People ask us all the time whether the Georgia coast is worth visiting once summer ends. Our answer is always the same. Winter is when we love living here most! The beaches are quiet, the marsh turns gold, the oaks are wrapped in lights, and oyster roasts fill up weekend calendars from Savannah to St. Marys.
If you’re deciding whether to plan a trip this winter, this guide covers what you need to know: holiday events in each of our coastal towns, where to find oysters, and why the off-season might be the best time to book.
Why Visit the Georgia Coast in Winter
The weather is mild. Winter highs here usually sit in the 60s, with some warmer days mixed in. You’ll want a jacket at night, but afternoons are made for bike rides, beach walks, and lunch on a patio.
The beaches are yours. On a weekday in January, you might walk Driftwood Beach or East Beach and see only a handful of people. Shorebirds outnumber tourists, and the sunrise photos are hard to beat.
Rates drop. Once the holiday rush settles, hotels and vacation rentals across the coast typically lower their prices. January and February are when we see the best deals, and you’ll have an easier time getting a dinner reservation at the places locals love.
You’ll see the real coast. Winter is when the community comes out. Oyster roasts, church Christmas tours, small-town parades, and fundraisers under the oaks give you a look at coastal life that summer visitors miss.
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Holiday Events on the Georgia Coast
Every town along our coast celebrates a little differently. Here’s what to look for in each one, from north to south.
Savannah
Savannah dresses up for the season, and the waterfront is the center of it all. The Boat Parade of Lights kicks things off with decorated boats on the river, and Christmas on the River fills River Street with music, local vendors, and Santa. The Lighted Christmas Parade starts at Plant Riverside District and winds through the Historic District to City Market. It usually runs on the second Saturday of December.
And if you’re in Savannah during December, we absolutely recommend this Holiday Sights and Festive Nights trolley tour!
Tybee Island
Tybee Island does Christmas with a unique island style. The Christmas Parade of Lights rolls down Butler Avenue to Tybrisa Street in early December, and the Tybee Lighthouse has hosted holiday tours showing how keepers’ families celebrated decades ago. Tybee also rings in the new year with fireworks over the beach, so bring a blanket and chairs!
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Darien
Darien’s Christmas celebration shows off that small-town spirit we love at its very best. The evening usually starts at Grant Chapel, followed by a lighted Christmas parade, a community tree lighting at Highway 17 and Broad Street, and luminaries through the historic district. Downtown shops stay open late, so it’s a good night to do your Christmas shopping with local businesses.
Nearby, Fort King George hosts 1721: Life of a Sailor with reenactors from all over the country, and the Highlander Holiday event at Tabby House Brewery celebrates the town’s Scottish roots and is one Christmas party we never miss.
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Brunswick
Historic Downtown Brunswick lights its tree in Queen Square the Friday after Thanksgiving. Expect carols from the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, a reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” and a visit with Santa. The Brunswick Christmas Parade is a night parade with floats and marching bands heading down Gloucester Street toward Mary Ross Waterfront Park.
This year we’re also hosting our own Coastal Georgia Insiders Santa Crawl, a bar crawl through downtown Brunswick on Saturday, December 19th, 2026 that supports a great local cause. Come join us if you’re in town!
To close out the year, the New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop at Mary Ross Waterfront Park is free and a favorite with families. It’s the most coastal Georgia way to celebrate the new year that we can possibly imagine.
St. Simons Island in Winter
St. Simons in winter is our pick for a slow, cozy getaway. The Pier Village glows with lights all season, and the tree lighting near the pier draws a crowd every year. For something a little different, the Lighthouse Trolley Tour of Christmas Lights takes you through neighborhoods decorated by island homeowners, and you’re welcome to bring snacks and drinks on board.
Between events, rent bikes and ride under the oaks, browse the Village shops, or catch a sunset at the pier.
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Jekyll Island at Christmas
If you’re thinking about a Jekyll Island Christmas trip, Holly Jolly Jekyll is the reason to come. The season runs from late November into early January, with over a million lights through the island and the Historic District. You can take a trolley tour of the lights, catch a holiday movie outdoors, watch fireworks over the beach, and see Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch around the island.
The Jekyll Island Arts Association also hosts its Merry Artists Market at Goodyear Cottage, a great place to find gifts from local painters, potters, and artisans. If you’re here at New Year’s, the Cold-Stunned Plunge benefits the Georgia Sea Turtle Center!
