Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children’s Museum will be open Sat. Dec. 26 through Tues. Dec. 29 from 9:30AM-2:30PM. Guests can enjoy interactive exhibits and engaging tours at Georgia State Railroad Museum and families can enjoy open exploration and activities at Savannah Children’s Museum.

Both museums will be closed for New Year’s on Dec. 31 2020 through Jan. 2 2021. Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children’s Museum will resume regular hours (Thursday-Saturday, 9:30AM-2:30PM) on Thurs. Jan. 7 2021.

Both sites are large, open-air historic sites with plenty of space for safe social distancing. Learn more here.

Social distancing protocols and sanitizing procedures are enforced. Guests are required to wear masks and adhere to public health safety protocols.

Coastal Heritage Society is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Check out SouthernMamas.com Best Home Holiday Lights/Decorations list for 2020 for the Greater Savannah area:

Find more fun family Holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry in SouthernMamas.com Holiday Events 2020.

Join  Kindermusik Savannah for two completely FREE Kindermusik classes, open to the public, on Tuesday, December 29th.

To celebrate the closing of another year filled with love, laughter and learning through music, Kindermusik will hold two classes, followed by a sweet treat afterwards.

Classes are by enrollment only and spaces will be extremely limited.

Once the classes fill, they will be closed.

Registration is required and available online at kindermusikwith88keys.com.

Class is open to ages 0-7 and their caregiver. Both classes to be held at our Bloomingdale studio. Choose between Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 10AM or 11AM. Text 912-432-5885 for more info.

Kindermusik…A Good Beginning Never Ends.

Kindermusik Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Find fun family Holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry in SouthernMamas.com Holiday Events 2020.

Drive-thru Nativity; Santa fire truck tours; outdoor holiday happenings; drive-thru holiday lights @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah; Santa visits; Christmas tree lighting & more.

See the holiday family-things-to-do list here.

Want to advertise your organization or business in this list? Email us at anne@southernmamas.com

Remember to check out SouthernMamas.com Best Home Holiday Lights/Decorations list for 2020 for the Greater Savannah area:

The holiday season equals celebration and delicious food. But staying healthy? Not so much.

But according to SouthCoast Health’s Registered Dietitian, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.

“It is possible to eat with a healthy pattern the holiday season if you go into this time of year with a plan,” SouthCoast Health Registered Dietitian, Rebekah Laurance, RD, LD said. “It can be hard to stick to your goals this time of year. To combat this, go in prepared to deal with these indulgences. It is also important to recognize that having two or three days of less than ideal nutrition is not a good reason to give up on your goal! Get through the holidays, roll with it, and get back on your schedule.

Working hard to maintain healthy eating habits? Laurance offers tips to fight mindless eating and stay fit here. 

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Singing Santa in Isle of Hope, Savannah

Singing Santa will travel through Isle of Hope on Sun. Dec. 20 2020 collecting socks for the homeless beginning at 6PM.  Listen for the signing to find him.

Rain day is Mom. Dec. 21 2020.

Check out SouthCoast Health in Savannah’s healthy holiday gift ideas here. 

Some healthy suggestions include cooking classes at Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table or 700 Kitchen Cooking School (both in the Savannah area) or personal trainer session with Giddy Up Personal Training or Train Me 24/7 (both in the Savannah area)

See SouthCoast’s complete list of healthy tip ideas here.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Local fire departments will have their annual Santa fire truck convoy through certain neighborhoods during the 2020 Holiday Season in Savannah, Wilmington Is. & Bluffton.

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Islands Fire Santa Truck 2020

Islands Fire on Wilmington Island will escort Santa with their full fleet again in 2020 as firefighters help deliver candy canes and holiday cheer.

Date will be as follows: 12/12/20 – Wilmington Island | 12/13/20 – Whitemarsh & Talahi Islands.

Please use the maps here as reference for the routes. Also find interactive maps for a closer view here.

