Special Events
Troy Marron, Special Events Supervisor
OVERVIEW
The Special Events Division serves within the Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department. The division coordinates all special events efforts and facility rentals. To view a list of the city's many parks, playgrounds and facilities, visit the City Facilities, Parks and Playgrounds webpage. For facility rental information, visit the Facility Rentals webpage.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A "SPECIAL EVENT?"
A special event constitutes an outside or outdoor entertainment, amusement, athletic or political event. These events are advertised or promoted inside and/or outside the city, on private property or in the exclusionary use of public property. It involves a large number of people and vehicles that impose foot-traffic and vehicular congestion. A special event has a specific start and stop date, and has no intervening dates of event inactivity, except for legislative or city-sponsored events.
Here's a general list of examples of a special event...
- any spectator event (football game, basketball game, baseball game, golf tournament, hydroplane competition or boating competition)
- any sporting competition (marathon, running event, bicycle race or tour)
- automobile or motorcycle rally
- block party
- circus
- community event
- concert
- fair
- festival
- filming
- parade
LAWS REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS
The City of Myrtle Beach's Code of Ordinances is available online. Specifically, Article VI of the city's Code of Ordinances addresses the laws regarding "Special Events, Parades, Facility Use, Public Performance and Picketing."
SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS & APPLICATION
Special events by definition can create challenges for the city. These challenges include, but are not limited to: parking needs; sanitation needs; security needs; road closures; emergency service needs; and, the safe erection and operation of rides, games or machines.
To preserve and maintain the City of Myrtle Beach's top priority, public safety, the city uses a permit process to help plan and facilitate special events. This ensures the health, safety, wellness and welfare of event attendees and city residents alike. And, the permit process prevents the city from rendering unforeseen or excessive costs associated with the response and management of an event to preserve the public peace.