A Myrtle Beach tradition

Since 1951

69th Annual

May 10-12, 2024

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The Beach's longest-running event is back!

This annual celebration heralds the unofficial arrival of the summer season by welcoming back visitors and locals with a great weekend full of family fun events. From exciting live music to awe-inspiring displays by the U.S Army's Golden Knights, there's a ton to enjoy — and don't forget the main event, the annual Sun Fun Parade!

LIVE MUSIC

Trial By Fire Tribute to Journey

Friday, May 5
7 p.m.
Prepare to let Trial by Fire take you back to an earlier day when lighters were held high, and you couldn't help but sing along to hits like “Don’t Stop Believin”, “Wheel in the Sky”, and "Faithfully". Trial by Fire is born out of the hearts of five seasoned N.C.-based musicians  bringing of the fun of theSteve Perry era of Journey to fans all over.
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AERIAL DISPLAY

U.S. Army Golden Knights

Friday, May 5
9 p.m.
SATurday, May 6
12 & 4 p.m.
The US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will be landing on the beach in front of Plyler Park. The best views will be from the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk between 9th Ave and the SkyWheel. Their famous Pyro Jump will be Friday night at 9 p.m. Bring the kids, as this is an experience they will never forget!
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FAMILY FUN

SUN FUN PARADE

SATurday, May 11
10 A.M.
The longest-running parade in the Myrtle Beach area is one of the most exciting parts of Sun Fun weekend! Come The parade will travel from 8th Avenue North to 16th Avenue North, through the heart of downtown along Ocean Boulevard.
Interested in entering the parade?
CLICK HERE
LIVE MUSIC

CASSETTE REWIND

SATurday, May 6
2 p.m.
Born in the ‘80s and raised on radio, Cassette Rewind are a totally authentic ‘80s experience. Feel the power of love when your bedroom boombox comes to life with dynamic performances of Prince, George Michael, Journey, Whitney Houston, and countless 1980s pop icons. Grab your Members Only jacket and put on your leg warmers because nothing’s gonna stop you now from getting footloose and singing along. 
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LIVE MUSIC

swinging' medallions

SATurday, May 6
7 p.M.
Since the early 1960s The Swingin’ Medallions from Greenwood, S.C., have been wowing crowds with their captivating performances. Their hit song “Double Shot (of my Baby’s Love)" became a million seller in 1966, and has been a party classic for college students for decades. Now they bring a high-energy show to the stage each time with a set that includes Beach music, classic R&B and other great tunes to shag dance to.
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LIVE MUSIC

the tonez

SUNDAY, MAY 7
3 p.m.
The Tonez are an 8-piece band dedicated to keeping crowds on their feet dancing and enjoying live music. With a growing mix of Oldies, Motown, Rock & Roll, Country, Funk, R&B, and Beach music, The Tonez are flexible to make each show fit any situation.
A Cammy Award-Winning Group with a high-powered horn section, the Tonez feature seven vocalists, and every note of every performance is totally live – no recorded tracks.
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MORE SUN & FUN EVENTS

The Sun Fun Festival is just the start of the great events happening around the Myrtle Beach area. With Cinco de Mayo and other spring happenings in full swing, you can find tons to do this weekend along the Grand Strand. Check out all the latest events by visiting VisitMyrtleBeach.com!

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THE HISTORY

Decades of Sun, Fun & Excitement!

The Sun Fun Festival has quite a history in our beach town, with the inaugural event held in the summer of 1951 to welcome tourists back to Myrtle Beach for the summer season.

The early festivals featured family-friendly activities in and around the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, like parades and human checkerboard games. The first Miss SC pageant was held here in 1952, judged by bestselling author Mickey Spillane, who called Murrells Inlet home, followed by the Miss Sun Fun and Miss Bikini Wahine pageants sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic.

Back then, it’s said that there was even a “local law” enacted just during the festival that required everyone to wear shorts or a bathing suit. If not, they would be fined, which served as a fundraiser to help build the area’s first hospital, Ocean View Memorial Hospital.

Our event consistently named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, would continue to thrive for 60 years, with parades, live music, sandcastle contests, and more. The event took a sabbatical for a few years in 2011, returned to the beach in 2016, and today continues a great tradition enjoyed by generations of beachgoers.

MORE PHOTOS

Take a walk down memory lane with tons more photos of Sun Fun Festival Days of the past in our photo gallery.

CLICK HERE
  • The Sun Fun Parade, 1961
  • MISS USA 1957 IN the SUN FUN PARADE
  • 1975 MISS BIKINI WAHINI PAGEANT
  • MISS U.S.A. ON THE BEACH DURING SUN FUN
  • The Sun Fun Parade, 1991

MORE PHOTOS

Take a walk down memory lane with tons more photos of Sun Fun Festival Days of the past in our photo gallery.

CLICK HERE

PARADE INFO

Don't miss out. Be part of the Fun!

Sign your business or organization up to participate in the parade today!

The 2023 Sun Fun Parade will take place Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. with a route that travels between 8th Avenue North and 16th Avenue North on Ocean Boulevard in downtown Myrtle Beach.

If your marching band, youth group, nonprofit, social club, business or other organization would like to be involved, all you need to do is click below and fill out the registration form.

There is no cost to participate in this year's event and you could even win a cash prize!

REGISTER NOW
©2023 Sun Fun Festival
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