St. Marys
St. Marys feels like a Christmas card all year round, but particularly in the winter. The White Light Parade begins at dusk, with Santa and Mrs. Claus leading the way down Osborne Street to light the town’s tree at the waterfront. On the Christmas Tour of Homes, you can step inside decorated private homes, historic churches, and local inns. In the past, tickets have been $20 in advance and $25 the day of, sold at the St. Marys Welcome Center.
Leave time to walk the waterfront and look at the nativity collection the Presbyterian church has displayed during the weekend of the tour in past years.
Oyster Season on the Georgia Coast
When the weather cools, oyster roasts take over. You’ll find them at churches, fundraisers, backyards, and restaurants up and down the coast. Georgia oysters are smaller than Gulf oysters, but locals will tell you they’re saltier and sweeter, and we agree.
If you’ve never been to a roast, here’s how it works: Oysters are steamed over a fire under wet burlap, then shoveled onto long tables. You shuck them yourself, so bring oyster gloves and an oyster knife or borrow from your neighbor. Nobody minds helping a first-timer!
St. Simons Land Trust Oyster Roast
This is the big one. The St. Simons Land Trust Oyster Roast is held under the live oaks at Gascoigne Bluff, with food from local restaurants, live music, and plenty of oysters.
The next roast is set for February 20, 2027. Tickets sell out, so watch for sales in early 2027. Land Trust members at the $100 level or higher get first access, which is worth it if you’re set on going. Proceeds go to protecting land on St. Simons, and the shells are recycled to rebuild oyster reefs along our coast.
Eat Local: Georgia Coast Oysters
Our advice is to skip the imported oysters and order the small, briny ones grown right here on the Georgia coast. Once you taste a local oyster, it’s hard to go back.
Tybee Oyster Company Salt Bombs – Tybee Oyster Company is the best-known oyster farm on our coast, and their oysters are called Salt Bombs. Your best bet for finding them is on Tybee Island and in Savannah, where these spots often have them on the menu:
- Bubba Gumbos, Tybee Island
- Common, Savannah
- Darling Oyster Bar, Savannah
- Fleeting, Savannah
- Joe & Vera’s, Savannah
- Sea Wolf, Tybee Island
- Salt Island Fish & Beer, Tybee Island
You can also find Salt Bombs at select spots on St. Simons Island, including The Half Shell. If you’d rather shuck your own, Anchored Shrimp Company in Brunswick sells them to take home. That’s how we do it, with a cooler, a couple of oyster knives, and friends around the table. Call ahead and ask who has them, because they go fast!
Revival Oyster Company Jekyll Gemstones – Revival Oyster Company on Jekyll Island is the new kid on the block. Their oysters are called Jekyll Gemstones, and you never know where they’ll pop up next. If you spot them on a menu at an oyster spot around St. Simons or Jekyll Island, order them. You’re in for a treat.
Same rule applies here: call ahead, because they don’t last long.
Where to Stay on the Georgia Coast in Winter
Your best home base depends on what you want from the trip.
- For holiday lights: Jekyll Island puts you right in the middle of Holly Jolly Jekyll.
- For a walkable village: St. Simons lets you park the car and stroll the Pier Village.
- For history and charm: Savannah or St. Marys, both with inns in their historic districts.
- For value: Brunswick sits between the islands, and rates usually run lower.
- For space and a kitchen: A vacation rental on Tybee or St. Simons works well for families and groups.
Book early if you’re coming for a parade weekend or the oyster roast. For the best rates, look at January and February midweek stays.
Tips for Your Winter Trip
- Pack layers. Mornings can be chilly and afternoons warm.
- Check event pages a week before you go, since weather can move outdoor events.
- Shop local for gifts. Holiday markets, art associations, and downtown shops are full of things made right here.
- Ask your hotel about winter packages. Many offer deals they don’t advertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You’ll find mild weather, holiday events, oyster roasts, quiet beaches, and lower rates than in summer.
Highs are usually in the 60s, with cooler nights. It’s comfortable for walking, biking, and dining outside on most days. Don’t get it twisted, though – we do have days that are downright cold! Keep an eye on the forecast for days in the 40s and even 30s.
It typically runs from late November into early January. Check Jekyll Island’s events page for this season’s schedule.
The water is cold in winter, so most people stick to beach walks. The Cold-Stunned Plunge on Jekyll is the exception, if you’re brave!
Oyster roasts run through the cooler months and generally fall through early spring. But contrary to popular belief, you can eat farmed oysters any time you want, not just in the cooler months.
Currently planning a trip? Here are some helpful resources:
- Find the best hotel options here.
- Book the cheapest flight here.
- Find tons of tours and activities here.
- Book your rental car here.
