Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center in Savannah free to locals June 12-13; free libation ceremony & virtual Juneteenth lecture

Telfair Museums will mark Juneteenth 2021 with free admission to the Jepson Center, a free libation ceremony, and a free virtual lecture.

From 10AM-5PM Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13, Savannah and Chatham County residents will receive free admission to the Jepson Center in partnership with the City of Savannah.

The free weekend features a libation ceremony at noon Sat. June 12 on the front steps of the museum led by local historians Vaughnette Goode-Walker and Jamal Toure.

Activity kits focusing on the Black experience and themes related to current exhibitions, including works by Savannah artist Sauda Mitchell, also will be distributed.

Juneteenth celebrates the beginning of the emancipation of enslaved Americans on June 19, 1865, by order of Union General Gordon Granger in Texas.

At 6PM Tues. June 15, Telfair will host its annual Juneteenth lecture with a virtual appearance by historian and author Anthony Cohen, whose book “Patrick & Me” chronicles his journey as a fourth-generation descendant of an enslaved man who escaped to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Drawing from an 1856 interview with his forbearer, Cohen carefully reconstructs the amazing life story of Patrick Sneed—a slave of African, Jewish, Irish, and Cherokee heritage—who fled from bondage in Savannah and later went on to fight in the Civil War. You can register for the free Zoom lecture at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rMobXJFBRsWVjCwRljswxw.

Telfair recently expanded its regular days and hours as it continues to pare back limitations enforced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. All three of Telfair’s sites—the Jepson Center, the Telfair Academy, and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters—now are open from 10AM-5PM on Tuesdays, in addition to Thursdays through Mondays. The museum remains closed on Wednesdays.

Learn more here.

________________________________

Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Treasure Maps pop-up, interactive, outdoor theatre, 7:30PM June 25 2021 @ Old Roberds Dairy Farm, Savannah

Treasure Maps is a pop-up, interactive, outdoor theatre taking place in six cities across Georgia.

The Treasure Maps show will include live-local hosts, film screening, installations, and interactive activities, all under safe social distancing practices. The roadshow feature is the film screening of Treasure Maps on the big screen.

Treasure Maps showcases a collage of ten Georgia storytellers’ experiences with an up-close and personal viewpoint into what it’s like navigating the complex webs of life in our communities as a person with a developmental disability.

Themes include:
starting your own business
friendship
going to college
alienation & acceptance
dealing with the physical aspects of disability
and how transformative living a full inclusion life can be.
This show is proudly presented by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and L’arche Atlanta. Local partners include the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society and Savannah-Chatham County Parent Mentors.

NOTE: In the event of inclement weather, this event will be moved to an online format.

Register online for this free event here. 

Location
Old Roberds Dairy Farm
2500 Tennessee Avenue
Savannah, GA 31404

Richmond Hill Independence Day Celebration, Sat. July 3 2021
Sat. July 3 2021, 4:30-10:30PM JF Gregory Park, Richmond Hill
Free & open to the public.
Family fun with entertainment, fireworks, food, inflatables and more.
Admission is free. Learn more here.

Savannah-area fireworks, Sat. July 3 2021
Savannah Bananas home baseball game & fireworks Sat. July 3 2021. Fireworks immediately following the game. Details here.

Savannah Stars and Stripes July 4th Weekend festivities at Savannah’s Plant Riverside District
July 2-5 1-10PM
Featuring live music, Savannah Cirque performances, nightly fountain shows, a July 4 boat parade (3-5PM) & July 4 fireworks show (9:15PM).
400 W River St.
Details here.

July 4th Fireworks @ The Pier @ Tybee Island, Sun. July 4 2021 
Sun. July 4, 2021, 9:15PM
Tybee’s annual celebration of America’s birthday. Independence day fireworks start between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm. The show is staged on the pier but is easily viewed from any of Tybee Island’s eastern beaches.

