December in Savannah

December in Savannah is a personal favorite of ours. Savannah keeps its holiday decorations classic and understated: greenery and red bows on the lamp posts, wreaths on iron gates, and soft lights glowing in the squares in the evenings.

You won’t find over-the-top displays here, which is part of the charm. It’s also one of the three busiest event months of the year (October and March are the others). The weather helps too – It’s cool enough for a sweater, rarely cold enough for a heavy coat, so evening strolls and outdoor events are easy to enjoy.

The holiday season starts in November with the Christmas Market and the Lighted Boat Parade, so if your trip begins before December 1, start with Savannah in November. This guide covers the whole month of December. For the long-standing holiday traditions, from the Cathedral concert to the best lights and where to stay, our Christmas in Savannah guide is a deeper dive, and the two work well together.

A few things to know before you book. Savannah’s holiday weekends fill up fast, so reserve hotels and popular restaurants early, especially for these dates:

• December 4 to 6: City Market’s Celebrate the Season, Holiday Pops at the Lucas Theatre, and the wreath workshop at the Davenport House are all this weekend.
• December 11 to 13: the busiest stretch. Saturday, December 12 brings the Lighted Christmas Street Parade, the Holiday Tour of Homes, and a food truck festival, all on the same day.
• December 18 and 20: Christmas at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and a full weekend of holiday events just before Christmas.
• December 31: New Year’s Eve fireworks on River Street.

Are you new to Savannah, or it’s been a while? Start with our Overview of Savannah. If your trip stretches into January, our guide to visiting the Georgia coast in winter has you covered.

The Holiday Season in Full Swing

By December, Savannah is fully dressed for the season, and something festive is happening almost every night. Here are the highlights worth building a trip around.

Lights, Markets, and Santa

The Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District opens late November and runs into early January. It’s free, with vendor stalls, live entertainment, seasonal food and drink, and visits from Santa. Inside the JW Marriott lobby you’ll find the Festival of Trees and an amazing gingerbread display.

On December 4 and 5, Celebrate the Season in City Market fills the courtyard and the shops with free holiday festivities, live performances and family activities. Visit Savannah also runs Savannah Holly Days, an umbrella of seasonal events that includes Cookies with Santa and caroling on Broughton Street, so check their site for this year’s schedule.

For lights, you have two great options. The Holiday Lights & Sights Trolley Tour runs nightly from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Eve and includes caroling, which makes it an easy choice if you’d rather not wander on your own after dark. December Nights at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens is a walking display on select evenings through December 24.

Also, the city’s official Christmas tree stands at Broughton and Bull, where local dance groups, choirs and storytellers perform on Saturdays in December.

Parades, Concerts and Theater

The Lighted Christmas Street Parade rolls down River Street and through downtown on Saturday, December 12, with decorated floats, bands and dance troupes. Arrive early for a good spot, and remember the free DOT buses if you’d rather not hunt for parking.

Christmas at the Cathedral is one of our favorite holiday traditions. The Cathedral Choir and Chamber Orchestra weave scripture and music into the Nativity story, and the audience sings carols along. It’s set for December 18 and 20 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and tickets are well worth buying early. Get yours here.

The Savannah Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops takes the stage at the Lucas Theatre on December 5 and 6. The Historic Savannah Theatre presents A Christmas Tradition December 3 to 26, a two-hour show of music, dancing and comedy that has been a Savannah staple for more than 20 years. Savannah Ballet Theatre’s locally flavored Nutcracker is also a holiday tradition and this year there will be two performances on December 5th at the Johnny Mercer Theatre.

For something a little different, the Candlelight concert series fills a historic room with hundreds of candles and a live string quartet. The Candlelight Christmas Special featuring The Nutcracker is at The DeSoto Savannah on December 19, with tickets starting at $40. Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings runs December 18 and 19, starting at $37.50. Both make a lovely date night and are easy to pair with dinner downtown.

On Wednesdays, the Lucas offers a free tour and organ performance as part of Wonders of the Wurlitzer.

