BikeFest+Head-On Crash+Local Staycations+ Rentals+Beach Umbrellas

Happy Memorial Day, Myrtle Beach! It's Saturday and summer has arrived. Even with no official BikeFest, thousands of bikers and vacationers are here anyway, a serious head-on collision sent 4 people to the hospital and closed Kings Highway, thriving popularity of the Grand Strand keeps locals home for the holiday weekend, vacation rentals are on the rise, and a reminder about the new beach rules that start Monday.

Before we start let's take a peek at Saturday's weather:
Mostly cloudy with an actual chance of rain (34%), a sea breeze and highs in the mid-80s, lows only going down to the mid-70s. Summer is here.

Today's top 5 news stories for Myrtle Beach:

1. Even though Atlantic Beach BikeFest was effectively "cancelled" by the town, bikers and vacationers are coming to Myrtle Beach anyway, and we expect large crowds, lots of traffic, and lots of fun! Be careful, patient, and above all be safe! (WBTW)
2. A serious head-on crash involving two vehicles sent four people to the hospital on Friday, and closed Kings Highway northbound at 13th Avenue South. (WPDE)
3. Locals are hunkering down and got their errands done early (me, included!) in anticipation of record-making tourist capacity all along the Grand Strand. What was once our very own well-kept secret seems to be common knowledge now. A beautiful place to be for all! (WPDE)
4. Vacation rentals skyrocket due to post-pandemic pent-up demand. The Chamber of Commerce reports that Horry County is expecting a 20% increase in vacation rental and hotel occupancy over 2019's numbers for the next two months. (WMBF)
5. Don't forget that the new rules for beaches begin on Memorial Day, May 31st, and last through Labor Day. No more canopies are allowed. Only beach umbrellas are allowed, and those need to be a certain size. Infant shelters are allowed. (WMBF)

Memorial Day Weekend events:

• Breakfast with a Mermaid, Ripley's Aquarium - Get to the aquarium before it opens on Saturday and enjoy great food and meet a real mermaid! (8:00 am)
• Memorial Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale at Broadway at the Beach. Various merchants at Broadway at the Beach will participate and offer sidewalk and in-store deals Sat, Sun & Mon. (10:00 am)
• Singing group Gal Friday hits the Amphitheater Stage at Barefoot Landing, Saturday (2:00 pm)
• The super talented Brian Scott Roessler returns for live music at the Oyster Rock, Saturday (4:00 pm)
• The eighties abound! Miracle Max and the Pet Monsters continue their reign at Bar Louie, Broadway at the Beach , Saturday (8:00 pm)
• World-renowned biker bar, Suck, Bang, Blow (SBB) carries on its traditional Memorial Day Weekend rockin' celebration Saturday in Murrells Inlet (8:00 pm)
• R&Brunch with DJ Ricky Spinz at Tin Roof Myrtle Beach Sunday listen to great R&B hits and eat great food, with a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean! (11 am)
• Sunday Funday Ride with Bubba's - leaving from Barnacle Bills all proceeds go to Help 4 Kids Backpack Buddies organization. (12:30 pm)
• They're back! The famous Surfside golf cart parade is always a hit! Memorial Day Golf Cart Parade Ocean Blvd Surfside Beach Sunday (1:15 pm)
• Lace up your sneaks for the 8th annual Brookgreen Gardens Memorial Day 5K Sunday. [Register by May 29th at 1:00 pm] (6:00 pm)
• Memorial Day Bash at Local on the Water featuring Thomas Road and Matt Dylan, and the Honky-tonk Outlaws. Sunday and Monday (5:00 pm)

Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook:

• Shrimping season has officially begun in South Carolina. (Details here)
• Brookgreen Gardens Lowcountry Zoo welcomes twin Spanish goats, and are they cute! (Details here)
• SCDOT announces crash-prevention strategy for Highway 701 traffic. (Details here)
• Myrtle Beach city leaders discussed downtown redevelopment plan with an eye toward inclusivity. (Details here)
• Decades later, there's still no extension of Interstate 73 to Myrtle Beach, and no real plan for one in the near future. (Details here)

That's the news! Check back for more right here after the holiday. Until then, be extra safe and careful out there. Remember to look twice, and save a life!

-Kathy

About me: The best decision I ever made was relocating to the Myrtle Beach area from New England a few years ago, with my three dogs and three cats. I enjoy dogs, cats, road trips, photography, writing, vegetarian food, live music, bicycling and above all my daily walks on the beaches in and around the Grand Strand.

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