Live tracking of Santa and the Fleet will be available on the days from this page.

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Isle of Hope/Dutch Island Santa Fire Truck 2020

The Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Department transport Santa around Isle of Hope and Dutch Island Sat. Dec. 12 2020, 1-3PM. The truck will leave the station at 1PM, head down Paxton Drive and around IOH. Then the convoy will travel to Dutch Island.

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Southside Santa Fire Truck 2020

Southside Fire’s Montgomery Division will have their annual Santa Truck detail when Santa visits various Savannah neighborhoods on a firetruck.

The 2020 Southside Santa firetruck holidays dates and route:
Dec. 20-Whitfield Ave.
Dec. 21-Ferguson Ave
Dec. 22-Burnside Island

Southside Fire will post updates and additional information here leading up to the event and during the event. This will include departure times from the station and their starting point for each area.

This will allow you to plan out an approximate time in which Santa should be coming to your neighborhood.

Free & open to the public.

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Bluffton SC Santa Truck 2020

The Bluffton Fire Santa Truck will visit various Bluffton SC neighborhoods during the 2020 Holiday season Nov. 30-Dec. 17.

Santa will ride nightly on the dates listed in the schedule above between 6-8:30PM, depending on weather.

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Find more Savannah-Lowcountry Holiday Happenings 2020 in our Event Calendar. 

Love, love, love this use for those store-brought gingerbread kits: Substitute peanut butter for frosting and nuts, seeds, and fruits for candy, and you have an adorable house built for birds.

This comes to you from LiveSeasoned.com.

Apparently this Christmas Eve, my kids will start what they hope will become a new family tradition: whacking a festive poop log.

Tió de Nadal (Christmas log) is a hollow log with stick legs, a smiley face, and a floppy red hat. My middle-schooler son learned in Spanish class about this Christmas tradition in Spain’s Catalan region. The log’s other name is Caga Tió, or “poop log.” Once he heard about it, he was hooked and we now have a homemade Catalan log under our tree, too.

Here’s how the tradition works:

On Dec. 8 each year — the Feast of the Immaculate Conception — families bring out the log. Every night until Dec. 24, children “feed” the log by offering him nuts, dried fruit etc. Kids must also cover Tió de Nadal with a blanket.

On Christmas Eve, kids tap the log with sticks while singing the traditional Tió de Nadal song, then peek under the blanket to find that the log has pooped out a pile of candies including a Spanish nougat called turrón and presents.

Every kids’ dream. Not making this up. Watch this.  

Santa visits during 2020 Holiday Season in Savannah & the Lowcountry

Some Santa visits/photos will be outside with masked Santas. Others at indoor malls will be through Plexiglass Santa shields. Kids can even zoom with Santa from home. Here’s a look at how your child can visit with Santa in Savannah during the pandemic.

(Outside) Morning with Santa @ Children’s School at St. John’s, downtown Savannah, Dec. 12
Sat. Dec. 12 2020, 10AM-1PM COST: $40 per family.
Celebrate the season with a festive fundraiser for the Children’s School at St. John’s, outside in the mall between St. John’s and the Green-Meldrim House. One ticket per family will include a photo with Santa (by a professional photographer with digital copy), an oyster shell craft activity, 4 Chick-fil-A chicken biscuits, a bag of chocolate chip cookies, cider (served on-site), and hot chocolate (served on-site).
Please pay online here. Extra Chick-fil-A biscuits will be available day of the event for $5 (cash/check). COVID protocols: This is an entirely outdoor event. Social distancing and masks are encouraged.

Details here.

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(Outide) Santa & Mrs. Claus @ Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display, Ridgeland, SC Dec. 12
1570 Drigger’s Lane
Ridgeland SC 29936
Nightly lights display, plus Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there Sat. Dec. 12, 6-8PM

Details here. 

