Did you know that a child’s brain develops most rapidly in the first five years of life? Pre-K provides a stimulating environment crucial for this development.
The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System has 65 Georgia Lottery Funded (aka FREE!) Pre-K classes serving more than 1,400 students. The application window for SCCPSS Pre-K programs is Jan. 27, 2024 until Feb. 9, 2024. Students must be four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024. This is a free Pre-K program.
The Little Acorn Academy is a full-day program for 3-year-olds. The Little Acorn Academy is a program where students will learn their ABCs, colors, and how to spell, giving students an advantage when they enroll in a pre-k program. Students must be 3 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024, and must be potty-trained.
The A-SWING Junior Golf Academy is hosting two FREE junior golf clinics on Sat. Feb. 24 2024: one for ages 5-7 years at 2-3PM and second for ages 8-11at 3-4PM.
If you are searching for a fun and rewarding activity for your child, register for the free class and find out if golf is their sport.
You and your family are invited to the 3rd annual Savannah River Fire Festival 10AM-2PM Sat. March 2 2024 @ Honey Ridge Agricenter in Guyton.
Enjoy a fun day outdoors celebrating how prescribed fire is good for Georgia’s forests and meet some of the organizations using it to support healthy wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires.
It’s a FREE festival for the whole family with fire equipment, food trucks, face painting, and games!
Explore nature exhibits, fire equipment, and the many benefits of prescribed fires.
In case of inclement weather, the rain date for this event is Sat. March 9 and updates will be given in this Facebook event.
The BIGGEST improvement is parking! We’ve moved all the vendors and activities to the front of the park and are utilizing the back field for parking.
The MOST FUN improvement is that we’ve added some pretty cool games to the kid zone; which is now located inside the tennis courts.
We didn’t leave out the parents! We have a Black History Month celebration happening in the main pavilion, live music, incredible vendors, a farmers market section (now near the dog park), free fitness classes and healthy living workshops for YOU!
Activities are free but you must register in advance online here.
Pooler Mega Pop-Up & Farmers’ Market is Sun. Feb. 11 2024, 10AM-4PM @ Tom Triplett Park in Pooler.
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At this free annual event for K-12 students and their families, you’ll enjoy free, full access to the Savannah Children’s Museum including a life-size maze, slides, a sensory garden, a healthy scavenger hunt, a trail mix remix station, and face painting.
Sat. Feb.10 from 11AM-4PM come to The Magical World of Toys for free family fun
11AM-Noon Sat. Feb. 10: Youth Circus Arts Therapy Workshop (presented by Duality Rising)
1-4PM Sat. Feb. 10 Valentine’s Print Party (presented by Elate Apparel)
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Family Game Night & Kids’ Karaoke
FREE Game Day / Kids Karaoke is Sunday Feb. 18, 11AM-3PM @ The Magical World of Toys, a new toy store in Savannah’s Live Oak neighborhood off Waters Avenue.
If you haven’t visited this Savannah toy store yet, this event will be a fun chance to do so.
Toy store owner Dante Pierson regularly hosts community kids’ events at the store.
Come to Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah on Sat. Feb. 3 2-3PM in the Interpretive Center to listen to local author Phyllis Tildes read her charming books for children inspired by nature. You’ll also have the opportunity to color some of the author’s beautiful illustrations.
Phyllis Limbacher Tildes is an award-winning author and illustrator of picture books for children ages 0-8. Her love of nature and wildlife is evident in many of her titles. Her latest book, Bunny’s Big Surprise, was released in 2020 and features a variety of low-country wildlife. She has published 24 books, including Counting on Calico in 1995. Her 25th book, a board book version of her popular Eye Guess, will be released in January 2024.
Come to their third Family Night on Tues., Jan. 30, 2024, to receive practical tips for helping your family practice self-care through healthy habits for body and mind.
To partner with teachers who will get to know your child as a unique and special individual and help him/her grow in God’s plan, check out Savannah Adventist Christian School. The private Pooler school will begin accepting applications for 2024-2025 in January.
To schedule a tour of the campus, please contact the school: 912-748-5977 or info@sacssda.org The school is at 50 Godley Way, Pooler, GA 31322.
Savannah Adventist Christian School — which offers preschool starting at age 3 through 8th grade — is a small, private school with a family feel and Christian curriculum.
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Telfair Museums’ PULSE Art + Technology Festival is back with a focus on the museum’s new immersive, technology-focused Children’s Art Museum, local artists’ AI art projects, and STEAM activities for children and families.
