57th Annual Can-Am Days Festival, March 10 – 18, 2018

Approximately 18 million visitors come to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to vacation each year ranking it as one of the fastest growing family and vacation destinations in America.  This year, the Myrtle Beach area received several new accolades:  1) It was ranked the Third Most Searched Travel Destination in the World by Google, 2) It was categorized as one of the Travel Channel’s Best East Coast Beaches, and 3) It was listed as a Top 10 Beach Town with the Highest Quality of Life by Coastal Living.

Selected as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the past 12 years by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Can-Am Festival offers a series of concerts, beach activities, sporting events, and other community-sponsored activities that provide an endless array of things to do.  The Can-Am Days attract more than 100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds from the northern states.  It is considered the first International Festival organized in South Carolina.

In 1961, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce started “Canada Days” in an effort to bring the Canadians to the Grand Strand during their spring school break. In 1963, the name was changed to “Canadian-American Days” to include all of our neighbors to the north. “Can-Am Days celebrates our snowbird visitors, who escape the cold and snow for the beautiful climate and wealth of attractions of the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, MBACC president and CEO. “Many of these visitors have been traveling to our destination for decades, and we strive to create new memories for each generation through our festivals.”

Although the Canadian-American Festival only lasts one week, March 10-18, tremendous discounts are being offered through the end of May 2018 by select Myrtle Beach area, hotels, merchants, golf courses, restaurants, live entertainment venues, and attractions.  The discounts are designed to help Canadians make up the difference in the exchange rate and range from 25 percent to 55 percent if you possess a valid Canadian passport.

“We have seen a growing number of Canadian visitors to the Myrtle Beach area, especially in the past decade,” said Julie Ellis, public relations and communications manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB. “The late winter and early spring seasons offer mild weather, more affordable accommodations and more elbow room at area attractions. The special promotions for our Canadian neighbors provide even more incentive by bridging the gap in the exchange rate.”

Great discounts are being offered by some of Myrtle Beach’s top attractions such as WonderWorks, Ripley’s Myrtle Beach Attractions, Carolina Opry and NASCAR experience at the Myrtle Beach Speedway.  To receive the discounts, you must possess a valid Canadian ID.  The Myrtle Beach Chamber and area businesses hope that Myrtle Beach will continue to be an affordable vacation spot for Canadians utilizing these deep discounts.

We are looking forward to welcoming our northern neighbors during the Can-Am Days.  Special offers and Can-Am Festival Events are currently posted at    https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/events/can-am-days/ and special offers will continue to be added on the Can-Am promotions page.

The Grand Strand is not only a popular vacation destination due to its southern hospitality, sandy beaches, smorgasbord of attractions and entertainment, world-class golf and outstanding fishing, it is also a great place to live.  The Grand Strand encompasses 60 miles of beautiful beaches from Little River to Pawleys Island with 14 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast.  Many of our northern visitors become residents.  In fact, we would like to leave you with an intriguing story told below by Troi Kaz, one of our Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living agents in the Pawleys Island office.

“Twenty years ago, two Canadians came to Myrtle Beach to enjoy Can-Am Days. Last week they bought a home in DeBordieu Colony! Troi Kaz, our Pawleys Island Area agent who represented them says “it was amazing hearing their story! They came as young Canadians because they could plan a great, economical, beach vacation in Myrtle Beach during Can-Am Days. Now, with established careers behind them, they are planning their retirement.”  Troi said they immediately fell in love with DeBordieu Colony, the gated, ocean front, golf community just south of Pawleys Island. And they fell in love with this contemporary home that closed this week!”

Photo Credit: The Lachicotte Company

— So welcome Canadians! We’re glad you’re here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to enjoy Can-Am Days! We would be delighted to assist you with finding your future home here!  Just give us a call at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Elliott Coastal Living, 843-280-5704, and we will put you in contact with one of our knowledgeable beach real estate agents.  For a list of all the CanAm Events, go to www.canamdays.com.