Dance the Night Away at the 2018 Shag Festival

When you think of the Grand Strand, there are plenty of things that come to mind, but one of the most famous exports of the Myrtle Beach area has been the shag! No, not the carpet, the iconic dance that took the area by storm beginning back in the late 1930s and still holds a special place in the hearts of Grand Strand locals and guests alike.

No matter if you're a seasoned veteran or a newbie to the dance, during your upcoming vacation to Pawleys Island, take a quick drive to Georgetown and check out the 12th Annual Shag Festival, taking place on April 21, 2018.

If you're not familiar with the shag and its history along the Grand Strand, here's a quick primer for you. The dance was born out of the affinity white teenagers developed for rhythm and blues music that, at the time, was not broadcast over the radio and could only be heard on jukeboxes around Grand Strand beach clubs.

Many teens did this by attending African-American nightclubs and watching from the balconies, creating their own dances to the music being played. Eventually the demand for rhythm and blues music made its way to the majority of the area clubs and spawned the beach music scene that still exists to this day.

While the original version of the dance was fast-paced, with the rising popularity Motown sound of the 1950s the shag slowed down to the pace that is more similar to the current version of the dance. Today, the shag is the state popular dance of both North and South Carolina.

Now that you know all about the shag, why not celebrate this special tradition of the Grand Strand? The 12th Annual Shag Festival in Georgetown is the perfect place to enjoy a fun-filled night of great beach music and dancing. If you are a rookie to the shag, between 6-7 PM you can take part in lessons to learn the steps and become a pro at the shag in no time!

The festival takes place in the historic district of Georgetown on King Street and will last until 11 PM with great live beach music provided by the Heart N' Soul Band. Food vendors and beer and wine will be available on site and the festival is sure to be a fantastic celebration of beach culture. Tickets for the festival are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and all proceeds of the festival are donated to Alzheimer's research and local charities within Georgetown county.

With the Shag Festival taking place on Thursday April 12th, that makes the perfect excuse to enjoy an extended weekend vacation to Pawleys Island! And with our great booking deals like our Spring Into Savings special you can reserve your Pawleys Island condo at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort, Pawleys Plantation Resort or True Blue Resort at unbelievable savings! Plan your trip to Pawleys Island today and don't miss out on all the fun this spring!