Saturday, the 48th annual Canadian-American Days, or Can-Am Days, kicked off along the Grand Strand.
The thousands of Canadians that are expected to visit South Carolina shores are also expected to help boost the local economy.
The nine day event, beginning Saturday and going through March 22nd, was put into motion by the Royal Canadian Artillery Band at the United Methodist Church in Surfside Beach Saturday night.
The Can-Am Days come just in time, as local businesses anxiously await tourism season to pick back up after a quite winter for many Grand Strand businesses.
One event sponsor says the Can-Am Days can even go a long way in replacing the dollars that will be missed by having less bikers in town than in years past.
"We really have the answer to building our economy right here with Can-Am days. I think the Canadians love to come here, we certainly love having them here and with that, it seems like the perfect marriage," pointed out Steve Carter with RBC Bank, one of Saturday night's event sponsors.
More than 100,000 Canadian visitors are expected to be in the area over the next nine days.
