Massive festival celebrating Myrtle Beach’s Canadian snowbirds returns after COVID hiatus
Myrtle Beach began welcoming Canadian travelers back in November when the border reopened for the first time in a year and a half. Now, the Grand Strand is readying its biggest welcome-back party of the year for the region’s beloved international travelers.
The Can-Am Days festival starts this Saturday, March 12, and runs through next Sunday, March 20. The festival features special events and offers that cater directly to the beach’s Canadian visitors. The festival was canceled right before it was scheduled to start in 2020 and didn’t happen last year because the border with Canada was still closed to most nonessential travel.
The border finally reopened Nov. 8, and the first Canadian visitors began to trickle in soon after. However, the COVID-19 omicron variant put a damper on travel soon after. Some Canadians who planned to visit said they delayed their trips to wait out the pandemic a little longer.
COVID-19 cases have been dropping rapidly in recent weeks, however. And on Wednesday, Canada’s Porter Airlines flew to Myrtle Beach for the first time since the pandemic began, giving travelers another way to get to the Grand Strand.
“It’s great to see people without their masks,” Porter Airlines’ chief commercial officer Kevin Jackson said at an event welcoming that first flight back. “We still have a mask mandate in Ontario for another two weeks, but it’s great when you start to dine out and see people’s faces again.”
The return of Can-Am Days and Canadian travelers are huge boons for the Myrtle Beach economy, local leaders say. Myrtle Beach’s international visitors bring in millions of dollars each winter during the Grand Strand’s off-season, and they often stay longer and spend more than most domestic travelers.
Karen Riordan, CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said at a press conference Wednesday that the arrival of Porter Airlines and revival of Can-Am Days “symbolizes the return to a bit of normalcy.”
“It’s been a hard two years, but today we celebrate the importance of enjoying a long-overdue beach vacation,” Riordan said. “Since our earliest days, the Myrtle Beach area has welcomed visitors from Canada, where for so many Canadian residents Myrtle Beach is home away from home.”
Spring golf is one of the big industries that could benefit from the return of Canadians. Golf Tourism Solutions, a technology and marketing agency that promotes Myrtle Beach golf, has been marketing heavily in Canada to entice golfers to return. Not only that, Golf Tourism Solutions CEO Bill Golden said there have been conversations to get airlines to add more flights connecting Canada to Myrtle Beach to expand access to international travelers.
“That was a huge hit for us, certainly the snowbird traffic and then Canadian travel in general,” said Golden, whose company is helping with one of the events during Can-Am Days. “As a destination in general, we need to get back and market as heavily if not invest more dollars than we ever have to encourage that traffic to come back. It’s a significant piece of business for us.”
There’s a lot going on during Can-Am Days next week. Here’s what to expect.
Events happening during Can-Am days
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach Celebrates Can-Am Days — To kick off Can-Am days, the SkyWheel will light up red and white to pay tribute to the Canadian flag.
1110 N .Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
March 13, 8:30 p.m.
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Canada Reception — Refreshments and live music available in in the chamber’s lobby around lunchtime.
1200 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach
March 14, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Can-Am Party on the Plaza — Enjoy special treats and music while a local artist paints a tribute to Can-Am Days that one of the attendees will get to win as a keepsake.
Ripley’s Aquarium, 1110 Celebrity Square, Myrtle Beach
March 15, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Retelling Refugee Stories: Beauty and Invisible Strength of Women in Diaspora — Montreal author Kim Thuy discusses her 2020 novel “Em” about “her unique transcultural life from a war refugee to one of the best-selling and most celebrated writers of our time.” After the event, Thuy will have a book signing.
Coastal Carolina University, Johnson Auditorium, 119 Chanticleer Drive West, Conway
March 17, 5 p.m.
33rd Annual Run to the Sun Car and Truck Show — Celebrate vintage cars or even bring your own (1989 model or older) to this packed annual event. Car registrations have sold out the last 10 years, so be sure to check ahead of time about space.
Myrtle Beach Square Mall, 2501 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach
March 17-19, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Kick-Off Fireworks Extravaganza — The local minor league baseball team is launching its season with a fireworks show that fans can watch directly on the field. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets (no chairs). You can also buy the $25 Family Meal Deal, which includes 4 hot dogs, 4 Pepsi drinks and a bucket of popcorn. Other concessions, including alcohol, are available to purchase. There’s also discounted admission for people with a Canadian ID.
1251 21st Ave. N., Myrtle Beach
March 18, 6 p.m.
Cheer Ltd. Nationals at Can-Am — A massive cheerleading competition to be enjoyed by family and fans alike.
Myrtle Beach Convention Center, 2101 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach
March 18-20
Vintage Market Days of Coastal Carolina — From the organizers: “An upscale vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, consumable yummies, seasonal plantings and a little more. Vintage Market Days events are so much more than a flea market. Each Vintage Market Days event is a unique opportunity for vendors to display their talents and passions in creative venues.”
John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center, 2115 Sports Center Way, Myrtle Beach
March 18-20
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival — This one is self-explanatory, eh?
Main Street, North Myrtle Beach
March 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Can-Am Junior Team Matches (Golf) — This competition features “the top eight junior boys and girls from Ontario province competing against the top eight junior boys and girls from South Carolina.”
Wachesaw Plantation Club, 1930 Governors Landing Road, Murrells Inlet
March 19-20
Kite Festival at Huntington Beach State Park — The organizers call this a “thrilling display of larger-than-life kites.” This first-ever event features “two fun-filled days of high-flying kite action, including kite demonstrations by Klig’s Kites, plus live music, food trucks, inflatables, and kids’ activities.”
16148 Ocean Hwy., Murrells Inlet
March 19-20, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach Celebrates Can-Am Days (Round 2) — Miss it the first time? The SkyWheel will again light up red and white in honor of the Canadian flag and close out the Can-Am Days festival.
1110 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach
March 20, 8 p.m.
Many places are also offering discounts or special offers to people with a Canadian ID. Be sure to check online and wherever you go for these to take advantage of all Myrtle Beach has to offer to its international visitors.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
