THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 – THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025

​​Ships of the Sea will unveil Sea of Ink: Savannah Maritime Tattoos, an extraordinary exhibit showcasing the art and cultural significance of tattoos. Featuring more than a dozen Savannah-area tattoo artists and over 30 maritime tattoo collectors, Sea of Ink highlights tattoos as a meaningful art form and cultural movement.

With one-third of American adults having at least one tattoo, this visual language is rich for exploration. Sea of Ink presents the tattoo not just as body art, but as a powerful instrument for storytelling. Tattoos tell stories that often are deeply meaningful to the collector, and are a result of an artistic understanding between the tattoo creator and the collector.​​

Experience the Exhibit:

• Cultural Insight: Explore tattooing as a visual language and art form.

• Artistic Appreciation: Admire the intricate designs and craftsmanship.

• Stories: Learn about Savannah’s history of maritime tattooing.

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Exhibit Elements:

Savannah-based photographers Thomas Sanders and Mike Schalk bring the exhibit to life:

• Thomas Sanders photographs tattoo collectors, showcasing their maritime tattoos.

• Mike Schalk captures tattoo artists in their creative environments.

Experience the magic of the holidays at Plant Riverside District!

Enjoy a European-style outdoor holiday market as well as a Festival of Trees, live performances, photos with Santa, a wide range of holiday-themed food and drink options, and so much more.

You are invited to help us kick off the holiday season by joining us at our second annual Festival of Trees to take place throughout our three lobbies at Plant Riverside District. This festival will feature a forest of dazzling Christmas trees that represent a unique array of local businesses and organizations, free and open for the public to explore.

This holiday season will shine even brighter, with Magic of Lights turning South Georgia State Fair into a dazzling drive-through light display. The festive spectacular begins on Opening Night NOVEMBER 22 and will light up the nights until Close Night JANUARY 4.

Produced by Family Entertainment Live, “Magic of Lights” will make its debut at SOUTH GEORGIA STATE FAIR in SAVANNAH GA showcasing dozens of displays, festive favorites, and digital animations—all crafted with millions of LED lights to create a memorable holiday experience for the entire family.
“We’re excited to bring Magic of Lights to SOUTH GEORGIA STATE FAIR and become apart of the SAVANNAH GA community and holiday traditions.” Said Ken Hudgens, CEO of Family Entertainment Live “We hope all that join us are memorized by all the lights and Magic of Lights becomes a staple in SAVANNAH GA.”
Guests can experience Magic of Lights’ beloved holiday displays from the comfort of their own vehicle, including Prehistoric Christmas, Winter Wonderland, the 12 Days of Christmas, Toyland, festive Elves, and Reindeer Road. Along with the 200-foot Enchanting Tunnel of Lights, there will be new and captivating light tunnels to enhance the festive journey.

For the 2024 season, the brand-new MagicVision Selfie Filters will be unveiled featuring fun filters that will transform your selfies into festive holiday-themed images, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Other dazzling displays include the 32-foot-tall animated Mattel’s Waving Christmas Barbie®, a Prehistoric Christmas scene with life-sized dinosaurs celebrating the season, and the iconic BIGFOOT® Monster Truck. With over two million sparkling lights, Magic of Lights offers a nostalgic and festive experience that everyone will love.
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Welcome to Myrtle & Mistletoe, the ultimate Christmas Bar in Savannah where the festive spirit meets the warmth of a cozy Christmas wonderland and where every drink is filled with holiday cheer, and every night feels like Christmas Eve. Whether you’re looking to unwind after holiday shopping, meet friends for seasonal drinks, or simply soak in the yuletide cheer, our Christmas-themed bar will be open from November 29th through December 29th to offer everything you need for a merry and memorable time.

Step into a magical world of twinkling lights, decked-out Christmas trees, garlands, and cozy corners adorned with mistletoe and festive ornaments. Sip on handcrafted holiday-inspired cocktails, and classic Christmas signature drinks, and enjoy a selection of savory shareable bites within a cozy ambiance in a holiday escape, providing the perfect spot to relax and soak in the magic of the season.

