Let the historical city of Savannah, Georgia capture you in other ways than its interesting history. With its rich performing arts scene, you will have many options for nighttime entertainment. Make sure to take note of these 10 interesting things to do in the city when the sun sets.
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1. Take a dinner or sunset river boat cruise along the Savannah River
The city has a great namesake, the Savannah River. This historic river flows out to the Atlantic Ocean right here in the city, making Savannah an important port town early on in American history. There is no better way to appreciate the river and its place in history than to take the Savannah Riverboat Cruise. With 4 boats being used by the company, there are several tours on offer, but among the most popular is the dinner entertainment cruise which is a two-hour cruise with a sumptuous dinner and live entertainment. One can also enjoy the views of the river as the sun sets. Operated by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, advanced booking for cruises is highly recommended and can be done online through the company site or through Viator.
Savannah Riverboat Cruise
Address: 9 East River Street, PO Box 10086, Savannah, GA 31412
Contact Details: Ph +1 9122326404
Opening Hours: 9am - 9pm, Sundays to Wednesdays; 9am - 11pm, Thursdays to Saturdays
Website: Savannah Riverboat Cruise
2. Catch literati during the Savannah Book Festival
Whether you are a certified bookworm or not, participating in the yearly Savannah Book Festival is always an enlightening and memorable experience. The festival is held every February during President’s Day Weekend and is located at the city’s historic district. It is free and open to the public, with over 10,000 book lovers participating every year. Aside from checking out books for sale, visitors may also listen to the authors themselves during presentations, which can range from personal narratives to grand advocacies close to the author’s heart. Last time, best-selling authors James Patterson, Colson Whitehead and Christina Baker Kline headlined the event. These talks however require the purchase of tickets, usually 20 USD per ticket.
Savannah Book Festival
Address: Telfair, Wright and Chippewa Squares, Savannah
Contact Details: Ph +1 9125984040
Schedule: every February, during President’s Day Weekend
Website: Savannah Book Festival
3. Listen to world-class jazz music at the Savannah Jazz Music Festival
The Savannah Jazz Music Festival offers quite a different experience than the more prominent Savannah Music Festival. This year, the festival is happening from September 17 to 23, and features international and regional jazz and blues artists. Organized by the Coastal Jazz Association, the festival has several musical shows by guest university and school bands, individual artists and groups that showcase the best of jazz music. This year, the festival holds a special tribute to Louis Armstrong and will also premier a powerful documentary about the story of jazz music. The festival is free and open to the public - the only thing you need to do is show up. For details on the show schedules, check out the official website of the festival.
Savannah Jazz Music Festival
Address: Various locations: Forsyth Park, Lucas Theater, among others
Schedule: 2017 - September 17 to 23
Website: Savannah Jazz Music Festival
4. Catch a concert by the Savannah Philharmonic
The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra is said to be one of the more successful orchestras in the country, with hundreds of thousands of tickets sold each season. The season usually starts in the fall around September, with concerts and chamber performances lined up until the end of the season in April. Aside from the orchestra, the organization also has a Philharmonic Chorus, which makes their concerts all the more interesting. Their popularity also extends to places outside of Savannah, with concert goers from other parts of Georgia and South Carolina as well. Their musical programming each season is a good combination of old classics and something new, which keeps fans and visitors excited about what is in store for them. If you are a music lover, consider getting a subscription. If you want to watch just a few concerts, you can also buy individual tickets. Their website contains all the information you need about events and schedules.
Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Address: 30 W Broughton St #205, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9122326002
5. Catch a show at the Historic Savannah Theatre
The Savannah Theatre is one of the oldest theaters in the United States that is still operating until this day. It first opened its doors to the public in 1818, and operates as a live event venue and a movie theater. Recently, it has become a regular venue for regular shows such as music and variety shows. When you are in town, you can catch Savannah Live, a local variety show, and several musical revue shows. The theater also has a special Christmas show come November and December. You can check the schedules and also buy tickets online through the theater’s website. If you arrive early for your show, you can also check out Forrest Gump’s bench on Chippewa Square, which can be found across the theater.
