Conway, SC Goes Full Halloween Town (2026 Guide) — and Honestly, Every Other Holiday Too

Why Conway, SC (Yes, the One That Renames Itself "Halloween, SC")

You've driven past the signs for Conway on your way to Myrtle Beach a hundred times and never turned off. Big mistake. Because every October, this centuries-old rivertown drops its regular name and officially becomes Halloween, SC — and it is not being cute about it.

We're talking mini pumpkins dangling from the ancient live oaks over Main Street, twelve-foot skeletons lurking by the sidewalks, spiderwebs draped across every bush, and witches' hats strung overhead like the world's spookiest bunting. The whole downtown gets swallowed by decor from October 1 through the 31st. It's giving haunted-village-meets-Hallmark-movie, and we are absolutely HERE for it.

But here's the thing nobody warns you about: Conway is like this for every holiday. There's a two-story store downtown — River City Christmas — that's been selling decorations for every season since 1997 and stays open all year, which tells you everything about this town's commitment. Come December it transforms into a twinkling Rivertown Christmas fantasy with fake snow drifting down Main Street. This is a place that does not do subtle. Which makes it a perfect low-lift, high-charm fall weekend. Two nights is all you need.

When Does Conway Decorate for Halloween?

Short answer: the decorating ramps up in late September, and the whole town is fully dressed by October 1. That's the official kickoff of Halloween, SC, and the decor stays up through October 31.

A few things worth knowing:

• It happens overnight — literally. City crews hang the famous jack-o'-lanterns from the live oaks with bucket trucks in the wee hours, so you can drive through one evening and wake up to a totally different Main Street. Local reporting has put the count at around 2,400 pumpkins in the trees alone.
• Late September = sneak peek. If you're in the Myrtle Beach area the last week of September, swing through. You'll catch skeletons and cobwebs going up, with a fraction of the October crowds.
• First two weeks of October = sweet spot. Everything's fresh, the weather's warm, and the busiest event weekends haven't hit yet.
• Mid-to-late October = peak energy. Ghost Walk, coffin races, the most people. Book your room early.
• November 1 = Christmas mode. As soon as Halloween wraps, the city pivots straight to Rivertown Christmas decorating. (Of course it does.)

2026 City of Halloween Event Dates

Here's what's on the 2026 calendar. Dates and times come from Conway's published event roundups, so double-check the official City of Halloween calendar before you book, especially for anything ticketed.

Getting There

Fly into Myrtle Beach International (MYR) — Conway is a tidy 20-minute drive inland, so you skip the beach traffic and land right in the quaint. Rent a car; you'll want it for the drive and the decor-gawking.

Where to Stay

The splurge-ish charmer — The Cypress Inn. A Low-Country-style B&B sitting right on the Waccamaw River at 16 Elm Street, walking distance to everything downtown. Uniquely decorated rooms, a hearty breakfast, and a porch with marina views made for your morning coffee and zero agenda. This is the one to book first — it goes fast in October.

The riverside pick — The Riverfront Inn. Stunning Waccamaw River views and a cozy, unfussy vibe. Great if you want to be steps from the Riverwalk without the B&B breakfast-table small talk.

The easy value option — Fairfield Inn & Suites Coastal Carolina Conway. A reliable, free-breakfast chain just outside the historic core. Not romantic, but clean, cheap, and five minutes from the fun. Perfect when the group is splitting the bill and no one wants drama.

What to Do

Friday Evening

Roll in, drop your bags, and head straight to Rivertown Bistro on Main Street. It's been the downtown darling since 1994 — inventive Southern fare (yes, they even do sushi) with a deck overlooking the historic district. Order a cocktail, split something fried, and let the trip officially begin. Then take a slow after-dinner stroll under the lit-up oaks. This is not the night to pack in activities.

Saturday Morning

Coffee and pastries at The Trestle Bakery — a cozy hometown spot for fresh-baked everything and a proper Southern breakfast. Fuel up, because you're walking the whole downtown next.

Then do the Conway Riverwalk along the Waccamaw: centuries-old oaks, historic markers, public art, and river views. In October it's dressed to the nines in Halloween decor, so bring your phone charged — you'll be stopping every twenty feet for photos.

Saturday Afternoon

Shop the historic downtown. Duck into River City Christmas, the two-story holiday wonderland that stocks decor for every season year-round — it is genuinely worth the visit just to marvel at the ambition of it all. Poke through the galleries and boutiques, and if there's a market or pop-up happening (there's almost always one during October's month-long festivities), let yourself get pulled in.

Saturday Night

This is the main event. The Conway Ghost Walk runs October 14–16, 2026, 6–8 PM: a one-mile guided stroll with storytelling and theatrics that bring the town's genuinely old, genuinely spooky history to life. Reservations are required and it sells out, so book the minute you lock your dates. (Coming the weekend of the 17th instead? Trade the ghost walk for the Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Races that afternoon.) Cap the night at Bonfire right on the river for BBQ or tacos and one more drink with a water view.

Sunday Morning

Slow it down. Grab brunch at Crooked Oak Tavern or a riverside table, do one last decor-appreciation lap of Main Street, and hit the road caffeinated and charmed. You came for a town that goes overboard for the holidays. You are leaving as a believer.

What to Pack

• Comfortable walking flats or boots — this is a strolling-and-shopping weekend, not a heels weekend. Your feet will thank you. Shop cute walking shoes (affiliate link)
• A light layering jacket — coastal Carolina Octobers are warm by day, crisp after dark. A denim or utility jacket covers you. Find a versatile fall jacket (affiliate link)
• A crossbody bag — hands free for cocktails, phone ready for the endless photo ops. Grab a crossbody (affiliate link)
• A portable phone charger — you will take four hundred pictures of decorated oak trees. This is not a drill. Get a compact power bank (affiliate link)
• Something festive to wear — a little Halloween flair (orange sweater, a fun hat) fits right in here and makes the photos pop. Shop festive fall pieces (affiliate link)
• A refillable insulated tumbler — for that Trestle Bakery coffee you'll be sipping on the Riverwalk. Find a good travel tumbler (affiliate link)

The GGC Bottom Line

Conway is the rare girls' trip that costs almost nothing, asks almost nothing of you, and delivers wildly on charm. You don't need a spa itinerary or a packed schedule. You need a walkable downtown, a river, good Southern food, and a town so committed to the bit that it legally rebrands itself as Halloween for a month.

And the beauty is it works year-round. Come back in December for the fake-snow Christmas version. Come back in spring when the oaks leaf out. This town never met a holiday it didn't want to overdecorate — and that kind of unironic joy is exactly what a weekend away is supposed to feel like.

So stop saving Conway for a drive-by on the way to the beach. Make it the destination. Planning a longer coastal trip? Conway is part of our Myrtle Beach area guide.

Book the porch room.

We'll see you under the spooky oaks.