Out & About in Myrtle Beach: Dragon Boats & a Starfish Ball
By Lauren Poster
For the love of everything holy, help the teenagers. In Myrtle Beach, where certain local establishments market “Spring Break”-themed thong underwear, it may be more important than ever for you to do your part and race a Dragon Boat. While these two things might seem unrelated, trust us: they aren’t. The second annual Ground Zero Dragon Boat Festival going on this Saturday benefits area youth ministry Ground Zero by raising funds to help sponsor events for high- and middle-school teens, promoting leadership and strong life skills. The group also has plans to build a nonprofit GZ Teen Club.
Dragon Boat racing is a water sport born out of Japanese culture which is gaining in international popularity. Resembling crew on a far more imposing vessel, the spectacular boats hold 20 paddlers and one drummer (who keeps the team in rhythm). Practice sessions will take place all week at the Market Common from 4 to 7 p.m., and race day is Saturday, April 24 beginning at 9 a.m. Go to www.groundzeromb.com for more information.
Another charity event, the Starfish Ball, takes place later that evening from 7 to 11 p.m. at Seafare Restaurant along Restaurant Row. This all-you-can-eat buffet will be serving healthy portions of prime rib and crab legs, and will feature live entertainment, an open bar for beer and wine, raffles, door prizes and more to benefit the Waccamaw Youth Center (a unique housing center caring for abused or neglected male youths between the ages of 12 and 21). The cost for this event is $100.00 per couple. Call 843-369-0200 for tickets and further info.
Today through Sunday, Earth Day events are happening all over town, from McLean Park’s Earth Day Rocks in North Myrtle Beach (today) to the 13th Annual Spring Festival and Earth Day Events Sunday at Broadway at the Beach. McLean Park’s activities include “green” vendors, live music and hands-on activities (visit www.nmb.us to find out more).
Spring Festival will provide similar activities, as well as workshops on recycling and greenifying. So you can basically be lean, mean, and green all in one weekend, while saving the children and the earth. Isn’t that what Band Aid asked us all to do back in the ‘80s? Pay it forward, people. Pay it forward. And if you’re not into that, or if you feel like you ain’t “Never Been Rocked Enough,” then go see Delbert McClinton rocking the House of Blues Saturday night.
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