Savannah Fireworks, River Street, Sun. July 4 2021
Savannah’s Waterfront will host the annual Independence Day Fireworks Show on Sun. July 4th at 9:15PM.
New to Independence Day this year: Freedom Floats Boat Parade. This All-American Boat Parade will pass by Plant Riverside District between 3:30-5PM July 4.
More information here.

HILTON HEAD IS. FIREWORKS

Shelter Cove Harbour Fireworks, Sun. July 4
HarbourFest on July 4 at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina is an expanded version of the activities at Shelter Cove each Tuesday night during summer. Entertainment; children’s activities, food and more. Activities start at approximately 6PM., with fireworks at 9PM.
More information here. 

_________________________________________

Fourth of July activities 

(Savannah) Free ice cream for kids 12 &  younger for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance 4-7PM Thurs. July 1 & Monday afternoons during July @ Leopold’s Ice Cream. Details here.

(Richmond Hill) Independence Day Celebration @ Fort McAllister State Park
Sat. July 3, 2021 10AM-3PM
Celebrate Independence Day like it’s 1864. An old-fashioned celebration with living history demonstrations and musket demonstrations. $9. 912-727-2339.

(Hilton Head Is) FREE special July 4th outdoor performances with beloved kids-entertainer Gregg Russell @ Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort, 8-9:30PM Sun. July 4. ($9 per vehicle gate fee). Details here. 

NEW SUMMER 2021 OFFERING @ St. Andrew’s School, Savannah

Middle School Football Clinic
6:30-8PM June 16, 23 and July 14, 21 & 28 2021

The clinic is FREE and open to all middle school players from any school. 

Email head coach Blake Henry to sign up: football@saslions.com

_____________________________

St. Andrew’s is an International Baccalaureate World School inspiring young people age 3 through grade 12 in Savannah, Georgia. For more information, visit https://saslions.com

_________________________________

St. Andrew’s is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

FREE Family-friendly Party in the Park @ Lowcountry Celebration Park on Hilton Head Is.

On the following days now through Nov. 4 2021, 5:30-8PM
Thurs. Aug. 12
Thurs. Aug. 19
Thurs. Sept. 16
Fri. Oct. 8
Thurs. Nov. 4

Free & open to the public.

Enjoy the beautiful new LCP with Party in the Park.  Live music, bounce houses, and beverages.

Bounce houses provided by Extreme Firehouse. Beverages provided by Southern Eagle and Coca-Cola sold separately.

Learn more here.

____________________________________

FREE outdoor performances with beloved kids-entertainer Gregg Russell @ Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort

Gregg Russell’s Harbour Town concerts start Friday evening of Memorial Day weekend. His concert schedule will also include performances from 8-9:30PM Monday-Friday, June 2-Aug. 20 2021 with special shows planned for July 4, Labor Day weekend.

Free concert, but $9 gate fee per vehicle to enter Sea Pines Resort.

Concert schedule:

June 2-Aug. 20 2021
Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through August 20
8-9:30PM
Also 8-9:30PM on:
Mon. Aug. 23
Wed. Aug. 25
Fri. Aug. 27
Sept. 2-5 (Labor Day Weekend)
Harbour Town
149 Lighthouse Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

To protect the health of guests and staff, The Sea Pines Resort will spread out seating and recommend concert attendees wear a mask and practice social distancing. Guests are welcome to bring their own folding chairs and sit on the lawn area adjacent to the bench seating.

Find more information on this year’s Gregg Russell concerts @ seapines.com/events or The Sea Pines Resort recreation department at (843) 842-1979.

_______________________________________________________

Summer Jams 2021 with Fireworks @ Shelter Cove Community Park, Hilton Head Is.

Every Tuesday Night June 15- Aug. 17 2021, 6-9PM

Free & open to the public.

Festive atmosphere with the highlight of the night fireworks which start around 9PM. Kids of all ages can enjoy inflatable bounce houses and face painting for a minimal fee. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fireworks.

