Opa! Another Great Reason to Visit Myrtle Beach in the Fall

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To many locals, fall is considered the best time of year at the beach. We have the most wonderful weather of all four seasons, less traffic, fewer visitors and, of course, the festivals! 

If you haven’t had the chance to enjoy one of our many fall festivals, then the very first thing you need to know is which is the must-attend festival — and that is the St. John’s Greek Festival. This year, the festival will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. You must make plans to attend — you won’t be sorry, and you will likely be starting a great new tradition!

This is the 25th edition of the annual St. John’s Greek Festival in Myrtle Beach. The church itself is both stunning and impressive in appearance. Located on the Highway 17 Bypass at 33rd Avenue North, it is centrally located and easy to find. Festivities will be held in the fellowship hall of the church as well as on the facility’s expansive grounds. Of course, visitors will also recognize it by the hundreds of festival-goers enjoying the crafts, food and music.

Bring the whole family, and make sure to come hungry, because to say that the delicious meals and treats are plentiful is a true understatement. Your taste buds will be tempted and thrilled with delicacies such as roasted lamb, Greek salads, spanakopita, gyros, pastries, breads, and — you cannot forget — the Greek beer and wines! With so much to choose from, you may want to make plans to attend more than one day of the festival. For those in a hurry, St. John’s makes it easy to grab dinner with to-go orders being handled by volunteers throughout the festival.

After indulging, you are going to want to work off some of those calories you consumed, and that’s easy to do with Greek music and dancing. Don’t know how to dance? No problem! You will find plenty of attendees who are happy to show you the Greek way.

Looking for some shopping or browsing time? The festival has you covered there, as well, with vendors and booths galore both from local businesses and artists. You’re sure to find something you want to take home to remember the day, or even the perfect presents to begin your holiday shopping.

St. John’s Greek Festival is a family-friendly event, offering many children’s activities including inflatables, a climbing wall, and arts and crafts. Your little ones will enjoy the day as much as the grown-ups. Children ages 10 and under are admitted for free, making the day easy on parents’ wallets as well.

Another well-loved part of the festival experience is that St John’s opens up the church for public tours. If you’ve passed this gorgeous church, then it’s undoubtedly caught your attention. Not only is it is uniquely designed, but it is a true work of art that you will appreciate even more once you step inside the holy sanctuary. Members of the church are on hand to answer questions and conduct tours throughout the festival. You will have the opportunity to not only see this gorgeous building up close and personal, but also to learn about the history and customs of the Greek Orthodox Church. 

You may come for the gyros, baklava or the tiropita, but you will remember the day for so much more than just the food. Live music and dance performances, demonstrations about Greek customs, a tour of St. John’s Church, arts, crafts, children’s activities and even a little ouzo make this the festival event of the fall season. The price is also family-friendly, with admission at only $1 per person, and kiddos under 10 are always free. The festival opens each day at 11 a.m. Bring your appetite and make a day of it! If you would like more information on the event, you may call 843-448-3773. Enjoy!