If you’ve been waiting all year for the perfect time to visit Savannah, October is it. The heat finally breaks, the crowds from summer have thinned, and the city’s festival calendar goes into overdrive. Add in Savannah’s well-earned reputation as one of the most haunted cities in America, and you’ve got a month that delivers on every front.
If you’re in town for the ARMA conference (October 25–28) or Jurassic Quest (October 23–26) at the Savannah Convention Center, take note: those dates overlap, which means hotel rooms downtown and on Hutchinson Island will be tighter than usual that last week of the month. Book early if you can.
October is also one of Savannah’s three busiest event months of the year (the others being March and December), so no matter when you’re coming, there’s a good chance something’s happening. If your trip is carrying over from September, catch up on Savannah in September first. Heading into November instead? We’ll have that guide for you soon.
If it’s your first time in Savannah, or it’s been a while, start with our Overview of Savannah before diving in below.
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Savannah Gets Spooky
There’s no getting around it: October in Savannah means ghosts. Known as America’s most haunted city, Savannah leans all the way into it this time of year, and honestly, we think that’s part of the fun.
If you’re brave enough, October is the month to visit one of the area’s haunted houses. Two of our favorites are Alee Terror Plantation, a longtime local fundraiser that’s been voted best in Georgia multiple years running, and the Moose Lodge Haunted Forest, a family-run haunt that’s been terrifying (and delighting) Savannah locals for more than two decades. Both run weekends throughout October, and both tend to sell out, so don’t wait until the last minute.
If a full-on haunted house isn’t your speed but you still want a little spooky atmosphere, Savannah has plenty of gentler options:
- Bonaventure Cemetery After Hours – special after-dark tours of the city’s most iconic cemetery. Tours are available most weekend nights in October.
- Where’s Noble Bones? A Bone-Chilling Scavenger Hunt – a family-friendly Halloween scavenger hunt at Wormsloe Historic Site, running every Saturday in October
- Trick or Treat on River Street – more than 30 waterfront shops and restaurants hand out candy on October 24 from 2-5pm, a sweet option if you’ve got kids along
And of course, there’s lots of versions of the classic Savannah ghost tour — walking, trolley, or pub crawl, take your pick. They all get busy around Halloween, so book ahead if you want a spot. Browse the options here.
Stay in a Haunted Hotel
Want to take the spooky experience back to your room with you? Book one of Savannah’s Most Haunted Hotels. Sara actually just stayed at the Foley House Inn — no ghostly encounters of her own to report, but the innkeeper was happy to fill her in on the story of the body discovered in the walls during a renovation decades after the inn was built. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, it makes for a pretty memorable checkout conversation.
October Events
Between the festivals, the concerts, and the Halloween happenings, this might be the busiest calendar we cover all year. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening:
- Savannah Greek Festival – October 8–10, Hellenic Community Center. Traditional food, music, dancing, and church tours.
- Tybee Island Pirate Fest – October 8–11. Four days of parades, costume contests, and the Buccaneer Ball at The Crab Shack.
- Blues, Brews, BBQ & Bourbon Festival – October 10, Eastern Wharf. Craft beer, Texas-style BBQ, live music, benefiting Coastal Conservation.
- Savannah Wiener Dog Races – October 10, Plant Riverside District. Exactly what it sounds like, and exactly as fun.
- Skidaway Marine Science Day – October 10, UGA Skidaway Marine Science campus. Free family event with aquarium access and hands-on activities.
- Magnolia Grove Festival – October 17–18, New Ebenezer Retreat Center in Rincon. Artisan market with historic tours and live music.
- Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival – October 24, Free festival with 100+ local artisans and food trucks.
- SCAD Savannah Film Festival – October 24–31, the biggest university-run film festival in the world, with screenings, premieres, and industry guests all over the city.
- South Georgia State Fair – October 29 – November 8, Coastal Empire Fairgrounds. Classic fair rides, games, and food.
- Free Admission to Fort Pulaski – October 27, in honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
- Forsyth Farmers Market – every Saturday, south end of Forsyth Park.
Insider tip: dates for some of these shift slightly year to year, so double check before you finalize plans, especially for anything you’re building a whole trip around.
Savannah Reopens for Walking
After a long, hot summer of ducking into air conditioning, October gives you Savannah the way it’s meant to be experienced: on foot. The humidity finally lets up, mornings are crisp, and there’s no better excuse to wander the historic squares and side streets at your own pace.
Bonaventure Cemetery is a natural fit for the season — genuinely one of the most beautiful spots in the city, and in October it takes on an extra layer of atmosphere. If you want to go beyond a daytime visit, the After Hours tours mentioned above are worth booking ahead.
Venture north from Forsyth Park into the Victorian District and onward to the Starland District, one of our favorite pockets of the city, full of colorful homes, funky little shops, and genuinely friendly people. If you don’t want to walk the whole way, the free Savannah DOT buses will get you there.
Want a guide instead of going it alone? We’re partial to Savannah Dan for a personal touch, or the Ghosts of the Old Sorrel Weed House tour if you want your walking tour to lean into the season.
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.
Explore Beyond Savannah
If you have a day or two to spare, October is a great month to see more of the coast — and several of the towns nearby have their own fall events worth building a stop around. In fact, we have an entire article written on the fabulous fall events in coastal Georgia.
Tybee Island
Tybee Island is Savannah’s Beach and only about 20 minutes away. Beyond the Pirate Fest, Tybee hosts the PooGrass Festival on October 25 if bluegrass is your thing. If you don’t have a car, we’ve got 3 perfect ways to get to Tybee.
Darien
Darien is about 45 minutes south, a quiet fishing village with a picturesque waterfront and great seafood. 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 this October it’s hosting both the Golden Isles Film Festival (October 16–18) and Jekyll and Hyde Con (October 18) — a great pair of reasons to make the drive. Stay at the Kress Hotel right downtown.
St. Simons Island
St. Simons Island is home for the other of us (Pam), and October here means the Wine Festival (October 24–25). Browse our guides to things to do or drop a comment on Instagram for a few off-the-beaten-path picks.
Jekyll Island
Jekyll Island hosts the Shrimp & Grits Festival October 24–25, one of the coast’s most beloved food events. If you only have an hour, make it Driftwood Beach.
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.
More Info About Savannah and the Area
- The Spookiest Savannah Haunted Houses To Visit This Halloween
- The Most Haunted Hotels in Savannah, GA
- Fabulous Fall Events in Georgia: Coastal Edition
- Savannah in September
- 3 Perfect Days in Savannah
- Christmas in Savannah
- Best Breweries in Savannah
- Best Burgers in Savannah
- BBQ Road Trip Through Coastal Georgia
