S.O.S. Spring Safari 2011

The ten-day adults-gone-wild party better known as  S.O.S. Spring Safari has just wound down, leaving thousands of shaggers, musicians, club owners, servers and workers exhausted … but already gearing up for the next one. Here are a few highlights of Spring S.O.S. 2011.

Birthday boy Mike Taylor and the Holiday Band kicked off S.O.S. at Duck’s. (Photo Jim Allen)

The Surf is back! Did you catch Ted Bell and the Surf van out on Main Street? (Photo Jim Allen)

Rickey Godfey put in an appearance at Papa’s Pizza on the road to Calabash!

Rhonda McDaniel ridin’ in style at the infamous S.O.S. parade. (Photo Jim Allen)

Dolly McDermott struttin’ her stuff at the Two Blondes on the Beach Fashion Show. (Photo Jim Allen)

Steve Bassett brought his immense talent and sound to the Spanish Galleon.

Some folks left O.D. long enough to catch Donny Trexler at Poos Tuesday night.

Mark Roberts with Mandy and the little Lima Bean. (Photo Jim Allen)

Hip Pocket was a big hit at Deckerz on Saturday. (Photo Jim Allen)

It’s Just Another Day In Paradise for Calabash Flash!

CWB on the Boom Dock. YEAH!

Boom Boom’s Raw Bar, another reason to leave O.D. once in a while.

Deejay Joey Warren at Boom Boom’s KHP party.

Yes, Oh Yes, It’s S.O.S.

It’s that time of year when over 10,000 shag dancers descend upon the Ocean Drive
section of North Myrtle Beach for ten full days of barbecue, beach time, silliness, catching up
with old friends, live music … and above all, shagging (and no, I’m not talking about the
British version, although I’m not discounting it either).

This year’s Society of Stranders (S.O.S.) Spring Safari officially begins Friday, April 17
and runs through Sunday, April 26. Don’t forget, you need to renew your S.O.S. membership
to attend events at the sanctioned S.O.S. lounges: Ducks and Ducks Too, Fat Harold’s,
the O.D. Arcade, O.D. Resort and Pirate’s Cove.

If you’ve never experienced a Spring S.O.S parade before, it’s not to be missed. Adults
gone wild, and it’s a blast. Head on over to Main Street in North Myrtle Beach on
Saturday, April 25. The parade starts at 1 p.m. Lots of folks like to close out the weekend
with the Camp Kemo event, held at Fat Harold’s. There are live performances, auctions
and more – all to send kids with cancer to camp for a week, so they can remember what
it’s like to be a kid again. This year’s event is being dedicated to the memory of saxman
Johnny Cox, who lost his own fight with cancer earlier this month. It won’t be the same
without people stuffing bills into Johnny’s horn. Word has it, though, that Johnny’s son
Scott Cox, will be there to do the honors. Bring your Kleenex.

One last thing, welcome and thank you to all the deejays who’ll be spinning tunes around
the clock!

Workshops
Sam West– Upstairs in the O.D. Resort
Ballroom
Charlie & Jackie – Ducks
Judy Duke – Fat Harold’s
Ellen Taylor – O.D. Arcade
Live Music
Friday, April 17
Spanish Galleon 7 p.m., Tommy Black and
Blooz
2001 Nightclub, 7 p.m., Craig Woolard
Band (no S.O.S. card needed)
Chasers Beach Club, 9 p.m. Castaways (no
S.O.S. card needed)
Saturday, April 18
Fat Harold’s, 1-5 p.m., Sea-Cruz
Pirate’s Cove 2 – 6 p.m. The Poor Souls
Spanish Galleon 7 p.m. The Entertainers
with guests Vicki Skinner, Bobby Smith and
Paul Craver
2001 Nightclub, 7 p.m., Tim Clark Band
Sunday, April 19
Fat Harold’s, 1-5 p.m.,Holiday Band
HOTO’s, 1 p.m. Mark Roberts & Breeze
(no S.O.S. card needed)
Spanish Galleon, 7 p.m. Band of Oz
Monday, April 20
Spanish Galleon, 7 p.m. Embers
2001 Nightclub, 8 p.m. Jim Quick &
Coastline
Tuesday, April 21
HOTO’s, 3 p.m. King Tyrone & the
Graveyard Ramblers (no S.O.S. card needed)
Spanish Galleon, 7 p.m. Mark Roberts &
Breeze
2001 Nightclub, 7 p.m., Sea-Cruz (no
S.O.S. card needed)
Wednesday, April 22
Fat Harold’s, 1-5 p.m., Jim Quick &
Coastline
Spanish Galleon, 7 p.m., Sammy O’Banion
& Mardi Gras
2001 Nightclub, 8 p.m. Legends of Beach
(no S.O.S. card needed)
Thursday, April 23
Fat Harold’s, 1-5 p.m., Craig Woolard Band
Spanish Galleon, 5 p.m. Pre- release party,
various artist. Band of Oz follows.
2001 Nightclub, 8 p.m. Mark Roberts &
Breeze (no S.O.S. card needed)
Friday, April 24
Fat Harold’s, 1-5 p.m., Fantastic Shakers
Spanish Galleon, 4 p.m.New music release
party, followed by Holiday Band
Papa’s Pizza Wings & Things, 8 p.m.
Rickey Godfrey (no S.O.S card needed)
2001 Nightclub, 8 p.m., Craig Woolard
Band (no S.O.S.card needed)
Saturday, April 25
Avista Resort, 12 p.m. Big Time Party
Band (no S.O.S. card needed )
Spanish Galleon, 7 p.m. Rick Strickland
Band, Bobby Smith & the Poor Souls
Papa’s Pizza Wings & Things, 2 – 5 p.m.
Rickey Godfrey (no S.O.S card needed)
Sunday, April 26
Fat Harold’s, 1- 5 p.m. Camp Kemo, various
artists.

A version of this post will run in Beach Newz in Coast Magazine and Alternatives NewsMagazine, issue April 9 – 23, 2009, p. 24.