The Big Saturday: December 12

If you can only visit one day in December, you’ll have plenty of company on this one. Saturday, December 12 brings:

• The Lighted Christmas Street Parade along River Street
• The Downtown Neighborhood Association’s Holiday Tour of Homes, a ticketed day inside decorated historic homes and inns
• The Eastern Wharf Food Truck Festival with 20-plus regional trucks and live music
• Twelve Bars of Christmas, a holiday bar crawl downtown
• Free guided tours at Bonaventure Cemetery at 1 p.m. (reservations required)
• The 159th annual Winter Muster at Fort McAllister State Park in Richmond Hill

And if you have a car, Tybee Island’s Holiday Market and Darien’s River of Lights are the same day (more on those below). Book your hotel early for this weekend.

Shop Local for the Holidays

Skip the mall and do your holiday shopping with Savannah’s makers!

The River Street Art Market brings local artists and specialty foods to the riverfront December 4 to 6. Forsyth Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning. At Blown Studios you can make your own glass ornament. Grab a warm praline straight from the kitchen at Savannah’s Candy Kitchen while you’re on River Street.

December Events

Between the holiday traditions, the theater season and the parades, here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening:

• Savannah Christmas Market, through early January, Plant Riverside District. Free European-style market with vendors, live entertainment and Santa.
• Holiday Lights & Sights Trolley Tour, through December 24, Historic District. Nightly caroling tours starting at 6 p.m.
• December Nights & Holiday Lights, select evenings through December 24, Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens. Walking light display with Santa, s’mores and hot cocoa.
• A Christmas Tradition, December 3 to 26, Historic Savannah Theatre. Holiday variety show with matinee and evening performances.
• Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Saturdays in December, Broughton and Bull Streets. Free entertainment by local groups.
• Forsyth Farmers Market, every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., south end of Forsyth Park.
• Olde Pink House Holiday Celebration, December 3. Decorations, tastings and live music.
• VOICE Salon Series: Home for the Holidays, December 3, Green-Meldrim House.
• Celebrate the Season in City Market, December 4 and 5, City Market. Free holiday festivities and live music.
• Savannah Philharmonic: Holiday Pops!, December 5 and 6, Lucas Theatre for the Arts.
• Colonial Christmas at Wormsloe, December 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wormsloe Historic Site. Living history with a colonial holiday meal and music.
• Holiday Wreath Decorating Workshop, December 5 and 6, Davenport House Museum. Make your own wreath with natural materials (ticketed).
• Savannah Santa Train, December 12, Georgia State Railroad Museum. A short train ride, crafts and photos with Santa. Sells out every year.
• Enmarket Savannah Bridge Run, December 5 to 12. 5K, 10K and 15K races across the Savannah River bridge.
• Tybee Island Christmas Parade of Lights, December 11, Tybee Island. Canned food donations requested.
• A 1950 Holiday Radio Show, December 11 to 13, Tybee Post Theater.
• Lighted Christmas Street Parade, December 12, River Street and downtown.
• Holiday Tour of Homes, December 12, Historic District. Tickets run $85 to $125 and are non-refundable.
• Eastern Wharf Food Truck Festival, December 12, Eastern Wharf.
• Twelve Bars of Christmas, December 12, downtown Savannah.
• Winter Muster at Fort McAllister, December 12, Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill.
• Free Bonaventure Cemetery tours, December 12 and 13, 1 p.m. Reservations required.
• Tybee Holiday Market, December 12, Strand parking lot, Tybee Island.
• Christmas at the Cathedral, December 18 and 20, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings, December 18 and 19. Holiday classics by candlelight with a live string quartet.
• Candlelight Christmas Special featuring The Nutcracker, December 19, The DeSoto Savannah. Tchaikovsky and holiday favorites by candlelight.
• Puppy Pals, December 18, Tybee Post Theater. Family-friendly dog stunt show.
• Christmas Eve Riverboat Cruises, December 24, River Street. Lunch and dinner buffet cruises on the Georgia Queen.
• New Year’s Eve Midnight Fireworks, December 31, River Street.
• New Year’s Eve Fireworks, December 31, Tybee Pier and Pavilion.

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve

The last week of the year is quieter and more relaxed, but a little planning goes a long way.

Christmas Eve is a good night to be on the water. The Georgia Queen riverboat runs lunch and dinner buffet cruises with live entertainment, and the holiday trolley tour and December Nights both run through December 24.

