A Transition to Winter

At the end of August Holden Beach’s summer population goes from 15,000 to about 900. Some would even question the population of 900 if they were to take a walk on the beach or drive down Ocean Boulevard in September. They change the speed limit back to 45 mph on the west end just past the pier. At the same time the predominantly one-way traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway picks up tremendously with yachts and sailboats heading back to warm southern regions.

Crowds of vendors and visitors  pour onto the beach for the “Festival by the Sea” during the last weekend in October. Like a tide they wash in on Friday and wash away on Monday.

Holden Beach is favorite gathering place for friends and family. During Thanksgiving folks taking a stroll on the beach can actually smell roasting turkeys. Watch the bridge the weekend before Christmas and you’ll see an assortment of vehicles with trees tied to the tops or loaded on trailers. After the Christmas celebrations many of those trees are placed on the beach to gather sand and hopefully create a new dune.

After that the residents of Holden Beach do what the bears do. Settle down for the long (hopefully mild) winter.

We’ll see you in the spring!