Shelter Cove Community Park
39 Shelter Cove Lane
Hilton Head Is. SC 29928

Virtual Storytime

Join the Savannah Cultural Arts Center this Sat. May 22 2021 for the LAST book in their Free Virtual Storytime series.

This week they are ending with a bang and splash of… dots!

Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry by Fausto Gilberti will be read live, followed by a movement activity and craft geared toward ages 3 to 7. See you at 10:30AM

FREE. Register for the Zoom link here.

_________________________________

Savannah Cultural Arts Center is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Upcoming family-friendly, outdoor Savannah Philharmonic events.

Phil the Squares with Song
Featuring The Savannah Philharmonic Chorus
Sat. May 15 | 3-4PM
@ Parker Companies 17 W McDonough St, Savannah, GA 31401

Join Savannah Philharmonic for another Phil the Squares Concert! In this performance, members from the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus will hit every decade of American choral music since 1920. From Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” to Pentatonix’s “Sing,” this joyous and familiar program will make your heart sing.

All are welcome to attend this free concert — no ticket or RSVP required. Please wear your mask for the entire performance and follow social distancing practices. There will be a live stream via Facebook for those who want to enjoy the concert from home.

More Savannah Philharmonic events:

Sat. June 12 | 7PM
Featuring a variety of Savannah Philharmonic Musicians
A summer evening filled with tunes from around the world. From Mozart’s Flute Quartet in C major and Johnny Mercer’s Georgia On My Mind to ending the program with a tango.
@ Parker Companies 17 W McDonough St, Savannah, GA 31401

Sun. June 20 | 7PM
Phil the Garden with the Savannah Philharmonic
@ Morris Center at Trustees’ Garden, Savannnah
Family-friendly Father’s Day Outdoor Concert. Savannah Philharmonic presents ‘Phil in the Garden’.
Food trucks, a station where kids can create their own instruments, concert of crowd-pleasing favorites.
Buy tickets. Details here. 

Saturday May 22 2021 – Free Virtual Storytime!

Join the Savannah Cultural Arts Center for virtual storytime & craft.

The fun starts at 10:30AM and is intended for ages 3 to 7. Register online here to receive the Zoom link.

Book for May 22 – Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry by Fausto Gilberti

_____________________________________

Savannah Cultural Arts Center is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

SCAD’s Virtual Sidewalk Arts Festival is under way online and you can vote for your favorites.

The university’s longest-standing tradition, which normally takes place in Savannah’s Forsyth Park, is back on a screen near you! The virtual Sidewalk Arts Festival brings a spectrum of boldly imagined artwork directly to digital spectators, no matter where they are in the world.

Current, former, and future Bees created colorful 2D masterpieces in the medium of their choice (including chalk!).

Head over to the virtual sidewalk to see this year’s creations and vote for People’s Choice award winners on @scaddotedu’s Instagram Stories. Winners announced May 7.

_______________________________

SCAD is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

NEW SUMMER 2021 OFFERING @ St. Andrew’s School, Savannah

Middle School Football Clinic
6:30-8PM June 16, 23 and July 14, 21 & 28 2021

The clinic is FREE and open to all middle school players from any school. 

Email head coach Blake Henry to sign up: football@saslions.com

_____________________________

St. Andrew’s is an International Baccalaureate World School inspiring young people age 3 through grade 12 in Savannah, Georgia. For more information, visit https://saslions.com

_________________________________

St. Andrew’s is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

YMCA Healthy Kids Day- Sat. May 1 2021

Do you know what makes a healthy kid?

Get the recipe and try the Y at this free, outdoor, safely distanced community event on Sat. May 1. All YMCA of Coastal Georgia locations will host activities including healthy snacks, seasonal pools openings, fitness demos, summer day camp information and you can join the Y with NO JOINER’S FEE!

