If you are looking to view some beautiful fireworks this summer, the Grand Strand area has so many options! On the 4th of July many locations will be setting off a display but on other summer nights there will be plenty to see. One fun spot to catch fireworks is at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans game. Enjoy the baseball game and stay after to see the firework show on select nights. Check with the Pelicans box office for confirmed nights. Another spot to catch the show is Broadway at the Beach. They are celebrating summer with firework shows on select Tuesdays and Fridays beginning at 10pm through August. The fireworks go off over Lake Broadway so you can find many great spots to sit and enjoy the show around the massive shopping and dining complex. Barefoot Landing complex is another spot that hosts weekly fireworks shows at 10pm on Mondays through August. Barefoot Landing has a collection of shops, restaurants, and entertainment as well. On the 4th of July, you can catch the fireworks at these spots in Myrtle Beach; Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, and Second Avenue Pier and all start their display at 10pm. Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach will be starting their display at 9:30pm. And in Murrells Inlet, the Marshwalk will begin their show at 10pm. Enjoy the shows and stay safe and have a Happy 4th of July!

Don't miss this summer-long exhibit! Are you looking for an opportunity to explore and experience the historic Brookgreen Gardens landscapes like never before? Then you'll want to reserve your tickets for the ongoing "Summer Light: Art by Night" installation taking place on Wednesdays and Saturdays through August 13, 2022. Stroll under twinkling lights and view art in a bright new way as the South Carolina sun sets and the Gardens are transformed into a whole new light after dark. "Summer Light: Art by Night" features a variety of lighting techniques that light up the Gardens. Nine lighting installations throughout the sculpture garden will dazzle spectators, including 800 upcycled chandeliers, 900 wine bottle alcoves, the "blooming flora" in the Children's Garden, and more. Plus, live music will be performed each night by various bands! Visitors can also enjoy a meal, snack or treat from one of the food trucks on-site. Tickets for this summer spectacle are $25 for adults and $15 for children (3 and under free) who are non-members at Brookgreen Gardens. Meanwhile, members can take advantage of a season pass deal that's $50 for adults and $20 for children. Furthermore, one-day tickets for Brookgreen Gardens members to "Summer Light: Art by Night" are $20 for adults and $12 for children. To get tickets for "Summer Light: Art by Night" at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrels Inlet, visit https://www.brookgreen.org/events/summer-light-art-night/.

Earlier this month, Myrtle Beach's newest outdoor immersive art exhibit debuted in the new Key West Village section of Broadway at the Beach. Located on the lawn across from The Hangout restaurant, which is now open at 1181 Celebrity Circle, Illumination Park is open-to-public and will feature free exhibits from several artists that will run all summer long. Just a few of the stunning displays you'll see at Illumination Park include: -Electric Dandelions: showcasing six towering steel and acrylic structures animating the sky with a dazzling array of LED-based animations mimicking the phosphorous beauty of fireworks. -Ketleflower: a sunflower sculpture utilizing an analog-based light system and immersive sound to create detailed patterns and emulate natural bioluminescence at nighttime. -The Cloud Swings: interactive installation where visitors swing below a glowing cloud structure that, when activated, shines different colors and lights. In addition, local artist Jim Swaim will also have a sculpture on display at Illumination Park. Swaim's colorful crab sculpture is designed to bring awareness and attention to the need for environmental preservation. In the future, certain sculptures will be rotated out and new pieces installed. Along with the recent opening of Illumination Park and The Hangout, other merchants opening shops soon at Key West Village include Pura Vida, Insomnia Cookies, and Broadway Hammock Shop. To stay updated on the latest news and openings at Broadway at the Beach and the new Key West Village, visit https://www.broadwayatthebeach.com/.

