Savannah’s 2023 Festival Season Is Here
When the weather begins to cool off in late September, Savannah’s Festival season begins. It’s the perfect time of year to head outside for gatherings and find your tribe. What better way to meet new people with similar interests?
If you’re thinking about moving to Savannah, this is also the best time to visit and get to know Savannah’s people. Our city is known for its hospitality and neighborliness, and these community gatherings really showcase what we’re all about.
We’ve created the ultimate list of local festivals and happenings this fall. Scroll to see what events you should attend in the coming weeks and months.
Oktoberfest
If you like beer and wiener schnitzels, you’ll find a good time at one of the many local Oktoberfests happening around downtown Savannah. The most well-known, longstanding Oktoberfest is the series of events that take place on River Street at the Plant Riverside District featuring wiener dog racing, German foods, polka dancing, and more!
September 23, 2023 – October 28, 2023
Enjoy Cultural Experiences & Traditions
Grab homemade koulourakia and partake in traditional Greek dancing at the annual Greek Festival, an event that celebrates with food, dancing, a marketplace, and fun activities. The event always takes place at the Hellenic Community Center.
October 5th – 7th, 2023
Have you ever participated in a grape stomping contest? You can at Hilton Head’s Italian Heritage Festival! Enjoy authentic Italian foods and live entertainment at the Coastal Discovery Museum of Honey Horn. And, if you’re feeling ambitious, sign up for the pizza-eating contest.
October 21, 2023
Artistic Sights & Sounds
For those of us who love soulful sounds, the Savannah Jazz Festival is a must-attend event. This free music festival happens over the course of a week each fall at different venues throughout downtown Savannah. The festival ends with afternoon and evening performances at Forsyth Park on Saturday. Attendees bring their blankets, a bottle of wine, and settle in for smooth sounds arising from the amphitheater.
September 18th to 24th, 2023
Savannah’s first-ever Tattoo Arts Festival is set to take place at the Savannah Convention Center. Highlights of this traveling event include special celebrity artists from the reality show Ink Master, a tattoo contest, and live entertainment.
September 29th – October 1st, 2023
Phil the Park is a free, one-day event at Forsyth Park featuring performances from the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Attendees pack full picnic spreads for this family-friendly evening event that brings together the at-large community.
October 7, 2023
Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival
Face painting booth at the Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival
Spread along “The Bluff” in Isle of Hope, the island’s Art & Music Festival features makers and artists from all over Savannah selling handcrafted goods. The festival also includes food trucks and live entertainment with lots of fun for the kids.
October 21, 2023
During the SCAD Film Festival, Hollywood comes to Savannah. The red carpet event features big names in cinema and this year’s event is no exception. 2023 “Honored Guests” include Kerry Condon, JD Dillard, Mia Goth and Nicholas Hoult to name a few. In addition to the star-studded red carpet walk, guests can watch the student films competing in the festival, sit in for panel discussions, and attend live screenings of acclaimed productions and conversations with their creators and actors.
October 21 – 28, 2023
Quirky and Niche
Richmond Hill Craft Beer Festival 2023
The Rotary Club of Richmond Hill is hosting their Craft Beer Festival this month! There will be live music from a variety of bands and a large selection of beer vendors to choose from. There will also be plenty of things to chow down on as the festivities roll.
August 12, 2023
Argh!!! Grab your best pirate attire or maybe just your family and friends and head east to Tybee Island for a three-day event featuring the Buccaneer Ball, pirate performers, live entertainment, and a special Saturday Pirate Parade. You won’t want to miss this long-standing tradition unique to Tybee Island.
October 5th – 8th, 2023
For Fido
Trick-or-treating isn’t just for kids…dogs can participate too! Over the years, the Renegade Paws Rescue fundraising event has morphed into an entire spooky season for pups. During Wag-O-Weekend, participating pets can walk from store to store in the downtown Savannah area collecting dog treats. Funds raised help to support local animal rescues, community spay and neuter programs, and support community educational programs.
October 21-22, 2023
Photo Credit: First City Pride Center
Celebrate Pride
Run by First City Pride Center and is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. With multiple events throughout the city, there is something for everyone- stay tuned for more updates as they release the lineup! Last year included an open mic night at The Sentient Bean, a masquerade at Starland Yard, a Pride Parade and more!
October 19-22, 2023
Food-centric
Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
Hosted by the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce, the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival brings together over 25,000 people for a three-day-event filled with amazing food booths.
October 20th – 22nd, 2023
Hilton Head Oyster FestivalDo you like oysters? If not, you should still plan to attend this festival, which features, low country boil, BBQ, and more. There will be an oyster shucking contest, food trucks, pop-up shops, arts booths, lots of live music, after party plans, and all the oysters you can eat!
November 10th – 11th, 2023
Fall Fairs
Each year the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro hosts the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair to bring together Bulloch and surrounding counties to raise funds for the community. The agricultural fair features local booths and vendors, livestock, rides, games, food and more!
October 16th -21st, 2023
Run by the Exchange Club of Savannah, the South Georgia State Fair (formerly the Coastal Empire Fair) is a long-standing event in the Savannah area. This annual event features carnival rides and foods as well as live entertainment like Magic Marc, the 5 Star Petting Zoo, and Master of Chainsaws.
October 26th – November 5th, 2023
Get Ready for the Holidays
The first official holiday event to take place in Savannah. The traveling festival happens over three days in the fall at the Savannah Convention Center and features handmade goods that will help you check off items on your holiday shopping list.
November 17th-19th, 2023
For our full list of Savannah’s festivals and parades, visit our page here.