Myrtle Beach’s Season of Celebration

From a horse drawn sleigh and ice skaters on stage to angels high above two guys on a mission, the Myrtle Beach area theatres celebrate the season with spectacular holiday productions. Blend in outlet, mall and specialty store shopping options with a host of wonderful events and you have the ingredients for a memorable winter tour.

• This holiday season Calvin Gilmore is pulling out all the stops to bring you the Silver Anniversary season of The Carolina Opry. A holiday tradition for 25-years “The Carolina Opry Christmas Special” brings the spirit of Christmas to life with music, comedy and dance. The theatre is transformed into a winter wonderland where the magic comes alive from November 1 through January 1, 2011. Matinees are available on select days. www.TheCarolinaOpry.com

• With traditional classics and contemporary favorites “The South’s Grandest Christmas Show” at Alabama Theatre is sure to please every visitor. The theatre’s talented cast of musicians, dancers and vocalist present a spectacular musical experience that will put your tour in the Christmas spirit. This year’s grand production begins November 2^nd and continues through January 1, 2011. Matinees are available on select days. www.alabama-theatre.com

• Legend’s In Concert, now in its 15^th Myrtle Beach season, is dedicated to tribute artists and their music. The holiday line-up will remind you of those great Christmas Specials from the early days of television. Performing this year are Bing Crosby, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Elvis Presley, Diana Ross and a very special act to be announced. The 2010 Holiday Show begins November 1 and continues through December 22. Matinees are available on selected Tuesdays and Saturdays. www.LegendsInConcert.com

• This year The Palace Theatre will present a brand new show, “Christmas on Ice,” starring 16 Ice Skaters from previous Winter Olympics, high kicking dancers and vocalists from London’s West End and Broadway. The Palace Theatre stage will be transformed into a magnificent winter wonderland. “The Magical Spirit of Ireland Holiday Show” returns for its 3^rd season in the intimate King Suite Showroom. www.PalaceMB.com

• This year at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede watch and enjoy as the Sugar Plum Fairy magically brings to life a toyshop filled with colorful, giant toys. The holiday spectacular “Christmas at Dixie” runs from November 5^th through January 2, 2011 and features a Live Nativity Scene, a fabulous four-course holiday feast and plenty of entertainment. www.dixiestampede.com

• For its 15^th season Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament transports the audience back in time to the 11^th century. Enjoy the magic of a medieval holiday in North America’s longest running dinner show. Pageantry and excitement combine in this unique entertainment experience with heroic knights and beautiful Andalusia horses. www.medievaltimes.com

Along with fabulous entertainment at Myrtle Beach’s live theatre venues comes a magnificent variety of holiday events. For a complete list that will expand your itinerary and delight your guests visit www.MyrtleBeachGroups.com. Here are just a few to get you started.

• November 1 to December 30: Ripley’s Aquarium, South Carolina’s most visited attraction, presents the “Festival of Trees.” Over 50 trees representing each state in the United States display the heritage and diversity of our great nation. www.ripleysaquarium.com

• November 11 – 14: The “29^th Annual Dickens Christmas Show & Festival” is a journey back to the 19^th century and a Victorian Marketplace with unique gifts, crafts, gourmet foods, clothing, toys and much more. www.dickenschristmasshow.com

• November 14: Carolina Beach Music Awards, Alabama Theatre www.cammy.org or www.alabama-theatre.com.

• November 15-Deecember 31: Broadway at the Beach’s “Christmas at Broadway” features dazzling themed lights, entertainment and special events. www.broadwayatthebeach.com.

• November 25-27: 41^st Annual South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival www.aandabluegrass.com

• November 30 & December 3: The 8^th Annual Holiday FantaSea, co-sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Coastal Network Cooperative, welcomes groups for two free mornings of award-winning entertainment, spectacular giveaways and a ton of Southern Hospitality. This 2009 ABA Top 100 Event is the Myrtle Beach area’s way of thanking groups for visiting. Reserve space for your group by e-mailing Mandy.Holt@VisitMyrtleBeach.com

• December 3-5: Springmaid Beach Resort’s 24^th Annual Winter Arts & Craft Show is where crafters display woodcrafts, glass & jewelry and much more. Admission is free. www.springmaidbeach.com

• December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 16, 17 & 18: Brookgreen Garden’s Nights of a Thousand Candles ushers in the holiday spirit with lights and luminaries, holiday music and Lowcountry food delicacies. A truly spectacular event awaits your group. www.brookgreen.org.

Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse welcomes groups with hospitality

“It is just part of the Brazilian culture to treat visitors to their restaurant as though they were guests in their home,” stated Charlotte Bruton, Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse marketing manager. “Our guests are truly guests and their needs are our top priority,” she continued.

If you’ve never experienced a Churrascaria and Brazilian culture, you are encouraged to do so. The tradition began in the early 1800s in Southern Brazil by cowboys, or Gauchos. For their “churrasco” barbecues they would dig a pit and slowly grill large pieces of meat over hot wood burning embers. Using their knives the tender portions were sliced from the skewed meats.

Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse proudly continues this tradition with wood grilled offerings served tableside, known as rodizio-style dining. Fifteen different cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken are offered. Adapting to their seaside surroundings, shrimp has been added to the offerings. Additionally, an extensive salad bar provides a variety of fresh cut vegetables, salads, seafood and side dishes. Beverage and a light dessert are included for groups.

For your entrée signal your friendly Gauchos to bring skewers of sizzling meats to your table by flipping the green side of your token up. Until you’re ready again indicate No Thank You by turning up the red side of your token. If you decide you want more, simply flip back to green.

Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse is open 7-days a week at 4:00 PM. Plan to allow at least 1.5-hours for your dining experience. A limited luncheon menu for a minimum of 50 guests is available with advance reservations. Upon request a private dining area is available for groups.

Arrange for your group to enjoy this truly wonderful dining and cultural experience by calling 843-839-0777, rioz@tbonz.com or visit online for more information at www.rioz.com.

Student Youth Planning Guide Available

MYRTLE BECH, SC (June 14, 2010) – The “2010-2011 Myrtle Beach Area Student Youth Planning Guide” is now available. The 16-page guide presents the reader with numerous tour ideas in both the educational and performance categories. Student/Youth tour suppliers and their individual offerings are also included in the guide. To begin planning exciting educational, performance and competition tours for your student/youth groups request the Planning Guide by calling 800-488-8998 or e-mailing Sandy.Haines@VisitMyrtleBeach.com

Charleston-based company to manage Surfside Beach Resort

CHARLESTON, SC (June 7, 2010) – Charlestowne Hotels has reached an agreement to manage the oceanfront Surfside Beach Resort, previously known as the Days Hotel Surfside Beach. The 157-room oceanfront hotel is located adjacent to the historic Surfside Pier and is a favorite of groups visiting the South Strand. 800-533-7599 or www.SurfsideBeachResort.com

Tour Options - Honoring our nation’s heroes

Within a few hours drive of the Myrtle Beach area there are numerous sites and attractions where groups can pay tribute to veterans from all branches of the U.S. military. In the evening Myrtle Beach area theatres come alive with world-class entertainment honoring those veterans who served to protect our freedom.

Whether it is a hub & spoke tour based in Myrtle Beach, or simply a stop on the way here – no other destination and its surrounding area offers as many tour options honoring veterans. Here’s a Yellow Ribbon Tour that’s sure to please.

Day 1 – Regardless of the path traveled to the Myrtle Beach area there are military sites and attractions on virtually every route. All are within an easy drive to/from Myrtle Beach and blend easily into your itinerary.

• Just south on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant, SC is Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Home to the USS Yorktown this historic ship houses the Congressional Medal of Honor Museum and priceless warplanes from WW II to present day conflicts. 843-884-2727 or www.patriotspoint.org (1 ¾ hours from Myrtle Beach) 
• Just north on Highway 17 in Wilmington, NC rests the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. This powerful ship rests peacefully now, but depicts daily life on-board for the crew and the furious combat they faced in the Pacific Theater. 910-251-5797 or www.battleshipnc.com (1 ¾ hours from Myrtle Beach)
• Further north on Highway 17 is Camp Lejeune. Since September 1941, Camp Lejeune has been the home of “Expeditionary Forces in Readiness” and throughout the years, it has become the home base for the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and other combat units and support commands. 910-451-7440 or http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/visitors/group_visitations/ (3-hours from Myrtle Beach)
• In Columbia, SC just off I-20 Fort Jackson serves as the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Center of Excellence. Over 3,000 pieces representing the U.S. Army and its soldiers are on display at the base museum. 800-276-6984 or http://www.army.mil/info/organization/jackson/ (3-hours from Myrtle Beach)
• On Highway 378 an extraordinary opportunity awaits visitors at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC. The Poinsett Combat Weapons Range Complex is the only facility in the country that allows the public to view the bombing maneuvers of our nation's pilots. 803-666-4272 or http://www.shaw.af.mil/index.asp (2-hours from Myrtle Beach)
• On I-95 in Fayetteville, NC you’ll find the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. Beginning in 1940 with the birth of the U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon exhibits move the visitor through history ending with today’s airborne and special operations units. 910-643-2775 or www.asomf.org (2 ½-hours from Myrtle Beach.

