63rd annual Can-Am Days celebrates Canadians living in, visiting Myrtle Beach

Gracie Fusco
·2 min read

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — This week marks the start to the 63rd annual Can-Am Days in Myrtle Beach.

It’s a week to celebrate and welcome Canadians who live and visit the city and to honor the friendship between America and Canada by providing many events and local discounts to Myrtle Beach-area favorites.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce said Canadians account for more than 3% of all the visitors that come to the Grand Strand.

“Canadians are such an important part of our local economy, small businesses, and hotels,” said Marlane White with the Chamber. “We appreciate them being here so much.”

White said they chose this week as its Ontario Schools’ spring break and they see an influx in visitors this time of year.

The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. When it was brought back in 2022, Canadians returned to enjoy the sun.

White said when the borders opened back up, they saw an influx in Canadians coming down.

“We saw license plates everywhere, it was so exciting,” White said. “It was great to have them back on our golf courses and enjoying our beaches.”

Some Canadians visit for the summer, while others visit for good.

The Hutchinson family is on the Grand Strand for vacation, but they have a special connection with Can-Am Days.

“When I was younger, we came here twice and I remembered the Can-Am Days, and so I looked it up before we came when planning our trip just to see if it was still going on,” said Tina Hutchinson, an Ontario resident. “I wanted to introduce our kids to it.”

Other Canadians, like the Petersen family, visit for good. They moved here to Myrtle Beach in January 2023 and opened up Nellie’s Pizza, bringing their own Canadian flair.

“We added some Canadian touches like the poutine and the great Canadian moose knuckles,” Christin Petersen said.

Christin’s wife, Nellie, said she was surprised to see how many Canadians lived on the Grand Strand.

“Our restaurant brings in a lot of Canadians,” she said. “A lot of them were asking questions about [how] to relocate here as well.”

Can-Am Days goes until Sunday. Here are some of the scheduled events:

  • Monday & Tuesday — Ontario Junior Players Invitational Golf Tournament

  • Tuesday — Ripley’s Can-Am Plaza Party

  • Thursday, Friday & Saturday — 35th Annual Run to the Sun Car Show

  • Sunday — 9th Annual Luck of the MarshWalk Event

For more information, click here.

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Gracie is a multimedia journalist at News 13 and is from Cleveland, Ohio. Gracie joined the team in June 2023 after graduating from the University of Alabama in May. Follow Gracie on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, & read more of her work here.

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