For more information, visit ymcaofcoastalga.org/healthykids

Effingham YMCA: 9AM  – 1PM

Golden Isles & McIntosh YMCA: 11AM-3PM

Habersham YMCA: 10AM-1PM

Liberty County/ Armed Services YMCA: 10AM-2PM

Richmond Hill YMCA: 10AM-2PM

__________________________________

YMCA of Coastal Georgia is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Operation One STEM at a Time and The Creative Coast are excited to announce Operation Starry Circuits: A free STEM event for children in Savannah and the coastal Georgia region.

Who: 3rd to 8th grade youth living in Savannah and surrounding areas.

What: The theme is Operation Starry Circuits. Students will be mailed materials for an exciting, interactive project led by Ambria Berksteiner, the Founder of Operation One STEM at a Time. Through the fun process of creating their own circuits using craft materials, participants will get hands-on experience discovering how circuits work to create light. Chibitronics, a company that provides educational products and tools for youth STEAM activities, is sponsoring the event by providing circuit materials.

When: Sat. May 8 2021, 10-11:30AM

Where: Virtually via Zoom. After participants sign up, they will receive an email with the Zoom link for the day of the event.

Registration: Registration is free and can be done online here. 

A Creative Coast staff member will reach out to registrants a few weeks prior to the event to obtain addresses where materials should be shipped.

Sign-up Deadline: Mon. April 26 2021. Please note there is a limited capacity for this event.

For inquiries, please contact Kaitlin Lance at kaitlin@thecreativecoast.org.

Join the Savannah Cultural Arts Center this Sat. April 24 2021 for a FREE Virtual Storytime program.

This week they are celebrating earth month with We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, the 2021 Jane Addams and Caldecott Award Winning children’s book. After the story, participants will be lead through creative movement and a craft related to the story.

This program is intended for ages 3 to 7 years.

Free.

Sat. April 24, 10:30am

Register online here to receive the Zoom link.

_____________________________________

Savannah Cultural Arts Center is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

SMF Savannah Jazz Academy

Here’s another reason to support Savannah-Chatham public schools: the SMF Savannah Jazz Academy program.

Savannah Music Festival – a leading nonprofit performing arts organization, recently hosted a music performance featuring more than 25 Savannah-Chatham County Public School (SCCPSS) students on Sat. March 27 at Kehoe Ironworks at Trustees’ Garden in Savannah.

The performance will be broadcast virtually Fri. April 30 at 7PM on Savannah Music Festival’s Facebook page, featuring Savannah-area public school students in grades 5-12 performing jazz standards like “C Jam Blues,” “All of Me,” “Perdido” and “Make Me a Pallet on the Floor.”

Spring Virtual Performance Link: https://fb.me/e/2b95y0ATM

SMF Jazz Academy students participated from a wide range of local schools, including Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary, Oglethorpe Charter School, Godley Station School, Marshpoint Elementary School, STEM Academy at Bartlett, Savannah High School and Woodville Tompkins High School.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SMF Jazz Academy transitioned to online learning for the 2020-2021 school year, added several new staff members and offered students virtual masterclasses and workshops led by SMF Jazz Academy faculty as well as other talented artists from across the United States. The SMF Jazz Academy’s first full year followed a successful Spring 2020 pilot semester at the School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary.

“Despite the challenges the pandemic posed, it has been impressive to watch our students’ resiliency and musical growth over the course of the academic year,” said Jessica Messere, SMF Jazz Academy Manager. “We have one student who was new to the saxophone and the program, and now she’s soloing with her improvisations to songs from jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.”

An optional Small Combo group enabled students to take jazz to the next level, with morning outdoor practices every Saturday throughout the spring. Small Combo students quickly began playing songs together, complete with solos, improvisations and accompaniments.

“Our program provides an opportunity for students to learn jazz and offers valuable lessons in self-expression, trust and camaraderie,” said Jenny Woodruff, Savannah Music Festival’s Director of Education and Community Engagement. “Each student learns how to create unique solos and to build a strong connection by working together.”

