Are you in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Savannah? If so, it’ll probably help to see at a glance the most popular events in the city and the months in which they occur.
After all, really popular events — such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Savannah Film Festival — can affect everything from hotel rates to parking availability to the ability to secure restaurant reservations.
Just so you know, the three most popular months for events and festivals in Savannah tend to be March, October, and December. If you check out Savannah’s weather by month, you’ll see why! Spring and fall are generally considered the best times to visit Savannah, GA.
Annual Events in Savannah
Please note that this post is designed to provide a broad overview of the biggest annual events in Savannah.
These are events you’ll want to keep in mind as you’re making travel plans, since they tend to draw large crowds.
Accommodations are likely to cost more during these events, and it may be difficult to get reservations at some of the most popular restaurants in Savannah when they’re taking place.
I’ll begin with the current month…
February 2026 Events
Savannah Book Festival
February 5 – 8, 2026 (dates confirmed)
This free event is draws nationally-acclaimed authors and thousands of bibliophiles to three historic squares in Savannah.
Savannah Irish Festival
February 7 – 8, 2026 (dates confirmed)
The Irish Festival officially kicks off the start of St. Patrick’s season in Savannah with this fun event, which includes storytelling, music, and Irish dance. It will be held at Alee Temple.
Super Museum Sunday
February 8, 2026 (date confirmed)
Get free entry into some of the most popular museums in Savannah during this event, which is held annually the first or second Sunday in February. Expect long lines at many of the top spots!
Savannah Black Heritage Festival
February 21, 2026 (date confirmed)
The Savannah Black Heritage Festival is a nearly monthlong event celebrating Black culture and heritage. Most of the events and exhibitions take place at Savannah State University (SSU). The Grand Festival takes place at Enmark Arena on the 21st from 2 – 6 p.m.
➡️ Click here for additional February events in Savannah
March 2026 Events
St. Patrick’s Celebrations
2026 dates TBD
St. Paddy’s Day events occur all month long! They take place throughout the city, but the majority occur within the Historic District. Expect accommodations to be pricey during March, and you’ll need to book them at least six months in advance — a year would be even better. Find the best places to stay here.
Flannery O’Connor’s 101st Birthday Celebration
2026 date TBD
This annual event takes place in Lafayette Square and celebrates local authors. It includes a Flannery O’Connor lookalike contest and a musical promenade around the square. The 2026 event will honor what would have been the author’s 101st birthday.
➡️ Click here for additional March events in Savannah
April 2026 Events
Savannah Music Festival
March 25 – April 5, 2026 (dates confirmed)
This is one of the largest musical festivals in the entire state of Georgia! It features hundreds of musical acts from a wide variety of genres.
SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival
April 26, 2026 (date confirmed)
The sidewalk arts festival draws huge crowds to Forsyth Park for a competition to see who can create the most interesting piece of art using nothing but chalk. You can watch the artists and chat with them while they work. It’s a free event.
NOGS Tour of Hidden Gardens
April 17 – 18, 2026 (dates confirmed)
Mark Your Calendar: Premium tickets go on sale mid-November
This is one of the few times during the year when we plebeians get the opportunity to venture behind fancy wrought-iron gates into some of the most beautiful secret gardens in Savannah’s Historic District. The atmosphere is like one giant tea party with ladies in hats and sundresses (only a slight exaggeration).
➡️ Click here for additional April events in Savannah
May 2026 Events
SCAD Savannah Commencement Ceremony
May 29 – 31, 2026 (dates confirmed)
If you’re planning a trip to Savannah the last weekend in May, you should probably book your accommodations as soon as possible. SCAD graduation weekend is a busy one!
➡️ Click here for additional May events in Savannah
June 2026 Events
Juneteenth Savannah
2026 date TBD
This popular annual event is held in Wells Park and features a parade, live music, and food from many of Savannah’s top Black-owned restaurants. There’s no fee. Simply show up around 10 a.m., and expect the party to last into the early evening hours.
Savannah Juneteenth Festival
2026 date TBD
This is the city sponsored Juneteenth event, and it includes everything from a 5k race to a Fine Arts Festival to a fireworks show.
NOTE: If you’re looking for Pride events, Savannah mostly celebrates Pride during the month of October. The weather is much more suitable then for all types of outdoor activities.
➡️ Click here for additional June events in Savannah
July 2026 Events
4th of July Fireworks on the River
July 4th, 2026 (date confirmed)
This popular event features fireworks along the waterfront. You can watch for free from street level or pay a cover charge to view the show with a drink in hand at one of the rooftop bars.
