By Michael Baginski/ It’s a love affair that’s been going on for 65 years. That’s how long Myrtle Beach has been hosting – and Canadians attending – Can-Am Days in the coastal South Carolina city. Of, course, Canadians were acquainted with the Grand Strand long before the 1961 festival launched, but that’s when the relationship got serious.
This year’s festival – dubbed a “celebration of friendship and community” – will take place across the Myrtle Beach’s 14 communities March 13-22, comprising 10 days of special events, parades, music, food, and beach fun. It’s the latest edition of the long-standing ritual for sun-seeking Canadians during Spring Break.
“Sixty-five years is a long time for anyone to have a relationship – and it is a very special relationship we have,” says Stuart Butler, president of Visit Myrtle Beach. “We love our Canadian friends, and from what they tell us, they love Myrtle Beach too.
“It’s part of our culture to welcome people not just from America and Canada, but from across the world, and I would say (Canadians) have a special place in our heart, because they believed in Myrtle Beach before the rest of the world realized what Myrtle Beach was. And we won’t forget that!
“And so, to go back 65 years and say that the Canadians were coming here in droves, and have continued every year – even in recent years when we know not as many Canadians are looking to travel to America, we still find that a lot of them are coming to Myrtle Beach and having a great time and realizing that a lot of the rhetoric they’re hearing on the media isn’t necessarily reflective of how people feel.”
As such, it’s certainly no secret that this year’s festival holds greater meaning than most with Canadian traffic to Myrtle Beach down 30% in 2025, in line with a general decline in visitations to the U.S. in the time of Trump.
But Butler says early indicators for this year’s event suggest a boost in numbers over last, not least because Canadians who attended last year, perhaps with some political apprehension, “overwhelmingly said they felt welcome, loved, and like they belonged.”
At the same, time he says, “And we had a lot of communication with folks that didn’t come in 2025, but they still feel connected to Myrtle Beach, and they still want to have that relationship, and they’re still watching our web cam and dreaming of being here.”
He adds that many of them implied that despite all the political rhetoric, the state of the economy and level of the Canadian dollar were a greater factor in having to stay home.
Research, he says, confirms “It’s a one-to-one correlation that the more favourable the Canadian dollar, the more likely folks are going to want to travel to America. And they know that in Myrtle Beach they they’re going to find value for money.”
With this in mind, he notes that, beyond the destination’s general affordability, a staple of Can-Am Days are the exclusive deals and discounts offered to Canadian visitors every year, which can include up to 50% off hotel rates, select live entertainment, attractions, restaurants, and more.
And while the festivities and special offers last throughout the week, the Grand Strand region of South Carolina has always had a host of incentives that carry on well past the festival, sometimes all year, reflecting the destination’s long-standing connection, and appreciation of its northern neighbours.
As for Can-Am Days 2026, highlights of the week will include:
- Can-Am Days Welcome Reception (date TBA)
- Ripley’s Can-Am Plaza Party in front of Ripley’s Aquarium
- Run to the Sun Car Show (March 19-21)
- Surfside Barbecue Festival (TBA)
- Nights at Nance Concert Series (TBA).
This year will also see the festival coincide with St. Patrick’s Day (March 14) – always a lively time in the destination.
There’s also over 90 golf courses (plus Myrtles Beach lays claim to being the Mini Golf Capital of the World), 2,000 restaurants, 100 kilometres of ocean front, shopping, and all the attractions that have tempted Canadians for decades, no matter the time of year.
Or the stage of life you’re in, Butler adds.
“Whether you’re travelling with a young family, with teenagers, empty nesting, or travelling as a group of friends… we have something to offer you. Myrtle Beach is a place that can grow with you and that relationship deepens.”
Himself an expat-Brit, the Visit Myrtle Beach boss also has another theory.
“Our secret sauce is that our people here, they have a little bit of Canadian in them,” he laughs. “They’re super friendly, super welcoming, it’s not like many other places in America – you sort of get more of a Canadian vibe because everyone just smiles and says hello. And that’s not typical in a lot of areas of America.”
For the latest Can-Am Days doings and deals, go to https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/events/can-am-days.
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