Myrtle Beach interview!

During a day that will begin with the pomp and circumstance of a John McCain-led parade and end with a bang of Memorial Day fireworks, the day's real entertainment lies in between with a bevy of musical performances including former American Idol runner-up David Archuleta.

The festivities begin after the parade ends with celebirty meet and greets, food, and arts and crafts vendors and a ton of kid-friendly entertainment that continues until 9:30 p.m.

In addition to Archuleta the performers will include Jennette McCurdy, best known for her current role as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s  "iCarly," Noah and Ethan Munck, who play Gibby and Guppy Gibson on “iCarly”; Ariana Grande, best known for her role as Caterina ‘Cat’ Valentine on Nickelodeon’s “Victorious”; Jake T. Austin, who plays Max on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place”; Doug Brochu, who stars as Grady Mitchell on Disney Channel’s “Sonny with a Chance”; and Zendaya Coleman, best known for her role as Rocky Blue on Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up!”

Since completing his run on season 7 of the hit show, Archuleta has hardly let finishing second slow him down, releasing two studio albums. His debut album "Crush" went platinum and the self-titled single peaked on Billboard’s Hot 100. Now he’s coming to the beach.

We got a chance to catch up with the headliner, 20, early one morning while he was in Los Angeles. Here's what he had to say about his music and performing in Myrtle Beach.

How is your spring going?

It’s been good. I’ve been taking it easy. There have been a lot of changes so I’m just trying to set up the next few months. I’ve been rehearsing with a new band and working on new material. It’s a lot of planning. I’ll be going to Asia this summer and there are a few things I’m doing over there, it’s still being set up, but I’m doing Indonesia and Malaysia.

How long will you be staying in Myrtle Beach?

 I’ll be there a couple days I think. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve heard that it is a really nice area, but I’ve never visited. I was in Columbia one time, but never really spent time in Myrtle Beach.

Is there anything you’d like to do while you’re here?

 I’m big into eating, so that's always kind of my thing. I’m always like “Where’s the good place to go eat.”

I’ve never really been golfing. I’ve been mini golfing, but golf is something I really want to get into. I think it would be a sport I’d enjoy.

Before I was like “Man, it doesn’t seem that exciting.” But now I think it would be cool to do. You’re competitive with yourself and not necessarily other people and that’s more my style.

What’s it mean to be a part of a citywide Memorial Day weekend celebration?

I’m excited for it. I think Memorial Day is one of the greatest holidays. I think one of the most important things is to remember those who help give us freedom and influence where we are now.

There are a lot of people who sacrifice for us, and I just like remembering and honoring them. I’ve been studying genealogy and acknowledging what kind of decisions those in the past made and how those decisions affected where you ended up. So I think that’s interesting.

I do always get kind of nervous and jittery, but I know it will be a nice event and I’m excited it’s a family event.

What kind of performance do you have in store for Saturday?

There’s a couple of different songs that I’ve liked and enjoyed listening to that I’ve never really performed before so I think I’ll try some different things at this show.

I’ll be singing songs that are familiar, but I’ll also be doing slight differences in those. I just wanted to try some different things. It will be fun.

just wanted to keep it fun with a few twists to it. I just like family events — they are fun crowds to perform for.

For more on all the Memorial Day festivities visit http://www.myrtlebeachmayfest.com.

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