Monday, May 4

Small Business Week Kick-off

The City of Savannah, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center, Savannah’s Waterfront, StartUp Savannah, Buy Local, Savannah Master Calendar, and the Metropolitan Savannah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are celebrating the heartbeat of our community, Savannah’s small businesses.

Show your support, meet your neighbors, and make a commitment to Shop Small in Savannah all week long. Because when you shop small, you’re not just making a purchase, you’re investing in the people and places that make Savannah home.

Tuesday, May 5

2026 Savannah Business Summit

The 2026 Savannah Business Summit kicks off with a red-carpet welcome followed by a full day of connection, learning, and inspiration. Dive into sessions on leadership, financial analysis, recruiting and retention, digital marketing, and the habits that fuel resilience — all while building meaningful relationships with community leaders and professionals. At the Summit, success isn’t a solo journey – it’s a collective movement.

This year’s summit features powerful Keynote Sessions alongside a series of dynamic breakout workshops. Participants may choose from focused tracks in Finance, Marketing, or Human Resources, ensuring a tailored learning experience that meets their goals. Throughout the day, enjoy networking opportunities designed to help you build meaningful connections with fellow business owners, other career professionals, community leaders, and industry experts.

Whether you’re building a business or building your career, the Savannah Business Summit offers the strategies and connections that help you grow.

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Savannah Convention Center |1 International Dr., Savannah, GA 31421
Registration: Savannah Business Summit Registration

Small Business Week Mixer

Celebrate Small Business Week at Savannah’s largest collaborative networking event. The Small Business Week Mixer brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders for an evening of connection and conversation.

Hosted by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association, the Hispanic Chamber, and Savannah’s Waterfront, this mixer reflects the strength and diversity of our local business community. Join us for open networking, new connections, and a shared celebration of the small businesses that drive Savannah’s economy.

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location: The Park at Eastern Wharf | 101 Port St., Savannah, GA 31401
Registration: Savannah Business Mixer Registration

Wednesday, May 6

City of Savannah 2026 Mayor’s Small Business Conference

The Mayor’s Small Business Conference (MSBC) is a one‑day signature event hosted by the City of Savannah’s Economic Development Department in partnership with Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. This annual event brings together our community’s best local business leaders, innovative entrepreneurs, and advocates for a full day of informative workshops, presentations and networking — all designed to promote small business sustainability and growth opportunities in Savannah!

The conference also features a Reverse Trade Show, connecting small businesses directly with government agencies, corporations, and organizations seeking local vendors and partners.

MSBC is the signature event of the 2026 Savannah Small Business Week, which runs from May 4th through 8th.

Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.| Reverse trade show 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: MLK Civic Center |301 W Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, GA 31401
Registration: www.savannahga.gov/msbc

Thursday, May 7

City of Savannah Purchasing: Business Opportunity Breakfast

This event, featuring breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and a 9 a.m. presentation, connects local, small, and minority businesses with City procurement opportunities, including networking and insights into upcoming projects.

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: MLK Civic Center |301 W Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, GA 31401
Registration: www.savannahga.gov/msbc

Start-Up Savannah: GRIT Pitch Event

15 entrepreneurs. 3 minutes each. $5000 total cash prizes.

You don’t want to miss out on the chance to witness these game-changing ideas pitched live on stage! Join Startup Savannah during Small Business Week 2026 on May 7th at The Clyde venue, to see the action for yourself! You’ll even get the chance to vote on the Audience Selection Prize, worth $500.

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time: 5:30 – 8:00 pm.
Location: The Clyde Venue | 223 Martin Luther King Blvd., Savannah, GA 31401
More Info: Purchase Tickets | Apply to participate

Friday, May 8

DBA Downtown Clean Up

Join the Savannah Small Business Week Downtown Clean Up Friday May 8 from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. by meeting at Chive, 4 West Broughton Street. All equipment will be provided on-site. including gloves, safety vest, and bags. Show your love for our downtown community by cleaning it up together.

