Lots of outdoor kids’ happenings at nearby Georgia State Parks including this upcoming Saturday event @ Fort King George State Historic Site in Darien, Ga.

Crafting Days: Wood & Wax
Fort King George State Historic Site
302 McIntosh Rd SE
Darien, GA 31305-4304,
Sat. March 20, 2021 at two times
10AM-Noon
2-3PM
Open to the public
Join rangers for a day outside demonstrating colonial wood-working and candle-making.
Standard site admission is required to attend this program.
Site admission: Adults $7.50, Seniors $7.00, Youth 6-17 $4.50, Youth 5 & younger are FREE
912-437-4770.
Learn more here.

SouthernMamas.com is compiling the annual Savannah-Lowcountry Easter Egg Hunt & Festivities list as events are announced. The 2021 list looks differently this year with fewer festivities but some smaller, outdoor Easter Egg hunts are still happening with COVID precautions. Email your organization’s Easter event info to anne@southernmamas.com.

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That beloved annual Savannah springtime tradition – the 4-H Chick Hatchery – will be a live stream this year due to the pandemic. Watch March 31-April 2 2021 on Chatham County 4-H YouTube site. 

Kids of all ages can watch the chicks emerge from their eggs . For more than two decades, Chatham County Cooperative Extension 4-H has run the hands-on display hatchery during the Easter season, allowing kids to hold newly hatched chicks. But for the past two seasons, it has been online instead.

Free & open to the public.

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Easter Market @ Islands Farmers Market, Whitemarsh Is.
Sat. April 3, 9AM-Noon for an Easter market. All vendors will have Easter eggs to pass out to the kids make sure to follow the bunny trail and collect your eggs.

401 Quarterman Drive Savannah, GA 31410

There will be a photographer on site doing two digital photos for $10. A picture of the background can be found under the event tab. 30+ vendors+ and doggy adoption.

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2021 Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt @ Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site, Brunswick, Glynn County
Due to COVID, this year will be a different twist on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.
A 2-month long Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt instead of a 1-day event.
Easter Egg Hunts will be from March 3-April 30 2021 on Wednesdays-Sunday from 10AM-4PM.
Guests will arrive and pay admission (Ages 18-61 $8; 62+ $7; 6-17 $5; younger than 6 are FREE).
Guests will be given a Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt map & instructions.
Follow the instructions using the map for clues to answer the secret saying and then receive a prize bag filled with toy filled Easter Eggs & prizes. Guests can receive an EXTRA PRIZE for taking a selfie at one of the clue locations.
This event is for the ENTIRE FAMILY & all ages. Come out and enjoy the open spaces, have fun & tour the plantation.
Learn more here.______________________________________

Free Easter Goodie Bags, visits with comfort dog @ Trinity Lutheran Church, Savannah
Stop by anytime between 10AM-noon on Sat. April 3 2021 for a free goodie bag from Trinity Lutheran Church. Organizers will share the Easter story every 30 minutes. Kids can also visit with Lizzie, a comfort dog.
Trinity Lutheran Church
12391 Mercy Blvd.
Savannah, GA
Free & open to the public
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Free Easter Egg hunt, 2PM Sat. April 3 2021, Bloom & Grow Market (outdoors), Savannah
Bloom & Grow Open Market
14 Brasseler Blvd, Savannah, GA 31419-9576
Over 1000 eggs filled with treasures at 2PM Easter egg hunt plus a weekly outdoor market from noon-6PM featuring food trucks, local makers, local vendors. A photo booth. Egg hunt will begin at 2PM and continues while supplies last. After hunting stop by the market marshmallow station to make candied marshmallows for $2 per child.
Questions? Email Bloomandgrowmarket@gmail.com

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Garden City Egg Hunt, Sat. April 3 2021

Spring Fair @ True Vine World Harvest
1-4PM Sat. April 3 2021
5224 Augusta Rd, Savannah, GA 31408-1619

You’re invited to a day full of games, activities, and more. Masks and sanitation procedures will be in place.
Tickets: $10
Purchase tickets online here.

