If you’re wondering where to find the best Christmas lights in Savannah, I can help!
It’s no secret how much I love Christmas in this city. Savannah looks so pretty when it’s decorated in its holiday best.
I’ve included a map at the end of the post in case you want to drive around to see some of the best light displays in the area (and beyond).
Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.
If you’re new around here, first of all … welcome!
My name is Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide.
It combines all of my best Savannah travel tips from this website into one handy downloadable guide.
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Savannah Historic District Christmas Tours
If you prefer to go on a guided tour to see the lights in the Historic District, here are a couple options:
The trolley is a nighttime tour, so you’ll be riding around after dark while holiday music plays in the background (passengers are welcome to sing along).
It stops in City Market so you can do some holiday shopping while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Savannah Georgia Christmas Lights (Updated for 2024)
There are multiple areas throughout the city that are known for their beautiful lighted Christmas displays.
I’m going to attempt to list as many as possible, beginning with a few of the most popular…
The Historic District
The Historic District is the area you’re probably most familiar with in Savannah, so it makes a good starting point.
Broughton Street
It’s so easy to get in the holiday spirit on Broughton Street!
You’ll find the city’s official Christmas tree at the intersection of Broughton and Bull.
It’s adjacent to Levy’s Jewelers, and it’s smack-dab in the middle of the road, so you can’t miss it.
The twinkle lights draped from one side of the street to the other make Broughton Street look like a scene out of a Hallmark movie, and the greenery and ribbons on all of the old-timey lampposts only add to the effect.
The annual holiday tree lighting is held the day after Thanksgiving each year at the intersection of Bull and Broughton, and the tree stays up from Thanksgiving through the last week in December.
If you take a stroll down Broughton Street during the early evening hours as the lights begin turning on, you’ll get the full effect of the extravagant holiday window displays in stores like The Paris Market.
They change their display every year, and it’s always fun to see what they’ll come up with next.
Can’t-Miss Shops on Broughton Street
Here are a few places where you can shop for Christmas gifts while supporting local businesses at the same time.
The Paris Market, Capital Bee Co, and Nourish are a few personal favorites of mine.
If you want to stay in a gorgeous historic property on Broughton Street, I highly recommend The Marshall House. You can’t beat how close it is to all the shops!
Related Reading: These Festive Hotels in Savannah Decorate for Christmas
City Market
City Market | 219 W Bryan Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401
The area known as City Market is an open-air market covering two blocks in the Historic District.
It’s a bit of a hotspot for tourists thanks to its many restaurants, bars, and shops. There’s also a steady stream of live music.
During the holidays, it’s a festive place to see the Christmas lights. Each block has a Christmas tree in the center that’s decorated with white lights and bright red ribbons.
The shops and art studios also get in on the act by decorating with greenery, wreaths, and colorful trees in the windows.
City Market hosts annual holiday events to celebrate the season. This year they’re hosting a City Market “Lights & Delights” and a “Christmas Shop & Hop.”
They’ll have carolers available to serenade guests, and Santa will make an appearance, too!
Popular Businesses in City Market
Again, it’s great to support local businesses, so I want to list a few popular spots in the area…
- American Prohibition Museum
- Belford’s Seafood and Steaks
- Byrd Cookie Company
- Savannah Candy Kitchen
- Vinnie Van Go-Go’s Pizza
- Wexford Irish Pub
Vinnie Van Go-Go’s and Byrd Cookie Co. are two of my favorite spots in City Market, and the Prohibition Museum tour is tons of fun. Be sure to check out all of the talented artists in the area, too.
Related Reading: City Market Savannah: What to See and What to Skip
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral St. John | 222 E Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401
The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist hosts numerous Christmas events, including their annual Christmas at the Cathedral musical program. The sanctuary is usually filled to capacity that night.
They have a beautiful nativity scene (Crechè scene) that guests can walk through to see the details up close. Volunteers usually start assembling it the first week of December.
Lighted Homes in the Historic District
The majority of the decorations on homes in the Historic District are traditional and understated. You’ll spot plenty of Magnolia-leaf wreaths and garlands, as well as candles in the windows.
In other words, the Historic District isn’t really the place to go for bright lighting displays and over-the-top decor.
However, you will find at least one house in the Historic District that goes all-out for the season…
The house is located on a quiet, residential block on E Huntingdon Street. They haven’t decorated with this many balloons yet in 2024, but I’m waiting to see if they do. (They do have some decor up already.)
