5 Ways to Enjoy a Firecracker Fourth on the Hammock Coast

Hometown Parades

Pawleys Island 4th of July Parade is a time-honored tradition with residents and visitors coming out to participate. This year the 54th Annual Parade rolls through the streets of Pawleys Island starting at 10 a.m. on July 4. Parade down the Island in anything that can be a makeshift float – boat, car, or flatbed truck! Decorate your float in true patriotic fashion with red, white, and blue. Enter a float in the parade by stopping by Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. to fill out an application. The cost is $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the parade. Applications are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you’re staying at DeBordieu Colony, their July 4th parade also begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Luvan and DeBordieu Boulevard. Golf carts are allowed in the parade, which is open to all. An All-American Lunch Cook-out follows the procession at the Beach Club Tent.

Few things are more All-American on the South Carolina coast than a holiday flotilla. Catch the 38th Annual Murrells Inlet Boat Parade at 3 p.m. at the MarshWalk. Wave as the festively decorated boats cruise through the inlet, enjoy live music and food and drinks while waiting for fireworks to light up the sky. 

Fire up the Grill

Most of our TideLife Vacation Rental properties have an outdoor grill on site. Stock up on hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, or chicken at a local grocery. Throw your favorite Fourth of July fare on the grill. What better way to spend the Fourth than with a good, old-fashioned cookout?

Make Homemade Ice Cream

Ever churn homemade ice cream on a beach vacation? Now’s a good time to start or bring back that family tradition. Bring an ice cream freezer. Lucky for us, you no longer have to hand crank them. Start with a simple recipe that calls for mixing four cups of milk (any fat level), one cup of sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour it in the ice cream freezer and process for about 20 minutes or until it starts thickening. Check the directions on your freezer as some require ice and others don’t. Throw in fresh strawberries, peaches, or blueberries for a true Southern treat. 

Take a Swim

After the burgers and ice cream, burn off those extra calories with a swim in your vacation rental’s pool. Make a splash while you wait for the evening’s fireworks.

Watch the Sky Light Up

Wherever you stay on the Hammock Coast, there’s a firework show nearby. Enjoy fireworks at 9 p.m. from your DeBordieu rental.

At 10 p.m., the sky above the MarshWalk in Murrells Inlet lights up with color during a 20-minute display. 

Come to the Hammock Coast for an All-American Fourth of July celebration.