Things to Do in Savannah in the Fall (Especially If You Love Food)
Savannah transforms in September, October, and November in a way that is genuinely hard to describe unless you have experienced it yourself. The air gets lighter and the event calendar fills up fast with festivals, special events, and everything in between.
And if you love food? Savannah in the fall is practically designed for you. Read on to learn what fall in Savannah actually looks like.
Why Fall Is One of the Best Times to Visit Savannah
The weather in Savannah is amazing in the fall. By mid-September, temperatures start dropping into the mid-80s, and by October and November, you are looking at comfortable 70s with low humidity and long golden afternoons. It is the kind of weather that makes you want to wander with a to-go beverage from one of Savannah’s many bars or breweries in-hand. If you’re curious about where you can walk outside with an open container, check out our guide to Savannah’s open container laws.
There are a ton of events in the fall. Savannah is an events city at its core, and the fall is when the city really turns it on. There is almost always something happening on a given weekend between September and November, from jazz on the lawn at Forsyth Park to film premieres to week-long food celebrations out on Tybee Island.
The food scene comes alive in new ways. Fall in Savannah is when some of the city’s best food events and festivals take center stage. Several of the fall festivals below are built entirely around food, and even the ones that are not tend to feature some of the best food trucks, pop-up vendors, and restaurant specials of the year. If you have been curious about Savannah’s culinary scene, fall gives you more reasons to explore it than any other season.
Fall Events and Festivals in Savannah, GA (2026)
Savannah Jazz Festival | September 18-20
The Savannah Jazz Festival is one of the most beloved events in Savannah, and it is completely free. The festival boasts fifteen shows across
Savannah Jazz Festival 2024
multiple venues, with Forsyth Park serving as the main backdrop for a weekend of live jazz you will not forget.
On Friday and Saturday, food trucks line the park, and the lawn fills up with locals spreading out blankets, popping bottles, and settling in for the afternoon into the evenings. A lot of people grab takeout from one of the nearby restaurants on Park Avenue or Drayton Street and bring it over to the grass. If that sounds like your version of a perfect fall evening, you are right.
Savannah is a city that knows how to have a good time, whether you’re looking to party or have a very low-key, laid back evening.
Banana Ball Playoff Weekend | October 1-4
The Savannah Bananas are one of the most entertaining sports franchises in the world at this point, and their playoff return to Historic Grayson Stadium is a full-on event. Tickets to the games themselves are notoriously difficult to get, but the city does not let you miss out even if you cannot snag one.
Service Brewing Company in downtown Savannah is hosting official watch parties all weekend on the big screen, and the Banana Ball vibe extends across the city through pop-up events and celebrations. The party at Service Brewing continues through The Final Peel Championship on October 10 starting at 7:00 PM, with $16 pitchers (60 oz) of Savannah Banana Beer, special banana-themed beer releases, food trucks, and merch giveaways. Whether you are inside the stadium or not, you are going to feel the Banana energy.
Tybee Island Pirate Festival | October 8-11
Tybee Island, about 18 miles from downtown Savannah, does not need much of an excuse to throw a party, but Pirate Fest is a good one. If you own an eye patch and hook hand, you’ll want to pull them out of the closet for this one. The atmosphere is exactly as fun and slightly unhinged as it sounds.
Expect live music, a parade, costumed characters everywhere you look, and solid food options including Sweet Spice Mobile food truck, which serves authentic Jamaican cuisine. A quick trip out to the island is worth it even without the festival, so pairing it with Pirate Fest makes it an easy win.
Savannah Greek Festival | October 8-10
The Savannah Greek Festival is celebrating its 75th year this year and is one of the city’s longest-running cultural celebrations. It is the kind of event that Savannah does better than just about anywhere. Run by St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, the event takes place at the Hellenic Community Center for three days of homemade Greek food, live dancing, pastries, church tours, and a marketplace, all with free admission.
Highlights include pastisio, spanakopita, dolmades, and souvlaki alongside pastries like baklava, koulourakia, and Greek coffee that will keep you going the rest of the afternoon. This is one of the most authentic cultural experiences Savannah offers, and the fact that it has been around for this long tells you everything you need to know.
Oktoberfest at Plant Riverside District | October Weekends
Every weekend in October, Plant Riverside District transforms its Riverwalk into a huge Oktoberfest celebration with live music on the Riverwalk Stage, Wiener Dog Races, festive games like keg bowling, and a full lineup of special foods and drink specials.