PULSE features a tech-focused talk for students, a Friday night AI film screening with cool tech projects by local artists, and a free family day.
6-8PM (Doors open 5:30PM) | Jepson Center, Fri. Jan. 26
Come enjoy an evening of projections, cool tech projects by local artists, and a classic anime feature. Art projects by Savannah-based artists will include large-scale projections by Will Penny and John Colette, and an exhibition of media art and interactive works made with AI. At 6pm, enjoy a screening of the classic animated feature Metropolis (107 minutes, 2001). Spectacular visuals highlight this acclaimed Japanese anime by director Rintaro, set in a futuristic, regimented society where human and robots are at odds. The film is rated PG-13.
10AM–5PM (Children’s art activities 1-4PM) Sat. Jan 27 Jepson Center
Families are invited to enjoy a day of free admission to the Jepson Center in Savannah for area local residents to experience tech-based and interactive art projects and demonstrations by local artists and a special performance by Tybee Ballet Theater.
*Free admission for residents of Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Jasper, and Beaufort Counties.
Investment for Free Family Days is provided by the City of Savannah, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Colonial Group, Inc.
First Game Day / Kids Karaoke for 2024 is Sunday Jan. 21, 11AM-3PM @ The Magical World of Toys, a new toy store in Savannah’s Live Oak neighborhood off Waters Avenue.
If you haven’t visited this Savannah toy store yet, this event will be a fun chance to do so.
Toy store owner Dante Pierson regularly hosts community kids’ events at the store.
Enjoy free admission to participating historic sites, house museums, art museums, and other points of interest throughout Georgia open their doors for an exceptional opportunity to experience the history in our own backyard.
This popular living-history program explores life in eighteenth-century Georgia through cooking, dancing, craft, and military demonstrations. Fees may apply.
While at Wormsloe, check out the new Wormsloe Visitor Center (pictured above), a 6,000-square-foot building with a large patio with fireplace, gift shop, meeting space and introductory information about the site. Repurposed materials include slate roofing material from a historic dock, as well as an iron gate from the 1930s formal gardens.
A new trolley system will be operated out of the visitor center to take guests down the iconic 1.5-mile Live Oak Avenue which will help protect the historic trees from frequent auto traffic. The reduced traffic will also be an added benefit for those photographing the famous lane. Visitors will soon be able to rent bicycles to pedal down the avenue. New landscaping includes native plants, young cypress trees and live oaks, and a water feature.
Free Pooler Farmer’s Market, Jan. 14, @ Tom Triplett Park, Savannah
Pooler is kicking off the new year with the biggest event Tom Triplett Park has ever seen.
Save the date for Sun. Jan. 14 10AM – 4PM.
The new Pooler’s Farmers Market will feature: 150+ vendors; full farmers market stage with live music; 4 free workouts; 6 free healthy living workshop; skid zone with free games and activities; 11 book readings & signings from local authors a tons of good food.
This is a free event packed with family-friendly activities. Free & open to the public.
Activities are free but you must register for classes and workshops. Register for free here.
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The biggest event in our area is finally here: The Pooler Mega Market & Farmers Market is this Sunday, Jan. 14th :: 10AM – 4PM at Tom Triplett Park in Pooler.
We’re taking over the entire park!! Chatham County Parks & Recreation and Live Like Locals Savannah are hosting 200 vendors, a kid zone with games and activities, free workouts, free healthy living workshops (to include 2 workshops for feeding the little ones), live music on the stage, cultural areas, authors alley with book readings and signings and of course food trucks, yummy dessert vendors and some special gems that you’ll have to find along the way.
We can’t list all of the goodness… you’ll have to come experience it for yourself. Y’all bring the whole family!! As a matter of fact, bring a folding chair and hang out for a while.
Activities are free but you must register to participate.Register for freehere.
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Best home holiday light displays, decorations 2023 in Savannah, Rincon, Pooler, Richmond Hill
Driving around Savannah, Pooler, Rincon & Richmond Hill looking at home holiday light displays and decorations is a favorite family tradition.
From colossal Santa snow globes to computerized Christmas lights animated with music, SouthernMamas.com has your guide to local home holiday light displays.