Christmas Day is the day to plan ahead. Many restaurants that are open on Christmas Eve close on Christmas Day, while some hotel and riverfront restaurants stay open with holiday menus. Reserve a table early and call to confirm hours. Some Christmas Market vendors close for the day, and it’s worth checking hours before heading to museums and tours.

New Year’s Eve brings Savannah’s biggest celebration of the season. Savannah’s Waterfront hosts the midnight fireworks show on Thursday, December 31, with live music and specials at River Street restaurants and bars beforehand. Expect big crowds, bring a jacket, and give yourself extra time to get around. If you’d rather skip the crowds, there are rooftop parties, dinner cruises and special menus around town, and Tybee Island puts on its own fireworks show at the Pier and Pavilion.

Savannah on Foot

The best way to see Savannah in December is a walk, with early evening being especially magical. Daytime highs hover in the mid-60s and nights dip into the 40s, so wear layers and comfortable shoes. River Street sits lower than the rest of the city and often feels a few degrees colder with the breeze off the water.

Savannah’s decorations are classic and understated: greenery and red bows on the lamp posts, wreaths on iron gates, and garland around the fountains. Chippewa Square, Jones Street, Bull Street and Broughton Street are especially pretty, and City Market twinkles in the evenings. Our Christmas in Savannah guide points out the prettiest spots for a holiday stroll.

If you don’t want to walk everywhere, the free Savannah DOT buses circle the Historic District and beyond. And since it’s Savannah, you can wander the Historic District with a holiday drink as long as it’s in a plastic cup of 16 ounces or less.

Give Back While You Travel

The holidays are a natural time to give back. Some of this month’s events make it easy: Tybee Island’s Christmas Parade of Lights on December 11 asks for canned food donations, so toss a few cans in your bag if you’re headed that way.

Want to do more while you’re here? It’s a growing trend in travel and one we fully support. Here’s an article about why it’s so important and how to plan your trip to include voluntourism in coastal Georgia.

Explore Beyond Savannah

If you have a day or two to spare, December is a lovely month to see more of the coast. Each of these towns has its own holiday traditions, and most are only a short drive from Savannah.

Tybee Island

Tybee Island is only about 20 minutes from Savannah and has a lively December calendar. The Christmas Parade of Lights is December 11, and the Holiday Market fills the Strand parking lot with local artisans and food on December 12. Tybee Post Theater hosts A 1950 Holiday Radio Show December 11 to 13 and the family-friendly Puppy Pals dog stunt show on December 18. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks go off at the Pier and Pavilion, and South Beach is the best place to watch.

December is also the best time of year to climb the Tybee Lighthouse. There’s no air conditioning inside, so the 178 steps are much more pleasant now than in July, and the view from the top is worth every one. If the day turns out sunny and mild, a Tybee Island golf cart tour is a fun way to see the island’s back roads and beach paths.

No car? Here are 3 perfect ways to get to Tybee.

Darien

Darien is about 45 minutes south of Savannah, and its waterfront is a sweet spot for the holidays. The Darien River of Lights is set for Saturday, December 12, the same day as the monthly Second Saturday shopping and dining event on Broad Street. Stay overnight at Oaks on the River or, for something further off the beaten path, Emma’s Driftwood Farm.

Brunswick

Brunswick is home base for one of us (Sara), and downtown is at its best in December. First Friday on December 4 fills Newcastle Street with music, shopping and food, and the annual Christmas parade is happening on December 12th.

On December 19, we’re hosting an adults-only Santa Bar Crawl benefiting Morningstar Children & Family Services. There’ll be great prizes from local businesses for the best costumes and finding the elf at each stop. Get your tickets here.

The annual New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop at Mary Ross Waterfront Park rounds out the year. Stay at the Kress Hotel right downtown.

St. Simons Island

St. Simons Island is home for the other of us (Pam). The Saint Simons Market brings local makers to Postell Park for its December arts and crafts show on December 19 and 20. Early December is when the Pier Village tree lighting and the Christmas Golf Cart Parade take place, and on Christmas Eve Santa makes his rounds on a Glynn County fire truck.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island turns the holidays into a month-long event. Holly Jolly Jekyll runs November 27 through January 3, with the Historic District dressed in Christmas lights, trolley and self-guided light tours, Peppermint Land mini golf, Santa visits and fireworks. A carriage ride is the best way to see it. If you only have an hour, make it Driftwood Beach.

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