The Savannah Music Festival, St. Patrick's Day Celebration, & More Annual Events

The Savannah Music Festival is a vibrant and popular celebration of the musical arts while the City's St. Patrick's Day festival is one of the largest in the United States. Check out these and other festivals and events going on in Savannah!

Photo by Bruce Tuten

With over 200 annual events and celebrations, you'd be hard pressed to not find something going on somewhere in the city during your stay. Several of the most popular annual events include the Savannah Music Festival which showcases a wide variety of musical genres, the famed St. Patrick's Day celebration, and the delicious Savannah Seafood Festival.

While some events are popular locally, others have a national draw drawing crowds of up to 400,000 revelers. It's a good idea to check when these major events are happening so you can either plan to attend during your vacation, or plan to visit Savannah at a different time if you're looking for a quieter getaway.

Here are a few popular, annual festivals and events going on throughout the year in Savannah:

January: Taste of Savannah – Sample offerings from the city's top chefs as their works are judged by national food magazine writers in categories including taste, decoration and presentation.

February: Georgia Heritage Celebration's Colonial Faire and Muster - A tradition since 1734, this celebration promotes greater appreciation and understanding of Georgia's history.

Third Weekend in February: Savannah Irish Festival - The city's Celtic residents and descendants gather to celebrate the Emerald Isle and their heritage with live musical performances, food, stalls and much more.

March: Savannah's St. Patrick's Day celebration is among the largest in the country, second only to New York City. Drawing more close to 400,000 people, the celebration begins the weekend before St. Patrick's Day culminating in the country's second largest St. Patrick's Dat parade on the holiday itself with festivities carrying over into the closest weekend.

The festivities surrounding Savannah's largest and most popular celebration include:

The Greening of the Forsyth Park Fountain,
The Tara Feis Irish Celebration at Emmet Park in downtown Savannah, a free, outdoor, family-friendly celebration of Irish culture features music, Irish dancing, foods, and crafts, and
St. Patrick's Day Celebration, a free event featuring Irish, country, rock, pop and alternative music performances, contests, games, food, and more.

The main event is the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which starts in Savannah's Historic District. Due to the large crowds that attend this event, try to avoid driving to the parade or plan to park far from the event itself. Good spots for parade viewing include the 600 block of Abercorn Street, Bull Street between Liberty and Harris Streets, East Broad Street between Broughton and Bay Streets, and Bay Street between East Broad and Bull streets. Be sure to get information on the parade route, schedule, parking, and other details before you go!

March - April: Savannah Music Festival - Regional, national and international musicians perform in a variety of genres, including jazz, world, blues, and classical, over a two-week period in the historic district.

April: Sidewalk Arts Festival. This free, annual events draws visitors to Forsyth Park, between Whitaker and Drayton Streets where students and alumni of the Savannah College of Art & Design have created chalk masterpieces on the sidewalks of the historic park.

May: Scottish Games Festival - Traditional Scottish food, music, and cultural displays as well as games and competitions such the 'tossing the caber.'

July 4th: Fourth of July on the Waterfront - Independence Day celebration on the Waterfront with festivities including music, food and, of course, fireworks. The party usually starts at 5 p.m. in Rousakis Plaza with fireworks beginning around 9:30 p.m. The fireworks are choreographed to music played on FM radio stations KIX96.5, Z102.1, and Magic 103.9 so be sure to bring a radio!

September: Savannah Jazz Festival - Live performances by local and regional musicians at a variety of venues around the city.

October: Picnic in the Park. Pack your basket and enjoy a fun afternoon with fine music and food in Forsyth Park. Check out picnic schedule and details.

October: Annual Oktoberfest on the River. This free, annual, Bavarian celebration takes place on historic River Street and features live "Oompah" bands, German food, artsand crafts, races, games, fireworks and more.

Late October - Early November): Seafood Festival – A vintage boat show, ski demonstrations, fresh seafood, live music, games, regional arts and crafts and more. The festival is free and open to the public.

November: Savannah Harbor Boat Parade of Lights - Marking the beginning of the holiday season, this event features more than 60 festively decorated boats as they make their way down the river. The festivities conclude with a grand firework display.

Early December (annually): Christmas on the River - Arts and crafts displays, holiday festivities, a parade and much more for the whole family.

If these events sound like fun to you, plan your vacation around them so you can join in the celebration! Looking for a quieter vacation exploring Savannah? Then plan your trip on a different date so you can enjoy the City without the crowds.

Savannah celebrates the holidays, the arts, local culture and cuisine, and its heritage. These festivals boost Savannah tourism and help the City continue thrive. They're also a great way for you to experience Savannah and have a great time during your vacation!

Return to the City of Savannah main page to discover where to stay and dine while you enjoy these exciting Savannah festivals and events.