Memorial Day Weekend preparation, Lowcountry beaches ready for the tourists

Folly Beach, South Carolina – Tens of thousands of people are expected the visit Lowcountry beaches during the Memorial Day Weekend this year official say.

According to them, Folly Beach and the Isle of Palms are ready for the weekend crowd. Tim Goodwin, Folly Beach Mayor, says the officials are expecting at least 30,000 cars in the area starting Friday.

As of Thursday, majority of the accommodations were almost full capacity. What visitors have to know is the new smoking law. As of recently, smoking on the beach or at any of the beach accesses is prohibited.

Alcohol is also not allowed on the beach. Those caught smoking or drinking alcohol on the beach or beach areas face up to $1,000 fines.

“Everybody’s working. Nobody’s off,” Goodwin said. “If you’re an emergency responder, you’re going to be working.”

Goodwin is encouraging beach-goers to use the “BCDCOG Beach Reach” app. He says the app shows how the roads are looking as you head out to any of the beaches.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Isle of Palms is also prepared to accommodate all the visitors in what appears to be the biggest Memorial Day crowd seen in years.

Isle of Palms Police Chief Kevin Cornett informs that the parking capacity has been increased along Palm Boulevard. Even with this new capacity, officials expect spots to be full during the weekend.

“We are expecting more than what we normally see because of all the restrictions that were in place last year,” Cornett said. “And everybody is ready to get out and enjoy the weather.”

A new alternative this year is the CARTA beach shuttle. It’s free, and goes from the Mount Pleasant Town Center to 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard every hour.

Isle of Palms hosts 30,000 – 40,000 people during Memorial Day. However, city officials this year to set a new record as more guests than usual are expected.

Cornett says 14th Avenue will be closed for the weekend to assure EMS is able to get to the beach in case of an emergency.