Upon arriving in Myrtle Beach and checking into your accommodations, relax and than enjoy a great seafood dinner at Seafare Restaurant. Your choice of a plated seafood dinner, or wonderful buffet awaits you. Bring your first evening in Myrtle Beach to an enjoyable close at the Alabama Theatre. You’ll be moved with the closing number and their rousing tribute to veterans.

Day 2 – Plan on a day trip to Shaw Air Force Base, or Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Each is close enough and offers a memorable experience. Returning to Myrtle Beach you’ll have ample time to enjoy shopping at numerous outlet stores, specialty shops and malls. Enjoying a local attraction such as Brookgreen Gardens or Ripley’s Aquarium may be more to your liking and they both would welcome your visit. Do save room for dinner though. Any number of Myrtle Beach restaurants will be happy to provide a themed dinner for your group. Bring Day 2 of your Yellow Ribbon Tour to an end with the talented cast at Legends In Concert.

Day 3 - The short drive to Wilmington, NC and a visit to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA makes for a memorable experience. Historic downtown Wilmington is a treat and one you’ll be sure to enjoy. Lunch downtown or an excursion on the riverboat should certainly be considered. Do find some quiet time on the return drive and be well rested for your last evening in Myrtle Beach. Dinner at Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse is a fun (and must) experience. Nobody leaves hungry. Your day is complete at The Carolina Opry and the show that’s celebrating 25-years of entertaining Myrtle Beach visitors. The cast’s final number pays tribute to those that protect us and fought so we may be free.

Day 4 – Depart Myrtle Beach after breakfast at your host hotel. Thanks for visiting and to all the veterans - We Salute You!

Supplier Spotlight - Seafare Restaurant a tradition of service to groups and community

Stephen Karos and his wife Nicole operate one of the most unique and long-standing restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area. Seafare Restaurant has continually been at the forefront of buffet restaurants for more than 20 years welcoming groups for an unforgettable dining experience.

Carrying on a tradition of service and generosity to the community comes naturally to Stephen and Nicole Karos. Stephen’s parents always considered their guests and the community they lived as part of their extended family. They treated them as such, contributing where they could to local causes and organizations.

The Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway serves at risk male teens with histories of neglect and abuse by providing them spiritual fulfillment, educational services and mental health counseling as well as room and board. Once each month Seafare hosts all the residents of the center for dinner, treating the young men to a delicious seafood buffet, while providing them time away to enjoy a fun evening. Stephen and Nicole enjoy visiting with the group and catching up on progress made since their last dinner. The entire Seafare crew comes together to contribute to the center. The Karoses also serve on the executive board of the center and help with individual fundraisers throughout the year.

“Jason’s House,” a mission supported by Surfside United Methodist Church and area businesses, provides free vacations to families burdened by the care of a child with life-threatening cancer. The Karoses and Seafare Restaurant proudly contribute meals each year to “Jason’s House” in hopes of providing both a delicious meal and a night of family togetherness.

With the same energy and commitment Stephen and Nicole extend in their community service, they welcome groups to their brand new restaurant. Having moved in March of this year from a smaller location in Surfside Beach, they are now serving their wonderful 120-item buffet on the north end of Restaurant Row. Located on Highway 17 N the completely re-modeled restaurant is just minutes from The Carolina Opry and Alabama Theatre.

In addition to a bountiful buffet, Seafare Restaurant is proud to offer for groups’ only, plated seafood dinners. To make your dinner arrangements or for more information: 843-232-1366, groups@seafarerestaurant.com or www.seafarerestaurant.com.

News - New additions for Broadway at the Beach Include restaurants and shops for sports, technology and apparel

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (April 12, 2010) - Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC announced today that 17 new leases have been signed. The new additions to the state's largest tourist attraction include Ron Jon Surf Shop, Wet Willie's, Sanibel Sunglass Company, Sports Fanatics, Sharkey's Bar & Grill, Pizza Hut Express, Vintage House, State Fair, Euphoria, Mason's at the Beach, XCell Wireless Technology and Accessories, Baja Bistro, Tervis Tumbler and Zhedo Fashions. All of these stores, which will be located throughout the 700,000-square-foot Broadway at the Beach, will open between March and July. Two merchants, Toys N Company and Tsunami Surf Shop, have signed new leases and moved into larger locations. For more information about Broadway at the Beach, visit www.BroadwayAtTheBeach.com.