Savannah in May: Festivals, Experiences and Local Favorites

If you’re visiting Savannah in May, whether for a spring getaway or for an event like the ASLMS conference, you’ll discover plenty of classic springtime favorites around the city, along with a few hidden gems that many visitors overlook.

May is one of our favorite months in Savannah. It’s warm, but not yet too hot, the flowers and trees are blooming and there are events and great spots to explore wherever you turn. If your visit overlaps with the end of April you’ll also want to read the article Savannah in April. If it’s toward the end of May you’ll also want to read Savannah in June.

fountain in Forsyth Park in Savannah. — The Forsyth Park Fountain in May

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We love Savannah all year (read Best Time to Visit Savannah for the details of each season), but May is a truly amazing time to visit. Besides the popular activities like Savannah River Cruises and well known spots along River Street there is so much more, and we love helping visitors find those under-the-radar experiences and places.

A big part of our mission is helping visitors to Coastal Georgia get away from crowded touristy areas and finding the real people and places behind this place that we call home. If that sounds appealing to you, then we invite you to join us in discovering the real Savannah in May.

Want to stay in the loop about all the coastal Georgia goodness? Join our “Coastal Insider” family and we’ll keep you posted on everything happening from Savannah to St. Mary’s. We’re talking new restaurants, hidden gem boutiques perfect for treasure hunting, and events that’ll have you feeling like a local in no time.

Table of Contents

May Events and Festivals

Here you’ll find a mix of well known plus quieter events.

Sister Hazel District Live at Plant Riverside District (May 1st) Details
SCAD Museum of Art Tours in American Sign Language (May 1st) Details
First Friday in Starland District (May 1st)
Fun House Improv Comedy at Front Porch Improv (Fridays and Saturdays) Details
Savannah Scottish Games at Bynuh’s Field, Bethesda Academy (May 2nd) Details
Forsyth Farmers Market each Saturday (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) at the south end of Forsyth Park Details
Derby Day Dig at Savannah Botanical Gardens (May 2nd) Details
Doggie Carnival in the Park at Forsyth Park (May 3rd) Details
Wurlitzer Wednesday at the Lucas Theatre (May 6th) Details – This one made our Coastal Georgia Off the Beaten Path Bucket List
Early Birds Heart of Historic District Walking Tour begins at Green-Meldrim House (Saturdays through May 30th) Details
TedxSavannah2026: Shaping the Future at Southern University Armstrong Campus (May 15th) Details
Sting at the Enmarket Arena (May 16th) Details
Flute Wine Festival at Forsyth Park (May 17th) Details
Latte Art Class at Origin Coffee Bar (May 22, 28, 29) Details
Susie’s Run 5K at Lake Mayer (May 23) Details
Swerv Car & Truck Super Show at Savannah Convention Center (May 24th) Details

Lucas Theatre hosts Wurlitzer Wednesdays typically once per month. It’s open to the public and FREE!

Walkable Savannah

Yes, the squares and parks are truly amazing, but we encourage you to wander beyond them to the side streets and peek through garden gates. Take off on your own or choose one of these featured tours that will get you behind the scenes or off the beaten path.

2 hour Architectural tour highlights often overlooked and well known structures and focuses on the architects themselves.
Ghosts of the Old Sorrel Weed House – This is a “ghost” tour unlike the others. Your guide will be a master storyteller and paranormal investigator and you’ll explore the darkest corners of the property while learning the stories of those still believed to haunt the house.
History Walk by Savannah True History Tours – An in depth, comprehensive tour – this is the one you want if you want to really dig into the history behind this fascinating city.
Savannah Dan – consistently rated tops, Dan is one of our personal favorites! Besides the better known spots and hidden gems he’ll share his favorite places to grab a bite or a cocktail. For something really special schedule a private tour with him.

If this is your first time in Savannah (or it’s been a long while) we do recommend in the article Our Favorite Things to Do in Savannah that you start out with a hop-on hop-off trolley tour. This will give you a good overview and be helpful in getting your bearings before you explore more deeply.

Tip: Once you get your bearings you may find yourself wanting to go further than you’re willing to walk. If that’s the case we highly recommend the free Savannah DOT buses. The details are in the article, but the buses generally run up one side of Forsyth Park (north on Whitaker) and down the other side (Drayton St), making the turn at Victory. Another, shorter route runs just in the area closer to River Street and goes east and west.

Neighborhood Favorites Away From the Crowds

Just as interesting, but lesser known than the historic district are Ardsley Park, Chatham Crescent, Isle of Hope, Thomas Square Streetcar, Gordonston, Daffin Park and others. The Historic Savannah Foundation has a fantastic website with information on all the neighborhoods and districts.

