Several streets to close in downtown North Myrtle Beach. What’s closed and where to avoid
North Myrtle Beach plans to shut down several streets in the downtown area for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
For 35 years, North Myrtle Beach has held a large St. Patrick’s Day commemoration, complete with a parade and large festival. It typically draws over 30,000 people, said Lauren Jessie, North Myrtle Beach public information officer, in an email.
The St. Patrick’s Day parade is the largest in the area, with over 100 entries. On March 15, the parade starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until 11 a.m. The festival begins after the parade and goes until 4 p.m. There will be more than 120 vendors selling food and handmade crafts, as well as three stages with live entertainment.
There will be free event parking at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, the corner of 1st Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard and McLean Park, as well as a shuttle from Ocean Drive Elementary School.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is free to attend.
Here are what streets will close for the occasion.
Parade route and festival
The parade will run along North Ocean Boulevard from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South, turn right on 1st Avenue South, turn right on to Hillside Drive and then turn left on to Main Street, according to North Myrtle Beach. It will head down Main Street to Ye Olde Kings Highway where it ends.
Parade entries will line up in the southbound lane of Ocean Boulevard from 11th Avenue to 2nd Avenue North.
The southbound lane of Ocean Boulevard will close from 11th Avenue North to 1st Avenue South from 7 to 11 a.m. All lanes of Ocean Boulevard from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South will close from 9 to 11 a.m.
Main Street from Ocean Boulevard to Ash Street will close from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Main Street to Ye Olde Kings Highway and Ye Olde Kings Highway will close for the duration of the parade.
During the festival, drivers can expect heavy traffic around the Main Street area, including along U.S. 17.
