The 4th of July will be a time for celebrating with friends and family, and there are a number of activities in the Myrtle Beach area to commemorate the Independence Day weekend.

Some parts of the Grand Strand are getting into the spirit early, with events scheduled for this weekend and beyond. Below are the times and dates:

• June 28 – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Conway Riverfest Celebration – Riverfront Park in downtown Conway – fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
• June 28 – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Italian Festival – The Market Common
• July 3 – 6 to 11 p.m. – Salute the Military and Kids’ Bike Race – Myrtle Beach Speedway

On July 4th, a cupcake eating contest and parades are just a few of the events one can find along the Grand Strand. Below are the times for all 4th of July activities:

• 7 a.m.  – Fifth Annual Independence Day 8K/5K – The Market Common in Myrtle Beach
• 10 a.m. – 48th Annual Pawleys Island 4th of July Parade – Myrtle Avenue in Pawleys Island
• 10 a.m. – North Litchfield Children’s Fun Parade – Hanover Street in North Litchfield/Pawleys Island
• 12 p.m. – 31st Annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade – Garden City Point
• 1 p.m. – Fifth Annual Salute From The Shore – Myrtle Beach area shoreline
• 2 to 5 p.m. – Third Annual Cupcake Eating Contest – Croissants Bistro and Bakery in Myrtle Beach
• 6 to 10 p.m. – Surfside Beach 4th of July Celebration – Surfside Beach Pier
• 7 p.m. – 4th of July Celebration with the Indigo Chorale Society – lawn of the Kaminski House Museum in Georgetown

 Below is a list of all fireworks displays along the Grand Strand on July 4: 

• 9 p.m. – East Bay Park in Georgetown
• 9 p.m. – USS Yorktown – Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant
• 9:05 p.m. – Battleship North Carolina near downtown Wilmington
• 9:30 p.m. – Surfside Beach Pier
• 9:30 p.m. – Cherry Grove Fishing Pier in North Myrtle Beach
• 10 p.m. – Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach
• 10 p.m. – Veterans Pier at the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk
• 10 p.m. – Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach
• 10:15 p.m. – Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach

Following the Myrtle Beach Pelicans game –TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach

For a complete listing of all events in the Myrtle Beach area, go to www.GrandStrandEvents.com.