Georgetown County July 4th weekend event guide

Celebrate America’s 250th Semi quincentennial Anniversary and enjoy a jam-packed weekend of community traditions across Georgetown County. Below is a comprehensive guide to the parades, live music, fireworks, and historic celebrations taking place from coastal beaches to historic downtown Georgetown and beyond.

City of Georgetown (Official SC250 & Carolina Days Events)

Serving as a prime hub for the statewide SC250 initiative, historic downtown Georgetown is hosting a weeklong “Carolina Days Celebration” highlighting its deep Revolutionary War roots.

• Music in the Park: Chairmen of the Board
  • When: Friday, July 3, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. 
  • Where: Maritime Park (729 Front Street).
  • What: Kick off the holiday weekend early with a massive beach music concert right on the waterfront. This performance is part of the city’s popular summer concert series sponsored by the Georgetown Business Association. Admission is free; beer and wine will be available for purchase (no coolers allowed). Come out and dance to soul and beach music legends!
• 1976 Time Capsule Opening
  • When: 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
  • Where: Georgetown County Courthouse Annex (129 Screven Street).
  • What: Join the community to open the historic Bicentennial time capsule buried exactly 50 years ago.
• Annual July 4th Concert on the Lawn
  • When: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
  • Where: Kaminski House Museum Lawn (1003 Front Street).
  • What: A beloved community tradition. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for a patriotic evening of live music featuring the Indigo Choral Society.
• Annual July 4th Fireworks Display
  • When: Saturday, July 4, 2026, at approximately 9:30 PM.
  • Where: Launched from Morgan Park (best viewed from the Harborwalk boardwalk and various waterfront vantage points).
  • What: Directed by the Georgetown City Fire Department with assistance from Munnerlyn Pyrotechnics, this year’s spectacular display features a synchronized musical soundtrack broadcasted live on WGEO-105.7 FM.
  • Closures & Parking Information: * Park & Road Closures: Morgan Park will close Friday, July 3 at 9:00 PM and remain closed until the morning of Sunday, July 5. Portions of Greenwich Drive and East Bay Street leading to the park will close Saturday, July 4 at 9:00 AM. For public safety, do not cross any posted barricades. Spectators are highly encouraged to park at East Bay Park and set up chairs or blankets on the grass behind the barricades. Please do not park on the grass or block streets, as lanes must remain clear for emergency vehicles.

• Carolina Days Celebration: The Great Georgetown Cookout
  • When: Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
  • Where: Maritime Park (729 Front Street).
  • What: Keep the holiday celebration rolling! Part of a nationwide Semi quincentennial effort to organize community dinners across America, this event invites neighbors to come together to enjoy a massive communal cookout with burgers, hot dogs, and a fun evening building community connections.

 Pawleys Island

• 60th Annual Pawleys Island 4th of July Parade
  • When: Saturday, July 4 – Parade starts at 9:00 AM.
  • Route: Begins at the South Causeway and winds down the island to Old Town Hall.
  • What: This year marks a massive dual milestone: America’s 250th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the island’s beloved parade tradition.
  • Registration & Merch: Float registration is $20 (register at Old Town Hall). Prizes will be awarded for parade floats across several categories (including Best Overall, Most Patriotic, Best Golf Cart, and Best Musical Theme), as well as Best House Decoration and Best Dock Decoration. Commemorative T-shirts are available for $20 each daily from May 26 through July 4 at Old Town Hall, or online via the official QR code. For more details, visit townofpawleysisland.com.

Murrells Inlet

• Annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade: Boats line up at 4:30 PM and the parade officially kicks off at 5:30 PM. Watch the beautifully decorated entries sail past Garden City Point and down through the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk.
• Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular: Cap off the night at the MarshWalk with one of the coast’s longest-running professional pyrotechnic light shows, starting at 10:00 PM.

McClellanville

• Revolution at Hampton!
  • When: July 3 and 4 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Where: 1950 Rutledge Road, McClellanville, SC 29458
  • What: A celebration of the 250th anniversary exploring how the Revolution affected Hampton Plantation and those who lived there. Includes drop-in indigo dyeing demonstrations (11 am – 3 pm – free) and guided mansion tours (12 pm – 2 pm $10) at the Hampton Plantation State Historic Site in McClellanville.

Andrews & Coastal Shorelines

• Salute from the Shore Aerial Flyover: While smaller inland areas like Andrews won’t host major standalone fireworks, residents across the county can look to the skies. Starting around 1:00 PM on July 4th, a massive aerial tribute of vintage military warbirds and modern fighter jets will track south down the coastline.
• State Park Viewing: Huntington Beach State Park will not host organized public holiday festivals or firework displays on-site, but its expansive, undeveloped shoreline serves as one of the premier public viewing spots in the county to watch the Salute from the Shore flyover.

Area Nature Retreats

If you are interested in spending your holiday weekend doing something more nature inspired, check out these great alternatives on the scenic Black River.

Black River State Park is South Carolina’s new linear state park, offering public access to river recreation and natural areas as facilities open.

Black River Cypress Preserve is a privately owned nature preserve near Andrews that welcomes scheduled groups by appointment.

While neither is planning public holiday events for the weekend, they offer quieter alternatives for visitors who want to trade the coastal crowds for paddling, trails, and blackwater scenery.