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Pooler Egg Hunt @ Noon Sun. April 4 2021
@ the Senior Center in Sangrena Woods.
Trolley shuttle will be available to take guests from Pooler Bible Church @ 1204 Hwy 80 in Pooler to the event @ the Senior Center. Three separate zones for kids of all ages.
Questions? Call 912.988.7444 or email info@poolerchurch.com. Free & open to the public.

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Hilton Head Is. / Bluffton SC Area Easter Egg Hunts 2021

Drive-thru Easter Eggstravaganza, 10:30AM Sat. April 3 2021
Drive by event. Stay in your cars, receive a goodie bag full of eggs (while supplies last)
With the help of the Easter Bunny, eggs filled by Pockets Full of Sunshine, a local non-profit employing adults with disabilities.
10:30AM Sat. April 3 2021 @ two Hilton Head Is. locations
TWO LOCATIONS: Shelter Cove Park (behind Poseidon Restaurant & Lowcountry Celebration Park (near Coligny Circle). 
Learn more here.

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Photos with the Easter Bunny @ Island Child on Hilton Head Is.

Free Easter Basket to the First 100 Children
Sat. March 27 & Sat. April 3 2021, 2-4PM

You will be able to take a photo of your child who will be at a safe distance in front of the bunny. No direct contact with the Easter Bunny will be permitted.

Island Child
The Village at Wexford
Hilton Head Is. SC 29928
843.686.5437

Giveaway: two year-long Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter gift memberships with two additional gift cards to Georgia’s State Parks.

We excited about this “It’s Almost Spring!” Giveaway. We’re giving away two year-long Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter gift memberships (value $125 each) with two additional gift cards to Georgia State Parks.

Two SouthernMamas.com readers will win one each.

Think free access to Georgia State Parks for a year – a year’s worth of access to mountains, hiking, swimming, lakes, beaches, trails, biking, waterfalls, exploring, sight-seeing, rivers and more.

To enter to win, visit this giveaway post on our SouthernMamas.com Facebook page. Comment on the FB giveway post, telling us what you are most looking forward to doing outdoors this spring 2021.  Entry will be open for a week. Then we’ll pick two names at random and announce the winners.

Here’s what the Friends of Georgia State Parks Supporter year-long gift memberships include: three free nights of camping, two annual park passes to Georgia State Parks, 10 percent off lodging, and two free picnic shelter rentals.

Good luck & get outdoors!

Join Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah to honor the memory and impact of Black people to this site on Feb. 27-28 2021 with Black Heritage Weekend.

Reserve your tickets and join a ranger on the inaugural Black Heritage Tour, highlighting Wormsloe’s history as a slave plantation and invoking the memories of those enslaved Africans who lived, worked, and died here.

Bring water and wear comfortable shoe wear for the guided tour. The tour will last approximately one hour. Reservations are required. Call 912-353-3023. Email: Wormsloe.SHS@dnr.ga.gov

Cost: Youth- $6.50 Adults- $12

Soldier Saturday
Fort McAllister State Historic Park, Richmond Hill, GA
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2021, 10AM-4PM

Stop by the fort’s plantation house where an interpretive ranger portraying a Civil War soldier will entertain topics of conversation ranging from fort history to Civil War medicine. The plantation house is a replica of a caretaker’s cottage that was once a part of Strathy Hall Plantation. The McAllister family During the Civil War, the troops used the house as barracks and later demolished it when the Union forces were expected to attack by land. Visitors can tour the house and learn about life during the 1860s.
Cost: Program is free with regular fort admission (no ParkPass required).

Learn more here. 

