Savannahians love to celebrate all things spooky, so it should come as no surprise that the Historic District is loaded with fun activities during October — especially ghost tours.
Even if you’re not into chasing spooky spirits, Savannah also has fall festivals, pumpkin patches, a film festival, PRIDE events, pub crawls, costume contests, seafood festivals, haunted hotels, and more.
I’ve gathered them all together for you and created the ultimate list of things to do in Savannah in October! (If you’re visiting during a different month, I’ve also summarized all of the top annual events in Savannah.)
Note: This guide contains affiliate links to my trusted travel partners.
If you’re new around here, first of all … allow me to extend a warm welcome!
My name is Erin, and I authored the Savannah First-Timer’s Guide. It combines my top Savannah tips from this website into one handy downloadable guide.
In a hurry? :
🏚️ This is considered the most haunted hotel
👻 Here is the ghost tour I recommend most
➡️ This is the top Savannah ghost story I’ve debunked
Table of Contents | Click to Expand
October in Savannah GA
Anyone who knows me knows that fall is my favorite time of year! In fact, I frequently tell visitors it’s the best time to visit Savannah.
I know most people favor spring in Savannah, but hear me out…
Savannah is known for this horribly frightening thing called H U M I D I T Y (trust me, it’s much scarier than ghosts!), but towards the end of October the swampy air finally begins to dissipate and the morning air turns crisp and clear.
Late October means there are six months of mild weather ahead, and that’s a very good thing.
Make Note: If you’re planning a visit to see the fall color, that doesn’t usually happen until November or later. Here’s what to expect from Savannah’s weather month-by-month.
Fall Festivals in Savannah
I’ve tried to sort all of the events by category to help you out. I’ll also update this post regularly and add new events as I hear of them.
Oktoberfest Plant Riverside District
400 W River Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Every Sat in October from 1 – 4 p.m.
Family Friendly!
Oktoberfest in the lively Plant Riverside District features plenty of live music, bratwurst-eating contests, and German-themed food and drink specials.
Phil the Park Music Festival
Forsyth Park (East Lawn)
October 7, 2023
This free event is Savannah’s largest outdoor concert, and it takes place in popular Forsyth Park. Most people just bring a blanket and sit on the grass while enjoying the performances, which are hosted by the Savannah Philharmonic. Expect plenty of food trucks in the area!
Learn More
Graveface 21st Anniversary Music Festival
415 W Boundary St. (Bay 6), Savannah, GA 31401
2023 Dates Coming Soon
Head to the Lodge of Sorrows venue and expect music from The Marshmallow Ghosts, Dreamend, Basically Nancy, and many, many more local favorites. There will be movie screenings, too!
Learn More
Wag-O-Ween
Downtown Savannah
October 21 – 22, 2023 – confirmed
Family Friendly!
This pet-friendly Halloween event includes costume contests, trick-or-treating, raffles, and photo stations where you can take pics with your pet. It occurs in businesses throughout the Historic District, Victorian District, and Starland District.
Learn More
SCAD Savannah Film Festival
Downtown Savannah
October 21 – 28, 2023 – confirmed
If you’re into celebrity spotting, this is the place to do it. SCAD debuts everything from student films to major international productions.
Learn More
Savannah Pride Festival
First City Pride Center
October 20 – 21, 2023 – confirmed
This event is one of Savannah’s biggest October festivals. It lasts for days and includes the Masqueerade, Pawrade (for the pets), drag shows, and even a virtual event for those who want to celebrate from afar.
Learn More
Terror Vision Fright Fest
Graveface Records, 5 W 40th Street, Savannah, GA 31401
October 6 – 7, 2023 – confirmed
Savannah just wouldn’t be Savannah without truly oddball personalities like Chloe and Ryan from Graveface Records + Graveface Museum + Terror Vision. Expect a string of spooky movies throughout the day, plus vendors hawking all things spooky!
Learn More
Pumpkin Patches in (or Near) Savannah
Savannah’s Historic District is too small and crowded to allow for pumpkin patches, so you’ll have to venture beyond the outskirts of the city for that. These are the best options…
Poppell Farms
1765 Hyma Poppell Loop, Odum, GA 31555
Every Weekend in October
Family Friendly!
Poppell Farms features a huge 10-acre corn maze, a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin chunkin’, catch-n-release fishing, pony rides, Farmer Brown’s Playground for the littles, and more. They also have after dark haunted activities.
Learn More
Madrac Farms
580 Ralph Rahn Rd, Rincon, GA 31326
Every Sat & Sun in October
Family Friendly!
The pumpkin patch includes a pumpkin patch, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, farm animals, a big pumpkin display, and a rotten tomato sling shot.
Holiday Farms
10884 Grays Hwy, Ridgeland, SC 29936
Every Thursday – Sunday in October
Family Friendly!
Their great pumpkin patch includes pumpkin picking, concession stands, a General Store, a petting barn, wagon rides, and more.
Learn More
Red Gate Farms
136 Red Gate Farms Trail, Savannah, GA, 31405
October 22, 2023 | 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. – confirmed
Family Friendly!
