A late-night crowd surge at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, left 19 people evaluated for injuries early Sunday, officials said.
Emergency crews were called at about 1:05 a.m. to an area near a stage along South Ocean Boulevard after reports of a stampede. According to Horry County Fire Rescue, none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening.
Officials said 19 patients were found and assessed with assistance from law enforcement already present at the event. Three people were taken to a hospital, and officials noted that others may have gone to local hospitals on their own.
Brief Chain Reaction Triggered Crowd Panic
The Town of Atlantic Beach told Fox News Digital that the incident started when one person began running. That movement reportedly caused a quick chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds.
Town officials expressed concern for those hurt or affected by the incident, saying any situation involving injuries is taken seriously.
The town also said public safety teams were already positioned throughout the festival and responded immediately when the situation unfolded.
Emergency Crews Declared Mass Casualty Incident
Because of the number of reported injuries, Horry County Fire Rescue declared a mass casualty incident. The designation is used to help coordinate emergency response when multiple people need medical evaluation.
EMS teams treated injured attendees at the scene before the festival returned to normal operations, officials said.
The response involved multiple emergency and law enforcement agencies already working the event.
Despite the panic, town officials said there were no confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety during the incident.
Several crowd-control steps had already been used during the weekend. Officials said incoming traffic into Atlantic Beach was temporarily stopped on Friday night and again on Saturday evening.
The town described the stampede as an isolated moment and said it did not represent the overall event.
Black Pearl Festival Draws Large Memorial Day Crowds
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival is an annual Memorial Day weekend motorcycle rally in Atlantic Beach.
According to the town’s website, the event has reportedly drawn crowds of more than 400,000 to the area. However, those crowds can overlap with broader Memorial Day weekend visitors in the Myrtle Beach area attending concerts, parties, and other entertainment events.
The town said the festival has been held for more than 40 years and continues to bring visitors from across the country.
Officials said they will keep reviewing the incident with public safety partners to determine whether additional safety improvements are needed.
A spokesperson for Horry County Fire Rescue told Fox News Digital that there were no further updates to share.
The South Carolina biker festival stampede left officials balancing two messages: concern for those injured and confidence that emergency teams responded quickly to a brief but chaotic crowd incident.