Questions? Call 912-727-2339

ABOUT FORT MCALLISTER:
Located south of Savannah on the banks of the Ogeechee River, Fort McAllister showcases the best-preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy

Fort McAllister State Park
3894 Fort McAllister Road
Richmond Hill, GA 31324

Kids Colonial Muster @ Wormsloe State Historic Site, Savannah, Sat. Feb. 13 2021 

This 45 min workshop offered two different times on Sat. Feb. 13 is recommended for ages 8-12 and is a part of Wormsloe’s lecture and workshop series through February for Georgia History Month.

Registration for this program must be made in advance. Space is limited. Call 912-353-3023 to reserve.
Basic workshop admission: $10 (+tax)
Upgrade workshop admission (Includes take-home wooden musket): $19.49 (+tax)

Kids’ Colonial Muster 2021
Wormsloe Historic Site, Savannah
Sat. Feb. 13, 2021 10AM-10:45AM & 2-2:45PM

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Virtual Georgia Day Parade, 2021

In lieu of the traditional parade, join Georgia Historical Society for a special online program at 11AM Fri. Feb. 12.

The presentation will feature greetings from local and state officials, appearances by Georgia’s famous historical figures, and the announcement of the Georgia Day banner and art competition winners.

Sign up for the Georgia Day Parade Online Program here.

Daytrip!

To Fort King George State Park in Darien, Ga.

This year marks the tricentennial of a turning point in North American colonial history. Three centuries ago, British soldiers established their first fort on land that was to become the colony of Georgia. Called Fort King George, it protected a low bluff on the mighty Altamaha River from French and Spanish explorers, as well as Guale Indians. Since all buildings are reconstructed, children are welcome to use their energy and creativity to explore.

From 1721 until 1727, Fort King George – now a state historic site — served as the southern boundary of the British Empire in North America. After a fire damaged buildings, General James Oglethorpe brought Scottish Highlanders to the site in 1736. Their settlement was called Darien, eventually becoming a bustling seaport that rivaled Savannah for shipping lumber. Today, this 18th-century frontier settlement is open for tours where visitors can explore numerous reconstructed buildings.

“You won’t see ‘do not touch’ signs because we want you to experience the fort as soldiers would have experienced it,” said site manager Valarie Ikhwan. “We are known for kids being to be able to understand what it’s like to climb up a ladder into their bunk every night. We’re known for kids being able to understand what it feels like to carry that barrel of gunpowder or ring the dinner bell.”

Overlooking a scenic tidal river are officers’ quarters, barracks, a guard house, moat and palisades. Guests are welcome to climb ladders inside the blockhouse, lay on soldiers’ bunks and peek out musket holes. Actively exploring the fort helps guests, especially children, imagine life 300 years ago. A museum highlights the Guale Indians, 1580s Santo Domingo de Talaje mission, British colonists, the Scots of Darien and the 19th century timber industry. The remains of three sawmills, soldier graves and tabby ruins are still visible today.

To celebrate the tricentennial, rangers will host a series of presentations and celebrations throughout 2021. The next virtual speaker presentations will be Feb. 28 2021, spotlighting Gullah Geechee heritage, and March 28 2021, covering the Scots of Darien. Plans for future presentations include local historian Buddy Sullivan, archaeologist Dr. Richard Jefferies and former site managers.

Fort King George Historic Site is open Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is $4.50 for children and $7.50 for adults.

Learn more here or call 912-437-4770.

Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday – traditionally held in February – will be May 2 2021. Super Museum Sunday is when museums & historical sites offer free admission.

On May 2, 2021, explore more than 50 museums and historic sites in person and online during a unique Super Museum Sunday experience.

Pandemic-related capacity and programming restrictions apply.

Learn more here.

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Colonial Faire and Muster 2021

February 2021 @ Wormsloe Historic Site, 7601 Skidaway Rd, Savannah  31406.
Explore Wormsloe State Historic Site during weekends in February as audiences of all ages enjoy special living-history programs and demonstrations in an historic outdoor setting. Pandemic-related capacity limitations will apply, and some programs may have fees attached.
Details here. 

