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On Thursday, the City of Conway officially morphed into the "City of Halloween."

The now iconic Halloween tradition in Downtown Conway have been great for tourism with nearly half a million visitors drawn downtown to check out the haunts last year alone.

But of course, with growth comes growing pains.

One notable thing that’s different this year – parking and shuttles, and business owners in Conway have mixed feelings about them.

Downtown businesses are decked out in decorations and visitors are crawling all over the Downtown district to see all the City of Halloween has to offer.

While this new tradition has grown into a popular and in-demand event over the last few years – that growth has raised a few issues: parking, traffic and pedestrian safety at the top of that list.

To ease traffic and parking concerns downtown the City of Conway introduced dedicated parking and a shuttle to and from Downtown Conway this year.

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All month long Thursday through Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m., free parking is available off Marina Drive – just south of the historic Downtown district.

The parking lot is a decent walk away from the Halloween attractions, so the city is offering a shuttle which will drop visitors off near the Marina.

ABC 15 sought to find out if local businesses were concerned the new transportation plans would impact the amount of foot traffic they hope comes by their shops.

I don't think it's going to be a problem. I think some people will get discouraged from it, and they're going to try to make their way in anyway. They're going to sneak in this town no matter what. I mean, you're talking about 50 to 60,000 people here in a week, maybe more, even a day," said Jim Leone, owner and chef at Leone's Italian Ristorante.

"We had a lot of foot traffic here last year. We had a lot of people come into town. 400,000, from what I understand. So why not bring them in on a bus? Most festivals that you go to, they bring them in on golf carts or busses. So why wouldn't we do that?" said Rebecca McGuffin, front end manager, The Trestle Bakery Cafe.

While most businesses tell us that they think it'll help them out even more - some are concerned.

One restaurant manager tells ABC 15 that he’s worried it might stop customers from walking as far.

"A lot of times they would park up that way and have to walk down this way to get to all the attractions and the things that, they have set up for the families and all that. So, it's definitely going to benefit or hurt us in a way of not having the foot traffic heading that way," said Adam Benjamin, general manager at River City Cafe in Downtown Conway.

Benjamin also mentioned the parade happening Thursday night for the kickoff – or the “Big Boo-ginning” event, which features a parade.

The parade will also limit traffic downtown – which surrounds River City Cafe.

Another shop owner said the traffic issues are a consistent problem, but he has high hopes about the shuttles - though he’s waiting to see whether or not they actually solve the issues.

"If they run on time and run, reliably, I think it'll work. Because it's just too much traffic right now. I think it's great what they're doing. It's fantastic. I hope they never stop. But they got to do something for the flow," said Bob Martire, owner of Our Next Chapter Bookstore.

The folks who spoke with ABC 15 in Downtown Conway tell us that aside from the traffic, they’re excited for another month of festivities here in Halloween, South Carolina.

ABC 15 has also learned that Conway's Celebration of Lights and the Under the Lights 5K have been cancelled. Those who have purchased tickets to the 5K have been refunded.

The city said the shuttle operating all month along Marina Drive will not allow the city enough time to set up the lights for the annual Christmas events.

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For a full list of events this month, go here.

CONWAY — Gather around to hear a Halloween tale about how one small Southern town turned a temporary name change into a tourism gamechanger, and the resulting economic impact has been downright frightening.

The community, which predates the Revolutionary War, was previously called Kingston (1732-1801) and later Conwayborough (1801-1883). Conway has added another moniker to the mix, albeit on a part-time basis.

Rooted in the timber industry for building the ships and structures to settle early America, Conway has found a new vessel for bringing commerce to the shores of the Waccamaw River by changing its name to the city of Halloween every October and transforming into the spookiest city this side of Transylvania.

Conway has nearly tripled its number of October visitors from 165,000 in 2020 to 456,000 in 2025, when it collected just shy of $400,000 in hospitality taxes for the month. More data shows October now rivals activity for downtown businesses in November and December combined.

"For many downtown businesses, October has eclipsed their Christmas holiday sales with October becoming the busiest month of the year," Conway Downtown Alive Executive Director Hillary Howard said. "Our restaurants operate at full capacity with many seeing a two-hour wait on October evenings."

Scaring up business

Frozen treats might not be the easiest sale on a chilly October night, but Stella’s Homemade Ice Cream can’t scoop them fast enough.

New to the neighborhood and Halloween spirit that came with it when it opened at 1101 Fourth Ave. in 2023, Stella’s actually ran out of ice cream and had to bring in some from its Murrells Inlet location before scrambling to make more mid-celebration. Now it has learned to stock up in advance and join in the decorations and fun.

