The holiday season for the Adams family usually kicks off with our family coming to town for Thanksgiving and so many more fun traditions. If I’m being honest, I don’t think we were exactly looking forward to this holiday just because we knew that many of our usual go-to holiday experiences would not be available to us. Just then, we received an invitation to visit and officially kick off the holiday in Myrtle Beach and who knew this would be exactly what we needed to save the holiday for us?! Since this year has been anything but traditional, we would just have to create a new holiday tradition – in Myrtle Beach!
By the way, I had the chance to surprise my daughters with our holiday plans and their reactions were priceless!
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Holidays in Myrtle Beach
So, what does the holiday season look like in Myrtle Beach? Surprisingly way more festive than you can imagine! I’m talking beautiful lights, unique attractions, light shows, and so much more!
The weather was still pretty beautiful during Thanksgiving week, so we got to experience the best of both worlds – lounging at the beach during the day and jingling all the way during the evenings.
We stayed in a beautiful 3 bedroom condo at the Breakers Paradise Resort, complete with all amenities we needed to just enjoy each other as a family – very important for any holiday getaway. It was also super convenient to all of the attractions we visited and, located at the heart of the Grand Strand, it’s the a perfect locale to catch some of the most gorgeous sunsets!
Must-see Holiday Attractions in Myrtle Beach
Complimentary Holiday Carriage Rides at the Market Common
We arrived in Myrtle Beach on a Sunday evening, just in time to catch a complimentary carriage ride. It was my daughters’ first carriage ride and they loved the experience. It’s completely free and offered every Sunday in November – December from 3-6pm. It picks up every 5 minutes in front of Dolce Lusso Salon and takes you for a ride around the Market Common Area.
Great Christmas Light Show
This is a relatively new holiday attraction near Myrtle Beach, but definitely a favorite of my family! It’s a 1.5 mile 
drive-through at North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex, featuring more than 2 million lights beautifully celebrating the spirit of the holiday season.
After the light show on certain nights, you can also enter Santa’s Village, a walk through experience featuring a Petting zoo, visit with Santa, hot chocolate s’mores, Santa’s ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS TREE, Express Train Ride, Elf Hunt and more!
The Great Christmas Light Show takes place every night from 5:30-9:30 through December 30th. Follow The Great Christmas Light Show on Facebook.
Ripley’s Festival of Trees
Ripley’s Aquarium takes the cake on one of the most cool and creative holiday experiences at Myrtle Beach. Throughout the months of November and December, the Aquarium is transformed into a winter wonderland filled with over 55 Christmas trees, awesomely decorated to represent each state of the US, including US territories and more. We had our own fun scavenger hunt going on as we searched for trees from each state and adored the assortment of ornaments and décor for each.
The Festival of Trees is included at no additional charge for guests of Ripley’s Aquarium.
Breakfast with Santa
Also at Ripley’s Aquarium for the next couple of weekends is a fun, festive, and contact-less breakfast with Santa. Your tickets for this event include admission to the Aquarium, a delicious breakfast buffet, 4×6 photo with Santa and fun holiday craft.
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel at the Boardwalk
I’m ashamed to admit that as many times as we’ve walked the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, this was our first time taking a ride on the SkyWheel! Check this out for a beautiful view of the Myrtle Beach scenery, this is a must-see experience!
More Holiday Traditions in Myrtle Beach
I had no idea how many truly fun and festive holiday traditions there were to look forward to every year in Myrtle Beach, but these were a few we’d learned about. We did not get a chance to attend these this year, but definitely on our lists for the holidays in 2021!
The South’s Greatest Christmas Show at Alabama Theatre
I’ve heard from many sources that this is indeed the #1 Christmas Show in Myrtle Beach, filled with an incredible lineup of talent, spectacular scenery, special effects and a complete holiday musical experience to celebrate the season.
This year, the award winning production features their new Comedic Juggler Slim Chance who will put a new twist on the Christmas season, along with an evening filled with song, dance and laughter for the whole family.
The South’s Grandest Christmas Show runs all December 2020 until January 2nd, 2021.
Motown Christmas Tribune Show at GTS Theatre
A
nother definite holiday tradition to start is at the Motown Christmas Tribute Show – an evening of soulful holiday entertainment as you embark on a musical journey through the history of Motown.
