Savannah Events — Concerts, Festivals & Local Happenings

Savannah’s Annual Recurring Events - What Happens Every Year

Savannah is a city that knows how to celebrate — and it does so on a remarkably consistent schedule. These are the events that happen every year, regardless of when you visit. Plan your trip around one of them and you'll experience the city at its most alive.

🍀 St. Patrick's Day Parade — March One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the United States. The entire Historic District fills with crowds, green beer, live music, and genuine celebration. The fountain in Forsyth Park is dyed green. If you love a party, this is the weekend. If you prefer a quieter Savannah, this is the one weekend to skip — book early either way because hotels sell out months in advance.

🎵 Savannah Music Festival — March/April Two weeks of world-class music across multiple Historic District venues — jazz, blues, bluegrass, classical, and more. One of the most respected music festivals in the South, drawing internationally recognized artists. Many performances are affordable or free.

🌺 NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens — April The Garden Club of Savannah opens private historic gardens in the South Historic District to the public for one weekend each spring. A rare and genuinely beautiful experience — these gardens are invisible from the street the rest of the year. Worth planning around if you love architecture, horticulture, or slow travel.

🎨 SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival — April One of our personal favorites. Forsyth Park fills with chalk art created by SCAD students and local high school artists, food vendors, and live music — all free. The quality of the artwork is genuinely remarkable. A perfect Saturday in Savannah. See our Guide on Forsyth Park for a little history as you’re admiring the amazing artwork.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Savannah Scottish Games and Celtic Festival — May Now in its 48th year, the Savannah Scottish Games at Bethesda Academy draws over 5,800 people for Celtic music, Highland dancing, pipe bands, sheep herding, heavy athletic events, and more. One of the Southeast's most unique heritage festivals.

🏖️ SCAD Sand Arts Festival — May SCAD students and alumni create elaborate sand sculptures on Tybee Island's South Beach. Free to attend and a great excuse to pair a beach day with something genuinely artistic and unexpected.

🎸 Dog Days Fest — June Annual festival of local and regional rock music at Starland Yard in Savannah's artsy Starland neighborhood. Low-cost or free entry, great atmosphere, and a chance to see where locals actually go for live music.

🎆 July 4th Waterfront Celebration — July 4th Fireworks over the Savannah River from River Street — one of the best July 4th experiences in the South. Crowds line the riverfront all day. Pair it with a Tybee Island visit if you want the beach version instead — fireworks are viewable from the eastern beaches there too.

🎷 Savannah Jazz Festival — September Free outdoor jazz festival in Forsyth Park, drawing local and national jazz artists. One of the city's most beloved annual events — bring a blanket, a bottle of wine, and plan to stay all afternoon.

🏴‍☠️ Tybee Pirate Fest — October Popular pirate-themed festival on Tybee Island with a parade, costume contest, market, re-enactments, and live entertainment. Fun for families and genuinely festive — the entire island gets into it.

🐾 Wag-o-Ween — October Locally-adored Halloween celebration for pets, where the Savannah canines (and cats, etc) dress up in costumes, visiting local shops and receiving treats at each stop. There’s a big award celebration at the end, crowning the best costumed pet.

🎬 SCAD Savannah Film Festival — October/November One of the largest collegiate-run film festivals in the world, spanning a full week across SCAD venues in the Historic District. Screenings, panels, and industry events — many open to the public at low or no cost.

📚 Savannah Book Festival — February Annual gathering of authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts in the city's historic theaters and public spaces. Free author talks, panel discussions, and book signings across the Historic District.

🎄 Holiday Tour of Homes — December Historic District private homes open their doors for holiday tours each December. One of the most magical ways to experience Savannah — the interiors are extraordinary and the holiday decorations are stunning.