黑料社入口

The Myrtle Beach area will kick off the vibrant summer season with a string of festivities and celebrations this Memorial Day weekend.

Memorial Day in the United States is the final Monday in May, a day set aside as a tribute to military service members who gave their lives in defense of their country.

And across Horry County this coming weekend (May 24-27), residents will gather to pay their respects.聽In addition to the Memorial Day celebrations, motorcycle engines will continue to roar as Bikefest in Atlantic Beach is in full swing through May 26.

The calendar of events includes parades, a veterans march, and solemn ceremonies where residents will wave American flags and listen to patriotic speeches and music.

Several events are slated in Myrtle Beach, starting with the annual Military Appreciation Days Parade on Farrow Parkway in the Market Common, which is the redeveloped Myrtle Beach Air Force Base that closed in 1992.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24. Col. Thomas 鈥淏uddy鈥� Styers will serve as grand marshal, Ed Piotrowski will be the emcee, and Piotrowski鈥檚 father, retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Piotrowski, will be the honorary grand marshal.

Styers is the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Redevelopment Authority and a decorated Vietnam-era veteran who retired after 26 years in the U.S. Air Force.

A public picnic will immediately follow the parade in Grand Park, featuring live music by The 100 Grand Band, and a free hamburger and hot dog lunch for all attendees.

Area events, in addition to the long holiday weekend, will bring an increase of vehicle, motorist and beachgoer traffic that beckons public safety measures.

"The Memorial Day weekend continues to be one of our busiest times for the City and the Grand Strand,鈥� said Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock. 鈥淲e will continue to focus on keeping our community and visitors safe and ask everyone to be mindful of local ordinances and State laws while enjoying our beautiful City, as public safety is a shared responsibility.鈥�

Myrtle Beach City Manager Fox Simons signed an executive order authorizing local law enforcement to prohibit the use of golf carts on Ocean Boulevard. The executive order also authorizes the chief of police鈥檚 discretion in utilizing assistance from additional agencies and modifying traffic patterns.

Myrtle Beach Police Department said the public should expect an increased presence of law enforcement in the area accompanied by the Summer Emergency Vehicle Access Plan traffic pattern between May 23-26.

MBPD said the plan is used to improve response times, increase officer visibility and enable officers to be proactive in addressing safety concerns in the area.

Myrtle Beach traffic patterns

Golf carts will be prohibited on Ocean Boulevard between 29th Avenue North to 29th Avenue South, from Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26.

Pedestrian barricades will be placed along the curb on Ocean Boulevard between 29th Avenue North to 29th Avenue South. All driveways and crosswalks will remain open to pedestrians.

The SEVAP traffic pattern closes the northbound lane of Ocean Boulevard from Ninth Avenue North to 16th Avenue North. Traffic will only flow south, creating a lane dedicated to emergency response vehicles.

Road closures will be reflected in Google Maps and Waze transportation phone apps. .

Chester Street, Withers Drive and Yaupon Drive will be closed to traffic.

The public can access Ocean Boulevard from Kings Highway using the following streets:

• 21st Avenue North
• Mr. Joe White Avenue
• Ninth Avenue North
• Third Avenue South
• Ninth Avenue South
• 13th Avenue South
• 19th Avenue South
• 25th Avenue South
• 27th Avenue South
• 29th Avenue South

Atlantic Beach Bikefest

The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival will bring thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to the town of Atlantic Beach over Memorial Day weekend.

Atlantic Beach is a small coastal town which acted as a haven for Black beachgoers during segregation and now welcomes Black bikers from across the southeast for the annual bike festival. The festival, also known as Black Bike Week, is centered around Atlantic Street for what the town describes as the largest Black motorcycle rally in the country.

Vendors line Atlantic Street selling memorabilia and food, and bikers park and watch the sights as thousands of bikes ride through the town. Also parked on Atlantic Street will be dozens of law enforcement vehicles and officers. Atlantic Beach, with a population of less than 200 and a barebones police force of about five officers, relies on outside help to protect the thousands of visitors.

North Myrtle Beach, the city which surrounds Atlantic Beach, will also see an increased police presence from North Myrtle Beach Police Department as well as from agencies around the state, city spokesperson Lauren Jessie said.

鈥淭hey are here for the benefit of all residents and visitors, and their key focus in North Myrtle Beach is traffic management, crime prevention, and overall public safety,鈥� Jessie said. 鈥淭he City welcomes all visitors and reminds motorcycle riders to respect our community and follow local laws. This includes following the City's noise ordinance and refraining from speeding, doing burnouts, weaving in between cars, or holding up intersections.鈥�

North Myrtle Beach traffic patterns, rules

Barricades will be set up from May 23鈥�26 on U.S. 17 from 37th Avenue South to 25th Avenue South in the city of North Myrtle Beach.

The traffic pattern will separate drivers passing by from traffic heading to the festival 鈥� Atlantic Street is between 31st Avenue South and 29th Avenue South.