A family business has expanded its offerings in the local area. High Tide Outpost recently opened its newest retail location off S.C. 9 in Little River. At High Tide, customers will find a large selection of clothing, outdoor products, beach accessories, and home decor items. The new store aims to serve not only vacationers coming in on Highway 9 but also locals, with the location's expanded home decor collection. High Tide's parent company, Smith-Rogers Oil Co. Inc., also owns 15 Tiger Mart gas stations and convenience stores in South Carolina and four Jimmy John's sub shops on the Grand Strand. The new High Tide Outpost, 2353 Hwy. 9 E, is together in a business complex with a Tiger Mart, Jimmy John's, Bojangles and fireworks store. Some of the apparel brands that shoppers will find are Southern Tide, Simply Southern, Huk and Southern Casanova. In addition, summer outdoor enthusiasts will find all the equipment they need, ranging from kayaks to inflatable paddle boards to boogie boards and skimboards. Plus, beach accessories like towels, coolers, beach chairs, shovels, buckets, waterproof speakers and phone cases are also available at High Tide Outlet. To learn more about the new Little River location for High Tide, see https://www.facebook.com/hightideoutpost/.

A new 11-story hotel with a rooftop bar will soon rise on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. The Hilton high-rise will be dual-branded as a Home2 Suites and Tempo by Hilton property and is slated for South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. In addition to 250 rooms, amenities planned for the new Myrtle Beach oceanfront hotel include a pool, rooftop bar, and four-story parking garage with additional parking across the street. The upper floors of the duel-branded hotel will be Tempo, while the lower floors will be Home2 Suites. Hotel management and development company CN Hotels owns the oceanfront property over two neighboring lots at 2801 and 2805 South Kings Highway. Based out of High Point, N.C., CN Hotels' portfolio comprises properties throughout the Southeast, including one in Myrtle, the Hampton Inn on 75th Avenue North. To make way for the new dual-branded Hilton high-rise hotel, the former existing buildings at the site, which were the Sea Hawk Inn & Suites and Sea Horn Inn & Suites, are being demolished. Tempo by Hilton will present Myrtle Beach visitors with a stylish and contemporary brand that offers dynamic public spaces, including an open lobby concept with dedicated spaces to relax and work. In addition, guests will get to enjoy premium culinary options developed in partnership with Bluestone Lane, such as the casual breakfast café and an inviting bar experience. The Home2 Suites by Hilton brand offers guests an all-suite extended-stay hotel featuring contemporary accommodations and customizable guest room design. There is no timeline as of yet for the opening of this hotel. We'll keep you updated!

The countdown is on until some of country music's hottest artists hit the stage in Myrtle Beach for Carolina Country Music Fest! Carolina Country Music Fest (CCMF) is ready to rock again this summer and planning its biggest party this June at the Boardwalk along the beach. With 18 acres of fun, sun, and country music spread over three days, June 9-12, 2022, CCMF is sure to sell out, so get your tickets before it's too late. This popular outdoor country music festival at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk first took place in 2015. Over the years, the event has grown from 20,000 attendees at its inaugural festival to 35,000 people amid last year's sold-out concerts. The festival site spans the Boardwalk to Ocean Boulevard and includes five performance stages, a Zip Line, 2 VIP areas, concessions areas, merchandise booths and more. If you haven't heard, the 2022 CCMF lineup has been revealed and it features more than 30 of the biggest names in country music. Some of the headlining performers you can expect to see at CCMF include Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Chris Lane, Chris Rice, Jon Pardi, Chris Janson, Riley Green and many other talented artists. To get your tickets to this June country music festival in Myrtle Beach, visit https://carolinacountrymusicfest.com/.

