Lee has served as cochairman of the parade since the beginning, with his friend, Bob Hendrick, who has since passed away, assisting him as his counter-chairman. Today, Lee runs things on his own with the help of the Boy Scouts.
“People call me throughout the year to plan for next year,” he says. “This is a big event for everybody— they plan months in advance. We have to create the theme, the logo— secure the permitting. There’s a lot to organize logistically with the Coast Guard, police and restaurants, so everyone can set their schedules.”
The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade is free and open to anyone who wants to participate. You can register your boat before July 4 at several different locations. Or, on the day of the parade, you can register at the Committee Boat, which is at the beginning of the parade.
The time for the parade changes annually, as it’s dependent on the tide. This year’s parade starts at 9am. From beginning to end, it takes about an hour and a half.
It starts at the point of Garden City, which is the mouth of the Inlet, and then runs past the houses of Garden City, along the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk, past Crazy Sister Marina and Belin Methodist Church, and finishes at the end of Parsonage Creek.
The best locations from which to view the parade are along the Marsh Walk or in the parking lot of Belin Methodist Church.
“You’ll see people decorate their boats, they’ll have costumes, they’ll have music,” Lee says. “We give trophies for the best decorated boats and the best decorated docks. People go all-out with red, white, and blue flags and banners. We’ll have judges on the committee boat and along the creek to judge.”
The Murrells Inlet Boat Parade may be a local event, but its reputation has spread to the point where it has been featured nationally. CBS news did a television clip on it several years ago.
“It’s become a great family event,” Lee says. “Families and friends gather out on the boats; the houses and docks along the creek are decorated. Restaurants along the Marsh Walk serve food and beer. There are picnics and cookouts; people show up by the thousands. It’s a great community event. It creates a strong sense of fellowship, and raises funds for the Boy Scouts. It’s just a good, fun day.”