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(Outside) Plant Riverside District Santa Meet & Greets, Photos

Santa visits, photos will take place outdoors during the holidays @ Savannah’s Plant Riverside District @ 400 W. River Street in downtown Savannah. Children will not sit on Santa’s lap but be positioned next to Santa. Two elves will help direct. Santa will have a white mask and children are encouraged to wear their mask. Parents or caregivers can take photos of children in the Santa setting. Visits start Fri. Nov. 28-Sat. Nov. 29, then resume Dec. 5-24.

Details here.
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Santa @ Children’s Museum of Pooler, Dec.21 

Children and families are invited to deck the halls of CMOP Mon. Dec. 21 2020, 9AM-2PM. Santa will there 10-11AM
A reading of The Night Before Christmas, photos with Santa, Christmas crafts, “snowballs”
This event requires a special event ticket for both members and nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event.
Cost: Members: $8; NonMembers $10

Details here.

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Santa shield @ Bass Pro Shops, Savannah Mall 

Already under way @ Bass Pro Shops Savannah Mall are in-person Santa Claus visits, photos for kids using a “magic Santa shield” at the store’s FREE Santa’s Wonderland experience.

Details here . 

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Find more kids’ holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry 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. 

Due to the pandemic, The Savannah Ballet Theatre’s traditional performance of The Nutcracker has been changed into an on-air broadcast in partnership with local NBC affiliate, WSAV-TV.

A 90-minute Savannah Ballet performance of The Nutcracker will be broadcast twice on Christmas Day 2020 5:30-7AM and 5-6:30PM.

The performance will also be available for streaming on WSAV’s and SBT’s websites as well as via their social media channels.

Some of the performance is filmed in Savannah locations.

Find fun family Holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry in SouthernMamas.com Holiday Events 2020.

Santa fire truck tours; outdoor holiday happenings; drive-thru holiday lights @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah; Santa visits; Christmas tree lighting & more.

See the holiday family-things-to-do list here.

Want to advertise your organization or business in this list? Email us at anne@southernmamas.com

Bring your kids for fun winter STEM, art, and other activities throughout The Sandbox Museum @ Tanger 2 Outlets in Bluffton, SC.

Reserve your spot and purchase your tickets online here or call Bluffton’s Tanger 2 location at 843-705-6235.

Winter Celebration
Wed. Dec. 30, 2020 @ 10AM-5PM
@ The Sandbox at Tanger 2

The Sandbox is an interactive hands-on children’s museum for children up through age 12 years.

The Sandbox Children’s Museum is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Best home holiday light displays, decorations 2020 in Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill

Driving around Savannah, Pooler & 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.

Kids especially love those computerized “dancing” lights display animated with music. Lights choreographed to blink, twink and fade in red, blue, green and white, in sync with a custom-mixed soundtrack of holiday tunes.

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

*476 Copper Creek Circle (NEW LOCATION, pictured above)
Pooler GA 31322
5:30-10:30PM
(this is the lights-loving owner previously @ 24 Greatwood Way Savannah in Godley Park in the Highlands Subdivisions)

*253 Cypress Creek Lane
Guyton GA 31312
Nightly 5:30-10PM
Animated to 99.3 F.M.

*Neighborhood community light display
Singing Christmas trees connected to radio frequency & lots of lights
Pennington Estates off Midland Road on Penny Lane
Guyton, Ga.

*154 Lake Dr
Midway Ga 31320

*156 Oakview Rd.
Rincon, GA 31326 (near Hwy. 21 @ Rahn Station Rd)
weeknights dusk till 9PM; weekend nights till 10:30PM extended hours later closer to CHRISTMAS

439 Egypt Ardmore Rd
Springfield, GA 31329

*165 Bald Cypress Lane
Bloomingdale, Ga.31302
Animated to 99.9 F.M. in front and large static display on side.
Lights on from dark til 9:30PM, unless raining.