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Georgia Day Parade 2021, Savannah

Feb. 12, 2021. Part of the annual commemoration of the founding of the Georgia colony by James Edward Oglethorpe.
The COVID-19 pandemic requires an alternative to the traditional parade. Georgia students will have the opportunity to celebrate Georgia Day in other ways.

Learn more here. 

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FIND MORE SAVANNAH AREA KIDS’ EVENTS HERE.

Outdoor weekend kid-friendly events @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

Hikes, soldier Saturdays, blacksmithing programs, survival shelter building workshops & more.

See the events schedule here. 

First Day Hikes 2021 in Savannah, Richmond Hill

First day hikes on New Year’s Day are happening @ Skidaway Is. State Park in Savannah, Fort McAllister State Park in Richmond Hill & Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah.

Details here.

First Day Fitness Hikes
Wormsloe State Historic Site, Savannah
New Year’s Day, Fri. Jan. 1, 2021

Start the year off with Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah with a healthy 2.5 mile hike though the coastal maritime forest.

A Wormsloe Ranger will lead the way and answer any questions that might arise. Pets welcome on 6 ft. leash. Pre-registration is required, space is limited. Please call (912)353-3023 to make reservations.

Your choice of 4 hikes during the day. Hikes start at 9:30AM, 11AM, 1:30PM, and 3PM.

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Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah will also host first day hikes on New Year’s Day 2021.

First Day Hike
Friday, Jan 1, 2021 1-3PM
Skidaway Island State Park – Savannah, GA
Kick off 2021 with a 3-mile hike on the Big Ferry Trail. Please make sure to bring appropriate footwear, water bottles, and bug spray. The terrain for this trail is flat with occasional roots. $5 parking. 912-598-2300. Details here. 

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First Day Hike @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill, Ga
Friday, Jan 1, 2021 10-11AM
Join @ 10AM for a 3 mile nature hike with Ranger Autumn on the Magnolia Trail. This hike is medium difficulty and requires sturdy shoes and water. At 2PM there will be a History Hike in and around the fort. Ranger Mike will walk you through the past and tell you about the history of Fort McAllister during during the American Civil War. $5 parking. 912-727-2339. Details here. 

Outdoor Holiday Happenings 2020 @ Skidaway Island State Park, Savannah

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Snowman Archery, Sat. Dec. 12  

Come learn the basics of archery and test your skills on Skidaway Is. State Park’s archery range. This program will cover basic safety and technique. Equipment will be provided. Participants must be at least 10 years old. Advance registration by phone is required as space will be limited to 4 participants per session, and social distancing will be required. There will be a special holiday target during these sessions. Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow time to make your way to the program location. Program fee: $10. Park pass fee required.
10AM-10:45AM
11AM-11:45AM

Call 912-598-2300

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Outdoor Holiday Movie, Fri. Dec. 18 

“Holiday who-be what-ee?” Holiday movie night! Bring your own “Chair of Cheer” to a movie night under the stars @ Skidaway Is. State Park in Savannah. See how the mean green creature’s heart grew 3 sizes Christmas day. The program requires pre-registration due to limited space of 25 people. Park pass fee required.
6PM Fri. Dec. 18

Call 912-598-2300

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New Year’s Day 2021 Hike

Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah will host first day hikes on New Year’s Day 2021.

First Day Hike
Friday, Jan 1, 2021 1-3PM
Skidaway Island State Park – Savannah, GA
Kick off 2021 with a 3-mile hike on the Big Ferry Trail. Please make sure to bring appropriate footwear, water bottles, and bug spray. The terrain for this trail is flat with occasional roots. $5 parking. 912-598-2300. Details here. 

Holiday Hikes 
Wormsloe State Historic Site – Savannah

Wormsloe Christmas Hike
Sat. Dec 12, 2020.
Wormsloe Historic Site – Savannah, GA
Find the Wormsloe Yule log. Hear the stories and traditions of seasons past as you journey through the Wormsloe forest in search of the Yule log to burn for good luck in the coming new year. Make sure to bring water and wear closed toed shoes. Reservations are required, space is limited.
Cost: $4-$12.
912-353-3023.