The SMF Jazz Academy program is open to any Savannah-Chatham County Public School student in fifth through twelfth grade who does not have a jazz band offered at his or her school. The program, which does not require previous musical experience, is designed for beginning, intermediate and advanced students. The online SMF Jazz Academy program includes free instrument rental as well as weekly private lessons via video, composition and music technology classes, virtual practice rooms, online master classes with guest artists and more.

The mission of SMF Jazz Academy is to lead positive and progressive change in Savannah by providing equal access to exceptional music education in a safe, accepting learning environment that supports each child’s development.

Thanks to the generosity of founding sponsors Ron and Susan Whitaker, the program is free to all participating students. In addition, the Hodge Foundation, Junior Jazz Foundation and Widespread Panic’s Tunes for Tots provide free instrument rentals to participants.

Learn more here. 

This year SCAD’s beloved Sidewalk Arts Festival – which normally takes place in Savannah’s Forsyth Park – is virtual.

See the online show here. It’s free & open to public.

High school students can submit entries, too. High school students must have a participation code to compete. To receive a participation code, email Erin Findlay at efindlay@scad.edu.

____________________________________________

Savannah College of Art & Design is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

FREE Mother’s Day 2021 Community Picnic, May 9, Savannah

In honor of Maternal Mental Health month, the Maternal Mental Health Collective will host a Mother’s Day community picnic at Forsyth Park.

You’re invited: Sun. May 9 2021, 10AM-noon. This gathering welcomes any and all Savannah-area mamas (including those who are pregnant).

Bring a picnic to the park for this free, fun, laidback outdoor meet-up. Stop by on your way to your Mother’s Day plans – or stay the whole time. Bring something to sit on, something to eat, and yourself just as you are. Cold beverages and lots of good company will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your kids and family with you, or not.

All moms deserve care, support, and social connection – and this pandemic year has been long and so isolating for many moms. Come on out to make new friends, relax in the springtime (at a safe, outdoor distance), and find your community. The group will gather in the grass near the bandshell and playground.

Please spread the word within your networks and let organizers know if you have any questions. Find more info here.

2021 Super Museum Sunday
Sun. May 2, 2021

On Sun. May 2, 2021, explore some museums and historic sites for FREE in person and online during a unique Super Museum Sunday experience. This annual free admission event that normally happens in February every year was moved to May this year due to the pandemic.

Pandemic-related capacity and programming restrictions apply.

Hours for Super Museum Sunday are noon– 4PM unless other times are noted.

Participating museums in Savannah include  Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center for the Arts and the Telfair Academy — free to the public from 10AM-5PM. Because of public health considerations, the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters will not be open that day.

Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah is free. Pre-registration required. Register online here.

Find a list of participating sites here.

Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art on Stage Free Family Weekend at Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, Savannah
April 16–18 2021
Jepson Center

Savannah and Chatham County residents are invited to visit the Jepson Center free of charge during this three-day weekend April 16-18 2021 to experience the exhibition Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art On Stage.

From 10AM- 5PM Friday through Sunday, the museum will offer free admission to the large contemporary art space on Telfair Square, in partnership with the City of Savannah. Face masks are required, and occupancy limits will be enforced for social distancing.

Take a scavenger hunt based on the exhibition and pick up a free art-making kit for families to enjoy at home. Theater arts and fashion displays by local students will be featured each afternoon.

Learn more here.

Visitors to the Free Family Weekend are invited to tour current exhibitions—including the special exhibition Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art on Stage, a partnership with the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio—and explore art activities created by Telfair’s education team, including a limited number of free take-home art kits for children.

Other exhibitions currently on view include Vehicles of Change; Complex Uncertainties: Artists in Postwar America; David Gumbs: From Dust to Gold; and Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography, which closes after Sunday.

Investment is provided by the City of Savannah.

