Atlantic Beach Bikefest to return after two year absence, town council bans open carry during event

By RUBEN LOWMAN

Atlantic Beach Town Council met last Monday, March 7, to discuss what measures to implement this year for their annual Memorial Day Bikefest, which they have cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The event, officially named the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, will go forward this year from May 27-30, but with a few alterations to ensure the safety of the local community.

Town council decided to pass an ordinance that bans the open carry of firearms in town limits during all festivals, which includes their signature event, the annual Bikefest. 

Benjamin Quattlebaum, town manager of Atlantic Beach, said that the small community nestled between the North Myrtle Beach neighborhoods of Crescent Beach and Windy Hill was enacting the ordinance to keep all town residents and visitors safe during the festival and the rest of the year. 

“We just do not want to have any unnecessary issues come up with people carrying open weapons the week of the festival,” Quattlebaum explained. 

Last August the state legislature approved the open carry of firearms, which states that as long as they have a concealed weapons permit South Carolinians are legally allowed to keep their guns visible in public. The legislature did leave it open for businesses or municipalities to ban open carry if they posted signage notifying people of the ban. 

So far, four cities in the state have passed their own open carry bans in response to the state legislature, including Conway, Georgetown, Florence and Columbia. Their bans would apply to all city-sponsored events held in their jurisdictions. If the Atlantic Beach ordinance passes second reading, the town would become the fifth municipality in the state to do so.

Town officials stated that they are seeing a very high amount of interest in the festival from vendors and attendees, with Quattlebaum noting that they have received a record amount of inquiries from vendors who want to take part in the festival. 

Quattlebaum said that the town typically only receives around $35,000 in profit from the festival after factoring in expenses, with neighboring communities seeing the majority of the financial benefits from the event. But he said the town is excited about having it back, and that town officials are just hoping for a good turnout and a successful weekend.

Atlantic Beach Police Chief Quentin Robinson said the town would be prepared for the festival, saying he would be speaking with several state late enforcement agencies who typically provide assistance during the weekend. 

Robinson said that they would be holding their annual police planning session in April 9 in order to go over the protocol and implement procedure for the event this year. 

“They are all on board with us,” Robinson said.