Savannah Theatre
Address: 222 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9122337764
Website: Savannah Theatre
6. Watch a film or two at the Savannah Film Festival
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The Savannah Film Festival is organized by the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design, and 2017 is the festival’s 19th year. The festival showcases the best in independent film making, from short films, to documentaries and full length feature films, with its yearly competition. It also screens upcoming films prior to their release in theaters, and provides venues for fans and visitors to hold discussions with filmmakers, and other experts. This year, the festival will run from October 28 to November 4, 2017, with film screenings held at the SCAD Trustees Theater and the Lucas Theatre for the Arts, both located in the historic downtown of the city. Tickets to screenings can be bought starting October 2017. If you want to be a patron, you can also purchase passes, which can give you access to the different events and activities during the festival.
Savannah Film Festival
Address: c/o SCAD, 342 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9125255051
Website: Savannah Film Festival
7. Enjoy a cocktail or a beer at Pinkie Master's Bar
Have you ever heard of a bar with a Presidential past? In Savannah, only Pinkie Master’s fits the bill. In the 1970s, it became a favorite hangout for local politicians and in 1978, then President Jimmy Carter made a visit to the bar, which was then owned by a close friend and supporter of his who recently passed away. This was not his first visit to the bar though, because as a state senator and later governor, he frequented the bar to see old Pinkie himself. The bar serves up gin and tonic in plastic cups and unlimited Pabst Blue Ribbon beer together with a steady stream of locals who will be willing to strike up a conversation if you want to.
Pinkie Master's Bar
Address: 318 Drayton St., Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9122380447
Opening Hours: 4pm - 3am, Mondays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays
Facebook: Pinkie Master’s Bar
8. Dine with history at Pirates' House Restaurant
The Pirates’ House Restaurant is housed in what is considered to be one of the city’s oldest buildings, said to be constructed in 1734. Before it became a restaurant, it was a house museum that displayed rare early edition pages of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Now as a restaurant, it can accommodate as many as 120 guests and serves up Southern dishes. Some of the dishes are featured in The Pirates’ House Cookbook by Frances McGrath. They also offer a daily lunch buffet with a choice of Southern dishes you can choose from, while their a la carte menu also gives you a wide array of choices of Southern fare.
Pirates' House Restaurant
Address: 20 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9122335757
Opening Hours: Lunch - 11am - 4pm, daily; Dinner - 4pm - 9:30pm, Sundays to Thursdays, 4pm - 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays
Website: Pirates’ House Restaurant
9. Walk on the dark side - walk through historic downtown after hours
Forsyth Park is a large park in the historic center of downtown Savannah. In the daytime, it is a favorite for both locals and visitors because of its walking paths, its play area for children, a Fragrant Garden for the blind and several sports facilities. At nighttime, the star of the show is its fountain, which is possibly one of the most photographed structures in the city. The fountain was added to the park in 1858 and is said to reflect the design of the fountains in Place de la Concorde in Paris. Go to the park right before the sun sets, so you can capture magnificent photos as the sky changes when the sun goes down.
Forsyth Park
Address: Drayton St & W Gaston Street, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9123513837
Opening Hours: 7am - 11pm, daily
Website: Forsyth Park
10. Go around town on the Savannah Slow Ride
Explore the town with the Savannah Slow Ride which uses a 15-person bicycle for a big group of people. You will pedal your way around historic downtown with these signature Crawlers. You do not need to be a group of 15, as they also do mix and match tours which brings together small groups into one. The tours typically takes two hours, with several choices on offer, from bar and pub hopping, historical downtown tour, haunted tour, and many more. Tours can be arranged beforehand, and each Slow Ride will have a dedicated tour guide to lead the way. Online booking is possible through their website.
Savannah Slow Ride
Address: 420 W Bryan St, Savannah, GA 31401
Contact Details: Ph +1 9124145634
Opening Hours: 10:30am - 10:30pm, Daily
Website: Savannah Slow Ride
The night is calling in Savannah
With these interesting things to do at night in the city, there is so much you can do when the sun goes down. Whatever it is you like or love, you will surely find it in Savannah. So give in to the call of the night.
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