Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is honored to host several of the military heroes that will be attending the inaugural Grand Strand Freedom Fest, which will take place September 11-13, 2009. The Grand Strand Freedom Fest has been organized in honor and memory of the victims, families and first responders of September 11th, 2001, and of the brave women and men of America’s Armed Forces who have been protecting the country ever since. A portion of the proceeds raised by this not-for-profit event will be directed to Operation First Response, an organization that has been supporting wounded soldiers and their families since 2001.

Highlights of the 2009 Grand Strand Freedom Fest will include a Concert for America by The Long Bay Symphony and a daylong festival featuring a pre-tour concert by country music superstar LeAnn Rimes on Saturday night at Freestyle Music Park. Additional live entertainment includes afternoon concerts by Charlie Floyd and Southern Express, Jeffrey Allen Edwards and Southern Blues, and 1970’s superstar Billy Joe Royal. 

With a group of America’s wounded heroes leading the way, the Freedom Fest Parade of Patriots will feature local high school marching bands and the roar of Rolling Thunder and other veteran, police, fire and rescue-oriented motorcycles through Freestyle Music Park beginning at 1 PM. Exhibits from the likes of the Pearl Harbor Foundation, the September 11th Memorial Foundation and others will dot the beautiful walkways through Freestyle Music Park.

About Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort
Guests of the award-winning Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort enjoy a relaxing beach atmosphere, along with a variety of onsite amenities such as a large outdoor pool, whirlpool, pool bar, outdoor lazy river, children’s water play area, sauna, recreation center, exercise facility and game room, as well as an onsite golf director who will be pleased to assist you with a golf vacation that meets your needs. The resort’s onsite restaurant, Seaside Cafe, serves breakfast and dinner daily. Enjoy your favorite cocktail, live entertainment and spectacular oceanfront views at Coconut Willy’s pool bar. In addition, Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort is centrally located within 2 miles of numerous area attractions such as Broadway at the Beach, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Waves Water Park and Ripley’s Aquarium. For more information about Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort and other Westgate Resort properties, visit www.wgmyrtlebeach.com.

The school season is more than halfway over and spring is just around the corner. Lets take the chill out of the air and start thinking about summer and vacation. What better way to do it than watching an awesome video of someone’s 2007 vacation to Myrtle Beach? Posted on YouTube by coasterfreak11892, this video set to music is over 8 minutes long and shows some of the area’s great attractions.

The opening few minutes begin with rides and coasters at Family Kingdom – the Myrtle Beach area’s oceanfront amusement park, followed by some mini golf, waterpark fun at Myrtle Waves, parasailing, a visit to Hard Rock Cafe at Broadway at the Beach, a stop at Hard Rock Park (opening in May of 2008) with a look at the Led Zeppelin coaster and much more.

Enjoy, summer will be here before you know it!