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
Time: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Meet outside Chive | 4 West Broughton St., Savannah, GA 31401
More Info: Downtown Clean Up

JOY PROM
(SAVANNAH, GA) The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society will host JOY Prom Savannah 2026, an inclusive celebration for individuals of all abilities, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8, at the Henderson Campus Student Center of Compassion Christian Church. Participants ages 16 and older are invited to enjoy a red-carpet entrance, dinner, dancing and an evening of friendship and fun. Buddies and volunteers will arrive earlier for orientation and participant matching to help ensure a welcoming experience for everyone. The annual event, a community tradition since 2010, celebrates belonging, confidence and connection. To register or volunteer, visit: https://ldssga.org/joy-prom

Welcome back music to the atrium!
This spring we invite rotating local artists to preform in our one of a kind indoor- outdoor atrium space at Shuk Friday evenings!
The Lineup:
March 6th – Susanna Kennedy
March 13th – Alia Torres
March 20th – Rhyan Sinclair
March 27th – Shawnessey Cargile
April 3rd – Liz Kelley
April 10th – Basik Lee
April 17th – Ross Matthews
April 24th – Ansley Gaffney
May 1st – Dr. K
May 8th – Susanna Kennedy
May 15th – LUCA
May 22nd – Kari Greenway
May 29th – Liz Kelley

American pianist Derek Hartman shot onto the international classical piano scene after becoming the first American-born musician to win first prize at the prestigious 17th International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna in the event’s sixty-year history. He has established an international career as an award-winning performer, a dedicated educator, and an enthusiastic advocate for music. He has performed on stages across the United States and Europe, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. He won top prizes in the Washington International Piano Competition, the Chicago International Music Competition, the PianoArts North American Competition, and the Music Teachers’ National Association Young Artist Piano Competition.

A fierce advocate for the close relationship between the performance and pedagogy disciplines, Mr. Hartman is a devoted music educator with over fifteen years of studio teaching experience. Since 2024, he has served as Lecturer of Piano at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. He is an alumnus of the Post-Graduate Fellowship Program at the New School for Music Study in Kingston, New Jersey, where he taught piano from 2023 to 2024, and he is an active member of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy. Hartman is equally at home as an instructor in classroom and group environments. He was a teaching assistant of music theory at the Yale School of Music from 2020 to 2023. Since 2018, he has partnered with PianoArts of Wisconsin to design and present dozens of music educational programs across the city of Milwaukee.

Hartman is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Yale School of Music, where he studied with Boris Slutsky. He holds a Master of Music from Yale, and he previously earned a Bachelor of Music from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University under the tutelage of Dr. James Giles; he also received a minor in music theory. Born and raised in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota, he currently is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

The program for this recital will feature Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp Major, Beethoven’s Sonata in F-sharp Major, Op. 78, Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, and Brahms’ Sonata No. 3. No reservations are required, and there is no admission charge, but a suggested donation of $20 per person would be welcomed. For more information, please call (912) 598-1188 weekday mornings.

Contras, squares and waltzes. Want to get moving but find exercising too hard and too dull? Maybe you should go for a spin Contra dancing! It’s fun, it’s aerobic, and it’s filled with great people you should know. Every dance has live music, a caller to guide you through the moves, and a beginner workshop to teach you everything you need to know. If you can listen and walk, you can Contra dance. Heck, if you can listen OR walk, we can get you through it! We’ve had folks from age 6 to age 90 come and have fun, so why not you?
Greco Hall (Gymnasium and Event Hall) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 1707 Bull Street, Savannah, GA Parking lot behind sanctuuary
Live music by Glow in the Dark String Band. Dances prompted by callers Bob Beattie and Joyce Murlless. No experience or partner needed. Newcomers welcomed. Come at 6:45pm for a lesson or refresher. $10 ($5 for members) Casual dress, comfortable shoes suggested. Bring a water bottle. Parking lot off 33rd Street.

Join us at The Lost Square Rooftop Bar for a high-energy rooftop DJ event from 9PM–12AM. Set above Savannah, this weekly nightlife experience features a DJ set, craft cocktails, and skyline views that set the tone for an unforgettable night.

Whether you’re meeting friends or dancing into the weekend, Lost After Dark is your go-to Friday vibe.

