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7 Reasons Why Folly Beach is Best in Winter

With the relatively colder weather fast approaching our coast, most people count out the beach when thinking of ways to spend their free time. When visiting Folly Beach, winter time is seriously underrated. Don’t mistake that for a lack of love for summer but instead more of an equal love of winter. To a local beach town resident, winter at the beach may even beat summer at the beach and here is our list of reasons why:

1. Peaceful Privacy
With the summer season gone, this quiet time of year on Folly gives you more room to enjoy all that the beach has to offer. One can bundle up and enjoying a good book in privacy with the soundtrack of waves crashing in the background. This means more privacy, enjoy a romantic walk or have the perfect backdrop for photos without any unwanted photo bombers.

2. Christmas Parade
The majority of the summer and spring seasons are spent tending to crowds and enjoying the warm sun, but winter brings in a different kind of happiness. Folly Beach’s events in the holiday season bring out the spirit the holidays in wacky ways. Each year the Christmas parade that marches up and down main street is decked out with the funkiest of parade features alongside some of the classics. Street stores and vendors open up their shops selling gifts that would fit the just about the largest range of people possible.

3. New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Folly Beach’s take on New Year’s is just as outlandish as one would expect from the free spirited town. Main Street does its own version of Time Square’s famous Ball Drop. As the clock strikes midnight and the New Year is ushered in Folly does a “Flip-Flip Drop” and it’s just as it sounds. A giant pair of lit up flip-flops descends upon main street at midnight to mark the New Year! It might be a tradition for people everywhere to take a polar-plunge into ice cold winter water on the first day of the New Year, but Folly does it differently. With Bill Murray as one of our proud locals, Folly Beach hosts a “Bill Murray Look-alike Polar Plunge”. Participants dress as their favorite Bill Murray character and dive into the deep blue!

4. Cold Sand
Okay, so this sounds strange, but hear us out! There is nothing that quite beats the feeling of the cold sand beneath your toes and the ocean breeze on your cheeks when you’re all bundled up. It’s a peaceful sensation that should be experienced as often as possible. Not to mention it’s a break from the scalding sensation that comes accompanied with sand in the summer months. The sunshine and warm waters smell of summer, but don’t knock the coastal winter weather at Folly until you try it for yourself!

5. Empty Waters
If you are brave enough bear the cold water, throw on a wet suit and paddle out into the waves at the Washout. It’s nearly guaranteed that the waves will be less crowded with a more peaceful experience on the water.

6. Beautiful Sunsets
Sunsets in winter are better. That might be a subjective statement, but until you experience a sunset that’s brought in after a cold winter rain storm you’ll just have to take our word for it.

7. Dogs Allowed!
If you are familiar with Folly you know that dogs are allowed year round. In the busy seasons from May – September dogs are only allowed specific hours in the morning and the evening. In the winter, dogs are always allowed during beach hours! All through the off seasons feel free to bring your furry friend to the beach at any time of day (as long as they are on a leash)! Nothing is better than your pup enjoying the beach as much you!