*110 Sunbury Dr.
Richmond Hill, Ga

*116 Austin Way
Savannah

*701 Stuart St.
Savannah, Ga. 31405
Lots of inflatables including inflatable helicopter

*5610 Lafitte Dr,
Savannah, GA
Model train that encircles top of porch

*202 Blue Marlin Dr.
Seagate subdivision, Whitemarsh Is. (Lights on from at least 6-10PM nightly until New Years Eve, unless there is heavy rain. 100% of the money collected in donation box goes to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

*1 Old Mill Court
Windsor Forest neighborhood
Savannah, 31419

*116 N. Sheftall Circle
Wilmington Island, Savannah

*Wilmington Island house: Take Penn Waller to Deerwood and turn right onto St Andrews Way.

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South Carolina

Brendlen’s Christmas Light Display
1570 Drigger’s Lane
Ridgeland SC 29936
Nightly lights display, plus Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there Sat. Dec. 12, 6-8PM

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.
Donations benefit three families
Santa and his elf helpers there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, weather permitting.

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.

Hilton Head Firefighters Christmas Lights
Fire Station 3
534 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Donations of non-perishable food items are accepted

ALSO DECORATED IN LIGHTS: shopping centers Coligny Plaza @ 1 North Forest Beach Drive & Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina (w/ Neptune statue wearing his Santa hat) @ 1 Shelter Cove Lane, both on Hilton Head Island

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FREE lights displays @ businesses, organizations

TMT Farms Christmas Lights Drive-Thru in Statesboro
16710 Old River Rd N
Statesboro, GA 30461
Open now until Dec. 27 2020, 6PM-1AM 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.
Details here.

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Not yet confirmed for 2020

*290 Watts Road
Guyton GA 31312

*1429 Dean Forest Road
Savannah, Georgia 31405!

*Corner of Timber Trail and Boyd Drive
Richmond Hiil, Ga.

*152 Crossing Circle
Rincon Ga.
Tune radio to 88.5 in your vehicle.

*948 Zeigler Rd.
Bloomingdale GA. (Tune to 99.5 FM)

*9 Yorkshire Place
Kingswood subdivision
Savannah, 31406

*40 Long Creek Lane
Richmond Hill GA 31324

Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia will host a food distribution drive thru THIS FRIDAY Dec. 18 2020, 8-10AM at Memorial Stadium in Savannah.

Feed the Hungry Christmas Drive-Thru 2020, Savannah

The 11th Annual Feed the Hungry Christmas Dinner to feed to working poor will be 4PM Dec. 23 2020 @ Windsor Forest Community Center, 308 Briarcliff Circle in Savannah.

Hot meals, signature farmers market and live entertainment.

Feed the hungry 2020 Christmas holiday dinner registration form this must be completed in order for you to benefit from the toys at the December 23 2020 event. Please visit www.savannahfeedthehungry.net and register today.

Learn more here.

We love this: an 8-week Art Boot Camp for Teens @ the beloved Studio School in Savannah.

This class – which will be Dec. 29 2020-Feb. 15 2021 – is intended to help teens up level their art audition portfolios; however, non portfolio seeking students may join in. Register online here. 

Each week, students will have an assignment that can be either begun and/or refined in class as students will have access to a password protected page created just for them where assignments will be posted before we meet in the virtual classroom.

Students will need to begin some assignments on their own and use class time to refine their art with instructor guidance while other assignments will be started in class and students will refine them on their own time. The instructor will be available for assistance through email contact. If students complete all assignments, they should end up with 8 total art pieces for the full course.

Learn more here.

8-week Art Boot Camp for Teens – let’s prep for portfolios!
Dec. 29 2020 – Feb 15, 2021
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30PM
two 4-week sessions available/ $99 per 4-weeks
includes real-time instruction & critiques, password protected page with all art resources, extra practice assignments, select demo videos
​Instructor: Linda Hollingsworth / info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com

The Studio School
1319 Bull St.
Savannah, GA 31401,
912-596-3873
info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com

The Studio School, www.thestudioschoolsavannah.com , email info@thestudioschoolsavannah.com, 912-596-3873, The Studio School is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Bring the kids to this free, live drive-thru Nativity @ Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 5:30-7:30PM Sun. Dec. 20 2020.

