Stampede erupts at South Carolina biker festival, 19 injured in late-night chaos

Fox News ^ | 24 May 2026 | Sophia Compton

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

At least 19 people were evaluated for injuries early Sunday in a "stampede" during the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, officials said.

Emergency crews responded around 1:05 a.m. near a stage area along South Ocean Boulevard after reports of a stampede incident. None of the injuries appeared life-threatening, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

"With the help of on-scene law enforcement, 19 patients were located and evaluated for injuries," Horry County Fire Rescue said. "… Three people were transported to the hospital with injuries, with the possibility of others self-transporting to local hospitals."

Due to the number of reported injuries, Horry County Fire Rescue declared a mass casualty incident a designation used to coordinate emergency response when multiple patients require evaluation.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

This is the infamous "black biker festival" full of corruption.

[crusty old prospector]

Chaos. It’s chaos.

[VastRWCon]

Yogi?

[PeterPrinciple]

stampede is something animals do

[fidelis]

Biker violence. It's frightening.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Normally businesses close and put up hurricane sheathing during these black biker festivals.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

#4: "stampede is something animals do"

Precisely.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes, Boo-boo. Of course.

[PGR88]

[thegagline]

stampede is something animals do

Finally, an honest reporter.

[ladyjane]

That’s not chaos. It’s cultural heritage.

[thegagline]

Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival used to be called “Black Bike Week”

Proving once again that no matter how many times you change a name or description, it is the same old uncivilized behavior.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

She seems nice.

[lee martell]

One of many Dress Rehearsals before
June 19th, or “June-teenth Day”.

Several local businesses use it in their advertising, but I’m not hearing about a great many citizens actually celebrating it, that goes for any race, be they black, white, latino or asian. My view is why spend even more time focused on Slaves being released hundreds of years ago, when nobody alive now was born into slavehood? It’s an exercise in pessimism and negativity to remain locked into looking back vs looking forward.

Presently, that is seen as a National Holiday, as per
“Joe’s” pandering decree. I suspect within 7 years or less, Juneteenth will become a state choice, vs national, and in this way, it will slip back into the obscurity from which it came.

[doorgunner69]

One chimp panics and the whole pack panics?

[TigersEye]

Mostly foot, ankle and calf injuries due to the size of the cows.

[dayglored]

Ping!

[Red Badger]

read on another site that the stampede was triggered by somebody running.

I guess the others saw him running and their natural instincts took over.................

[Getready]

Crowd probably thought that the “runner” was running away because he was about to get shot or mugged, or severely assaulted, so they got ready to leave the scene ASAP.
IMHO.

[ConservativeMind]

Did cattle run over them, or did men run over other men because they got startled, instead?

Regardless, this sounds like something deserved.