"Ice cream is definitely a summer business, but October is one of our busiest months, which is just the opposite of the Murrells Inlet store," said owner Haley Williamson, who makes five special monster-themed flavors for the festivities. "Having such a strong October really gives us a boost and carries us into the slower winter months."

Emily Smith, owner of Good Day Sunshine artisan boutique, has been located at 1011 Third Ave. for a decade. She said the difference in the number of people stopping by the shop in October has multiplied tenfold over that time.

"Night and day — 10 times what we saw in October just 10 years ago," she said. "Now it's right there neck-and-neck with our Christmas season."

Smith makes Halloween candles that sold out last year and now can be found in curio cabinets around the world.

"Last year we had people from Germany, California, Canada, Mexico — all coming to little old Conway," she said.

Halloween bah-humbug

Dollars and visitors aren't the only measurable benefits from the name switcheroo; so is name recognition.

City spokeswoman June Wood had to leave straight from work on a recent Friday to embark on a cross-state drive while still wearing her "City of Halloween" shirt that proved to be the talk of the trip.

"Our brand recognition is off the charts," Wood said of the Halloween stunt. "Everywhere I stopped — Buc-ee's, Clemson, everybody was commenting on my shirt and about how they had been here or they wanted to come here for Halloween. It has become larger than itself, which is insane given how it all started."

Conway's journey to becoming Halloween was sparked by an unlikely source of inspiration: Christmas. The city spent years and tax dollars striving to gain tourism traction for its small-town charm and decor during the December holiday season.

"One of the city's biggest goals was to make Southern Living's top 10 list for the best Christmas towns," Wood said. "We went to some of these places on the list — Dahlonega, Ga., McAdenville, N.C. — and we were doing the same things they were doing. The reality was everybody was already doing Christmas.

"So we started thinking about other holidays where we could stand out and how Halloween has so much lore. People get so excited about the arrival of fall weather and football season, and the people who are fans of Halloween really love it. We thought there might be an opportunity."

Smashing pumpkins and norms

The city's early Halloween efforts started modestly in 2019 and were limited to hanging plastic jack-o'-lanterns from the oak trees that line Main Street in the downtown district. That small investment paid shockingly strong dividends — even if it meant some small sacrifices for local children.

"We never imagined how hard it would be to find so many plastic pumpkins, but we went to all the local Walmarts and other stores and bought them out," Wood said. "It only cost us about $500, but they were very impactful."

"A lot of our local kids had to go trick-or-treating with paper bags that year," she joked.

The pumpkin patch has spread across the city and is now as recognizable as the autumn leaves changing colors.

"It's like the cherry blossoms in spring," Wood said. "People know it's fall when the pumpkins are blooming in Conway."

The city has since taken decorating to the next level with the whole month of September spent creating the right atmosphere. Conway also goes to great lengths to keep the decor "family scary" — traditional Halloween trappings without the blood and gore.

But if a few hundred bucks for a plastic jack-o'-lantern forest sounds like a good deal, the marketing move of changing the town's name for 31 days proved an even bigger bargain: free. However, it was also a tough sell to some city leaders and residents.

Rename it and they will come

While tinkering with the city logo to create a spookier font and cobweb-draped serifs, the word "Conway" was replaced by "Halloween" and an idea was born.

Despite getting some odd looks from citizens and City Council, the name change gained widespread attention and momentum when it passed in 2022.

"Trying to convince a community to do something crazy is not easy," Wood joked. "But we wanted to do this for economic development, and once everybody saw the benefits they really dived in head first."

Each year the city has expanded its list of offerings: coffin races and ghost tours through the historic district, a haunted pirate ship and river cruise on the waterfront, concerts and a barbecue cookoff outdoors.

Special events include Halloween movie nights in the downtown district, the Monster Mash on Mill Pond kids' festival with pumpkin-painting and other activities, and the Fear Factory featuring three haunted attractions: the Conway Haunted Manor, Elm Street Asylum and Kingston Hollow Spooky Maze.

The city also timed the calendar right this year and get five weekends in October instead of the usual four, including Halloween falling on a Saturday night. That could prove to be another record-setting month for Conway.

Growing pains, big gains

Even win-win-win scenarios have a few drawbacks, but Conway’s are "good problems" from an economic standpoint that stem from one simple reality: The monthlong festival has become almost too popular.

With the community welcoming 40,000 to 50,000 guests per weekend to a city of 30,000 residents, the large crowds have created issues with traffic, parking and public safety. A new shuttle system ferrying visitors to and from the downtown district via a parking lot on Marina Drive aims to alleviate all three.