The narrated loop will include live actors, animals and a luminary path all leading toward the final nativity scene.

Cars and golf carts are both welcome.

This event is free and open to the public.

Live Drive-Thru Nativity
Skidaway Island United Methodist Church
54 Diamond Causeway, Savannah
Sun. Dec. 20, 2020, 5:30-7:30PM

Feed the Hungry will hold their annual toy drive registration starting Mon. Dec. 7 2020 .

That registration will continue through Thurs. Dec. 10 2020 from 9AM-noon each day at the Empowerment Center, 4704 Augusta Rd. in Garden City.

Parents, in order to register you must bring a legal ID, your child’s social security card or their birth certificate. Your child must also be present at the registration.

The Feed The Hungry Christmas Drive Through Dinner on Dec. 23 2020 at the Windsor Forest Community Center.

The City of Savannah is encouraging holiday shoppers to support local, small businesses by offering free parking in Savannah’s city-owned garages on Small Business Saturday and Tuesdays and Wednesdays in December 2020.

Parking is free from noon-8PM on Nov. 28, Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23 in the following locations:

Bryan Street Garage, 100 E. Bryan St.
Liberty Street Garage, 401 W. Liberty St.
Robinson Garage, 12 Montgomery St.
State Street Garage, 100 E. State St.
Whitaker Street Garage, 7 Whitaker St.

Normal daily and/or hourly parking rates will apply before noon and after 8PM.

Find fun family Holiday happenings in Savannah & the Lowcountry in SouthernMamas.com Holiday Events 2020.

Santa fire truck tours; outdoor holiday happenings; drive-thru holiday lights @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah; Santa visits; Christmas tree lighting & more.

See the holiday family-things-to-do list here.

Want to advertise your organization or business in this list? Email us at anne@southernmamas.com

Local fire departments will have their annual Santa fire truck convoy through certain neighborhoods during the 2020 Holiday Season in Savannah, Wilmington Is. & Bluffton.

_____________________________

Islands Fire Santa Truck 2020

Islands Fire on Wilmington Island will escort Santa with their full fleet again in 2020 as firefighters help deliver candy canes and holiday cheer.

Date will be as follows: 12/12/20 – Wilmington Island | 12/13/20 – Whitemarsh & Talahi Islands.

Please use the maps here as reference for the routes. Also find interactive maps for a closer view here.

Live tracking of Santa and the Fleet will be available on the days from this page.

_________________________________

Isle of Hope/Dutch Island Santa Fire Truck 2020

The Isle of Hope Volunteer Fire Department bring Santaaround Isle of Hope and Dutch Island this Sat. Dec. 12 2020, 1-3PM. The truck will leave the station at 1PM, head down Paxton Drive and around IOH. Then the convoy will travel to Dutch Island.

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Southside Santa Fire Truck 2020

Southside Fire’s Montgomery Division will have their annual Santa Truck detail when Santa visits various Savannah neighborhoods on a firetruck.

The 2020 Southside Santa firetruck holidays dates and route:
Dec. 20-Whitfield Ave.
Dec. 21-Ferguson Ave
Dec. 22-Burnside Island

Southside Fire will post updates and additional information here leading up to the event and during the event. This will include departure times from the station and their starting point for each area.

This will allow you to plan out an approximate time in which Santa should be coming to your neighborhood.

Free & open to the public.

_____________________________________

Bluffton SC Santa Truck 2020

The Bluffton Fire Santa Truck will visit various Bluffton SC neighborhoods during the 2020 Holiday season Nov. 30-Dec. 17.

Santa will ride nightly on the dates listed in the schedule above between 6-8:30PM, depending on weather.

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Find more Savannah-Lowcountry Holiday Happenings 2020 in our Event Calendar.