Police shut down Atlantic Beach Bike Week after chaos erupts. What we know

Horry County Police have shut down the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival, after an apparent argument lead to a stampede of panicked concert goers, a witness told the Sun News.

On a rainy Sunday morning, trash, shoes and sunglasses littered the ground near the concert stage set up for the weekend’s festival.

Hilton Dewitt, who was at the event, told the Sun News there may have been an argument on the street near Ocean Boulevard, which caused concert goers to rush toward the stage.

Atlantic Beach the morning after a fight shut down the main concert. May 25, 2025

Dewitt said it happened about 1 a.m. He said ambulances came and then police eventually shut down the concert.

Myrtle Beach Scanner reported the incident on Facebook early Sunday morning and said 10 people were sent to the hospital. This information has not been confirmed.

“They started panicking,” Dewitt said of the crowd. “It was a stampede.”

The Sun News reached out to Atlantic Beach Police, Horry County Police and North Myrtle Beach Police to find out more information.

In a text message sent to a reporter, Horry County Police spokesperson Mikayla Moskov directed The Sun News to speak to Atlantic Beach Police for further updates.

The other two departments have not as of yet responded.

Atlantic Beach Bike Week, also known as Black Bike Week, happens annually during Memorial Day weekend, among other festivals and concerts that take place in the town of Atlantic Beach. Bikers also spread out in the area, spending time at the Myrtle Beach Mall parking lot and in downtown Myrtle Beach.

It’s unclear if the festival will continue through Memorial Day. Vendors appeared to be packing up Sunday morning.

Source: MSN