On the menu this year: smoked bratwurst with German mustard and kraut on a pretzel bun, Frank in a Blank with beer cheese, apple and raisin strudel with salted caramel drizzle, and warm German potato salad with bacon and mustard dressing. Beer lovers will want to grab a Southern Crown Beer Journey tasting passport, which takes you through all eight featured Oktoberfest beers, four 2 oz pours at a time, with a giveaway entry for anyone who completes the full passport.
Weekend celebrations run October 3-4 and October 10-11. It is super festive, it is on the river with beautiful views, and it is a lot of fun.
Isle of Hope Arts Festival | October 24th
Just a short drive from downtown Savannah, the Isle of Hope Arts + Music Festival is one of those events that reminds you why people fall in love with this area in the first place. Held beneath the oaks along the Isle of Hope waterfront from 10 AM to 5 PM, this annual celebration brings together local artists, musicians, makers, and food vendors for a full day of discovery and connection. The food alone is worth the trip — expect a lineup of unique food trucks and local vendors with booths serving up everything from festival favorites to flavors you will not find anywhere else in the city.
Whether you come for the art, the music, or just to wander and eat your way through the afternoon, it is a beautiful way to spend an October day on the bluff overlooking the water.
Wag-O-Ween | October 24-25
Wag-O-Ween is for the dogs! You and your furry family member can walk through downtown Savannah’s businesses for treats and water stops. Local businesses hand out dog biscuits and set up water stations for the pups to enjoy their own version of Halloween. Costumes are not required but they are highly recommended, and as you’ll see if you attend, most dogs (and their humans) will be in costume. The annual event benefits Renegade Paws Rescue, a volunteer-based rescue dedicated to saving the lives and providing the highest level of care to unwanted, abused, or injured dogs.
This year, Savannah Taste Experience will be participating. Stop by 108 W Broughton St. with your pups. We hope to see you!
SCAD Savannah Film Festival | October 24-31
While not a food-specific event, this one is too big not to mention.
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival is the largest university-run film festival in the world, and every October it brings more than 70,000 guests to Savannah for eight days of film screenings, gala premieres, workshops, and panels with major industry names.
Last year’s guests included Will Arnett, Spike Lee, John M. Chu, Rose Byrne, Dakota Fanning, Brendan Fraser, and more. The full 2026 lineup has not been completely announced yet, but if you love film and you are going to be in Savannah at the end of October anyway, it is worth planning around. You’ll want to grab tickets now for day passes, as evening passes have already sold out!
The city serves as an incredible backdrop, and the energy during festival week is unlike anything else.
Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival | November 8
One of the most beloved food events on Savannah’s calendar, Shalom Y’all has brought the yummiest smells, sounds, and spirit of Jewish culture for 36 years. This year’s festival runs from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 8, with free admission, in Monterey Square.
Expect crispy latkes, sizzling shawarma, fresh challah, deli sandwiches, brisket, and more, alongside live entertainment, a Kid Zone, and a Military Appreciation Booth. Hosted by Congregation Mickve Israel, this is one of those Savannah events that feels like the whole city shows up, and the ones who have been before always come back.
Tybee Island Seafood Festival | November 8-15
The Tybee Island Seafood Festival is a highly anticipated, week-long food event that happens every fall. Seafood lovers can enjoy the best of Savannah’s fresh seafood with participating restaurants rolling out exclusive festival menus and specials all week long.
Key dates to know: On November 13, Hotel Tybee hosts an Oyster Roast and Lowcountry Boil with live entertainment benefiting HUGS, a local nonprofit supporting children and families. On November 14, the main festival day takes over the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion from 11 AM to 9 PM, with live bands, a shrimp peeling contest, local vendors, a Kids’ Zone, and a full lineup of fresh seafood.
If you love oysters, shrimp, and anything Lowcountry and coastal, plan your trip around this one.
Experience All of It Through the Lens of Savannah’s Food Scene
Savannah has always been a city best understood through its food. The restaurants here have stories. The recipes have histories.
The best way to experience that, especially when you are navigating a new city packed with things to do, is to take a food tour with Savannah Taste Experience. Our guided walking tours take you through the Historic District’s squares and into some of Savannah’s most iconic restaurants and specialty stops, giving you a taste of the city’s culinary culture and the history behind it, all in about three hours and just over a mile of beautiful, walkable Savannah.
Whether you are kicking off your fall trip or fitting in one last experience before you head home, a food tour is one of the things you will talk about long after you leave.
Book your tour with us today and don’t forget to come hungry!
Savannah Taste Experience is a food tour company and marketplace based in the heart of Savannah, GA. Tours depart from the Historic District and are available for groups of up to 14 guests. Book your tour here.