Fall in Savannah brings days of relief from summer’s relentless steam shower. An 80-degree day here and there punctuates the monotonous march of heat advisories. Those days turn into weeks and, hopefully, by late October, fall finally arrives in all it’s 70-degree glory.
When the humidity hits you like a sledgehammer, it effectively tamps down much activity. No one wants to eat funnel cake when it’s too hot to move. So when Fall arrives, Savannahians rejoice and emerge from our air conditioned sanctuaries to join the world again.
Take advantage of it and check out these great fall festivals for every kind of reveler.
September
9/22-9/28 – Savannah Jazz Festival
Treble clefts float through the night air as smooth saxaphone radiates from Forsyth Park. The Savannah Jazz Festival is celebrating its 38th season. It always has been and still remains completely free to the public. Check out the schedule of events, pack a picnic, and get there early for a good spot on the green.
October
10/7 – Savannah Philharmonic Picnic in the Park
Gather in Forsyth Park for a free concert from the Savannah Philharmonic. This is one of the largest free events in the city, attracting more than 20,000 visitors each year. A simple blanket, a few snacks, and your favorite beverage will do, but some folks truly go all out, setting up tents and fully catered meals to enjoy an evening of classical music and classic cocktails.
10/10 – 10/12 – Savannah Greek Festival
Join St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church for the 69th annual Savannah Greek Festival. That’s right, Savannahians have been drinking ouzo and scarfing gyros for nearly seven decades at this festival, and for good reason. True love is a homemade baklava hand-crafted by a kitchen full of yia-yias. There is nothing better. Say I’m wrong, I dare you.
10/10 – 10/13 – Tybee Island Pirate Festival
Arrrgh you ready for a weekend of debauchery and pillaging? Bring your best eye patch and saucy parrot to Tybee Island Pirate Festival. Pick from a bounty of events from live music to the legendary pirate parade. There’s even a play area for your “Little Mateys” to tag along complete with bouncy castle for their raiding adventures.
10/18 – 10/20 – Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
October is chock full of food festivals, but this one is definitely worth the trip out to Richmond Hill for some of the best seafood in the Lowcountry. With The Marshall Tucker Band headlining this year, it is not to be missed.
10/26 – 11/2 – Savannah Film Festival
Hollywood descends on our fair and photogenic city for a few weeks of screenings and red carpet celeb sightings. The featured films haven’t even been announced yet, and all of the tickets are already sold out, so you’ll have to scour StubHub and Craigslist to find your all-access pass this year.
10/28 – Shalom Y’All Jewish Food Festival
Get your latke and kugel fix at this year’s Jewish Food Festival in Monterey Square. The event, including music and entertainment, is free and food tickets can be purchased in advance or on site. If you like cheese blintzes and matzo ball soup as much as me, challah back.
November
11/4 – 11/10 – Savannah Food and Wine Festival
Chefs and vintners from across the country take over the Georgia State Railroad Museum grounds in downtown Savannah for the Taste of Savannah – a day of feasting and festing. But that’s far from all – the festival includes events through the week leading up to the big show like a whiskey cruise on the Savannah River and a six-course Friends of James Beard Dinner. Bon appetit!
