I am what you call a “fraidy cat” and just the thought of visiting a “Halloween City” gives me a little bit of a chill. I don’t watch horror movies–even the commercials can have me checking under my bed and in my closets for weeks. The Halloween events at a local amusement park we visited made me a nervous wreck. For the record, I don’t go into those “Spirit of Halloween” stores either.

A few years ago, we visited Conway, South Carolina in October. It’s just a short drive from Myrtle Beach, where we were staying at the time. We were told the city gets all decked out for Halloween. That was an understatement. What we found was a combination of a Hallmark movie and a horror movie.

Halloween City

A year after our visit, Conway officials started changing the town’s name to Halloween, South Carolina, as the “holiday” approached. This guy greeted us when we paid a visit to City Hall.

We weren’t sure we were in the right place, even with the warm welcome. This sign told us we were.

We visited during the daytime but I heard eerie sounds I usually associate with sinister things that happen after dark. I turned the corner and found this.

When I got closer, I could see that something was brewing here.

I realized I had not seen Steve in a few minutes. I don’t know if he was scared or not, but he was sitting in our car across the street, leaving me to find out what evil lurked in Halloween City. It turns out, there was no real “evil,” just some Halloween fun.

The city has a plethora of ways to celebrate the season. I am intrigued by the “Skeleton Disco” listed on the city’s website. You can learn more about the special events here.

It’s not all scary

While you will encounter some witches, skeletons and the like, much of Conway in October is not as scary. I cannot imagine what it took to get all those pumpkins in the trees downtown.

If you want a pumpkin of your own to take home, visit the First United Methodist Church in downtown Conway. They have an annual pumpkin sale with every variety you could possibly want.

There’s more to Halloween City

Conway is an absolutely charming little town. We visited the Horry County Museum to learn more.

The town was founded in 1732 but it was more than 100 years before it was designated as Conway. It was first known as “Kingston” and later “Conwayborough.” It’s named after General Robert Conway, a general in the American Revolutionary War.

Conway is the county seat of Horry County, named after another Revolutionary War veteran, Peter Horry. The museum had a room depicting Horry’s service during the war when we visited.

The museum takes you on a journey from the Revolutionary War to modern times. Myrtle Beach is part of Horry County. I enjoyed looking at the vintage pictures of the beach area.

We were enthralled by the freshwater aquarium at the museum. It was featured on an Animal Planet series called “Tanked” in 2011.

More to see in “Halloween City”

The black waters of the Waccamaw River are not a Halloween prank. The water is dark because of “tannins.” I am not a student of science, but I was told these chemicals are a byproduct of the decaying vegetation along the river. We enjoyed strolling along the city’s riverwalk.

The downtown area has several cute shop and restaurants. We liked eating at the Trestle Bakery and Cafe so much, we did it twice. I really liked their chicken salad. We dined outside on our last visit near this mural.

Just to be fair to my Coca-Cola drinkers, there’s a mural honoring the soft drink on the side of Papa’s General Store.

Speaking of murals, this train mural in Kingston Park caught my eye when we first arrived in Conway. It depicts the city’s railroad history. The name of the engine is the “Shoo-Fly,” which made me think of an old song from my childhood.

While you are walking through Conway, look for the “Conway Critters.” These eight animals are scattered throughout downtown. Meet Maggie, the Squirrel. You will find a book about the critters on the city’s website.

Anytime is a good time for the beach

Conway is just a short drive from Myrtle Beach. Visiting Halloween City in October is a fun trip, but anytime is a good time to visit the beach. We are not typical tourists and we look for unique experiences when we travel. You can read more about our time in Myrtle Beach here.