North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
North Myrtle Beach will go green on Saturday, March 14, as the 36th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival returns to Main Street for a full day of family-friendly fun. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m., followed by the festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This one-day, rain-or-shine celebration draws more than 30,000 attendees annually, making it one of the Grand Strand’s most anticipated events. For those unable to attend in person, the parade will air LIVE on CW21, hosted by WPDE personalities.
The parade begins at First Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, proceeds right onto First Avenue South, right on Hillside Drive, left onto Main Street and concludes at Ye Olde Kings Highway. An emcee will announce parade participants from the Horseshoe, where judges will also be stationed to select the “Best” parade entries. WPDE personalities Ed Piotrowski, Conor Ingalls and Jennifer Abney will provide live commentary from the Community Stage at Main Street and North Oak Drive.
Immediately following the parade, Main Street transforms into a vibrant festival featuring: over 140 food, arts and crafts, nonprofit and specialty vendors, a kid’s area with games and rides for all ages, delicious Irish favorites and classic festival fare and three live entertainment stages throughout the afternoon.
Irish Stage (Sponsored by Flynn’s Irish Tavern) entertainment lineup includes:
11 a.m. – Brendan O’Connor
12 noon – Coastal Carolina Shields Pipes and Drums
12:30 p.m. – Brendan O’Connor
1:30 p.m. – Leprechaun Contest and Shepherd’s Pie Eating Contest
2 p.m. – The Muckers
Community Stage (Sponsored by HTC) entertainment lineup includes:
11 a.m. – Triple Toe Cloggers
12 noon – Radio Revolver
1:30 p.m. – Coastal Carolina Shields Pipes & Drums
2 p.m. – Bailey Road Band
Ocean Stage (Sponsored by OrthoSC) entertainment lineup includes:
11 a.m. – Painted Man
1 p.m. – Drake Irish Dance Group
2 p.m. – The Mighty Kicks.
The festival fun wouldn’t be complete without two crowd-favorite contests. Show off your Irish spirit in the Leprechaun Contest and Jr. Leprechaun Contest, where participants will be judged on originality, creativity, appearance, enthusiasm and energy — so bring your best green gear and plenty of personality. Feeling hungry? Step up to the Shepherd’s Pie Eating Contest and race to be the first to clear your plate for ultimate bragging rights. Registration for both contests takes place at the Irish Stage before 1 p.m.
Traffic adjustments will be in place to accommodate parade staging and festival activities. Parade staging begins at 7 a.m. on Ocean Boulevard from Second Avenue North to Eleventh Avenue North. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., southbound lanes on Ocean Boulevard from Eleventh Avenue North to First Avenue South will be closed. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. through 11 a.m., both northbound and southbound lanes from Second Avenue North to First Avenue South will be closed for the parade, with Ocean Boulevard expected to reopen around 11:30 a.m. Main Street from Ash Street to Ocean Boulevard will be closed from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m., including full parade route closures from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Following the parade, Main Street will remain closed as it transforms into the festival area through 6 p.m.
Free event parking will be available at the corner of First Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard, the corner of Second Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, and at McLean Park located at 93 Oak Drive. For added convenience, a free shuttle service will operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing transportation to and from Ocean Drive Elementary School at 901 Eleventh Avenue North in North Myrtle Beach.
This year’s event is made possible by: North Strand Optimist Club, City of North Myrtle Beach, WPDE, Easy Radio, Flynn’s Irish Tavern, HTC and OrthoSC.
For more information about the festival and other programs, visit Parks.NMB.us.