Short list: those confirmed for 2023
63 Sweetwater Ct., Richmond Hill (pls bring a canned food to donate;
673 Chastain Circle, Richmond Hill (Buckhead North subdivision) ;
476 Copper Creek Circle, Pooler
39 Holly Springs Circle at Lakeshore Subdivision, Port Wentworth;
419 Willowpeg Way, Rincon;
156 Oakview Rd., Rincon;
110 Crosswinds Dr, Rincon;
439 Egypt Ardmore Rd, Springfield
2135 Sand Hill Rd. Guyton;
105 Penny Lane, Guyton
107 Saint Andrews Way, Wilmington Is. Savannah;
9 Yorkshire Place Savannah
707 Beechwood Dr., Savannah
701 Stuart St. Savannah (inflatables were in yard, just not inflated when we were there)
TMT Farms Christmas Lights 2-Mile Drive-Thru in Statesboro (Confirmed for 2023) 16710 Old River Rd N Statesboro, GA 30461 Open Dec. 9 until Dec. 26 2023, 6PM-Midnight nightly. Drive-thru only.
Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display 1570 Drigger’s Lane Ridgeland SC 29936 Nightly drive-through only lights display.
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Want to add a home lights display to this list or let us know if one of the past favorites isn’t up this year? Please email us the info at anne@southernmamas.com
63 Sweetwater Court, Richmond Hill (pictured above) (Confirmed for 2023)
The home holiday lights show called Going Griswold @ 63 Sweetwater Court in Richmond Hill (formerly of 3 Amberwood Circle holiday lights fame) is a must-see that includes a reindeer bard and gingerbread house. The residents are partnering with The WAY Station Food Pantry this season and will be collecting non-perishable food items until Jan. 2 2024.
A walk-thru experience is offered this year. Please watch your step and stay within the designated path for your safety. You are welcome to go inside the gingerbread house and reindeer barn.
Open now to Jan. 2 2024.
Tune to 95.9FM.
63 Sweetwater Ct Richmond Hill. Hours of operation (weather permitting) Sunday to Thursday 4-10PM Friday and Saturday 4-11PM
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476 Copper Creek Circle, Pooler (confirmed for 2023)
The favorite home holiday lights display at the Seager home is now up. Hours: 5:30-11PM daily, weather permitting. 476 Copper Creek Circle, Pooler.
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673 Chastain Circle, Richmond Hill (Buckhead North Subdivision) (Confirmed for 2023)
The Champion home @ 673 Chastain Circle, Richmond Hill Ga. in the Buckhead North Subdivision has over 30,000 lights with 2 LED screens. Christmas Cartoons play in the window and on weekends , there is music or the cartoons will have sound.
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107 Saint Andrews Way, Wilmington Is. Savannah (confirmed for 2023)
Includes a ferris wheel, Grinch & more!
The Nowicki family is partnering with Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia Kids Cafe to collect monetary donations. The goal is to beat last year’s total of $500 and help the kids of coastal Georgia not go hungry. Drop off a donation off in the box when viewing the lights or Venmo the residents. Details here.
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419 Willowpeg Way, Rincon (Confirmed for 2023)
The Smith family, 419 Willowpeg Way, Rincon. (Next to Lost Plantation Golf Course) Tune to 89.7, syncs to music.
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South Carolina
Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display (Confirmed for 2023) 1570 Drigger’s Lane Ridgeland SC 29936 Nightly drive-through only lights display. Drive-through only except on Meet Santa night, 5-8PM Sat. Dec. 16, plus train rides, facepainting, cookie & ornament decorating. Free!
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The list below is now confirmed for 2023. Please send additions or updates to anne@southernmamas.com.
* The Seager family, 476 Copper Creek Circle, Pooler (confirmed for 2023. Lights are up & amazing)
* 126 Aquaduct Dr. in the Staffordshire Estates Subdivision off of Blue Jay, Rincon
* 110 Crosswinds Dr, Rincon (confirmed for 2023)
* 2135 Sand Hill Rd. Guyton (confirmed for 2023)
* Pennington neighborhood, off Midland Rd, Guyton
* 105 Penny Lane, Guyton, 6-11PM nightly (confirmed for 2023)
* 133 South Effingham Plantation Dr.
* The Simmons family, 439 Egypt Ardmore Rd, Springfield (confirmed for 2023)
* 101 Black Gum Dr., Springfield
South Carolina
Arborwood Lights display 9 Arbormeade Circle in Bluffton (Look for “Arborwood Lights” in Google Maps.) 6-9PM nightly Decorated homes & yards off Buckwalter Parkway in sync to Christmas music.