You can expect pretty much everything fall-related at this event. They’ll have s’mores stations, pony rides, coloring contests, sac races, carriage rides, corn hole, cake walks, and loads of pumpkins available for purchase. There will be live music and food trucks on site.
Learn More
Fall Food Festivals in (and around) Savannah
Savannah Greek Festival
Hellenic Community Center, 14 W Anderson St, Savannah, GA 31401
October 5 – 7, 2023 – confirmed
Family Friendly!
Celebrate Greek heritage during this 3-day festival held at St. Paul’s Hellenic Center. Fill up on spanakopita, baklava, gyros, and more — all while enjoying traditional Greek music and dancing. The marketplace features Greek clothing, cookbooks, and similar giftable items.
Learn More
Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
521 Cedar Street, Richmond Hill, GA 31324
October 20 – 22, 2023 – confirmed
Family Friendly!
This massive 3-day event is filled with incredible seafood, drinks, and live music. There’s a carnival with amusement rides, plus arts and crafts for the kids. Expect crowds, since people travel from throughout the South to attend!
Learn More
HHI Gullah Seafood Festival
Gullah Museum of HH, 12 Georgianna Dr, HHI, SC 29926
October 21, 2023 – confirmed
Family Friendly!
This annual cultural event celebrates traditions of the Gullah community of the Lowcountry. You’ll find seafood, song and dance, Gullah stories, and face painting events for the kiddos.
Learn More
Ghost Tours in Savannah
In a city that celebrates spirits year-round, it should come as no surprise that October has ghost tours galore! From walking tours to trolley tours to hearse tours, you’ll find plenty of ways to connect with Savannah’s spookiest spirits.
Q: What’s the scariest thing about a ghost tour in Savannah?
Hehe. A little Savannah humor for ya. ~Erin
A: The price tag!!
There are far too many ghost tours to list here, so I wrote a separate post that breaks down the options by walking tours, haunted house tours, trolley and hearse tours, self-guided tours, and more: A Local’s Guide to the Best Ghost Tours in Savannah.
Here are a few popular options…
Genteel & Bard Dark History Walking Tour
Downtown Savannah
Ongoing throughout October
Explore the dark side of Savannah on this interactive walking tour through the Historic District. The tour includes earbuds so you’ll always be able to hear your guide.
Purchase Tickets
Historic Savannah Theater Paranormal Investigations Tour
222 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Ongoing throughout October | 10:30 pm
Explore America’s oldest theatre with the experts at Truth in Evidence Paranormal Tours. You’ll have access to thermal scanners, EMF detectors, and night-vision cameras.
Purchase Tickets
Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour
Historic District
Ongoing throughout October
This one is rather cheesy, but it’s a popular option if you’re older or have mobility issues and still want to enjoy Savannah’s haunted locations.
Purchase Tickets
Halloween Events in Savannah [For the Grown-Ups]
In a city known for open-container laws and year-round bar crawls, there are plenty of options to toss on your favorite costume and grab an alcoholic beverage or two (or three or four…)
NeverNotGoth Halloween Horror Party
415 W Boundary St. (Bay 6), Savannah, GA 31401
2023 Dates Coming Soon
This 3-hour event from the folks team at Graveface Records will feature three DJs and lots of dancing to punk/industrial/goth faves. Wear your most horrific Halloween costume and show up at the Lodge of Sorrows for a chance to win costume contest prizes.
More Info
Nightmare on Congress Street
October 28, 2023 – confirmed
Adults Only 21+
This bar crawl hits the hottest bars along Congress Street, plus many others in the Historic District, and features a costume contest worth $2000 in prizes, themed koozies, and a free t-shirt for the first 250 participants to complete their scorecard.
More Info
Crawl with Us Halloween Bar Crawl
The Warehouse, 18 E River Street, Savannah, GA 31401
October 28, 2023 – confirmed
Adults Only 21+
This bar crawl hits some of the hottest bars on River Street, Bay Street, and the City Market area. It includes a costume contest, cash prizes and an after party.
More Info
Savannah Vampire Ball
Ghost Coast Distillery, 641 Indian Street, Savannah, GA 31401
November 3, 2023 – confirmed
Adults Only 21+
Grab your capes and fangs as Savannah’s creatures of the night party it up with live music, dancing, and plenty of spirits from Ghost Coast Distillery. I’m still posting this since it’s Halloween related, even though it will be held in November this year.
Learn More
Purchase Tickets This Haunted Pub Crawl Happens Year-Round
Haunted House Tours in Savannah
You can tour haunted houses year-round in Savannah. In fact, there are so many that I decided to write a separate post about them, as well.
Sorrel-Weed House
6 W Harris Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Ongoing throughout October
Historic Sorrel-Weed House is known for being one of the most haunted houses in Savannah. They offer nightly ghost tours of the property, or –if you’re brave enough — you can opt for the After-Hours Paranormal Lock-In.
Sorrel-Weed House Tickets
Living History: Yellow Fever in Savannah in the 1820s
324 E State Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Every Fri & Sat Night in October | 7 pm
The Davenport House Museum presents a dramatic recreation of the Great Yellow Fever Epidemic, where guests can learn about the psychological effects of the disease that caused death and ruin throughout 19th Century Savannah.
