Posted on Jun 21, 2009 - 08:45 PM

Ocean Boulevard’s Hot Summer Nights

By Lenore McKenzie-Morris

Fireworks, live music, stilt walkers: downtown Myrtle Beach is working hard to entertain this year's visitors.

Three days a week, from now through August, the Oceanfront Merchant's Association has fireworks every Wednesday, a kids' carnival every Monday and live music on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Plyler Park on Ocean Boulevard at Joe White Avenue.

Located just a block north of the now vacant Pavilion site, Plyler Park is a five-year-old plaza named for the founder of the nearby Gay Dolphin Gift Shop.

"It is named for Justin Whitaker Plyler," noted Myrtle Beach public information officer Mark Kruea, "an early visionary who loved Myrtle Beach and saw what it could become. Plyler operated several businesses here following service in World War II, including the Gay Dolphin Gift Shop, which he founded in 1946. His son, Gus Plyler, is still an active downtown merchant. You'll find a monument to Justin Plyler on the southeastern corner of the park, near Marvin's."

Few folks attending the festivities will find the marker, mostly because they'll be too busy having fun.

"On Sunday nights, we have stilt performers, character sketchers, Vaudeville acts on stage and human statues," said Jonathan Staton, president of the Oceanfront Merchant's Association. "The kids' carnival on Monday has the same performers as Sunday and we've added face painters, a balloon artist, an obstacle course and (moon) bouncers."

Staton said the association has had great support from the City and the Myrtle Beach Redevelopment Association. The groups are working together to get people downtown and fill the void left by the close of the Pavilion.

"We definitely can see a difference," Staton said. "I have a parking business up here as well as a deli. Everyone I've talk to can see the difference."

Now in its third year, the summer event has a new look, with carnival-style lettering adorning colorful banners throughout the downtown area.

And apparently, it works.

Jessica and Scott Wilson of Greenville were in Myrtle Beach for a week of vacation.

"We saw the signs," Jessica said. "We were out looking for ice cream. We just come down to the beach once in a while. We have not been to this area of the beach, not since it's been this way. It looks really good and it's a good direction to be taking things."

Near the stage, Nevada National Guard Private Ben Garrison stood in his camouflage pants next to his brother Tommy. The brothers had come to the beach from Tommy's home in Conway to hear Tru Sol perform. The local band draws a following at Plyler Park every other Tuesday.

"It's a good band," Garrison said. "I've seen them three times in the last four days."

Garrison, a native of Rockingham, N.C., was making a return visit to the area before heading to Iraq.

The band also attracted long-time fan Keith Stanzel and his girlfriend Donna Edwards.

"These guys are awesome," said Stanzel, who had found a park bench to sit on while watching the band. "The weather doesn't get any better; I've been here a few times."

"It's really nice to get out and finally enjoy what the locals do," said Edwards, who is from California.

In the week before school ended, the concert was sparsely populated with people perched on a nearby wall, sitting on park benches or on the grass.

A small set of bleachers will be in place for the busy summer season for the full schedule of concerts which ends in September.

"Once summer gets rolling and everybody is not in school, we will have nights where the whole park is full," said Staton.

Local band Ten Toes Up alternates with Tru Sol every Tuesday.

The following schedule includes a list of out-of-area bands that perform on Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to midnight, as well as a special Friday night Reggae performance on July 3.