MYRTLE BEACH, SC — RockFest might not be dead after all. What looked like a firm no from the city just a few weeks ago has quietly shifted into a maybe, and organizers are now working with Myrtle Beach staff on a plan that could bring the three‑day festival to Pavilion Place this spring.
The turnaround comes after the city’s August 27 decision, when officials said they couldn’t support another major event during the busiest stretch of the year. At that time, the concerns were clear: too many demands on police, fire and EMS, too close to spring break, and too much strain heading into the summer season.
That explanation hasn’t changed on paper, but the city’s position has. Southern Entertainment, the promoter behind CCMF, returned to the table with a different site and different dates and city staff told them the new plan is workable.
Coastal Carolina News Previous Coverage from August 29, 2026
The original proposal placed RockFest at the old Myrtle Beach Mall property in early May. That location raised immediate questions about traffic, neighborhood impact, and whether the city could support a festival on a site that doesn’t already have established event infrastructure. Pavilion Place, on the other hand, is a known quantity. The city already manages CCMF there each year, and the footprint is familiar to first responders.
Mayor Brenda Bethune said she hopes the upcoming council workshop produces “a date and a plan,” signaling that the administration is open to the April 30 through May 2 weekend.
A City Council workshop is set for September 22. It won’t include a vote, but it will be the first public look at the revised concept. Council members will hear directly from organizers, and the conversation is expected to determine whether RockFest moves forward or stalls out again.
Local business leaders have been vocal about wanting a three‑day festival, especially one that brings visitors during the early spring travel window. Hotels, restaurants and tourism groups say a rock‑focused event could help diversify Myrtle Beach’s entertainment calendar and fill rooms before the summer rush.
Residents, meanwhile, are split. Some welcomed the idea of a new festival after the initial rejection, while others questioned how the city reversed course so quickly after citing first‑responder fatigue.
City officials have not yet explained how the staffing concerns raised in August would be addressed under the new dates.
RockFest organizers have not released a lineup or sponsor list, and the festival’s future now depends on whether council members believe the revised plan resolves the issues that led to the initial denial.
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