By admin 
The Hallmark Channel has selected 25 of the nation’s merriest Christmas towns to find the best representation of a Hallmark holiday.
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And one is in South Carolina.
It’s Conway, the county seat of Horry County, about 15 miles west of Myrtle Beach. It’s that town skirted by many people driving Highway 501 to the beach.
Voting on the Hallmark Channel website began Aug. 14 and continues until 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 4. One vote per day to anyone who lives in the U.S. Once the voting ends, a panel of judges will consider community spirit (where the voting comes in), holiday traditions, neighborhood charm and goodwill.
Adam Emrick, city administrator of Conway, said his city is a holiday celebration city, not just Christmas.
“Conway celebrates every holiday like no other city, earning the title of The Holiday Capital of South Carolina,” he said.
It started with Christmas.
Each year, organizers ask, “How does this create a lasting memory for our residents and their families?”
In past years that meant lighted wreaths around the light poles on the bridge leading to town. And an amazing array of lights dripping down from the top of the water tower.
Angel figures on lawns and lights, lights everywhere — on handrails and trees (including trunks) and a huge lighted ornament. There is even an old-timey truck with a festive wreath on the door.
Did you say you’d like funnel cakes? They’ve got you covered with an array of food trucks.
It’s hard to even know how many lights are strung around town.
“We are Hallmark’s Merriest City because the sentiment that Hallmark captures with every movie is the feeling that we create every day in Conway,” Emrick said.
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There is actually a 2013 Hallmark movie called Christmas in Conway starring Mary-Louise Parker and Andy Garcia. But it was filmed in Wilmington.
Conway had a moment of fame in “Christmas in Carolina” from 2020, which features scenes on the city’s Riverwalk. (Also Columbia.)
The city’s application for Merriest Christmas town says, “Conway is the definition of small-town charm. Its historic downtown, lined with beautiful oak trees and nestled along the scenic Waccamaw River, feels like it was made for a Hallmark movie.”
The city is transformed into a winter wonderland.
“The entire town embraces the season, creating an atmosphere that fills visitors of all ages with holiday joy,” the application says. “Whether it’s an evening stroll through downtown, shopping in locally owned boutiques, or enjoying a meal at one of the many wonderful restaurants and cafes, every experience feels magical.”
Conway is equally known for its Halloween extravaganza.
“What makes Conway truly deserving of the title Hallmark’s Merriest Christmas Town is not just the decorations, it’s the people,” the city said. “Residents, business owners, and community leaders work together to create a welcoming, festive atmosphere that makes everyone feel like they belong.”
The city posted a video on its Facebook page Monday showing the displays and so far has garnered more than 100 responses from people who have visited as well as those who live there.
Magical, beautiful town, delightful.
“A 2026 version of Mayberry! It’s an elf’s delight….a toy chest of surprises for young and old,” Jean Marie Shuford of Camden said
The town that wins receives the opportunity to serve as a filming location for a Hallmark movie, the Hallmark Channel said.
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Other cities in the running for merriest are:
- Ashland, Oregon
- Bemidji, Minnesota
- Berlin, Maryland
- Boerne, Texas
- Cape May, New Jersey
- Carlinville, Illinois
- Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Chatham, Massachusetts
- Collierville, Tennessee
- Corning, New York
- Cullman, Alabama
- Eureka Springs, Arkansas
- Hanover, Pennsylvania
- Leavenworth, Washington
- Lewisburg, West Virginia
- Marborough, Connecticut
- Neenah, Wisconsin
- North Conway, New Hampshire
- Papillion, Nebraska
- Parkville, Missouri
- Placerville, California
- Portsmouth, Ohio
- Versailles, Kentucky
- Winter Garden, Florida