Scooby Doo, Where Are You? At Broadway at the Beach In Myrtle Beach!

If you're sick of being cooped up in the house with the kids this winter, maybe it's time for a little road trip to Myrtle Beach.

On Saturday, February 20, the 9^th Annual Kidz time Kids Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Broadway at the Beach and it's tailor made to chase away the winter blues.

Locals flock to this event and a lot of out-of-towners come in too. Why not? Oceanfront accommodations are at a fraction of what they normally cost. Well, it is officially winter — even in South Carolina.

Imagine your kids spending the day with Scooby Doo and Shaggy instead of moping around the house going “Mommy, I'm bored” over and over until you want to kill the little darlings.

The festival promises to keep the kids engaged all day with interactive activities, live performances, a petting zoo and kid-friendly demonstrations. Admission is free and there even put up a heated tent at Broadway Commons in case the kiddies get a little chilly.

Best of all, there's so much going on that the little darlings should be completely worn out by the end of the festival and ready to slip quietly into bed after supper. That leaves some quiet time for Mom and Dad — and what better way to spend that than snuggling up and gazing out at the Atlantic ocean while sharing a bottle of wine?

Last year, this event drew 56,000 people so expect a crowd. But Broadway at the Beach is on 350 acres so you won't be going shoulder to shoulder. And, be prepared for the kids to ask to join the KidzTime Kids Club. The membership fee of $25 gets them into a variety of fun activities throughout the year (like when you return to Myrtle Beach for the family's summer vacation).

But that $25 membership will deliver value on festival day too. If the kids wear their membership wristbands at the festival they'll get access to even more free — and specially-planned, members-only — activities that day, plus they (that means you) can get special discounts on purchases throughout Broadway at the Beach. Parents can enroll children ages three to twelve in the club by filling out an application on the Broadway at the Beach Web site.

So, bundle the family up and get out into the fresh air. You know you need to do it for your own sanity.