This week is the SOS Spring Safari which brings thousands to the area for music, dancing, and celebration as well as extra profit for businesses.
In North Myrtle Beach, the dance floor was packed and you had to act fast if you wanted to find a partner.
“He would not ask me to dance and other people were asking me to dance and instead of him asking me to dance he got mad and left,” said Sandy Abernathy.
“No I didn’t get mad, but I did leave. I got tired of waiting and left,” added her husband Ray Abernathy.
Since then Ray Abernathy has gotten more confidence and has had a few dances with his wife, but if you ask them both, that first dance was worth the wait.
“That was pretty special we both still stay as soon as we started dancing to that song we knew,” said Sandy Abernathy.
They definitely did know.
They got married just two months after their first dance; that was 13 years.
Every year, they still come back to the SOS event.
And businesses love that.
Money was pouring in at bars and restaurants. And the party goes on all day and all week.
However, even if you are not dancing you can still make a profit.
“I don’t know how to shag,” said Jeannie Deangelo.
Deangelo has lived in North Myrtle Beach for 20 years and somehow still does not know how to shag; still she says she is having a good week.
“Went to church and came home and decided I was going to join the fun,” said Deangelo.
Deangelo is part owner of the Wildflower in North Myrtle Beach; usually closed on Sundays, but if you are not open when the shaggers are in town you are missing out.
“This has a lot of business to the town restaurants, hotels, shops. This is a good week,” said Deangelo.
As long as people like Ray and Sandy Abernathy keep coming to town for SOS, business owners like Deangelo do not mind staying open for some extra money and maybe scoring a shagging lesson.