Savannah Comic Con
2026 dates TBD
Comic Con celebrates comic book fans, vintage toy collectors, and retro gaming fanatics. You’ll find plenty of cosplay and anime at this event, which celebrates geek culture. (Their word, not mine — don’t hate on me. I celebrate all things nerdy.) It’s held at the Savannah Convention Center.
➡️ Click here for additional July events in Savannah
August 2026 Events
There aren’t any major annual events scheduled for August of 2026.
➡️ Click here for some of the smaller August events in Savannah
September 2026 Events
Savannah Jazz Festival
2026 dates TBD
This festival takes place in various locations within the Historic District, including the Lucas Theater, Ships of the Sea Museum, and the bandshell at Forsyth Park.
➡️ Click here for additional September events in Savannah
October 2026 Events
Savannah Philharmonic “Phil the Park”
2026 date TBD
This is Savannah’s largest free concert of the year. It typically takes place in beautiful Forsyth Park. Unfortunately the 2025 event was cancelled due to presidential budget cuts, and that may happen again this year.
Savannah Greek Festival
2026 date TBD
Enjoy authentic Greek food and pastries at St. Paul’s Hellenic Center in the Historic District.
Savannah Pride Festival
2026 date TBD
Celebrate all things LGBTQ+ in Savannah at this fun event, which includes parades, costume contests, drag events, and live music. Events typically take place in Forsyth Park or City Market.
Savannah Film Festival
October 24 – 31, 2026 (dates confirmed)
The Savannah Film Festival is the biggest annual event SCAD hosts. It features film debuts, a red-carpet event, and plenty of opportunities to spot celebrities.
➡️ Click here for additional October events in Savannah
November 2026 Events
The Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival
2026 date TBD
This annual gathering is held at Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah’s Historic District. It celebrates food (latkes, anyone?) and the Jewish community.
Savannah Boat Parade of Lights
November 28, 2026 (date confirmed)
Did you know Santa arrives by boat in Savannah? He and his friends decorate their boats with colorful lights and oversized balloons, then they blast music and dance while floating along the riverfront for all to see. It kicks off in the Eastern Wharf District and extends all the way down to Plant Riverside District.
➡️ Click here for additional November events in Savannah
December 2026 Events
The Savannah Christmas Market
2026 dates TBD
When you’re ready to do some holiday shopping, take photos with Santa, or grab some hot chocolate along the riverfront, you can head to the Savannah Christmas Market to do just that. It takes place in the Plant Riverside District.
Holiday Tour of Homes
2026 date TBD
This popular events invites guests inside some of the fanciest homes, inns, and hotels in Savannah’s Historic District so guests can see them decorated for the holidays. Tickets go on sale in early September each year and often sell out within hours.
Christmas on the River Parade
2026 date TBD
If you’re looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays, this parade along River Street is a fun way to do just that.
NYE Fireworks on the River
December 31, 2026 (date confirmed)
It should be no surprise that River Street is the place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Savannah. You can watch the huge fireworks display for free by grabbing a spot along the riverfront, or pay a cover charge to see it from one of the rooftop bars.
➡️ Click here for additional December events in Savannah
January 2027 Events
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
January 18, 2027 (date confirmed)
The parade celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and it features local marching bands, floats, and dance acts. It begins in the Historic District and ends along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Savannah’s Victorian District.
➡️ Click here for additional January events in Savannah
SCAD Savannah Events
In addition to the Savannah Film Festival and the Sidewalk Arts Festival mentioned above, SCAD hosts numerous other events throughout the year.
SCAD Days, the SCAD Fashion Show, and the Sand Arts Festival (held on nearby Tybee Island) are a few popular ones.
Make note that SCAD students usually move into their dorms the first week in September. That means parents are often in town to help out, and many of the top Savannah Historic District hotels fill up quickly.
Move-out weekend and the commencement ceremony fall towards the end of May or in early June, so those are also busy times.
Choosing Where to Stay
If you aren’t sure where to stay, the Savannah Historic District is the most popular area.
All of the above-listed events are walkable from within that district, except for Comic Con — and you can take the free ferry across the river to the Savannah Convention Center to get to that one.
If you have mobility issues and you’re staying within the Historic District, you can utilize the free DOT shuttles during the day or hail a free ride from a Downtowner vehicle at night. (There may be a wait for the Downtowners, since they are in high demand during events.)
Related Reading: Where to Stay in Savannah: An Insider’s Guide to the City
Savannah Travel Guide
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