The Carolina Opry

The Carolina Opry is the show most locals recommend first, and the reason Myrtle Beach has a stage-show tradition to rival Branson's. The theater sits on North Kings Highway at the north end of Myrtle Beach, and its productions are built around a large cast of singers, dancers, musicians and comedians backed by a live orchestra, moving fast through country, pop, gospel, Motown and patriotic numbers with comedy in between. The house style is polished, wholesome and high-energy: think Broadway-level production values applied to a family variety show, with vocal standouts, fiddle and clogging, and a comedian who works the crowd. From November 2 to December 31, 2026, the theater stages its holiday production, billed as The Christmas Show of the South, which marks its 40th season this year. It mixes long-time Opry favorites with new talent: the 2026 cast includes baritone Moses Braxton, Nashville recording artist Brad Long, The Voice finalist Delvin Choice, fiddler Trent Wideman and comedian Ricky Mokel, along with the clogging and dance troupes, about 35 vocalists and musicians, a seasonal brass section and the Calvin Gilmore Orchestra. Calvin Gilmore directs and produces. The Christmas show runs evening performances with select matinees, and seats go on sale a year in advance, so the best dates and seats go early. Outside the holiday run, the theater presents The Carolina Opry Show, Time Warp and a performing arts concert series.

For many families, the Opry's Christmas show is the trip. Grand Strand hotels fill with holiday travelers and tour groups in November and December, and this show is the most requested ticket in town; it has been a tradition for over thirty years for families who come back annually. The production moves between upbeat holiday pop and country, comedy segments and big dance numbers, so expect a show that is both festive and sincere. Clogging, a fiddle feature and the comedian's audience interaction are reliable highlights.

Booking strategy: decide on your dates first, then book early; seats are released a year ahead and weekends and the weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas sell fastest. Use the theater's calendar page to choose a performance, and call the box office for group bookings or accessibility needs. Arrive early, as the parking lot and lobby fill well before showtime during the holiday run. Dress is casual to smart casual, and the show is suitable for all ages.

If you visit outside November and December, the theater's year-round lineup still makes a strong evening: The Carolina Opry Show is the classic variety production, and Time Warp is the theater's second resident production; check the calendar for what is playing on your dates. The theater sits next door to Pirates Voyage on Kings Highway, so a show here pairs naturally with a north-end dinner, or with a beach day in North Myrtle Beach, about fifteen minutes up the road.