Davenport House Tickets
Alee Shriners Terror Plantation
100 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406
Every Fri & Sat in October
Get spectacularly scared exploring the haunted house at Terror Plantation. This one benefits charity and is one of the most popular October events in Savannah!
Learn More
Parkside Haunted House
Corner of 49th & Cedar, Savannah, GA 31401
October 2023 Date TBD | Sundown to Late Evening
Go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, and then head through the super-spooky pop-up haunted house on an otherwise empty corner lot in the Parkside neighborhood.
Link Coming Soon
Related Reading: 432 Abercorn Street: Haunted Mansion…or Just a Rumor Mill?
Trick-or-Treating in Savannah
Trick-or-Treating in Savannah is something you need to be cautious about — especially if you aren’t familiar with the area. It’s not exactly safe to wander around knocking on doors in many neighborhoods in Savannah.
Marsh Monster Masquerade on Skidaway Island
52 Diamond Causeway, Savannah, GA 31411
2023 Dates Coming Soon
Time: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Family-Friendly!
This Georgia State Parks fall festival includes a mask-decorating contest (for kids and grown-ups), a dog costume contest, and trunk-or-treating activities.
Learn More
Oatland Halloween Hike
Oatland Island
2023 Dates Coming Soon
Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Family-Friendly!
Take your trick-or-treaters for a non-scary stroll down the forested trail to meet friendly animals and collect some treats along the way. Mother Earth will be there, too. Costumes welcome!
Learn More
If you want to take the kids trick-or-treating downtown, make sure you pick a family-friendly neighborhood (Ardsley Park is a popular one).
Many churches in the area host trick-or-treating events, and sometimes the police precinct does, as well.
Related Reading: Is Jones Street Really the Prettiest Street in Savannah?
Haunted Forest Trails
Savannah isn’t exactly known for its forests, so you’re going to have to head outside the city limits for most of these options.
Where’s Noble Bones?
Wormsloe Historic Site, 7601 Skidaway Road, Savannah, GA 31406
Every Saturday in October
Family-Friendly!
This Georgia State Parks scavenger hunt takes families along the beautiful hiking trails at Wormsloe Historic Site to help Noble Jones find his “Noble Bones.” You’ll stop in the museum to scan a QR code, then head out on the hiking trail to search for skeletal remains of members of the Jones family.
Learn More
Wicked South Productions Haunted Forest
3001 Lawrence Church Rd, Pembroke, GA 31321
Every Friday and Saturday in October 2023
Get spooked as you encounter zombies in an abandoned carnival encampment deep in the woods of Pembroke, GA. Creepy characters might chase after you, so be prepared to run!
Learn More
Poppell Farms Haunted Trail
1765 Hyma Poppell Loop, Odum, GA 31555
Fri & Sat Nights in October
Family-Friendly!
Wander along Poppell Farms 800-foot walking trail through the woods…if you dare. It’s filled with ghosts and goblins that are spooky — but not too spooky — for the whole family to enjoy.
Learn More
Cemetery Tours in Savannah
Savannah’s cemeteries are beautiful, but they’re known more for their history than their haunted factor. (It’s actually against city code to do ghost tours in the cemetery!)
Here are a few cemetery history tours to try…
Bonaventure Cemetery Daytime Tours
330 Bonaventure Road, Thunderbolt, GA 31401
Ongoing throughout October
The history of Bonaventure is incredible and multifaceted, and I highly suggest a guided tour to learn the secrets of the cemetery. Bonaventure Don and Savannah Cruzers (mobility-impaired option) both offer excellent historic tours of the cemetery.
Bonaventure Cemetery Tours
Colonial Park History Tours
200 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Ongoing throughout October
I haven’t been on this tour yet, but I plan to try it soon. I just wanted to mention it since there are very few tours that actually focus on the facts, while this one does.
Colonial Park Guided Tour
Related Reading: Is Colonial Park Cemetery the Best Place to Spot a Ghost in Savannah?
Savannah Travel Blog
If you’re just here for the ghosts, I created a haunted Savannah guide where you can find all of my ghost posts in one central area.
If you’re trying to plan a trip, I’ve created plenty of resources to help you out…
- Join my email list to stay in touch and get a checklist of 50 Things To Do on Foot in the Historic District — No Car Necessary, plus other helpful printables (including a checklist of the city’s most haunted spots).
- When you purchase my ebook, you’ll also gain access to my very active private Facebook group about Savannah! I pop in multiple times each day to answer questions, post photos, and provide updates about the city.
- If you’re planning a trip to Savannah and wondering where to start, you might want to read my post, When is the Best Time to Visit Savannah, GA? Afterwards head to Where to Stay in Savannah Georgia to figure out your accommodations.
My Savannah First-Timer’s Guide is the most helpful resource you’ll find for planning your trip. It has all of my top tips all wrapped up in one easy-to-read guide, and then you can pick my brain in the Facebook group if you have any additional itinerary questions!
Are you headed to Savannah Georgia in October? If you have questions, drop them 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.
So many haunted things to do, how do you choose just one?