Conway Council Approves Coastal Football Kickoff Event for Sept. 1

Conway City Council has approved a special event permit allowing Chanti's Pizza to host the Coastal Football Coaches Show Kickoff on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in downtown Conway. The evening gathering will celebrate the official start of the college football season for Coastal Carolina University fans and the local business community.

The event is scheduled to run from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees can expect a live band, mobile vendors, sponsor displays, and a player meet-and-greet with Coastal Carolina football players. Chanti's Pizza regularly hosts the university's head football coach on Tuesday nights throughout the college football season, making the kickoff event a central tradition for local Chanticleer supporters.

To accommodate the crowds and vendor displays, several temporary street closures will be implemented in downtown Conway during the event hours. Portions of Laurel Street stretching from Second Avenue to the downtown fountain will be closed to vehicle traffic. Additional closures will affect Peanut Road and the driveway accessing the Horry County parking lot. City documents project an attendance of approximately 500 people along with five featured vendors.

Local residents, commuters, and visitors traveling through downtown Conway on the evening of Sept. 1 should plan for minor traffic adjustments around Laurel Street and utilize alternative parking options near the riverfront or nearby public lots.

In addition to the football kickoff permit, Conway City Council also approved a request from the Conway Chamber of Commerce to host the annual Graveyard Grand Prix Coffin Races later this fall. That event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along portions of Laurel Street and Second Avenue, featuring race teams, a live band, and local food vendors.