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Myrtle Beach Celebrates Groundbreaking of the City’s First-Ever Boardwalk

MYRTLE BEACH, SC ? September 9, 2009 ? The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Myrtle Beach have announced plans to celebrate the city's mile-long Oceanfront Boardwalk and Promenade project set to be completed in Spring 2010. A kickoff celebration ? to be held on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 ? in honor of the September 8 groundbreaking aims to gather visitors and locals alike to welcome the highly anticipated boardwalk; the first of its kind in the popular Myrtle Beach area.

The $16 million boardwalk project was conceived in 1999 as a development that would enhance the Myrtle Beach visitor experience and revitalize Myrtle Beach's downtown sector. Traversing through the sand from the 14th Avenue to Second Avenue Piers, the boardwalk will provide oceanfront views of the pristine beachline and will be divided into three different sections. The northernmost portion will wind down from the 14th Avenue North Pier to Plyler Park. The mid-section will be located from Plyler Park to the former Pavilion Amusement Park site at 8th Avenue North and will encompass more of a carnival-like atmosphere with oceanfront dining and businesses. The southernmost end of the boardwalk leading up to the 2nd Avenue pier will have a meandering oceanfront park.

"As one of the country's premiere beach destinations, it is thrilling to see this project come to fruition," said Brad Dean, President & CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "The boardwalk development will add another essential element of affordable fun to the destination and will help revitalize the downtown Myrtle Beach atmosphere. We're excited to jump start the project with this downtown block-party celebration, complete with all kinds of beach music and fun."

The free celebration kicks off Friday, September 25 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with entertainment legends The Temptations Review headlining an evening concert. The weekend will also feature some of the top names in Motown music ? bringing a touch of Southern soul to the festivities. The celebration picks up again Saturday, September 26, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. with even more beach music from popular regional bands like The Fantastic Shakers, Charlie Thomas' DRIFTERS, Legends of Beach (includes two of the original band members from The Embers) and The Stylistics.

The kickoff event will be held downtown, in classic block-party style, stretching Ocean Blvd. from 10th Avenue North to 8th Avenue North. In addition to the live entertainment, visitors can also have fun at a 50's and 60's Era Classic Car Show and get down on the world's largest Shag Dance floor (located on the site of the former Pavilion's Magic Attic near 9th Avenue North. A beer garden will be set up between 8th & 9th Avenues North and numerous local businesses along the way will open their doors to provide refreshments and tasty treats for guests of all ages. The celebration weekend will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display over the beach Saturday evening.

The weekend's events will also feature a one-of-a-kind, colored sand-art rendering of the coming boardwalk created by Team Sandtastic, who constructed the World's Largest Sandcastle in Myrtle Beach in 2007. The display will be one of the largest pieces of colored sand-art in the world reaching 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide. The massive creation ? using upwards of twelve different colors of sand - will give visitors a chance to catch a sneak peek of the future, reestablished downtown area. The artwork will use approximately one ton of sand and will sit on an estimated 50 tons of sand as a base and plateau.

The Myrtle Beach area, popularly known as the Grand Strand, stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island, comprising 12 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast. Home to world-class golf, 60 miles of sandy beaches, an assortment of entertainment and family attractions and Southern hospitality, the Myrtle Beach area presents the quintessential vacation experience.

Content Provided By www.VisitMyrtlebeach.com

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