43 Neligh Lane in Cypress Ridge off SC 170 Bluffton SC 8,500 lights in sync with music on 99.3 FM. 5:30-8PM Sunday-Thursday and until 10PM Friday & Saturday Another home lights display @ nearby 211 Argo Circle.
TMT Farms Christmas Lights 2-Mile Drive-Thru in Statesboro (Confirmed for 2023) 16710 Old River Rd N Statesboro, GA 30461 Open Dec. 9 until Dec. 26 2023, 6PM-Midnight nightly. Drive-thru only. Admission is free, however, please bring non-perishable food items to donate. Cash donations are also accepted. Donated food will be distributed to needy families throughout Bulloch County and surrounding counties. Monetary contributions are used to purchase gift cards for needy families.
On Dec. 8, TNT farms will open the drive-thru for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Homes and Group Homes that would like to bring their residents to the drive-thru without to wait in long lines. Donations will NOT be accepted from any of these groups on this night. Just come out and enjoy.
This free event will feature live music, a Christmas tree to decorate, ornaments to decorate, cookies to decorate, face painting, food, raffles (golf cart), a projector movie after dark….and SANTA.
Drop off new & unwrapped toys for foster kids while enjoying the home holiday lights @ 476 Copper Creek Circle in Pooler
Gilliard and Company‘s Toy Drive has partnered with one of our favorite holiday-lights homes on SouthernMamas.com Best Home Holiday Lights list: the Seager family home in Pooler.
You can drop off new and unwrapped toys for foster kids @ the Seager home at 476 Copper Creek Circle in Copper Village in Pooler for Gilliard and Company’s With Love Project Toy Drop off. Then enjoy the Seager’s fun holiday light show in their front yard.
This foster care toy drive ends this Fri. Dec. 15 2023. Toys needed for ages 1-17. New and unwrapped please. Drop off at the front door.
See SouthernMamas.com best home holiday lights decorations 2023 list here.
There are still a few chances to have photos with Santa at Plant Riverside District in Savannah. The photos with Santa spot is located by the Pavillions on the River Walk.
Experience the magic of the holidays at the fourth annual Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District! Enjoy a European-style outdoor holiday market as well as live performances, children’s activities, photos with Santa, and a wide range of holiday-themed food and drink options. You’ll find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list at the Savannah Christmas Market.
What: Savannah Christmas Market
When: Thursday, November 16, 2023 – Monday, January 1, 2024 Location: Plant Riverside District Riverwalk, 400 W River Street, Savannah, GA.
Guests are invited to join us at our first annual Festival of Trees to take place in our lobby at Plant Riverside District. This festival will feature a forest of dazzling Christmas trees that represent a unique array of local businesses and organizations.
What: Festival of Trees
When: Now through Monday, January 1, 2024 Location: Generator Hall (Powerplant Building)
Cost: Free
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Get ready to tap, tap, tap those happy feet! Join us for a FREE showing of the movie Happy Feet paired with a tap-dancing exercise on Thursday, December 28.
This event is free and open to all ages. No pre-registration required. The movie will begin at 10am at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center located at 201 Montgomery St in Savannah.
The Savannah Cultural Arts Center is operated by the City of Savannah’s Cultural Resources department. Learn more at savannahga.gov/arts.
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Inclement weather put a damper on Richmond Hill’s Winter Wonderland Festival earlier this month. While organizers could not reschedule all of the activities originally planned, they still want to provide some fun during the first week of Christmas vacation.
Come on out to the night market from 4:30-7:30PM Sat. Dec. 16 2023. There will be around 50 vendors, plus Santa!, photo booth, live music and dog rescue.
Did you know your child can receive a letter from the North Pole?
Through the USPS’s Letters From Santa program, a letter written by your child can be mailed to Santa and they will receive a return letter with a real postmark from the North Pole! You can learn more about this program on the USPS website
If you have older kids, consider signing up to “adopt” a child’s letter and send a note or gift to another child through the USPS Operation Santa program here.
Join assistant curator Brittany Richmond at TAD Café for an evening celebrating tasty treats and contemporary art. Explore SCAD MOA’s exhibitions to inspire decorative elements on holiday cookies, blending art and edible expression to tap all the senses.
Admission is free. All skill levels welcome. Materials included. Boxed dinner provided.
To sign up, contact Hannah Thompson, manager of museum visitation and programming, at hthompso@scad.edu.
