On Saturday, over 20,000 attended the people St. Patrick’s Day Festival in North Myrtle Beach ushering in the 2024 tourist season for the town.
For a long time, many people have been attending an event in the Grand Strand, and for one new resident, it has now become a new tradition.
“North Myrtle Beach is always bustling with activities, particularly on the beach. I love spending time there, but what I really enjoy are the various festivals they host, like this parade,” commented Riley Murphy.
The 34th St. Patrick’s Day parade began at 9 a.m., with numerous floats lining up along Ocean Boulevard and Main Street.
A festival started around 11 a.m.
Established for over a decade, Timeless Irish Treasures is a popular destination for visitors.
According to business owner Cathy Lynch, individuals are searching all over main street for the booth.
“We really enjoy attending St. Patrick’s Day Festival in North Myrtle Beach. Since we are located in Wilmington, it’s just a quick trip for us to come here and we definitely plan on returning in the future,” Lynch stated. “We are hoping to be invited back because we believe we are the only vendor at this event with such a large selection of Irish products.”
Another beloved festival attraction, Jupiter Pies, began setting up their booth at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
“Upon their arrival, there were people eagerly waiting for them,” stated Leslie Kelly, an employee at Jupiter Pies. “The turnout has been fantastic, as we have had a large number of people and have been incredibly busy.”
The vendors said that this year had one of the highest attendance rates, which was not surprising as previous years had shown that people really enjoy this event.
Lynch mentioned that by doubling the size of their booth to 20 feet and bringing along a few additional employees, they were able to increase sales due to the extra space and manpower.
The St. Patrick’s Day Festival in North Myrtle Beach featured live performances, dancing, numerous vendors, delicious Irish cuisine, and beverages.