Seasonal Specialty Drinks
Santa Baby (Grand Marnier, Chocolate Ganache, Whipped Cream, Candied Orange Peels), White Christmas Egg Nog (Wild Turkey Bourbon, Rum, Egg, Cream, Nutmeg), Figgy Pudding (Fig Infused Vodka, Grand Marnier, Fig, Lime, Ginger Beer, Mint), Mele Kalikamaka (Grand Marnier, Espolon Blanco, Coconut, Basil, Orange Run, Run, Rudolph (Carpano Antica, Angostura, Lime, Mulled Wine Syrup), Jingle Bell Rock (Wild Turkey Bourbon, Orange Reduction, Angostura & Chocolate Bitters), Winter Wonderland (Wild Turkey Rye, Espresso, Kahlua, Bourbon Cream), Saint Nick Spritz (Grand Marnier, Cranberry, Rosemary, Prosecco, Soda), and Gluhwein (Red Wine, Cinnamon, Clove, Orange, Star Anise)

Holiday Menu Features:
Roasted Autumn Vegetables (Carrots, Broccolini, Radicchio, Lemon, Anchovy), Seared Scallops (Fall Butternut Squash Pure, Toasted Pumkin Seeds Salsa), Provoleta (Grilled Provolone, Olive Chimichurri, Toast), Roasted Bosc Pears (Prosciutto, Cambazola Blue Cheese, Truffle Honey, Spiced Walnuts), and Apple Almond Tart (Vanilla Chantilly, Spiced Caramel)

It’s the perfect place to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

Age Requirements: 21 after 8 PM

Immerse yourself in a nostalgic winter wonderland that brings holiday magic to life!

Open November 29th to December 30th

Toy Donation Drive x SAFE Shelter

Through December 18th

Join us in spreading holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys benefitting the children at SAFE Shelter.

Your generous contributions will make a difference and ensure that every child experiences the magic of the holidays. Let’s come together and make this a season of giving!
Book your semi-private igloo for an intimate holiday dining or cocktail experience, perfect for up to six guests. Create unforgettable memories in this cozy, festive setting overlooking the Savannah River!

Monday-Friday

3:30p, 6p & 8:30p

Saturday & Sunday

10:30a, 1p, 3:30p, 6p & 8:30p

12 Days of Thompson Holiday Happenings:

Saturday, November 30th, 5pm to 11pm

Boat Parade of Lights and After Party

Saturday, December 7th, 5p to 8p

Nono’s Festive Sketch Corner with Nono Flores

Thursday, December 12th, 6p to 9p

Holiday Hits Bingo with MC Chris Grimmett

Friday, December 13th, 8p to 11p

Jack’s Spooky Movie Bash

Saturday, December 14th, 9p to 12a

Sing Your Sleigh Bells Off Holiday Karaoke with MC Chris Grimmett

Friday, December 20th, 9p to 12a

Pajama Jingle Mingle with DJ Jason B James

Saturday, December 21st, 9p to 12a

Ugly Sweater Party with DJ Jason B James

Sunday, December 22nd, 12p to 3p

A Very Merry Motown Brunch with Laiken Love

To see the full schedule of Holiday Happenings, visit the link below!

Live Oak Public Libraries encourages people of all ages to read this winter.. Log at least five hours of reading to be entered into a drawing to win a grand prize of Savannah Ghost Pirate tickets for four or VIP access to the 2025 Savannah Book Festival Saturday Author Presentation. Sign up online or in person at any Live Oak Public Libraries location. Read whatever you choose, whenever you like!

Telfair Museums presents a solo exhibition of iconic digital art by Jim Campbell (b. 1956), whose light-based works explore the limits of human perception. Holding degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics from MIT, along with patents for his work in development of high-definition video, Campbell is widely known for his low-resolution moving images created by arrays of LEDS. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to the San Francisco-based artist’s works in the Southeast and will coincide with Telfair’s 2025 PULSE Art Technology Festival.

Georgia State Railroad Museum December 2024 train rides are at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm Dec. 26-Dec. 30 2024. Schedule and locomotives subject to change, please call ahead. (912) 651-6823

Who: Green-Meldrim House on Madison Square
What: A Holiday Evening Performance: Christmas in Wartime
When: Performances: Thursday, December 26, Friday, December 27. Saturday, December 28.
Times: 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, & 8 each night.
Each performance lasts 60 minutes.
Where: 14 W. Macon Street on Madison Square, Historic Downtown Savannah. Across from St. John’s Episcopal Church
Admission: Purchase tickets online: greenmeldrimhouse.org
Adults: $19 in advance. $21 at the door.
Students (6-17): $15 in advance. $17 at the door.
Reservations recommended. Attendance is limited.