A popular traveling coffee cart recently debuted its first brick-and-mortar shop! Fans of Caspin Coffee are familiar with the company's exceptional brews from their mobile espresso cart known to frequent local farmers markets and other large events/weddings in the area. According to owners Bri and Nick Spinelli, one of the most common questions they would receive while out slinging coffee would be, is there a shop/storefront for Caspin? The community's incredible response to Caspin Coffee has turned the Spinelli's coffee cart side business into a permanent location, which recently celebrated its Grand Opening. At the new Caspin Coffee shop, located at 10764 Highway 707 Unit #2 in the Salem Shops near St. James High School, customers can enjoy a freshly brewed latte, americano or cold brew. Other drinks on the menu include tea, chai tea latte, hot chocolate and Caspin soda. With more than 20 flavors to choose from, you never have to worry about sipping the same thing! In addition, Caspin partnered with Rooted Beauty Pottery to serve coffee in handmade mugs painted in earthy, muted colors. For more information about Caspin Coffee's new Myrtle Beach coffee shop or their roving espresso cart, see https://caspincoffee.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/caspincoffee/.

As the Myrtle Beach region continues to grow, so do its cultural institutions. By this spring, the popular local children's museum, EdVenture, plans to more than double its footprint in Myrtle Beach's Market Common. Officials from the EdVenture Children's Museum reveal the space along Howard Avenue will expand its 3,000-square-foot space to a nearby 8,500 square feet location within the same shopping center. Aside from just being able to reach more students, the expansion of EdVenture Myrtle Beach means the museum will be able to offer more STEM-related programs and attractions for visitors. Families who have visited the Market Common location for EdVenture are likely to be familiar with the museum's various fun and exciting exhibits. However, if you're worried whether some of your favorite experiences will be part of the move, officials relate that beloved aviation and astronomy exhibits like the flight simulator and interactive space ship climb structure will remain intact. EdVenture operates as a non-profit "dedicated to creating new generations of lifelong learners through museum experiences, programming and camps," whose mission is to "inspire children, youth and the adults who care about them." The main museum can be found in Columbia and opened in 2003. To learn more about what's offered at EdVenture Children's Museum in Myrtle Beach, see https://www.edventure.org/myrtle-beach/.

The fine weather and sandy beaches of North Myrtle Beach make the city an ideal location for a new family-friendly form of entertainment and recreation. Currently, under construction on 720 Main Street, where a Bi-Lo grocery once stood, a K1 Speed indoor go-kart track is being built. The fun begins before you even enter K1, with a real NASCAR race car welcoming go-karters at the entrance. Owner, AJ Nardslico, is planning for a mid-February opening. K1's karts reach top speeds of 30 mph, but beginners will be directed to use speed-adjusted go-karts until they become more experienced. If you've always wanted to witness the thrill of racing, K1's 800-foot, bead-blasted track is made of concrete and provides more than one-eighth of a mile of live racing adventures. Nardslico relates that the experience at K1 Speed indoor go-kart track is an adrenaline rush that is a lot of fun. K1 will feature light refreshment options with an outlet for Myrtle Beach's Café Gelato and a small menu of burgers, hot dogs, nachos and wings, complemented by billiards and a bar serving beer and wine. In addition, the entire track can be rented out for parties. To stay updated, visit https://www.k1speed.com/myrtle-beach-location.html/.

North Myrtle Beach recently got a new destination for all kids to safely play and interact with purpose. In mid-November, STAR Academy, located at 647 Main Street, opened its sensory education play center for kids and families in the North Myrtle Beach area. Visitors will get a recreational outlet for their creativity and sensory needs as they explore, touch, feel and hear, stimulating their senses and offering a uniquely responsive space to grow in. Inside, parents will discover colorful walls and tactile equipment designed to excite and engage STAR Academy's youngest visitors. The acronym STAR stands for Sensory Teaching And Recreation. This new indoor playground offers great services, including open play opportunities, enrichment classes, individual services and support, parent support groups, and private parties. Co-owner Joanne Epstein-Wolk emphasizes that STAR Academy gives children the emotional support they need to develop socially as well. Meanwhile, slides, ladders, a foam pit and swings, and crafting tables staffed with a selection of toys complete STAR Academy's "stimulus package." Epstein-Wolk is a former teacher and administrator in the New York City Public Schools and brings plenty of experience in child development to North Myrtle's new facility. To learn more, see https://www.staracademynmb.com/.