When you think of Myrtle Beach, you may have visions of unforgettable scenery, starry nights, and sun-filled days. But did you also realize that the city is home to some world-class entertainment?
If you enjoy a good show, you'll find a number of entertaining attractions in this oceanfront community, appealing to all different sorts of musical tastes. In fact, Myrtle Beach is gaining a reputation as a premiere entertainment center on the Eastern seaboard. Others call it the "Branson of the South," referring to the country music mecca of Branson, Missouri. Myrtle Beach locals say that, if you can only see one show, you should make it the electrifying Carolina Opry.
Created by entertainer-entrepreneur Calvin Gilmore, the musical comedy extravaganza debuted in the spring of 1986. While the opry opened in Surfside Beach, it drew such a large audience it had to move to a 2,200-seat state-of-the-art theater.
If you think you'd be interested in a galloping good time, you might want to head to the Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show. A five-million-dollar production, the show features a team of sensational horses and skillful riders who prance through a huge 35,000 square-foot arena. The exhibition includes jumping, roping, racing, trick riding, and wagon racing, along with a cast of Southern belles and timeless heroes. A spirit-filled romp, the Dixie Stampede also offers show-goers a tempting four-course feast to soothe their appetites.

While in Myrtle Beach, you can also be entertained by the likes of supergroups such as Alabama and the Gatlin Brothers who call the Grand Strand their home. In addition to country music and variety shows, Myrtle Beach presents ice skating programs and circus acts. The area also boasts a number of nightclubs where you can dance the night away, or else listen to live or recorded music, or sing karaoke to your heart's content.
It's interesting to note that The Shag, South Carolina's official dance, began in North Myrtle Beach.
"Fun" is the operative word in Myrtle Beach; it's a place of boisterous, family-centered entertainment which is designed to humor both young and old alike. It's impossible to be bored in this city-by-the-ocean, with so many fascinating amusements going on and so many different ways to spend an evening.