___________________________________

Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Find things to do with your kids this Spring 2021 in Savannah & the Lowcountry as well as lots of local summer camp options for Summer 2021  in this week’s free SouthernMamas.com E-letter.

Read it here.

Wendy Sutton, an experienced college counselor & past admissions professional at the college level, will speak on the topic: The Future of College on Thurs. April 8 @ 5PM. Part of free, virtual lecture series hosted by St. Andrew’s School, Savannah

St. Andrew’s School in Savannah is hosting a free virtual speaker series, Landscapes of the Future, this spring 2021.

Upcoming topics include:
*The Future of College Thurs., April 8 2021 at 5 p.m.
*The Future of Education Thurs., April 22 2021 at 5 p.m.

The series is free and open to the public.

Register online here. 

Questions? Email Amanda Groves at grovesa@saslions.com or call 912.897.4941.

The Future of College
Thurs., April 8 at 5 p.m.
In what ways might shifts in higher education influence education more broadly? What should current and future
applicants consider, know, and plan for? The past year has accelerated change in the landscape of college admissions.
As a result of the pandemic and the national conversations around racial equity, schools have shifted to test-optional
applications and revised evaluation processes for incoming students. While some adjustments are temporary, there may
be long-awaited changes that remain or evolve as an outcome of the pandemic. Join Mrs. Wendy Sutton, an experienced
College Counselor and past admissions professional at the college level, to explore these trends and questions.

The Future of Education
Thurs., April 22 at 5 p.m.
What knowledge, skills, and capacities will be necessary and valuable in the future of industry and work? In preparation
for higher education? The current model for schooling is the legacy of the industrial revolution. With the accelerated
pace of change, and convergence of research in several fields related to education, what are those elements of educational
practice that help us develop our children into strong citizens and agile professionals? We invite you to join Dr. Kelley
Waldron and Mr. Ryan Martin in exploring some predictions for the future of K-12 education. Dr. Waldron has presented
on this topic at national and regional conferences, and currently serves on the SAIS Board of Trustees. Mr. Martin is a
career, independent school leader who has guided change initiatives in several independent school communities.

St. Andrew’s is an independent, International Baccalaureate World School in Savannah inspiring young people age 3 through grade 12.

___________________

St. Andrew’s School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Find Easter Egg Hunts & Festivities for 2021 in the Savannah/Hilton Head Is. Lowcountry area here. 

Find Easter Egg Hunts & Festivities for 2021 in the Savannah/Hilton Head Is. Lowcountry area here. 

Yes, Savannah and Tybee Island’s St. Patrick’s Day parade & festivities are cancelled for 2021 due to the pandemic.

However, Tybee Island residents plan to celebrate the holiday in a creative, socially-distanced way: the Paint Tybee Ireland Green project with houses and businesses bedecked in green and St. Patrick’s decor.

The socially-distanced celebration will be March 12-20 2021. Maps of participating homes are available here. 

Learn more here. 

_________________________

More St. Patrick’s events

Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Parade, Pope Avenue, Sun. March 14, 3PM. Details here.

Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Parade is cancelled. Events celebrating the Celtic Cross Ceremony, Greening of the Fountain, Jasper Green Ceremony and St. Patrick’s Day Mass will be virtual. Details here. 

PICASSO TO HOCKNEY: MODERN ART ON STAGE FREE FAMILY WEEKEND AT TELFAIR MUSEUMS’ JEPSON CENTER
April 16–April 18 2021
Jepson Center
207 W. York St.
Savannah, GA 31401

Local residents are invited to visit the Jepson Center in Savannah free of charge during this three-day weekend April 16-18 2021 to experience the exhibition Picasso to Hockney: Modern Art On Stage.

Take a scavenger hunt based on the exhibition and pick up a free art-making kit for families to enjoy at home.

Theater arts and fashion displays by local students will be featured each afternoon.

Learn more here. 
__________________________________________________

Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com