The Forest at Briarcliffe's Holiday Season Runs Up the Waterway, Not Down It
October 22, 2026
October 22, 2026
The holiday event most closely tied to the Intracoastal Waterway is the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta, and it ends before it reaches Barefoot Landing. On Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the lighted boats head south from Little River and finish at Dock Holidays Marina in North Myrtle Beach around 7 p.m. That marina sits north of Barefoot Landing. For The Forest at Briarcliffe, which counts Barefoot Landing as its nearest shopping and dining hub, that changes how the season works. Seeing the regatta means driving north. The tree lighting, the golf cart parade and the Christmas show all take place on a short stretch of Highway 17.
So the season comes down to two trips. One is the drive up the waterway to see the boats. The other is the short run to Barefoot Landing for nearly everything else.
The Intracoastal Christmas Regatta is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The organizer says the flotilla leaves the Little River Inlet at 5 p.m., travels south and arrives at Dock Holidays Marina at 7 p.m. The official start point is Grand Harbour Marina, at around 5 p.m.
According to Dock Holidays Marina, it sits at 1525 13th Avenue in North Myrtle Beach, about one mile south of the Little River Swing Bridge at Intracoastal Waterway mile marker 348.2. Barefoot Landing is at 4898 Highway 17 South, farther down the waterway. The parade ends before it gets there.
That means a Briarcliffe household watching the regatta will be standing somewhere between Little River and 13th Avenue. The organizer says to watch "anywhere in between these locations that you can see the water," and adds a request to "be mindful of businesses & residents."
Destination North Myrtle Beach lists the host as Yachts for Tots of North Myrtle Beach and Little River. Watching is free, and toy or cash donations are encouraged. The organizer's own site explains how to donate toys.
The organizer publishes a list of official viewing locations. Every one of them is on the route, and the route ends north of Barefoot Landing.
Many of these are restaurants, so the regatta can double as a dinner reservation. The parade runs about two hours from start to finish, so when the boats pass depends on where you are. Spots near Grand Harbour see them closer to 5 p.m. Spots near the finish see them closer to 7 p.m.
That timing creates a scheduling conflict at home. Men Without Hats plays the House of Blues Music Hall at Barefoot Landing that same Saturday at 7 p.m. The regatta reaches the marina at the same hour. Pick one plan for Nov. 28.
One week earlier, the season starts much closer to Briarcliffe. Lighting of the Landing is Saturday, Nov. 21, at Barefoot Landing, hosted by WPDE's Ed Piotrowski and Jennifer Abney.
Barefoot Landing has posted the order of the evening:
Santa visits run until 8 p.m., and Destination North Myrtle Beach lists admission as free. The schedule changes each year: Barefoot Landing's earlier announcements gave Nov. 22 for 2025 and Nov. 23 for 2024. Use Nov. 21 for 2026.
| Date | Event | Where | Time | Cost to Attend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2 to Dec. 31 | The South's Grandest Christmas Show | Alabama Theatre, 4750 Hwy. 17 S. | 7 p.m., selected 1:30 p.m. matinees | Ticketed |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Lighting of the Landing | Pepsi Stage, Barefoot Landing | 6 p.m. | Free |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Intracoastal Christmas Regatta | Grand Harbour Marina to Dock Holidays Marina | About 5 to 7 p.m. | Free, donations encouraged |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening | House of Blues, 4640 Hwy. 17 S. | 7 p.m. | Ticketed |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | Annual Holiday Golf Cart Parade | Barefoot Landing | 1 p.m. | Free to watch, $10 per cart entry |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve fireworks | Barefoot Landing | Not yet posted | Not yet posted |
The regatta and the tree lighting are single nights. The Alabama Theatre's Christmas show runs for two months. The South's Grandest Christmas Show plays six nights a week at 7 p.m., with 1:30 p.m. matinees on selected dates, at 4750 Highway 17 South.
The theater's November calendar has shows Nov. 2 to 7, 9 to 14, 16 to 21, 23 to 28, and on Nov. 30. Sundays are dark. The December calendar has shows Dec. 1 to 5, 7 to 12, 14 to 19, 21 to 23 and 26 to 31. There are no shows on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. New Year's Eve has two performances, at 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Two dates line up neatly. On Saturday, Nov. 21, there's a 7 p.m. show on the same night as the tree lighting at the Pepsi Stage, where Alabama Theatre performers are on the program. On Saturday, Nov. 28, a show also runs while the regatta is moving south toward Dock Holidays. Both events are close enough to Briarcliffe to pair with dinner.
Holiday shopping at Barefoot Landing has a new local option this year. Holly Street Home is a locally owned home décor and gift boutique at 4888 Highway 17 South, and it has a DIY candle bar. Barefoot Landing added the shop to its directory on June 29, 2026. A candle you pour yourself makes a good gift for hosts this season, and you won't need to drive into Myrtle Beach for it.
Fifteen days after the regatta, Barefoot Landing hosts a parade of its own. The Annual Holiday Golf Cart Parade is Sunday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m., with decorated carts driving through the property. Entering a cart costs $10, and the proceeds go to the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach. Watching is free. The listing does not include a route or registration details yet, so anyone planning to decorate a cart should check with Barefoot Landing directly.
The regatta raises toys for Yachts for Tots, and the cart parade raises money for local animal care. Both are charity events with free viewing, and the second one is on a Sunday afternoon at Barefoot Landing, a short trip from Briarcliffe.
House of Blues, at 4640 Highway 17 South, fills December with regular concerts. The House of Blues calendar lists Jeremy's Ten on Dec. 4, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening on Dec. 11, Underoath at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, Hardwired on Dec. 18, Nightrain on Dec. 19, Billy and The Jets on Dec. 27 and Pandora's Box on Dec. 29. All shows start at 7 p.m. except Underoath. None of them are billed as holiday shows, but they work for a night out between family visits.
On New Year's Eve, Destination North Myrtle Beach lists fireworks at Barefoot Landing on Dec. 31. The 2026 start time hasn't been posted. Last year's time is not a safe guide, so check again in late December before you plan dinner.
The regatta makes a good evening with out-of-town guests, and the Thanksgiving weekend timing works for that. If you have family visiting and want help with the rest of the trip, or you want to hear how the waterway side of The Forest at Briarcliffe changes from season to season, Kim Brooks is happy to talk it through. Schedule a consultation, and we'll start with your own stretch of the waterway.
She is more than an agent; she is your neighbor and guide to the beach lifestyle. Kim leverages over a decade of real estate experience and a genuine passion for service to help families create lasting memories. Reach out to her for a friendly, results-driven experience.