UPCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH

March 14 - St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival - Come Ride / Walk along with us!

March 21 - Burning of the Socks for the Spring Equinox - FBC @ Harbourgate Marina in NMB

March 31 - Member Boat Trip to Big Chill Island House - FBC @ Harbourgate Marina, NMB & Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach

Get ready to crank up the excitement—because the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is coming, and this is the Freedom Boat Club moment you absolutely do not want to miss. This isn’t just any parade… it’s our loud, proud, green‑decked kickoff to boating season, and we’re taking over Main Street with the biggest burst of FBC spirit all year. We want you front and center with us—laughing, cheering, waving, and showing everyone what this community is all about and you could win a month of FREE DUES.

The boss has one mission for us this year: get as many people as possible to participate in the parade!

So, I said, “Let’s give them something for doing it,” and he agreed.

🎉 We’re doing a drawing for a FREE MONTH OF DUES—usable anytime you want!

Yes… you could win FREE dues just for showing up, having fun, and showing off your Freedom Boat Club pride.

You can walk, ride on the boat, or ride on one of the golf carts participating. Space for riders is limited, so please let us know ASAP if you want a spot.

Bring your friends, bring your dogs, bring your whole crew. The more energy, the better. Let’s roll in as the most unforgettable, high‑spirited, can’t‑stop‑smiling group on the entire Grand Strand. This is your chance to shine, to celebrate, and to show off your Freedom Boat Club pride like never before. The parade is broadcast LIVE on CW21.

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day Parade – North Myrtle Beach

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Main Street, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Parade kicks off at 9:00 a.m.

Event Day Details

• Parade starts: 9:00 a.m.
• Line-up: 8:15 a.m. sharp on Ocean Blvd., North Myrtle Beach
• We're number 22 in the line up out of 134 entries, so we'll be finished fairly early!
• Spot us easily—just look for the BOAT!
• Walk or ride—either way, we want you there representing Freedom Boat Club with pride and enthusiasm

🎁 Extra Fun

• Limited‑edition parade T‑shirts for participants
• Prize for the best dressed and most spirited member—go big with your green
• Dogs are absolutely welcome (and encouraged to dress up, too)

🎨 Decorating Crew – We Need Your Help!

Help us get parade‑ready:

Friday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m.

If you can lend a hand, let us know and we’ll send the address.

T‑shirts will be available on Friday to those who help decorate; otherwise, shirts will be available Saturday morning.

📩 RSVP Required

Please RSVP by March 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Email: specialeventsdirectorfbc@gmail.com

🎶 St. Patrick’s Day Festival

After the parade, the festival runs from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM along Main Street.

Enjoy:

• Three stages of live entertainment
• Irish music, pipe bands, and dancers
• A children’s area with rides and games
• Over 150 vendors with crafts, food, and festival treats
• And of course… Freedom Boat Club!
• Contests including a shepherd’s pie eating contest and a leprechaun contest

Saturday, March 21st - North Myrtle Beach | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Spring is finally breaking through, and we’re celebrating the only way Freedom Boat Club knows how—by tossing winter overboard and lighting up the dock with one of our quirkiest, most beloved traditions: The Burning of the Socks! As the days get longer and the water starts calling, this is our moment to officially say goodbye to cold weather and hello to boating season.

Freedom Boat Club has carried this wonderfully odd ritual forward that began in the 1980s, when Capt. Bob Turner—now happily retired in Pawleys Island—decided he’d had enough of winter grime, stiff socks, and boatyard blues. On the Spring Equinox, he tossed his crusty socks into a paint tray, lit them up, cracked a beer, and declared spring officially here. That spark ignited a coastal tradition that now stretches from Annapolis to boating towns nationwide… including ours.

🌞 Burning of the Socks Dock Party

Saturday, March 21, from 1-3 PM

Freedom Boat Club @ Harbourgate Marina, North Myrtle Beach

Spring is arriving, and we’re welcoming it with fire, fun, and FBC spirit. This dock party is all about shaking off winter and stepping—barefoot if you dare—into the sunshine of a brand‑new season.

What’s waiting for you:

• Sock burning (B.Y.O.S.) — Bring the socks you’re ready to send off in style
• Snacks & drinks — Provided by FBC
• Mix & mingle — Connect with fellow members and guests
• Ceremony led by our Master of Socks, Karen Berry — You don’t want to miss this

🌱 Why We Burn Socks

This tradition started as a joyful rebellion against winter: a symbolic way to shed the cold, the clutter, and the grime of the off‑season. Today, it’s a celebration of sunshine, community, and the promise of warm days on the water. When those socks go up in flames, it means one thing—spring has arrived, and boating season is ON.

Kindly RSVP by emailing specialeventsdirectorfbc@gmail.com with the number of attendees. Guests are warmly welcome—bring them along to kick off spring the FBC way.

The season is finally here—and we’re kicking it off with our first boat trip of the year! After months of waiting, the docks are buzzing, the boats are ready, and that unmistakable Freedom Boat Club excitement is back.

This isn’t just a ride—it’s the trip that sets the tone for the whole season. Fresh air, wide‑open water, great company, and that unbeatable feeling of being back where we belong. The energy is high, the smiles are big, and the club comes alive the moment those engines start.

Get ready for fun, laughter, and the pure joy of being out on the water again. You won’t want to miss the trip that launches the season.

Date

Tuesday, March 31

Locations

• Departing from FBC @ Harbourgate Marina (NMB)
• Departing from Grande Dunes Marina (Myrtle Beach)

Time

• NMB: 11:45 AM – 3:30 PM
• Myrtle Beach: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Trip Details

• Depart from Harbourgate Marina (NMB) at 11:45 AM
• Depart from Grande Dunes Marina (MB) at 12:00 PM
• Enjoy a scenic boat ride and relax with fellow members
• Return at approximately 3:00–3:30 PM
• FBC will provide beer, wine, and soft drinks for the boat ride to and from the restaurant

Lunch at Big Chill Island House

We’ll arrive around noon for a delicious lunch.

Freedom Boat Club will provide appetizers for the group to share.

Lunch cost: $22 per person (includes tax, gratuity, and a non‑alcoholic beverage)

Important Lunch Payment Details:

• $22 per person will be collected in cash prior to departure.
• Exact change is appreciated.
• No credit cards will be accepted for lunch payment.
• If you forget to bring cash, we will charge the credit card we have on file for $25 per person
• Alcoholic beverages will be on a separate check, and each member is responsible for their own bar tab.

Lunch Options:

• Shrimp & Grits
• Fish & Chips (served with French Fries)
• Chicken Peanut Mango Salad
• Big Chill Burger (served with French Fries)
• Kalua Pork
• Vegetarian option available upon request

Members will select their lunch entrée upon arrival. No substitutions.

Billing

Members will be billed for their share of fuel, charged to the credit card we have on file after the event.

If you need to cancel, please just let us know by March 28 at 6 PM. After that time, a $25 per‑person fee will be charged to the card we have on file.

RSVP Information

Space is limited to 50 people, and this event will fill quickly. Active members only please.

Please RSVP by emailing specialeventsdirectorfbc@gmail.com no later than March 28, at 6pm, so we can provide the restaurant with an accurate headcount. Please let us know which location you'd like to depart from.