Grand Strand Freedom Week Events Planned for Jan. 12-16 to Inspire Inclusion and Belonging

Annual MLK Day Parade, Small Business Expo & Community Service Events Scheduled

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—The Carolina African American Heritage Foundation (CAAHF), in partnership with the City of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC), is pleased to announce that the 2024 Grand Strand Freedom Week will be held Jan. 12 to 16 with a series of events planned to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., promoting inclusion and belonging.

“Grand Strand Freedom Week is all about bringing our residents and communities together and empowering each other through education and support. We call on all our community to embrace diversity, appreciate differences, and work collectively toward creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected,” said CAAHF Chairwoman Marcella Swans.

A highlight of the week is the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. Community groups are encouraged to participate. The route runs along Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Boulevard, from 15th to 8th Avenues North.

Following the parade, the MLK Community Resource Fair for youth will be held from Noon to 3 p.m. at Myrtle Beach Middle School, 3101 N. Oak St.

On Sunday, the CommUNITY Ecumenical Service takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Myrtle Beach at 3810 Robert M. Grissom Parkway.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the MLK Drum-Major Awards and Breakfast at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center will honor those in the community who are working to encourage unity and strength through achieving common goals. In the spirit of Dr. King, volunteers will participate in a service project at Bathsheba Bowens Memorial Park that afternoon.

The week will close with the first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Forum and Small Business Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The forum and expo will be held at the Horry-Georgetown Technical College Business Conference Center in The Market Common, 950 Crabtree Ln.

All events are free to attend except for the Drum-Major Awards and Breakfast and the DEI Forum and Small Business Expo. For more information and to register for events, visit CAAHF.org.