Celebrating America’s Independence Along the Grand Strand
By Michelle Canty
Celebrating America's Independence on the Fourth of July along the Grand Strand is not complete without enjoying a golf cart parade or two and a boat parade. Where else can patriotic colors of red, white and blue serve as the common thread to the creative canvas of golf carts and boats of all shapes and sizes?
Throughout July 4 weekend, visitors along the Grand Strand joined together to celebrate America's freedom and heritage on beautiful summer days in Myrtle Beach.
Our patriotic pilgrimage began at Springmaid Resort's golf cart parade on Friday, July 3 and ended with the July 4th Murrells Inlet boat parade late Saturday afternoon.
Scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 3, the Springmaid Resort and Campground's golf cart parade had 36 registered golf carts that paraded through the resort and campground before hitting the camper cookout. In one of the largest golf cart parades in recent Springmaid history, campers showed their patriotism with American flags, streamers, costumes, and military anthems blasting from stereos.
Having recently celebrated its 38th anniversary, Ocean Lakes Campground boasted more than 300 golf carts and specialty vehicles as the parade snaked through the campground packed with 50,000 campers during July 4th weekend. According to Ocean Lakes' management, many of their guests make reservations for the weeks surrounding July 4th nearly 18 months in advance!
Ocean Lakes parade entries ranged from standard golf carts bedecked with patriotic streamers and flags, to customized carts such as fire trucks, tanks, ships, and antique cars. Dixie Stampede and Freestyle Music Park made special appearances along the crowd-lined parade route. Entries threw out candies along the way. Many campers said this is a family tradition that has been done for a number of years, one they look forward to year after year. The golf cart parade is so popular that Ocean Lakes Campground had to schedule a parade on Friday and Monday to accommodate Saturday's largest check-in day in the campground.
Farther south, hundreds of boaters were on the water for the 26th annual Murrells Inlet boat parade, "Freedom is Fine in 2009." Decorated with American flags and lots of red, white, and blue, an estimated 200 boats began the parade on the Garden City side of the inlet before proceeding to the marsh walk area of the Murrells Inlet restaurant district. An estimated crowd of 3,000 people cheered on their favorite boats along the parade route.
Scheduled for high tide, the parade began around 5 p.m. However, the celebration started hours before the boat parade with live entertainment along the marsh walk throughout the day.
Spectators have found the best spots to view the parade are along the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, at Capt. Dick's Marina, along the seawall at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church, at Nance's Restaurant and Hot Fish Club's Gazebo Bar.
The Fourth of July celebration in Murrells Inlet ended with fireworks over the inlet. Thousands of people lined the Garden City and Murrells Inlet shores to enjoy the spectacular display.
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