46. Siege Of Savannah Memorial
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 651-6895, ext. 2
Address: 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Description: The Coastal Heritage Society uses this celebration to commemorate the climactic battle of the Siege of Savannah, which was fought on the site of the Savannah History Museum and the nearby historic Roundhouse Railroad Museum. The ceremony is held about 7 a.m. on the first Saturday in October, with living history demonstrations offered throughout the weekend. Admission is free.
47. Historic Savannah Foundation Gala
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 233-7787
Description: One of Historic Savannah Foundation’s major fund-raisers starts with cocktails in private homes and moves to a site in one of the city’s historic neighborhoods for a black-tie dinner party. The event is held in late October or early November, but the date and location vary. Check the website for updated date and ticket information.
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
49. Savannah Film Festival
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 525-5050
Address: 216 East Broughton St.
Description: Hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, this presentation of film and video productions takes place during a week’s time in late October and/or early November. The latest in feature-length films, shorts, animations, documentaries, and student work are screened at the Lucas Theatre and Trustees Theater in downtown Savannah, with workshops and gatherings at various other venues. Look for the trendy, the indie, the oldie, you name it. This week is always good for celebrity watching. Every year, the stars who attend to pick up awards become more A-list.
50. Halloween Hike
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 898-3980
Address: 711 Sandtown Rd.
Description: If you’re seeking a tamer Halloween experience for your child, take advantage of this walk along the trails and through the “Friendly Forest” at Oatland Island Education Center. As they frolic through the woods, young trick-or-treaters meet adults costumed as animal characters, who greet the children with hugs and goodies. Admission is $5 per child, and the center provides bags for collecting treats. You or another adult must accompany your child, and the little ones are encouraged to wear costumes and comfortable shoes. The center holds the hike on the Friday and Saturday before Halloween.
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
52. Savannah Greek Festival
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 236-8256
Address: 14 West Anderson St.
Description: When we think of the Savannah Greek Festival, we can taste the baklava melting in our mouths. Those scrumptious pastries are just a sample of the tasty concoctions offered for sale at the Hellenic Center adjacent to St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in midtown Savannah during the third Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in October. Among other favorites of the festival’s patrons are the Greek salad, gyro sandwiches, and a spinach pie called spanakopita. While you’re enjoying the food, sit back and watch the Hellenic Center’s dance groups perform. You can also tour the church. Festival hours are 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call or visit the website for updated admission pricing.
53. Coastal Empire Fair
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 354-3542
Address: 520 West 63rd St.
Description: During 11 days in late October and early November when the weather turns chilly, the Coastal Empire Fair comes to town. The fairgrounds off Montgomery Street glow and throb with the lights and sounds of thrill rides, sideshows, and game booths. The 60-odd rides include about a dozen kiddie rides. This Exchange Club Fair Association extravaganza also features livestock shows, flower shows, and home demonstrations in skills such as canning and quilt making. The $20 admission fee allows you to hop on as many rides as you wish. Call or check the website for updated fares.
54. Bamboo Farm Annual Fall Festival
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 921-5460
Address: 2 Canebrake Rd.
Description: Paint your face, buy some plants (perennials and fall annuals), or purchase sugar cane syrup at this celebration of autumn in late October at the Bamboo Farm. For those seeking a bite to eat, there’s a snack bar and a smoked pork luncheon featuring greens, roast pork, sweet potatoes, corn bread, and ice tea, and a hot-dog lunch. The kids will enjoy hayrides, pony rides, a bounce house, and storytelling in the cottage garden. Adults might opt for the garden lecture and plant vendors. The last few years have featured workshops on the findings of an ongoing research program on growing bananas in Savannah—it can be done, with luck and skill.
55. Savannah Seafood Festival
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 234-0295
Description: Fresh seafood prepared at booths on River Street’s Rousakis Plaza is the main attraction of this event on the first weekend in November. Menus feature shrimp, crab, and crayfish—much of it caught in local waters. Festivalgoers munch away as they check out sales of arts and crafts, boogie to the beach and Cajun music provided by bands playing on the plaza’s main stage, and enjoy the oyster-shucking contest. Hours are 9 a.m. to midnight on Fri and Sat, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sun. Admission is free.
56. Festival Of Lights
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 236-7423
Address: 601 Cohen St.
Description: A fund-raiser for the programs of the nonprofit Parent and Child Development Services of Union Mission, this event on an evening in mid-November features a cocktail party and silent and live auctions. Held in the quaint brick surroundings of Savannah Station on the western fringes of the Historic District, this celebration for people of all faiths costs $100 per person to attend.
57. Telfair Art Fair
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 232-1177
Address: 121 Barnard St.
Description: The Telfair Museum’s annual fair attracts artists from throughout the United States. They compete for cash awards and sell their creations to the public from displays under tents set up around Telfair Square. You can find paintings, sculpture, photographs, fabric, jewelry, and other fine arts at this exhibition, which takes place early in November. Hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sat, and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Sun. The fair is free.
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 711 Sandtown Rd.
59. Holiday Open House
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 525-2489
Description: On the first Friday evening of December, the courtyard at City Market glows with the soft light of more than 500 luminarias as shop owners open their doors and offer complimentary refreshments to visitors. Strolling carolers sing Yuletide classics while Father Christmas—resplendent in his green velvet robe and red velvet cape and hat—talks with children about the spirit of the season and their plans for the holidays. This festive atmosphere takes place at City Market’s Holiday Open House, which starts at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the luminaries and ends about 9 p.m.
60. Christmas For Kids
City: Savannah, GA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (912) 515-2489
Description: It’s been said that Christmas is for children, and City Market takes that to heart by offering a program for young people from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. This event gives youngsters the opportunity to make ornaments to take home, have their faces painted, enjoy a petting zoo, decorate cookies, and visit with Father Christmas in the Carriage Tours of Savannah Cinderella Carriage, and a choir performance. The entertainment varies from year to year, with puppet shows, a petting zoo, and performances by cloggers in the mix. Carriage Tours collects toys for their annual Toys for Tots promotion. It’s all free.