The nights come to life with the glow of seasonal cheer during the holiday months! In Murrells Inlet, Brookgreen Gardens is hosting a Christmas spectacular through the New Year, illuminated by more than 2,800 hand-lit candles and thousands of lights. The Nights of a Thousand Candles display is on full exhibit at the beautiful grounds of Brookgreen Gardens, located at 1931 Brookgreen Garden Drive. The event is scheduled for Thursdays through Sundays until December 19th. Then, following a Christmas break, the spectacle returns Wednesday, December 29th to Sunday, January 2nd, 2022. Guests are encouraged to stroll through the living exhibit and Christmas display from 4 pm to 9 pm with cocoa, warm cider, or a glass of wine in hand. Carolers, holiday music, and live entertainment complete the experience. The Nights of a Thousand Candles was dubbed "Best Christmas Lights in South Carolina" by Travel+Leisure Magazine. The dazzling light show was also a recipient of the 2018 Charles A. Bundy award for excellence in tourism from the South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism. Attendees are also invited to enjoy the "Lighting of the Trees" at 6:45 pm each evening in the Brookgreen Gardens Leonard Pavilion. Due to pandemic-related concerns, ticket numbers have been limited to reduce exposure to crowding. Therefore, tickets must be purchased in advance. Patrons can get a bite to eat in the Sculpture Garden, where the Old Kitchen will be serving small plates and beverages, and hungry holiday revelers can find food trucks next to the entertainment tent near Pegasus. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2021/.

With so much commercial development taking off in Myrtle Beach, the trend to push commercial luxury retail centers upwards and outwards continues. In a move to be part of what's arguably the hottest commercial market in the area right now, Michael King, the CEO of local real estate agency KingOne Properties International, will develop Lake View Commons, a 1.3-acre complex coming to North Myrtle by next year at the corner of Ninth Avenue South and U.S. 17. The $4 million Lake View Commons will be marked by a large decorative fountain in addition to being just a hop and a skip away from Main Street. The upcoming six-unit commercial center will house office space for doctors, financial planners and interior designers. Each of the spaces for the commercial tenant will be 2,100 square feet. Included in the lineup is a second location for Myrtle Beach's Crave Italian Oven & Bar. King anticipates finishing the first phase of Lake View Commons will take about a year once work officially gets underway. The developer also has his sights set on a second phase of Lake View Commons and recently purchased a 1.6-acre tract to the north of the first complex for a potential second building. To stay updated, see https://www.lakeviewcommonsnmb.com/.

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/.