Rides, treats, live music: Horry County Fair returns to Myrtle Beach

For the first time since 2009, Horry County locals and tourists alike have easy access to funnel cakes, pig racing and giant, light-up swings.

The Horry County Fair returned at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Friday after a seven-year absence, complete with rides, food and live music. Hundreds of people braved the threat of rain and strong winds to spend a few hours among the funnel cakes, Ferris wheel and the main attraction: Trace Adkins.

The country music star kicked off the 10-day fair with a $25 concert – perfect for a date night, said Larry Swatman.

“It’s something for people to do, and it’s a good way to spend an afternoon,” Swatman, of Conway, said.

Swatman and his wife, Robin, originally planned to come just for Adkins’ concert. After seeing all the rides and games for kids, they’ve decided to bring their grandson on Sunday.

Patrice Brown had a similar idea. She heard about the fair while planning her son’s birthday, and instead of taking the 12-year-old to Family Kingdom Amusement Park she took a chance on a fair party.

It paid off, Brown said.

“We bought $25 ride wristbands for the kids, which are a pretty good deal,” Brown said. “Individually each ride can cost $5, so it’s an affordable way to spend a Friday.”

Besides daily entertainment, concerts – with access through tickets in addition to fair admission – also are booked in the Speedway’s amphitheater, with such guests as N.C. natives Charlie Daniels and Jason Michael Carroll.

Nash Grier and Friends are planned to make an appearance Saturday afternoon, and Mike Posner – pop singer and songwriter – performs in the evening. Huey Lewis and the News, some prime pop hitmakers in the 1980s and ’90s, will rock out the night on April 22.

Montgomery Gentry (Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry) will close up the fairgrounds with a concert on April 23.

For anyone who prefers the traditional fair fare, there’s plenty of amusement rides, cotton candy, funnel cakes, and carnival games strewn across the speedway’s grounds.

Even tourists made their way onto the fairgrounds Friday, especially after learning about Adkins’ performance. Jackie Darnell, of Ohio, spent her first night in Myrtle Beach surrounded by other country music fans and funnel cakes.

“We saw there was a fair and that [Trace Adkins] was performing, and we said ‘why not?’ ” Darnell said.

Daily admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-11, free for children 4 years old and younger, $3 for seniors and $3 for service men and women with military identification. Parking is free on the speedway grounds at 455 Hospitality Lane, Myrtle Beach, beside the Tanger Outlet Mall on U.S. 501.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Rides, treats, live music: Horry County Fair returns to Myrtle Beach."