Bonaventure Cemetery is easily accessible by rideshare (like Uber or Lyft) and there are tours that will take you there and then guide you around. It’s overlooking the Wilmington River and is a treasure of history and gorgeous scenery. In May there will be plenty of flowering plants and trees making your visit even more magical. What we like to do is Uber and then join a golf cart tour. There’s so much to see that you will miss something if you only walk.
Oatland Island Wildlife Center is about 15 minutes from downtown and May is an amazing time to visit. The animals are active and enjoying the weather as much as you are. Oatland is on over 100 acres of maritime forest and the animals are mostly native to the area. (Insider tip: While in the area grab lunch at a favorite of ours – Wiley’s Championship BBQ. (They made the Coastal Georgia BBQ Trail).
Wormsloe Plantation is about 10 miles from downtown in the Isle of Hope area. Those photos that you see of the wide avenue lined with oak trees dripping with Spanish moss? This is where they are taken. You can rideshare or drive to Wormsloe and take the self-guided tour. If you have time there are tours that combine Wormsloe with Bonaventure.
Savannah Bee Company Bee Garden Tour is a fun experience beyond shopping their honeys and meads (which you can do right on River Street). For the Bee Garden Tour you’ll need to get to their Wilmington Island location. You’ll get to wear those cool hats and nets as you learn all about honeybees, beekeeping and the impact bees have on our environment.

Fun Insider Tips:

Savannah in May is mostly about being outdoors, but we do have a couple of suggestions that will take you inside, too.

Congregation Mickve Israel was named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the 15 most beautiful synogogues in the word.

Tour the synagogue of Congregation Mickve Israel. Besides the accolades mentioned above, it is home to the oldest Torah in North America.
Get a coffee from the adorable coffee shop Mirabelle and sit at one of the tables out front. Your view is of St. John the Baptist Cathedral Basilica.
Visit our favorite speakeasy, Alley Cat Lounge. It’s on Broughton Lane (behind Broughton Street), but that’s all we’re going to tell you. Finding it is half the fun.
The Ships of the Seas Maritime Museum is a wonderful experience, but don’t overlook the gardens. They’re wonderful too!
Get out on the water. How about a Sunset Dolphin Eco Cruise? There are loads of options, but whatever you do you don’t want to miss time on the water in May.
Another great spot for coffee is the Coffee Fox on Broughton. It sits right on a busy corner and we love to grab a coffee and just watch the people go by.

Give Back While You Travel

Want to find a way to “give back” to the community you’re visiting? 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.

two women in marsh picking up litter. — courtesy of KGIB

Day Trips and Coastal Escapes Near Savannah

Maybe you’re adding even more time before or after your conference at the Savannah Convention Center – or maybe you want to just extend your vacation to take in more of our beautiful coast of Georgia. You are definitely our people and we’re here to guide you!

Tybee Island

Tybee Island is considered Savannah’s Beach and is only about 20 minutes away. It’s a small town (island) with great beaches and a boho sort of vibe. If you don’t have a car, we have 3 perfect ways to get to Tybee to help you out.

Darien

Darien is about 45 minutes south of Savannah and is a true hidden gem on the coast of Georgia. It’s a quaint little fishing village (actually more shrimping) with a picturesque waterfront, great restaurants and historical sites. If you decide to take the Scenic Route along U.S. Highway 17 it will take you more like an hour, but the drive is so much more interesting than the interstate.

Stay a night or two in Darien if you have time. We highly recommend Oaks on the River for a hotel stay or, if you really want to get off the beaten path check out Emma’s Driftwood Farm.

Brunswick

Brunswick is the next town continuing south and this is where one of us (Sara) hangs her hat. While it’s often thought of as the gateway to the islands, and it is that, Brunswick is so much more.

A lovely waterfront downtown leads into a Victorian old town district. Brunswick is full of great restaurants and for a small town it has a pretty good variety of bars if that’s your thing. The annual Blessing of the Fleet takes place in May too!

If you stay the night we recommend the Kress Hotel right on Newcastle Street downtown.

St. Simons Island

St. Simons Island is home base for me (Pam) and I know this island like the back of my hand. I can share with you all the great things to do, places to shop, places to play golf and bars to grab a drink.

There’s a good variety of places to stay at St. Simons Island. Sorry I don’t have much room at my house, but if you drop a comment or dm me on Instagram, I’ll come up with some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path suggestions that you’ll love.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is just south of St. Simons and is a great place to get back to nature along the coast. There’s a great range of environmental and conservation minded activites available and we love booking a boat tour from Jekyll.

If you don’t have but an hour here be sure to plan a visit to Driftwood Beach. It’s a beach like none you’ve ever seen before.

More information about Savannah and area

Hydrangeas blooming in Savannah’s Historic District

Currently planning a trip? Here are some helpful resources:

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