Here's 9 must-know facts about Myrtle Beach's Black Bike Week

Black Bike Week, which takes place over Memorial Weekend, is notable for celebrating camaraderie among bikers. Highlights include custom-painted bikes and stereo-laden Harleys, which offer a glimpse into personal expression within the biker community. Popular venues like the Beaver Bar and Suck Bang Blow emphasize the social aspects of the event, where visitors and locals alike gather for entertainment, food, and drinks.

Aside from all the fun, significant planning and logistical efforts by organizers and local authorities ensure safety and smooth operations during the festivities. Despite some local traffic concerns, Black Bike Week remains a cherished tradition for many.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard was thronged with traffic congestion on Saturday. With hotels, beaches, shopping and restaurants reopening along the Grand Strand, tourist season kicked off this weekend despite coronavirus concerns. May 16, 2020 By JASON LEE

NO. 1: EXPECT TRAFFIC DELAYS ON THIS MYRTLE BEACH ROAD. WHAT POLICE ARE DOING FOR BEACH SEASON

Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach are preparing for the thousands of tourists that will head to the Grand Strand. Here’s what police are doing. | Published March 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

Beachgoers pack the beach in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach. On boats, beaches and the boulevards, tourists and residents enjoy the first days of the summer season on the Grand Strand during Memorial Day weekend 2021. May 29, 2021. By JASON LEE

NO. 2: DRIVEN AWAY: ARE MEMORIAL DAY VACATIONERS, BIKERS CAUSING PEOPLE TO LEAVE MYRTLE BEACH SC?

With the combination of a long holiday weekend and Black Bike Week, the traffic in Myrtle Beach area will increase. Cost of travel also causing people to stay put. | Published April 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

Workers are making preparations for thousands of bikers to arrive at Suck Bang Blow in Murrells Inlet, SC next week for the Myrtle Beach Spring Rally. May 7, 2024. By JASON LEE

NO. 3: TONS OF BEER, RALLY GIRLS, BURNOUT PIT: SUCK BANG BLOW READIES FOR MYRTLE BEACH BIKE RALLY

The popular Murrells Inlet biker bar goes all out for the Myrtle Beach Spring Bike Rally every year, providing music, drinks and vendors. Here’s how they do it. | Published May 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

From custom bikes and trucks, to their clothes and accessories, Bikefest attendees go in style. A look at the trends for the 2022 Atlantic Beach Bikefest. May 28, 2022. By JASON LEE

NO. 4: BARS, HOUSE PARTIES SET FOR BLACK BIKE WEEK. HERE’S WHERE THEY’RE PARTYING THIS WEEKEND

Black Bike Week, which lasts the entirety of Memorial Day weekend, will bring in thousands of bikers to Atlantic Beach and the Myrtle Beach, SC area. | Published May 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

People walk Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, S.C. to see and be seen during the Memorial Day weekend Black Bike Week. Many of the participants showcase their own unique style. May 25, 2024. By JASON LEE

NO. 5: FOR BLACK BIKE WEEK, PEOPLE DRESSED TO IMPRESS. SEE THE FASHION ALONG OCEAN BOULEVARD

As Memorial Day weekend and Black Bike Week are in full swing, attendees wore wigs featuring every color of the rainbow and coordinated outfits. | Published May 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

The 2024 Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, also known as Black Bike Week, came roaring into the Northern end of the Grand Strand Friday night. Bikers gathered at the Myrtle Beach Mall to show off their rides, cruised through Atlantic Beach, and partied under beach houses in North Myrtle Beach. S.C. May 24, 2024. By JASON LEE

NO. 6: CUSTOM-PAINTED, STEREO-COVERED MOTORCYCLES ARE IN AT BLACK BIKE WEEK. TAKE A LOOK HERE

Motorcyclists arrived in Atlantic Beach, Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach for Black Bike Week. These are some of the coolest bikes. | Published May 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ben Morse

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Myrtle Beach Police

NO. 7: UPDATE: ROAD RAGE LEADS TO DEADLY SHOOTING ON OCEAN BOULEVARD IN MYRTLE BEACH, POLICE SAY

A man was killed in the shooting that happened late Saturday night in Myrtle Beach, SC. Police arrested one person in the incident. | Published May 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Leslye Beaver, owner of the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet, S.C., one of the most popular biker bars in the Myrtle Beach area. Beaver also owns locations in Ormond Beach, Florida and in Sturgis, South Dakota. Sept. 24, 2024. By JASON LEE

NO. 8: POPULAR BIKER BAR RUN BY A WOMAN. WHY SHE’S THE ‘TOUGHEST GIRL’ FOR MYRTLE BEACH BIKE RALLY

The Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet has become one of the popular spots for motorcyclists coming to the Myrtle Beach area for fall bike rally. | Published October 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Sweet Sophie and Sexy Lexi, owned by Danette Larsen of North Myrtle Beach, rode on the back of a motorcycle secure in a custom dog bed to Captain Archie’s bar on Friday evening. Bikers brought their animals including dogs, and even a ring tailed lemur to the bars during Myrtle Beach Bike Week’s Fall Rally. Oct. 4, 2024. By JASON LEE

NO. 9: HUMANS AREN’T THE ONLY ONES ATTENDING THE MYRTLE BEACH BIKE RALLY. MEET THE BIKER DOGS

Dogs and other four-legged friends could be found at Murrells Inlet and North Myrtle Beach bars during the Fall Bike Rally. | Published October 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.