A Message from Jim Parker

Spring has returned to Myrtle Beach again, and along with warmer weather, we’re also welcoming the advent of festival season. 

The festivals that Myrtle Beach has to offer continue to help build the culture of our county by exposing people to a variety of diverse experiences.  This month, the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival will be held from Tuesday, April 23 – Saturday, April 27.  Founder and local film producer Jerry Dalton has done a fantastic job hosting this event for the past fourteen years— and it’s an event that consistently draws large crowds from as far away as Russia and Europe.  This year, Melissa Gilbert, author of Little House on the Prairie, is going to be a red carpet special guest along with Timothy Busfield, who has over 650 professional credits. He acted in Revenge of the Nerds, Field of Dreams, and Thirty Something.  Be sure to read more about it on page 18. 

Another longtime favorite, The Dragon Boast Festival, supports the Christian non-profit group, Ground Zero Ministries.  The event provides people from the community the chance to gather together as a team and learn how to operate and race a large boat.  It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to come together and share in something fun and different— it builds community, and is something everyone looks forward to every April.  This year, it will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 9am-4pm. 

Then there is the 1000 Lights Lantern Festival.  The lantern festival is a popular celebration of beauty and the good things in life, and we’re excited to have to it be at Grand Park in the Market Common this year.  We share more about this festival on this month’s front page, so make sure you don’t miss it, or any of these wonderful gatherings, either. We include more information about all of the festival offerings happening this month in the community section Happy spring!