Murrells Inlet is once again hosting its popular Halloween on the MarshWalk event! Adults and kids alike are invited to wear their best costumes on Sunday, October 31st, beginning at 5 pm, and join the community for the annual spooky and spectacular festivities. Trick or treating for the little ones occurs from 5 pm to 6 pm and leads into a costume contest in front of Drunken Jack's at the Pirate Statue. Prizes will be given out to kids ages three and up for Most Creative, Best Group, Funniest, and Scariest costumes. Meanwhile, children ages two and under can participate in the Awes Applause parade. Prizes include trophies, ribbons and yummy candy bags! The stakes get raised at 7 pm when the MarshWalk's Adult Costume Contest begins. Categories include People's Choice, Best Duo/Group, Best Individual, Big & Bulky, Murrells Inlet Themed and Honorable Mention. In total, up to $4,000 in cash prizes are slated to be awarded! Participants are asked to check in at the event's registration table from 7 pm to 8:30 pm between Wahoo's and Drunken Jack's. Final judging happens at 10 pm! Don't forget to enjoy some food and drinks from nearby eateries on the Marshwalk. Popular spots include Bovine's, Wahoo's, Drunken Jack's, Creek Ratz, Dead Dog Saloon, The Claw House, The Wicked Tuna, and Mojo's Marina Bar and Grille. For more info about the Halloween-themed fun happening along the MarshWalk, see https://marshwalk.com/events/.

Recently, Myrtle Beach welcomed a new retailer devoted to a love for the ocean. Now open in Myrtle Beach's Tanger Outlets off U.S. 17 is Salt Life, located in Suite 720 of the shopping destination. Salt Life introduced the Myrtle Beach market to its mix of casual beachwear, accessories and performance gear in 2020 as a pop-up shop. Following that, the brand quickly moved to establish a brick-and-mortar location in Myrtle Beach's popular outlet mall compound. Salt Life is a subsidiary of Delta Apparel Inc., a company that mainly designs and manufactures athletic and active apparel under the brand names Salt Life, COAST, Soffe and Delta. Salt Life was founded in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, in 2003 by four water and outdoor enthusiasts who sought to celebrate surfing culture and an active aquatic lifestyle. Originally sold in surf shops, sporting goods stores and specialty boutiques across the U.S., Salt Life now operates 13 branded stores in mainly coastal towns, recently debuting a new store in Galveston, Texas. The Myrtle Beach outpost is stocked with a variety of T-shirts, swimwear, board shorts, sundresses, sweatshirts, fishing hats, surfboard decals, and SLX UVAPOR water gear, all "engineered for comfort, durability and performance." If you'd like to learn more about the brand and what they offer, visit https://www.saltlife.com/.

There's a brand new Food Lion supermarket in the Myrtle Beach area! In mid-June, the Salisbury, North Carolina grocery store chain, famous for its no-frills deals and commitment to sustainability practices, including a 50 percent reduction in food waste and operations' emissions, recently opened its doors to the newest Myrtle Beach area store, this one located at 9616 Highway 707. As a way to introduce itself to its new neighbors, local Food Lion associates brought welcome items to personnel at Horry County Fire Rescue Stations #1 and #20 and Murrells Inlet – Garden City Fire Station #79. But that's not all; welcome items were also delivered to faculty and staff at St. James Elementary, Middle and Intermediate Schools, Burgess Elementary School, as well as staff at the Horry County Treasurer's office and South Strand Recreation Center. The Myrtle Beach market is already home to at least a dozen Food Lion grocery stores. Competitors in the area include national chains like Kroger, Jewel-Osco and Albertson's. However, Food Lion's new customer-centric services like "to-go" ordering and store renovations have helped the chain rise to the top of resident's grocery shopping list. The new Food Lion in Myrtle is open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Also, customers can shop for Gluten-Free, Vegan and Organic products online by visiting the company's website. To learn more, visit https://www.foodlion.com/.

