Candy Cane Hunt Is Newest Holiday Event

Move over Lollipop Guild. Local children are about to become members of the Candy Cane Hunt Club with an event this evening at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex off Robert Edge Boulevard. Area children with their parents are invited to a new event this year for the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department: a candy cane hunt on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 5:30-7 p.m. followed by the showing of the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas’’ on an outdoor, large screen.

There’s a twist to this hunt for traditional, petite sized red and white candy canes. Children can turn in their haul for small, toy prizes if they’d rather have that. Those who think they’d prefer to keep their finds should bring their own bag.

About 1,500-2,000 candy canes will be set out for the hunt, which will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by the North Myrtle Beach School of Performing Arts’ Grinch musical and then the original movie will be shown, said Kaitlyn Bell, events and program coordinator for the recreation department. The movie will start at 7 p.m. This will all take place at the Wyndham Vacation Rentals Baseball/Softball complex.

First, however, those attending must drive through the holiday light show, and there will be staff available to direct traffic. The cost is $15 per vehicle containing up to 15 people; and $30 for larger vans that can hold 16-30 people.

Kaitlyn Bell, events and program coordinator, came up with the idea after hearing about similar “hunts” on the West Coast. “And I knew the new Grinch movie would be coming out,” she said, which is why they will be showing the older cartoon version so kids can enjoy them both.

She said this also provides an activity on a night when the walking village part of the light show is closed. Up until now, the walking trail/village was closed on weekdays, but starting on Friday the village will also be open seven days a week. The light show has been open nightly and will continue through New Year’s.