鈥淭he goal is to keep traffic flowing so that gridlock does not occur,鈥� Jessie said. 鈥淲hile Law Enforcement works to keep traffic moving, we ask that everyone practice patience. Drivers should remain attentive, watch for motorcycle traffic, and anticipate and be prepared for longer travel times over Memorial Day Weekend.鈥�

The city of North Myrtle Beach welcomes visitors and motorists, but requests individuals to be mindful of local laws.

Noise ordinance violations and motorcycle violations will be enforced with citations up to $1,000 and/or arrests.

Quiet hours in North Myrtle Beach are between 11 p.m. through 7 a.m.

Common motorcycle violations are speeding, burnouts, weaving between cars and "holding" intersections to allow a group to continue through without stopping for a red light or stop sign.

Between May 15 through Labor Day, shading devices other than umbrellas are prohibited and electronic bikes and bicycles are not permitted on the beach.

City of Myrtle Beach rules, curfew

Local law enforcement tightens the order of public life in Myrtle Beach to keep the influx of visitors and our residents safe during the summer season.

Violations of the following ordinances are misdemeanors. Penalties for violating the following can be a fine up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail, upon conviction.

• Between May 1 through Labor Day, dogs are only allowed on the beach before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
• Between May 1 through Labor Day, dogs and bicycles are only allowed on the boardwalk between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• All dogs must be on a leash of at least seven feet or shorter. Service dogs are allowed at all times.
• Only circular umbrellas, up to seven-and-a-half feet in diameter, are allowed on the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Umbrellas must be in line or behind the line of lifeguards.
• The city of Myrtle Beach enforces a curfew for juveniles age 17 and under to be off the streets between 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. Penalties for violating the curfew can be as much as $500 and/or 30 days in jail, upon conviction. Parents can be charged as well.

Myrtle Beach weekend events

A Blessing of the Bikes will take place on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Spring Bike Blessing Event invites the Myrtle Beach community to join faith leaders at New Spring Church for fellowship and free hotdogs. Blessings will be provided by Christian Motorcyclists Association at 3001 黑料社入口 Boulevard.

Styers is also the featured speaker for the city鈥檚 Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, which will be held at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center at 2101 N. Oak St. in Myrtle Beach.

Festive Brass, the Grand Strand鈥檚 ceremonial brass band, will warm up the crowd with patriotic music beginning at 10:30 a.m. prior to the Remembrance Ceremony.

The 30-plus member all-brass British-style brass band will also appear in concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 at the General Robert Reed Recreation Center in the Market Common. Now in their 28th season, the band will perform patriotic music honoring the service and sacrifice of those who gave all.

The annual Jack Platt Veterans鈥� March and Battlefield Cross Ceremony is slated for 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26, on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. The march will begin at 16th Avenue North and end at Plyler Park at 1000 North Ocean Blvd.

Conway events

Several Memorial Day events will also be held in Conway on Monday, May 26.

Conway American Legion Post 111 will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the post at 3003 Highway 701 N., honoring those who fought and sacrificed.

A Memorial Day Tribute is also slated for 2 p.m. Monday in the McCown Auditorium at the Horry County Museum in Conway.

The annual observance will include a moment of silence, the presentation of colors by a color guard, live patriotic music and the recognition of veterans by branch of service and era.

Attendees will also view a new documentary film produced by local author and historian Rod Gragg about the Norton twins of Horry County, who sacrificed their lives as bomber pilots over Europe during World War II.

Surfside Beach events

Surfside Beach will observe Memorial Day with a pair of events on Monday, May 26.

The annual Memorial Day Golf Cart Parade begins at 11 a.m. Golf carts dressed in their patriotic best will travel south on Ocean Boulevard from Dogwood Drive North to Melody Lane. Prizes will be awarded.

Surfside鈥檚 Memorial Day ceremony is slated for 2 p.m. at Memorial Park at the corner of Surfside Drive and Willow Drive North.

Cecil Chandler will be the emcee, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department Honor Guard will lay a wreath and present the colors, and the featured speaker will be retired U.S. Marine Corps Capt. John Reddington, a Korean War combat veteran.

Memorial Day in North Myrtle Beach, Loris and Murrells Inlet聽

The annual Memorial Day service in North Myrtle Beach, presented by American Legion Post 186 with assistance from VFW Post 10804, will be held at the Veterans Memorial in the city park and sports complex beginning at 11 a.m.

In Loris, the annual Memorial Day Service will be held in the restored State Theatre at 4149 Main St. at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24.

In Murrells Inlet, American Legion Post 178 will host its annual Memorial Day observance beginning at 11 a.m. at the post at 3950 Highway 17 Business. The Pawleys Island Concert Band will perform.

All of the events are free, and the public is invited.

Weekend weather

Saturday and Sunday should be a great day for parades, picnics and motorcycle rides, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

The forecast for the Memorial Day weekend is for sunshine and low-humidity on Saturday and Sunday, with highs of about 80 degrees on Saturday and 82 degrees on Sunday. Overnight lows will be in the high-50s.

On Monday, a cold front will be approaching from the south, bringing with it the threat of rain showers and thunderstorms, NWS meteorologist Mark Bacon said. The forecast calls for a 30% chance of precipitation, with a high near 82 degrees.