Join us for the 6th Annual Mama-Run / Walk for Molly’s Bridge. We offer a kids Fun-Run (500 yds), the traditional 5K (3.1 mi) and double it up for the full 10K (6.2 mi)! The course starts and finishes at Coastal Cathedral Church and winds through the beautiful Berwick Plantation Area.

O Homemade cakes, pies, cookies, and other toothsome goodies
O Garden plants – gardening books
O Bouquets in time for Mother’s Day!
O Patriotic bows to use for the upcoming 250th!

We’re very excited to connect with and expand our reach within the community!

Masks encouraged and provided by @maskbloc912

As always, everything we’ll bring is free free free!

Reach out to get involved! New friends and talents are always welcome
savfreemarket@gmail.com
freemarket.sav (instagram)

Accepted donations list:

• Jackets/winterwear
• Plus size clothing/mens workclothes
• School uniforms
• School supplies
• Kitchen and household items
• Personal hygiene
• Harm reduction
• Cleaning supplies
• Food
• Zines/literature
• No large furniture (but we can share it online)

ISO food, warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, etc in particular

ADDITIONAL MESE NEEDS:

• Boys clothes for a 10 year old
• Boys clothes size 8 & 10
• Boys shirts (men’s small-medium)
• Jeans/bottoms (boys 14)
• Boys shoes sizes 3,4,5,6
• Girls clothes size 14 or Large
• Girls shoes size 5
• Pregnancy items

Saturday, May 9, 2026
10:30am – 12:30pm
Registration Deadline: Monday, May 4, 2026
Cost: $90 per person including materials

Spend your Saturday starting your own mushrooms and learn the basics of home mushroom cultivation using a monotub with guest speaker and mushroom specialist Bo Ballance of Blue Heron Farms. The price of the class is $90 per person and includes all materials needed to grow mushrooms.

A hands-on introduction to growing mushrooms in a controlled indoor
environment using monotubs. Perfect for beginners wanting to grow oysters or cubensis at home.
Key Topics:
Life cycle of fungi
Grain spawn preparation and inoculation
Pasteurizing and mixing substrate
Fruiting conditions and troubleshooting

Takeaway: Each student leaves with an inoculated monotub, grain spawn, and substrate.

What’s included:

King Oyster Mushroom Liquid Culture Syringe – $25 value
Mushroom Grain Bag – $12 value
Wood Substrate Block – $20 value
Custom-made Monotub – $15 value
2 hours of hands-on instruction from mycology specialist Bo Ballance of Blue Heron Farms

Join us for this hands-on experience at Savannah Hydroponics & Organics
4107 8th Street, Suite C,
Garden City, GA 31408

To register, please complete the form below and submit payment here.

Please call 912-349-4030 or email team@savannahhydro.com with any questions.

Welcome to the Savannah Youth Mentoring HUB radio show podcast, where we talk about all things related to youth mentoring — what it is, how to do it, where to find it in the Greater Savannah area, and what drives our community leaders who are dedicated to it. You can catch LIVE episodes every Friday at 11 am on WRUU 107.5 FM.

Stream current and past episodes at SAVYOUTHMENTORING.ORG

Tour SCAD MOA with a SCAD student docent and gain a new perspective on contemporary art.

Docent tours are open to the public with the cost of museum admission.

Register at least a day in advance by contacting Hannah Thompson, manager of museum visitation and programming, at hthompso@scad.edu.

Experience an immersive journey through Savannah’s rich black history with Author and Historian Rita Fuller-Yates. Delve into the city’s past, from pre-slavery days to the civil rights movement, uncovering stories of resilience and triumph. With engaging multimedia elements, each 90-minute tour promises an informative and enjoyable exploration of Savannah’s black churches, communities, and the remarkable individuals who shaped its history. Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with knowledge, emotion, and maybe even a little fun along the way.

This program provides a calm, open studio approach with guidance in drawing and painting by an experienced instructor and is open to all veterans. No prior experience making art is needed. Veterans may also participate in occasional tours of major exhibitions at the Museum. This studio program provides studio space for artists to work independently but with a teacher on hand to provide guidance when requested.