Related Reading: Where to Stay in Savannah Georgia: Get the Scoop From a Local!
The Squares
If it’s traditional Christmas decor you’re after, try exploring the squares throughout the Historic District.
The Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) and the residents who live in the homes surrounding each square decorate them with greenery and red ribbons to celebrate the season.
The squares on the eastern side of the Historic District are usually the prettiest. I make a note beside each square below once it’s been decorated.
*I start updating this list in late November or early December each year. As of early December 2024, all of the squares are decorated!
- Chatham Square – decorated
- Chippewa Square – decorated
- Columbia Square – decorated
- Crawford Square – decorated
- Ellis Square – decorated
- Franklin Square – decorated
- Greene Square – decorated
- Johnson Square – decorated
- Lafayette Square – decorated
- Orleans Square – decorated
- Oglethorpe Square – decorated
- Madison Square – decorated
- Monterey Square – decorated
- Pulaski Square – decorated
- Reynolds Square – decorated
- Taylor Square – decorated
- Telfair Square – decorated
- Troup Square – decorated
- Warren Square – decorated
- Washington Square – decorated
- Whitefield Square – decorated
- Wright Square – decorated
Troup Square is one of my personal favorites. Homeowners add beautiful red ribbons on all of the lamp posts and even decorate the trash cans and the turtles holding up the armillary sphere in the square!
The cemeteries in Savannah sometimes get in on the act, too. The decorations along the gate for Colonial Park Cemetery usually go up the first week in December.
Insider Tip: It’s ok to wander through the squares after dark as you’re admiring the Christmas lights in Savannah, but I don’t recommend exploring them late at night unless you’re with a local who knows the area.
Gaston, Taylor, and Jones Streets
I’ve written plenty about the historic homes on Jones Street, so it’s probably no surprise to learn that many of the homeowners go above and beyond for the holidays.
If you’re in the mood for a romantic evening stroll, try walking from the Tattnall intersection all the way to E. Broad and back on Gaston, Taylor, and Jones Streets to see the pretty lights and decorations.
You can usually count on the 100 blocks of Jones Street (both east and west) to be decorated. Much of it is understated and doesn’t feature bright lights, so it looks prettiest if you go for a stroll at dawn or dusk when there is still some light in the sky.
Related Reading: Is Jones Street Really the Prettiest Street in Savannah?
Forsyth Park
You won’t find a Christmas tree or many holiday lights in the park, but the famous Forsyth fountain gets an annual holiday makeover with greenery and red bows.
The lamp posts surrounding the fountain get the same treatment. It’s an iconic place to take photos in Savannah, so I had to mention it!
The holiday decor is typically placed on the fountain the first week in December and stays up all month.
They decorated it before Thanksgiving this year (2024) and added more greenery and ribbons than they usually do, so it’s looking particularly festive!
Insider Tip: If you take photos by the fountain, it’s courteous to get your shot and then move on to a nearby bench. That way others can take their photos without having tons of people in the background.
While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by the Armstrong-Kessler House directly north of Forsyth Park at the intersection of Bull and Gaston. Mr. Kessler tends to go all out with his holiday decor.
Related Reading: 21 Incredible Photos of Forsyth Park Savannah
Beyond the Historic District
As beautiful as Savannah’s Historic District is, some of the outlying areas are even prettier. Make note that you’ll need a car to get to most of these.
Ardsley Park
This pretty neighborhood is located south of Victory Drive and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The neighborhood hosts a holiday decorating contest, which spans the two weeks surrounding Christmas. That’s the best time to see the lights on full display!
Insider Tip: Ardsley Park is bordered by Victory Drive on the north and 55th Street to the south. The east/west boundaries are Bull Street and Waters Avenue.
Isle of Hope
Bluff Drive on Isle of Hope is another location I always make a point to visit for the holidays.
Make note that the road is very narrow. As a result, there’s really only room for one car at a time driving in any particular direction.
You can also park near the marina and walk if it’s not too cold. (That’s what I usually do.)
The homes on Bluff Drive face the water and sit on beautiful oversized lots featuring massive old Southern live oaks.
I enjoy this drive any time of year, but it’s extra magical during the holiday season. As a bonus, you’ll drive right past beautiful Wormsloe Historic Site on your way there.