This rhythmic delight features hits from all the musical titans of the 60s and 70s, including all your Favorite Christmas hits featuring Diana Ross’s Happy Xmas War is Over, Joy To The World, Give Love on Christmas Day and many more!
This musical cabaret revue features dynamic and exciting performances. Prepare to start “Dancing in the Streets,” celebrating the music and musicians of a powerful era, including Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin and many more!
Christmas Show at Pirate’s Voyage
Pirate’s Voyage is one of those attractions in Myrtle Beach that tends to never disappoint and from what I’ve heard, their Christmas Dinner Theater experience is one to remember. Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol with a Swashbuckling Spin takes the whole family on a voyage through Christmas past, present, and future in search of the true reason for the season.
Rated the number #1 Choice for the Holidays in Myrtle Beach, you’ll be delighted by heart-stopping high diving, astounding gymnastics, amazing live animals, and hilarious comedy—all while enjoying a four-course holiday feast.
Magic Show with Michael Bairefoot at GTS Theatre
While this isn’t just a holiday experience in Myrtle Beach, this magic show brings family fun all year round! Michael Bairefoot is an award winning magician who has traveled and entertained across the world with his unique blend of magic and comedy parents and kids can all enjoy!
Brookgreen Gardens Nights of A Thousand Candles
Last, but certainly not least, Brookgreen Gardens Nights of a Thousand Candles is a must-experience holiday attraction at Myrtle Beach. We had a chance to explore the beautiful Brookgreen Gardens during our last trip to Myrtle Beach and have only heard how breathtaking the views are during the Nights of A Thousand Candles!
Named “Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina” by Travel+Leisure Magazine, Brookgreen Gardens comes to life in this annual holiday tradition amid the soft glow of more than 2,800 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. This is a walk-through event along the pathways of the Garden complete with the sounds of holiday music, carolers singing, and more of the perfect elements to celebrate the season with family and friends!
For more holiday themed guides, holiday lodging deals, attraction discounts and more, check out this Myrtle Beach Holiday Getaway Guide!
A Covid-Safe Holiday Vacation in Myrtle Beach
I’d be remiss not to mention the one biggest concern on all of our minds – how safe is it to travel to Myrtle Beach during the pandemic? I’d also be lying if I told you this wasn’t a concern of mine as well. First, I would never advise any of you to put yourselves at risk or to do anything you’re not comfortable with. However, I will share with you some of what I experienced during our trip at the various holiday attractions in Myrtle Beach. Overall, I was quickly made to feel pretty comfortable about the Covid safety protocols being taken and the overall ease of not being in overly congested areas. For example, we could easily lay on the beach and not be within a 50-foot radius of other guests.
I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that all public areas we visited practiced strict mask and social distance mandates, as well as a few more safety measures we encountered including the following:
- At the Breakers Paradise Hotel – Room cleaning service was operating at a limited schedule and staff would only enter with your permission. Plus, there was a requirement that elevators held only one party at a time. Same goes for pools, lazy river, and hot tub, so… yes, we had an entire lazy river all to ourselves!
- Ripley’s Aquarium had signs throughout the building reminding guests of imposed fines for not wearing a mask.
- I personally observed the staff at the Myrtle Beach Skywheel spray and wipe down each car after every rider.
- GTS Theater, where the magic show takes place, not only requires masks, but seats at less than ½ capacity, installed Merv 13 air filtration filters, added shield guards between the snack bar and customers, and does extra cleaning and bleaching of chairs, bathrooms and high tough areas between shows.
Again, this is a scary time, so I will always advise you to be cautious, wear your mask and wash your hands!
The Giveaway!
The team at Visit Myrtle Beach are giving away an amazing Myrtle Beach Getaway Vacation to ONE lucky family! The winner will receive the following:
- Two-night stay at a Brittain Resorts & Hotels property of your choice.
- Visit Myrtle Beach will also provide a $500 VISA gift card
***Note: Must be at least 25 years old to win. Redeemable in 2021, blackout dates may apply.
Just complete the Rafflecopter entries below by 11:59 pm EST on Thursday, Dec. 17th for a chance to win! Good luck to all and Happy Holidays!
Disclosure: This post and giveaway are sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach. As always, all opinions are mine alone.
Nights of A Thousand Candles looks nice.
I have never been to this beach. I would love to check it out.