes | Live German music, pumpkin patch for children’s decorating, and face painting
Information | 839-3500 or www.marketcommonevents.com, and 712-6218 or www.myrtlebeachbeerfest.com
Careteam Aids Walk and Health Fair
When | 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 29
Where | Myrtle Beach’s Plyler Park, at Ocean Boulevard and 11th Avenue North
How much | Free, but donations welcome
Includes | Music by Painted Man, health screenings, HIV testing, and hot dogs/
Information | 236-9000 or www.careteamsc.org
Skyhoundz Disc Contest
When | 10 a.m. Sept. 29
Where | Town of Surfside Beach’s Huckabee Complex, on Glenns Bay Road, west of U.S. 17 Business.
Information | 650-9548 or www.surfsidebeach.org
Ninth Annual Irish Italian International Festival
Who | City of North Myrtle Beach and the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center
When | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 29
Where | Main Street in North Myrtle Beach
Scheduled entertainment, on two stages, includes | Port City Pipes & Drums 10 a.m. opener and 11:15-11:45 a.m., and 12:45-1:15 and 2:30-3 p.m.; North Myrtle Beach Community Band’s “Musical Tour Around the World” 10:05 a.m.-11 a.m.; Band on the Rum 10:15-11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.; “Rat Pack Tribute” and the Andrew Thielen Big Band 1-2:15 and 2:45-4 p.m.; and Dublin City Ramblers 1:15-2:30 and 3-4 p.m.
How much | Free admission; nominal fee for inflatable rides
Also | Lego contest at 1 p.m. with prizes for top three finishers in three age groups: 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12, for free.
Information | 280-5570 or parks.nmb.us/pages.aspx?id=78
Third Annual ‘Farm To Table Event’
What | Five-course meal served in middle of a cornfield, after a hayride
Benefiting | Coastal Uncorked Food, Wine & Spirits Festival
Who | Ten local chefs: Citlin Brady of Kingston Plantation, Bradley Daniels of Croissants Bistro & Bakery, Andrew Gardo of Sea Captain’s House Restaurant, Curry Martin of Aspen Grille, Eric Masson of The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro, Mike McKinnon of The Cypress Room at Island Vista, Tom Mullally of Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Darren Smith of Rivertown Bistro, Sean Thomas of Capriz, and Eric Wagner of Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
When | 5 p.m. Sept. 30
Entertainment by | Sawgrass
Where | Thompson Farm & Nursery, 1625 Bucksville Drive, off U.S. 701, south of Conway
How much | $150 per person or $750 for able of six
Information | 839-8818 or www.coastaluncorked.com
This story was originally published September 6, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Let the fall fun begin in the Myrtle Beach area."