The sounds of summer are winding their way through Main Street in downtown North Myrtle Beach this year. With public gatherings on the mend, events designed to bring the community together are once again returning. In North Myrtle Beach, this means every Thursday night through October 14, residents are invited to explore the many shops and extraordinary restaurants of North Myrtle Beach's Main Street, from 5 pm to 9 pm. While out for a stroll, take in the smooth jazz or contemporary tunes of musicians scheduled to play live. North Myrtle Beach's "Music on Main Concert Series" will feature the talents of "Black Glass" for 80s hits on June 24; "Blackwater Rhythm and Blues" on July 1; "Bullfrog" for classic rock on July 8; "The Entertainers" for a beachy vibe on July 15; "Chocolate Chip & Co." for song and dance tunes on July 22; and the "Band of Oz" for some more beachside melodies on July 29. Concerts are free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a folding chair or blanket. Performances take place from 7 pm to 9 pm at 1 WW S Ocean Boulevard. For a complete list of upcoming concerts during the Music on Main summer series, visit https://parks.nmb.us/385/Music-on-Main-Concert-Series/.

McAlister's Deli is set to open its sixth location in Horry County later this month. This newest location for McAlister's Deli will be at 1650 Church St. near the intersection of Mill Pond Road, and expected to open June 21. The popular delicatessen chain will occupy the space next to Eugenia's Steakhouse in Conway, which is slated to open later this year. Both upcoming spots will be part of Celebration Square in Conway. County officials expect the project to be a $5 million investment. The newest McAlister's location will look to hire about 50 new employees. Those who are interested can apply online. With the new spot, McAlister's is looking to add to its already county-wide presence. Currently, the fast-casual restaurant already has two locations in North Myrtle Beach, another location in Surfside Beach, another near the Coastal Grand Mall, and one in the new Teal Towne Plaza near Coastal Carolina University. McAlister's is known for its popular sandwiches, soups, salads, spuds and more. The eatery also offers desserts and other deli fares. Customers can place orders online for delivery or pick-up. Plus, McAlister's Deli also offers catering for your next big event. With graduation parties, summer picnics and other celebrations getting ready to heat up, the upcoming McAlister's in Conway will be a welcome addition. For more info, check out https://www.mcalistersdeli.com/.

Murrells Inlet is gearing up for the return of Fourth of July festivities this summer. On Independence Day, July 4th, one of the most popular events along the Grand Strand will make its highly anticipated comeback. The 38th annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade returns this year with an Independence Day theme with the tagline, “Stars, Stripes, and Fireworks.” The parade will start at the point of Garden City Beach and make its way through Murrells Inlet. For this year’s event, the boat entry fee has been waived as officials wanted to encourage more participation. Viewing areas will be positioned along the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, at the Belin United Methodist Church, and Morse Park Landing. Parade organizers request participants and spectators not litter or incorporate boat designs that can harm the environment and local wildlife. They discourage the use of water balloons. T-shirts for the Murrells Inlet Boat Parade will be sold at a later date. Proceeds from the t-shirt sale will go to the Belin United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 396. Last year's edition of the Boat Parade was canceled due to COVID-19. Organizers felt that the challenge of enforcing safety measures was too much of a risk. To learn more about the upcoming parade, visit https://www.facebook.com/MurrellsInletBoatParade/.

Could a new brewery, accompanying pavilion and artisan village take shape in Murrells Inlet? The answer to that question ultimately begins with the Georgetown County Planning Department. This month, owners of the popular Quigley's Pint & Plate locations are hoping county officials will consider their plan for a proposed 4,000-square-foot brewery, as well as an accompanying pavilion and artisan village that consists of repurposed shipping containers on U.S. 17 just south of Wachesaw Road. If the proposed plan were to come to fruition, it would also need to go to the zoning department for consideration of rezoning the land to a flexible design district. Named the CoQuina Project, for a nearby street, the proposed brewery and outdoor entertainment area would be one of a few flexible design districts in Georgetown County should it be approved. The 4,000-square-foot brewery and taproom, which could open as soon as spring 2022 if approved, would be capable of producing 2,000 barrels of beer a year and would also feature a dog park, a pavilion for outdoor community events and private parties, along with the artisan village of repurposed shipping containers. According to Josh Quigley and Billy Davis, partners who own Quigley's Pint & Plate locations and bisQit in the Hammock Shops, the vision for the Murrells Inlet property is to provide a community hub for local artisans and event organizers.