"When you have a lot of people and kids downtown at night and a lot of traffic and cars driving around, there's concern about public safety," Wood said, "but we’re working hard to make sure our visitors have a safe, fun time."

The city's lack of accommodations has also been a hindrance to attracting more overnight visitors, with Conway nearly maxing out its availability with 5,400 room nights in October 2025.

In an interesting twist, hotels in neighboring Myrtle Beach have started marketing to visitors looking to spend their October days at the beach and their nights about 15 miles away in Conway, formerly a tourism afterthought.

"We caught attention on a regional and national level, and Myrtle Beach uses it to encourage people to come during their shoulder season," said Wood, adding that it speaks volumes that Conway is drawing attention from the neighboring tourism behemoth.

"We didn't envision this. It was never our intention to bring in so many people from so far away, but the word is out and it keeps snowballing. People come and they tell their family and friends about it and it just keeps growing. We're proud of what it has become."

Big BOO-ginning

The name change and festivities officially open Oct. 1 with the Big BOO-ginning — a Halloween-themed parade through downtown that starts at the Fourth Avenue Riverwalk. The parade route runs along Kingston Street to Third Avenue and Laurel Street to the Town Green, which will host the kickoff celebration.

Festivities include a live concert by Ghoul Vibrations at the Town Green, a costume contest, and food and drink. Attendees can also check out the many displays around town that start Oct. 1, including the Fear Factory Haunted Attractions and the Children's Halloween Pirate Adventure at the Conway Riverwalk.

On Oct. 2-3, Conway comes to life with Smoke on the Waccamaw BBQ Festival and Soup Cookoff at the Billy Gardner Sports Complex. Teams will compete through a haze of smoke to see who makes the best meat, followed by a banquet of soups to take the nip out of the night air. Vendors and activities will be on-hand and visitors can vote for their favorites.

Oct. 2 also starts the popular Halloween Movie Nights on the Terror (a spooky spin on The Terrace outdoor theater at 110 Laurel St.) with the showing of "Hocus Pocus." Guests are encouraged bring chairs or blanket and enjoy hot chocolate, s'mores and more each Friday at 7 p.m.

Three popular fast food restaurants will join a new Food Lion store in a Conway retail development.

New Del Taco, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations are planned for the new 5.75-acre retail development at 3425 U.S. 501. Plans for the fast-dining restaurants come after Food Lion signed a lease to open a new store in March.

All three restaurant chains have opened other Grand Strand locations this year, and Impeccable Development, the real estate development company behind the project, has other restaurants from the chains in the area. Sister company Impeccable Restaurants operates franchisees of Del Taco, Freddy’s and Popeyes.

Del Taco – known for tacos, burritos, burgers and more – opened its first South Carolina location in Socastee this summer after previously closing its restaurants in the state. Like the planned Conway location, the Socastee Del Taco is operated by Impeccable Development and Impeccable Restaurant Group. The companies also plan to open a Little River Del Taco restaurant this month.

Impeccable Development has also opened new Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers locations in the Grand Strand recently, including in Conway and the same Little River and Socastee shopping centers as Del Taco. Like its name suggests, the chain is known for its frozen treats and steak burgers, as well as sandwiches and hot dogs.

Likewise, a new Impeccable Development Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise in the existing Freddy’s retail center located in Conway in January. The chicken chain is popular for its fried chicken, tenders, sandwiches and Louisiana-inspired sides.

It’s unclear when Impeccable Development will break ground on the new Conway restaurants. Messages left with Impeccable Development about other retail spaces and development timelines were not returned before publication.

CONWAY, S.C. (WPDE) — The beginning of September marks more than just the end of summer, or beginning of the school year; for Conway residents, it's also the commencement of "City of Halloween" celebrations.

For four years in a row, Conway has officially renamed itself the "City of Halloween," marking the beginning of spooky season with a South Carolina spin.

The full agenda of city events dropped today, and there are dozens of festivities to choose from for children of all ages, Coastal Carolina University students, and scream queen movie lovers alike. Here's a list of top events, where to find them, and who they're for.

First United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

Looking for that perfect pumpkin for painting or carving? If you're planning to make a jack-o-lantern, stop by the courtyard at First UMC for a variety of pumpkins and gourds. Starting Sunday, September 27, they are open daily Monday - Friday at 11-7 p.m., Saturdays 10 -6:30 and Sundays 11:45- 7 p.m. Proceeds from purchases go to fund First UMC's children and youth ministry programs.

