Myrtle Beach’s Sun Fun Festival Scheduled for June 5-6

Myrtle Beach’s Sun Fun Festival® Offers New Location and Even More Free, Family-Friendly Events

Festival Kicks off June 5-9 and Ends Labor Day Weekend with Beach, Boogie & BBQ

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Myrtle Beach area will officially kick off the summer season along the Grand Strand with the 57th annual Sun Fun Festival® June 5-9. The fun lasts all summer long with days full of free, family-friendly events, concerts and much, much more. This year’s line-up offers an exciting, new location — Grand Park on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. The emphasis is on the “fun” in Sun Fun this year.

“While we always want to show locals a fantastic time during our festivals, our goal is to put more heads in beds and to promote the Grand Strand through lots of top-notch entertainment and free events,” said Brad Dean, president and CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “A family just can’t beat all the national acts, activities, events, contests and competitions — all without digging into their wallets.”

“The new face of Sun Fun is shining in 2008,” said Holly McMillan, festivals director, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “Without a doubt, this year’s festival will be bigger and better, with more space to grow the event at Grand Park. Of course, we’ll have our traditional events such as the Miss Sun Fun pageants, but we’re also introducing many new events, thanks to a growing list of sponsors and presenters.”

The Sun Fun Festival® will feature hot air balloon and boat rides, celebrity meet-and-greets, food and arts/crafts vendors, a parade of favorite kids’ characters, to name a few activities, all free. Here are some of the June 7 highlights of exciting, events:

* 57th Anniversary Sun Fun Festival® Kick-off Ceremony presented by The Sun News, June 7 – The event features a performance by Ruben Studdard of “American Idol” (Season 2 winner), live entertainment on festival stages and celebrity meet-and-greets with Cody Linley of “Hannah Montana,” Eric Braeden of “The Young and the Restless,” Ace Young of “American Idol” (Season 5 finalist) and Selena Gomez of “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Free.
* Concert Featuring Third Eye Blind, June 7 – Free.
* Kids Zone Games sponsored by Beach Bouncers Inflatable Party Rentals, June 7 – A bouncing good time with inflatable rides and games. Free.
* 11th Annual Sea Doo Surf & Turf Jet Ski Racing Championship, June 7-8 – Personal watercraft racing as part of the American Power Boat Association national tour. Free to spectators.
* Sun Fun Beach Run, June 7 – Take your pick of a 5K run/walk or a 1-mile fun run sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and city of North Myrtle Beach in cooperation with the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and North Myrtle Beach Recreation Department. Free.
* 57th Annual Sun Fun Festival® Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Melrose Pyrotechnics, June 7 – Free.

Register for a chance to win the official Sun Fun Festival® car, a 2008 Ford Focus sponsored by the Carolina Ford Dealers, which will be given away during the Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival (register to win all summer at www.SunFunFestival.com).

The Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival, to be held August 29-30 (Labor Day weekend), will feature the official