The Sun Fun Festival of

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as "The Grand Strand" in the northeastern part of the state. Its y ...

was first started in 1951 as a way to celebrate the beginning of the tourist season in the seaside community. Parades and family oriented events helped draw crowds down to the beach and the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. Early events included Human Checker Board games and a local "law" requiring everyone to wear shorts or a bathing suit or face a fine. Funds went to help build the area's first hospital, Ocean View Memorial Hospital. Beauty contests soon joined the fun of the festival and in 1952 the first Miss SC pageant was held at the Pavilion. Author

Mickey Spillane Frank Morrison Spillane (; March 9, 1918July 17, 2006), better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American crime novelist, whose stories often feature his signature detective character, Mike Hammer (character), Mike Hammer. More than 225 million c ...

was one of the judges. Long sponsored by

Hawaiian Tropic Hawaiian Tropic is an American brand of suntan lotion. Hawaiian Tropic was founded by Ron Rice in 1969. Rice became the largest private manufacturer of sun care products in the United States, until Hawaiian Tropic was acquired by Playtex Produ ...

Sun Tan Lotions, the festival now includes Miss Sun Fun and Miss Bikini Wahine. The Sun Fun Festival is the longest running event in Myrtle Beach area history. It is consistently named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events. However, the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce cancelled the festival for 2012 and 2013, citing that "it does not bring visitors to the beach as it did in early years and it doesn't pay for itself". On February 25, 2016, The Oceanfront Merchants Association announced the festival will once again be held. Buz Plyler, owner of Gay Dolphin Gift Cove, will be presenting sponsor.

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Things To Do In Myrtle Beach
Tourist attractions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Festivals in South Carolina Festivals established in 1951 1951 establishments in South Carolina {{US-festival-stub