The Big BOO-ginning - City of Halloween Kick-Off Celebration

Join the "City of Halloween" to commence spooky season on Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m. for a parade, food trucks, concert, and costume contest with cash prizes. To participate in the costume march parade and costume contest, registration is required and will begin at 6 p.m.

The parade will travel from Kingston Street to Third Avenue, continue along Laurel Street, and end at the Town Green. After the parade, Ghoul Vibrations will bring ghoulish grooves with a live concert at the Town Green, located at 200 Laurel Street. Costume contest winners will be announced following the show.

Midnight Market

Stroll through this spooky vendor market on the "Town Scream" for handmade arts and crafts, sweet treats, and even hair braiding. The market will take place every Thursday-Sunday from 6 -9 p.m., October 1 through November 1 (weather permitting).

Last year, local vendors spoke to how they feel events such as the Midnight Market bolster small businesses in Conway, and give vendors the chance to participate in different, unique atmosphere special to the season.

Fear Factory Haunted Attraction

Fans of haunted houses ranging from family-friendly fun to shriek-inducing thrillers can take their pick at the Fear Factory, which showcases a variety of three different haunted houses with different scare levels this year.

For lighthearted spookiness, check out the Conway Haunted Manor on various dates throughout October, open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Kingston Hollow Spooky Maze will be fun for all ages 5 to 10 on select dates through October.

Finally, Elm Street Asylum will exhibit intense scares for real horror fans on select dates in October from 7 - 10 p.m., though it is not recommended for the faint of heart.

Find all the attractions at the Field of Fear at 7 Elm Street and visit Fear Factory on Facebook for exact dates.

PREVIOUSLY: Conway's Halloween celebration draws record-breaking 450K visitors

City of Conway Halloween ‘Shiver’ Cruise

For a spooky, dusk time night cruise, climb aboard the Sea Gypsy for a 25-minute journey down the Waccamaw River to see the Conway Riverwalk transformed into the Conway "Shiverwalk."

Complete with ghost stories, Lowcountry lore, and more, this bone-rattling river cruise will be running Wednesday through Sunday all October long from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Climb aboard your next ghoulish getaway at Main Street Bridge along the Riverwalk, Conway Riverwalk, 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC, USA. Click here to grab your spot.

Conway Ghost Walk

Conway Downtown Alive will present the Conway Ghost Walk on October 14-16. Professional storytellers will tell tales of Lowcountry ghost stories while leading a nighttime walk beneath the oaks of the Historic Conwayborough Residential District.

Stories are promised to be spooky, sometimes humorous, and family friendly.

Located at the Conway Visitor's Center, this runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

For more events and information, visit the City of Halloween Facebook Page.

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - The Conway community says their water bills have spiked despite claims that water habits remain the same.

Several people WMBF spoke with say their water payment on their recent bill from the city increased by double or nearly triple.

“I received my bill last week in the mail,” Conway resident Jim Bennett said. “I was shocked to see it not only the amount had tripled up to $143 which normally my water bill is like $50 a month.”

Others also spoke out about a similar situation.

“My original bill was in the $25 range, and now I see bills as high as 45,” Conway resident James McNair said.

Several people have also expressed their frustrations on social media.

“It was crazy,” said resident Jane Cologna. “And then when I went on, there’s a Conway Facebook page, and I saw that there’s many, many people who have the same problem.”

The situation has left many people questioning why their bill went up, despite many saying they haven’t used water excessively.

“I’d like a reasonable explanation, you know, from them and I want my water bill to go back down,” resident Susan Canterbury said. “I don’t even water my lawn. I don’t have a pool; I don’t have a jacuzzi.”

The city told WMBF in a statement that there is no single explanation that applies to every person seeing an increase in their bill. There could be different factors contributing, or a combination of them.

However, council member William Goldfinch told WMBF there may be a possible reason.

“But it’s the fact the City of Conway, we purchase our water from Grand Strand Sewer and Water Authority, and they raised our rates; you know, it forces us to pass that additional expense onto the user, our consumer, our constituents here in Conway,” Goldfinch said.

Increased fees are equally perplexing to some who have been decreasing their water usage.

Bennett, who lives by himself, said his water usage fee jumped by over double.

“We’re experiencing a water shortage, so I haven’t been watering my lawn; I’m not taking anymore showers,” Bennett said. “I just don’t know how I can more than double the usage of my water. But in any event, the bill still needs to be paid; I need my water.”

Others also feel that water line leaks are not a factor.

”Well, I don’t think all of us have leaks in our water," Cologna said.

The city advises those affected to reach out so they can review customer accounts, billing periods, and water usage.

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