2006 Press Releases

45th Annual Can-Am Days Feature Events for Everyone

Mar. 1, 2006

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Myrtle Beach area has been rolling out the red carpet for Canadian visitors each spring for more than four decades during the annual Canadian-American Days festival and this year is no exception.

“Canadian-American Days started as a festival for Canadians visiting the Myrtle Beach area during their spring school break,” said Diane DeVaughn-Stokes, festival chairwoman. “This year, we wanted to celebrate the 45 years of Can-Am Days by building the festival into an event spanning all of the Grand Strand’s communities. We encourage Canadians, ‘snowbirds,’ American visitors and locals to enjoy the festival.”

The 45th annual Canadian-American Days will take place from March 11-19. The Can-Am Reception and Expo officially kicks off the festival and it takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at the Myrtle Beach Area Convention Center. Sponsored by Easy 105.9 FM and 94.5 FM “The Relaxation Station,” the reception will have approximately 100 local businesses and organizations participating by distributing complimentary items and coupons good for the month of March. The reception and expo will have refreshments, including free coffee provided by Wendy’s Restaurants, and entertainment by Mo Vint and his Mo Train, and the Burlington Teen Tour Band. In addition, those attending the reception will have a chance to win one of 100 raffle prizes throughout the day. New this year, guests can register to win one of five vacations from Fairfield Resorts.

The Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown communities have events planned for Can-Am Days. Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include the South Strand Wildlife & History Day at Huntington State Park (10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 15), which features ghost stories, salt marsh ecology, birding, Can-Am Little Olympics, Wendy’s International Kitefest, and the Tastes of Murrells Inlet and The South Strand; the Conway Loves Canadians and Americans Day (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, March 16) featuring glass blowing demonstrations, the history of blue grass in Horry County, historical walking tours and a quilt display; and the popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in North Myrtle Beach (9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 18) with food and entertainment in a street party atmosphere following the parade.

Other popular events returning to this year’s Can-Am Days include the National Shag Dance Championships in The Attic at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion (8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 9-10, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11) and The Pee Dee Street Rodders Car Show at the Waccamaw Factory Shoppes (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, March 16-17, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 18). Admission to the National Shag Dance Championships is $12-20; call (843) 497-7369 or go online to shagnationals.com for details.

For more information about the 45th annual Canadian-American Days festival, call (843) 626-7444. For a complete list of events, concerts and shows, visit CanAmDays.com or stop by one of the chamber’s visitors centers.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has stood for 65 years as the unified voice of the Grand Strand’s business community. The chamber serves Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Little River, Atlantic Beach, Garden City Beach, Loris, Conway, Aynor, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island.

Canadian-American Days Festival Wins Tourism Society Award

Jan. 24, 2006

MYRTLE BEACH , S.C. – Southeast Tourism Society (STS) has named the 45 th annual Canadian-American Days Festival as one of their Top 20 Events for the month of March 2006.

“The Top 20 Events represents the best festivals the Southeast has to offer. Events that win this honor benefit from the widespread exposure and prestige that being named a Top 20 Events affords,” said Stephanie Brown-Newton, STS communications director.

As part of this distinction, the Canadian-American Days Festival will be included in an STS-published list of quarterly winners that is sent to more than 300 newspapers, magazines, radio stations and TV stations, and to 125 AAA publications.

“We’re very excited the Canadian-American Days Festival was named as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2006,” said Stephen Greene, vice president of festivals and special events. “We strive to make this festival better each year and this year will be no exception. The Canadian-American Days Festival will be filled with fun, family events that create lasting memories of Myrtle Beach for our visitors.”

Started as an event for Canadians visiting the Myrtle Beach area during their spring school break, the Canadian-American Days Festival has evolved into a festival not only for visiting Canadians, but for all guests and locals in the Myrtle Beach area. This year’s festival will take place from March 11-19, with a large kick-off celebration and expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 14 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

As part of its evolution, the Canadian-American Days Festival has a new Web site, CanAmDays.com, that features a complete list of events, discounts, currency exchange information, transportation options, a business directory and more.

For more information, call (843) 626-7444 or visit CanAmDays.com.

Exhibitor Registration Open for Can-Am Days Welcome Celebration

Jan. 23, 2006

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is currently taking registrations from local businesses for exhibitor space at the Canadian-American Days Festival Kickoff Celebration & Expo (Tuesday, March 14.)

The expo offers a cost effective way for businesses to promote themselves to locals, “snowbirds” and Canadian visitors. Businesses must provide an applicable discount or incentive redeemable throughout the month of March 2006 for those attending the expo in order to be allowed to participate in the event.

The expo, which had more than 2,000 attendees last year, also will include drawings for more than 100 door prizes and entertainment by the Burlington (Ont.) Teen Tour Band and
Mo Vint and his Mo Train.

Business can register for the expo by calling (843) 913-7317 or online (Events). Registration is $50 for chamber members and $100 for nonmembers. Registration is open to the first 100 businesses and the registration deadline is March 1.

For a complete list of Can-Am Festival events, go to CanAmDays.com.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has stood for 65 years as the unified voice of the Grand Strand’s business community. The chamber serves Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Little River, Atlantic Beach, Garden City Beach, Loris, Conway, Aynor, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island.