First Day Fitness Hike
Fri. Jan 1, 2021
Wormsloe Historic Site – Savannah, GA
Start the year off with Wormsloe for a healthy 2.5 mile hike though the coastal maritime forest. A Wormsloe Ranger will lead the way and answer any questions that might arise. Pets welcome on 6 ft leash. Pre-registration is required, space is limited. Hikes start at 9:30AM, 11AM, 1:30PM, and 3PM. $5-$11. 912-353-3023.

Questions? Call 912-353-3023.

Outdoor Thanksgiving Weekend 2020 kid-friendly events @ Fort McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill

Friday, November 27, 2020

Friday at the Forge: Blacksmithing Program
Fri. Nov 27, 2020 3-3:30 PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill
Visit our blacksmith’s shop to learn about their tools and techniques. Park rangers will be demonstrating how iron is heated and formed. This program is included with fort admission. 912-727-2339.

Sunset Bat Hike
Fri. Nov 27, 2020 5-5:45PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill 
Join rangers for a short 1/2 mile walk along beautiful marshes and witness nature at its finest. Watch bats take flight over the setting sun and learn about the world of bats. Hundreds of bats leave their houses every evening to hunt for insects. Guests will meet rangers at the Visitors Center. $2 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Night Fort Tour
Fri. Nov 27, 2020 6:30-7:30PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill 
Come experience the beauty and tranquility of Fort McAllister at night on this ranger guided tour of the fort, as you recount history and tell stories of Georgia’s last battle of the Civil War. Space is limited to 10 people. Please register in advance. 912-727-2339.

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Edible Plant hike
Sat. Nov 28, 2020 11AM-12PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill 
Join our Naturalist to search for local plants that have edible and medicinal properties. Some species used for making tea, seasonings, and identifying species that are toxic. Registration required, limited space available. Reserve your spot today. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a 6-foot leash. $3 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.

Soldier Saturday
Sat. Nov 28, 2020 1-3PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill, GA
An interpretive ranger portraying a Civil War soldier will entertain topics of conversation ranging from fort history to Civil War Medicine. This program is included with fort admission. 912-727-2339.

From Rice to Rebellion Fort Tour
Sat. Nov 28, 2020 3-4PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill, GA
The story of rice cultivation begins with the founding of the colony of Georgia in 1733, and was the regions largest economic export up until the American Civil War. The strategic placement of Fort McAllister was not only to protect the citizens of Savannah, but also the many rice plantations that lined the Ogeechee River. Registration Required. $9. 912-727-2339.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is free on Veterans Day 2020, Wed. Nov. 11

Fort Pulaski, island trails, parking lots, visitor center restrooms are open. Free admission on Wed. Nov. 11, 9AM-5PM

The visitor center & the north shoreline are closed. Construction projects have closed the Lighthouse Overlook Trail and will limit access to the historic fort. Historic Fort Pulaski may not be accessible to everyone with mobility issues.

Details here.

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Free Veterans Day Golf in Georgia State Parks

All military can enjoy a day of free golf on Wed. Nov. 11 2020.

Military can play 18 holes for no charge at eight beautiful courses across the state. Golfers must call ahead for tee times, mention this discount and show proof of service.

This deal is valid for all U.S. veterans, active duty, reserve military and National Guard with valid military ID. Find details and more deals here.

Bring your family and friends to Fort King George State Historic Site in nearby Darien for a Private Escape Room experience on Fridays and Saturday nights in October 2020.

Each session is exclusive to one party (no need to play with strangers). These rooms are designed for groups of 4 to 8 people.

Pre-registration is required, $25 per person.

Register or learn more here or call 912-437-4770.

Fort King George State Historic Site
302 McIntosh Road SE
Darien, GA 31305
McIntosh County