Contact & Additional Information: 912-233-3845, info@greenmeldrimhouse.org
Additionally: Living history performers will recount stories of how the holidays were recognized in Savannah during the Civil War years.
Experience music, dancing, parlor games and ghost stories.
Period costumes.
-Admission times will be adhered to.
-Attendees must be able to walk up and down stairs and maneuver in low light levels.
Merry Christmas! Little voices echo still the joyful strain; Till the angels up in heaven sing us `Peace on Earth’ again. Savannah Daily Morning News. December 24, 1863.

Drift away to the Shuk Chalet!
Shuk’s Holiday bar experience is sure to delight with snow dusted decor and delicious seasonal drinks.
Escape with us in the weekday evenings or anytime on the weekend’s beginning November 29th lasting through the new year.
Thursday and Saturday evenings will feature live music performances by rotating local artists from 6-9.
Seating is first come first served

The Davenport House Museum, an award-winning property owned and operated by Historic Savannah Foundation, is pleased to offer special evening tours focused on the often overlooked “Holiday Traditions of the Enslaved Community” on Friday, December 27. Presented in partnership with Gullah-Geechee Master Storyteller Patt Gunn and Underground Tours, this one-night-only event will take place during the Kwanzaa celebration and will offer a more complete understanding of the holiday season at the Davenport House.

These thought-provoking, immersive tours are designed to help attendees understand the historic experiences of the enslaved workers who resided in the Federal-style home during the holiday season in the early 19th century. Between 1812 and 1828, there were as many as 13 enslaved persons who occupied and held a range of responsibilities at the Davenport House on Columbia Square.

Every 30 minutes, guests will depart from the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy at 323 East Broughton Street and explore holiday traditions expressed through song, dance, foodways and spirituality at the Davenport House. Patt Gunn’s Saltwata Players, a local folk art Gullah-Geechee performance group, will perform freedom and holiday songs. In addition, Patt Gunn will share moving stories designed to offer a richer, more nuanced perspective on the meaning of the holidays for Savannah’s urban enslaved community.

Patt Gunn is a Gullah-Geechee “daughter of the soil of Savannah” who founded the Geechee Institute in 1992. Over the years, she has developed festivals, hosted lectures and spearheaded oral history projects for the Savannah community. She founded Underground Tours of Savannah in 2017 to share the history of her ancestors and to lead tours focused on Savannah’s African-American and Gullah-Geechee history. Most recently, she spearheaded a three-year campaign resulting in the renaming of Calhoun Square in honor of Susie King Taylor.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children 18 and under. Tours will be offered on Friday, December 27 at 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online at davenporthousemuseum.org.

Savannah Cultural Arts Center
201 Montgomery Street
Box office opens at 6. Films start at 7 PM , tix are $10, cash preferred

Since it ran in a local theater only briefly, CinemaSavannah is bringing you this Cannes Palme d’Or winner and arguably the top film of the year for our last screening of 2024. Directed by Sean Baker (The Florida Project), Anora is an audacious, thrilling, twisted, and hilarious variation on a modern-day Cinderella story. In a career-making role, Mikey Madison plays a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya, the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch. However, her fairytale is threatened when Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union and send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York. Featuring a wild Russian cast led by Yura Borisov. 139 minutes. In English and Russian with English subtitles.

“At once a frenzied fairy tale and a tender-hearted character study, Anora is an intoxicating pairing of director and star. Baker’s unique, humanistic approach to filmmaking is as riveting and rewarding as ever.” Empire

“It’s a crowd-pleaser, funny and sexy and raucous, while also being startlingly wise and tender.” Slate Magazine

“Anora both embraces and transcends the cliches. It’s not trying to pretend that it’s not exploitative on some level; that might even be the point. And anyway, you might be surprised just how quickly you commit to this once-in-a-lifetime ride.” The Associated Press

“Altogether, Anora is a visceral experience, making its audience not voyeurs but one of the crew. Thus embedded, our pulses race, our eyes grow wide, our hearts dance as our heroes do. Anora offers a glorious thrill, as bold as it is brilliant.” Mashable

“If you can trust any filmmaker, you can trust Baker. He’s promised us they’ll be OK. And so they will…” TIME Magazine