Isle of Hope Marina | 50 W Bluff Drive, Savannah GA, 31406
More Christmas Lights in South Georgia and the SC Lowcountry
This list is getting pretty far outside Savannah, so I’ll end it with a few final suggestions for those who still need more ideas — including one “all-out” option.
- Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens – They host a very festive holiday lights event! Enjoy all the lighted displays as you wander around acres of land planted with native species of trees and greenery. There’s a pond with a small bridge that makes for scenic photos when the twinkle lights are reflecting off of the water. This one is a walking event.
- Magic of Lights – You might want to do this drive-thru event on the same night you visit the Botanical Gardens, since it’s in the same area. It’s held at the old Georgia State Fair Ground property.
- TMT Farms – This farm in Statesboro hosts a popular drive-through holiday light display that looks spectacular! It’s free but you can bring canned goods or make donations to local charities
- The Cadd Family Light Display – This is a walk-through holiday light display that takes place annually in Beaufort SC. It’s very festive! The lighting displays are synchronized to Christmas music.
- HHI Fire Station #3 – The firefighters at Hilton Head Island’s Fire Station #3 fully decorate the fire station yard each year, and you can drive or walk through to see all the lights. If the firefighters aren’t too busy, they’ll open up the fire trucks so kids can see the interior.
- Richmond Hill, GA, hosts an annual Christmas home decorating contest. It includes an entry “The Griswold Award” honoring the most Griswold-like holiday decor, as well as the best use of inflatables and the best animated yard.
- Head to Southbridge Boulevard off Dean Forest Road and explore the Southbridge neighborhood, which usually has a good number of homes decorated for the season.
Map of Savannah GA Christmas Lights
OK, that about wraps up my Savannah GA Christmas lights roundup for this year. Have fun out there!
Here’s a map to help you find them all. Use the + or – signs in the lower left-hand corner to zoom in and out, and click on each Christmas tree icon to pull up additional information about a destination.
If you’d rather go on a guided tour, I highly suggest doing one of the Hop-On/Hop-Off trolley tours.
I created a one-day Savannah itinerary based on the Old Savannah Tours route, and it covers the majority of the places listed above.
It’s a fantastic tour to do in the daytime during the holiday season. As always, you can do the Holiday Trolley Tour if you prefer to see the lights at night.
Savannah Christmas Lights FAQs
A few businesses begin decorating the week of Thanksgiving, but the majority wait until the weekend following Thanksgiving. The squares are usually the last areas to get in the holiday spirit, since they’re often decorated with live greenery.
The Forsyth Park fountain is usually decorated after Thanksgiving. The greenery and ribbons are usually placed on the fountain the first weekend in December and remain up through the week of Christmas. 
Many of the restaurants attached to hotels will be serving food on Christmas Day in 2024. Try The Emporium at Perry Lane, Fleeting at Thompson Savannah, 1540 at The DeSoto, and Stone & Webster Chophouse at Plant Riverside. Here is a full list of restaurants open Christmas day in Savannah this year. 
A good number of bars and restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve in Savannah. Try The Olde Pink House for a classic meal, but make your reservations well in advance. The Collins Quarter will be open as well, but also requires reservations. Six Pence Pub makes a great spot for a nightcap!
Savannah Vacation Guide
If you’re planning to a trip to Savannah, Georgia, my ebook combines my most helpful Savannah travel tips from this website into one handy downloadable guide. It’s available for purchase here.
When you purchase my ebook, you also get access to a private Facebook group I created where you can ask questions about your trip and get advice/see photos from others who have recently visited.
Do you have any questions for me about where to find the best Savannah GA Christmas lights? Let me know in the comments below!
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Erin authored the Savannah First-Timer's Guide and loves helping first-time visitors plan their trips. She lives in the artsy Starland District and enjoys exploring Savannah's hidden gems, as well as the surrounding Lowcountry.
When do Christmas decorations come down?
Most businesses take their lights down the first week of the New Year.
Oh Erin.
Thank you so much…misty eyed as a Christmas freak and my bday in December:)
Drove out to 116 N Sheftall Circle on Wilmington Island yesterday. No lights. Long drive. May want to update that for others.
I’m so sorry you made the long drive and it wasn’t lit up! That was a good one that has been decorated for many years in a row, so it’s too bad they weren’t able to do it this year. Hopefully all is well with them. Thank you for the update.