The holiday season is such a magical time, and along the Grand Strand there are so many activities and events to take in and experience. One of our favorite things to do is to see great Christmas lights, whether it is a professional display or a spectacular home that gives the professionals a run for their money. It would be hard for us to pick just a few, so I’ve picked my favorite spots throughout the area. And of course, anyone that is from here (especially Conway) knows that the Christmas season officially begins when the Tinfoil House says it does. Here are some of my favorites:

Conway:

It is hard to beat the drive by display at the homes on Sessions Street, and the original three families have decorated their properties for decades and have become a beacon of North Conway. Not to mention, my uncle Bill Jr. and Aunt Naomi (one of the three homes) are some of the kindest and hard working people you’ll ever meet. Pair this with the City of Conway’s Celebration of Lights in Downtown, and you have a fun evening. This event has evolved into a drive through light show, decor throughout downtown, shops participating on Thursday nights with live window displays, the Christmas Carnival, a Santa’s village, train rides, and more. There is so much to do, find more events here: https://tockify.com/ conwayscchristmas/pinboard

Murrells Inlet:

By far a time honored and favorite tradition of our family is attending Brookgreen Gardens Nights of a Thousand Candles. What started as a couple of weekends leading up to Christmas has morphed into a multi-month event that has tickets sold out months in advance. The Gardens come alive at night with candles, lights, incredible displays, music, food, and more. This is always a hard ticket to get, but Brookgreen will continue to open up tickets throughout the season, so our best advice is to just keep checking each night on their website to see if ‘SOLD OUT’ label is not there and you can score tickets. We suggest going at dusk to really take it all in, and enjoy some of the best food the inlet has to offer in the catering tents. If you need a little more holiday magic, stroll along The Marshwalk’s Wonderland of Lights and enjoy this complimentary light display hosted by the restaurants in the area. Bookmark the Brookgreen Gardens website here: https://www.brookgreen. org/events/nights-thousand- candles

North Myrtle Beach;

It doesn’t get any better than The Great Christmas Light Show hosted at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. With over two miles of drive through and 500+ displays, this one is sure to amaze. Finish off the evening at Santa’s Village with everything from stores to a petting zoo! Learn more here: https://www.nmb.us/433/ The-Great-Christmas-Light-Show

Ripleys Aquarium Festival of Trees:

This event has become a favorite for locals and visitors! For decades, Ripley’s Aquarium has been the cornerstone of Broadway at the Beach and one of the most visited attractions in the Southeast. Every year they display 55+ trees, each state gets its own tree, and more throughout the aquarium. Not only do you get to experience the creatures, exhibits, and fun of the aquarium itself, but the absolute magic they incorporate for the holiday season is unmatched. Take advantage of less crowds and spend a day with the family! Purchase tickets here: https://www.ripleys.com/ attractions/ripleys-aquarium- of-myrtle-beach/events/ festival-of-trees

These are just a few, and let’s not forget the amazing home displays throughout the area, including Gigi Martin’s Christmas Light Display that is a local favorite in Surfside. What are some of your favorites?