You are invited to the FREE Savannah’s Fit Kids Fest on Feb. 20 2016, 11AM-2PM @ Memorial Stadium, 101 John J. Scott Dr, Savannah, GA 31406.

This year, the Junior League of Savannah is working with Childhood Obesity Prevention + Education (COPE) to bring the community this free, exciting event.

The fest includes: Soccer Bubbles, bouncy houses, Savannahgrams, and much more, plus giveaways.

The first 250 kids will also each receive a free T-shirt.

So it begins again.

The Savannah mama owl is back.

Watch the Savannah Great Horned Owl mom on Skidaway Island LIVE via The Landings Bird Cam video feed.

The owl showed up at the nest this weekend and laid an egg on Jan. 23 and a second egg on Jan. 26. Incubation is 30-37 days.

Visit  The Landings Bird Cam or The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to see live 24/7 video with audio of what is happening in the abandoned eagle’s nest that is atop a pine tree in The Landings.

The streaming video is made possible thanks to a partnership with Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. The video feed can also be seen on the Georgia DNR site http://www.georgiawildlife.com/cams

The cameras have infrared capability, enabling nighttime viewing without disrupting the owls, according to the Savannah Owl Cam @ The Landings web site. Read more here about the owls & how this bald eagle’s nest in The Landings became an owl’s nest.

Follow the owls on Twitter at SavannahOwls and on Facebook here. 

The Landings Bird Cam site also has a link to this fun, kids’ The Owl Song by The Whizpops. Click here & watch your kids hoot along.

Looking for a fun, educational activity with your baby or toddler on Monday Jan. 25th 2016?

Kindermusik Savannah invites you to a FREE* demo class (no obligations… just come and try it out).

Babies ages 0-23 months meet at 9:20am, and children ages 2+ meet at 10:15am. Have a 4.5-7 year old who’s interested in music? Email Kindermusik Savannah about Kindermusik for the Young Child classes.

All classes meet at the 88 Keys Piano Kindermusik studio in Bloomingdale.

For more info, visit  www.88keysga.com/Kindermusik  or call 912.988.KEYS (5397). Kindermusik…music now, skills for life.

* trial demo class is free for all new families.

Kindermusik…a good beginning never ends.

Classes are held at:
Kindermusik Savannah Studio
183 Deerfield Rd. West
Bloomingdale, GA 31302

Kindermusik Savannah, email music@88keysga.com, 912.988.KEYS (5397) www.88keysga.com/Kindermusik  Kindermusik is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

8th Annual Mardi Gras Carnival, Tybee Island, Saturday, Jan. 30

Free and open to the public.

8th Annual Mardi Gras Tybee Event Schedule

Mardi Gras Tybee Street Party
Sat. Jan. 30 from 12- 6pm
Tybrisa Roundabout (at south end of island on Tybrisa Street and Butler Avenue)

Mardi Gras Tybee Parade
Sat. Jan. 30 at 2pm
Butler Avenue to Tybrisa Street

Grab a spot along Butler Avenue to enjoy Tybee’s Mardi Gras Parade as it processes down Butler Avenue from Memorial Park to Tybrisa Street featuring colorful floats, plenty of beads and marching bands!

After the Tybee Mardi Gras Parade, a costume contest will take place in the festival area at the Tybrisa Roundabout. Winners will be crowned the 2016 Mardi Gras Tybee King and Queen. The King and Queen will then host the street dance fun with music from The Hypnotics!

For additional information about the 8th Annual Mardi Gras Tybee festival, visit www.mardigrastybee.com.

When it’s too cold outside for the playground or outdoor kids programs, find warmth and fun at the various free storytimes offered Mondays-Thursdays at some Live Oak Public Library branches in Chatham, Effingham & Liberty counties. Oglethorpe Mall Branch in Savannah also offers a 11AM Family Storytime on Saturday mornings, as well as storytimes on some weekdays.

See the complete January storytime schedule here.

FREE admission to museums, historic sites on Super Museum Sunday, Feb. 7

Georgia History Festival’s Super Museum Sunday 2016 is Sun. Feb. 7 when various museums and historical sites in the Savannah area are free and open to the public.

See the list of participating Super Museum Sunday Sites here. 

Various sites will have free admission on Sunday, February 7th, 2016, from 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m., unless alternate hours are listed. All Coastal Heritage Society sites – Savannah Children’s Museum, Georgia State Railroad Museum, Fort Jackson, Savannah History Museum – will be open & free.

________________________________

FREE Colonial Faire and Muster 2016

Saturday & Sunday, 10AM- 4PM Feb 6 & 7 2016
Wormsloe Historic Site, 7601 Skidaway Rd, Savannah  31406.
Experience life in Colonial Georgia during the 18th century with a military encampment, sutler’s row, craft demonstrations, military demonstrations, and period music and dance. Food concessions will be available. Free. 912-353-3023.

_______________________________

FREE Georgia Day Parade 2016

Georgia History Festival’s Georgia Day Parade in Savannah
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 10:30AM
Students & teachers costumed as historical figures march through Savannah’s historic squares during this beloved annual event.

_____________________________

FOR MORE FREE SAVANNAH AREA KIDS’ EVENTS, CLICK HERE. 

Pulse Art & Technology Festival, Savannah
January 27-31, 2016
Jepson Center

Celebrating 10 years of innovative and amazing technology-based art in Savannah! PULSE lets you become part of the art with interactive exhibitions, artist talks, performances, and more. Find yourself in the pages of a comic book, animate digital paintings with your facial expressions, and use your smartphone to read music written on the museum’s walls. Back by popular demand, the 2nd Annual Savannah International GIF Festival showcases the best digital animations set to live music by local performers.

PULSE Free Family Day Jan. 30 shares interactive art for all ages, plus artist demonstrations and projects by local students that combine art and tech.

Daytime admission to PULSE is free and open to the public, sponsored by the City of Savannah Department of Cultural Affairs, Hargray Communications, Embassy Suites by Hilton, and Connect Savannah.

Purchase a PULSE Pass for admission to all evening events here. Members free / non-members $15. You may pick up your PULSE Pass, or buy it at the Jepson Center front desk, beginning January 20.

Schedule

Student Workshop:
GIF Making*
Thursday, Jan 21
4-6pm
Ages 11-18  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Student Workshop:
Videogame Design*
Saturday, Jan 23
10am
Ages 11-18 SOLD-OUT

Director’s Circle Preview
Wednesday, Jan 27
5pm

Artists Panel for Students #1
Thursday, Jan 28
11am
With Nova Jiang, Louise Foo, and Martha Skou

Artist Panel for Students #2
Friday, Jan 29
11am
With Josephine Leong and Keith Roberson

Curator’s Tour
Friday, Jan 29
2pm

Offsite Exhibition Opening:
Gallery 2030
Friday, Jan 29
7pm
Non-Fiction Gallery, 1522 Bull St.

Free Family Day
Saturday, Jan 30
1-4pm

Family Workshop:
Make a LED Pendant!*
Saturday, Jan 30
10 & 11am. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
By the Hatch
Ages 8 and up

Beowulf:
An Audiovisual Performance by Alessandro Imperato and David Spencer
Sunday, Jan 31
2pm

Performance by Helado Negro**
Saturday, Jan 30 | 6pm

* Free admission, advance registration required.

______________________

Jepson Center, 207 W York St. Savannah, 31401 , www.telfair.org/learn/classes/, Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Stay updated on all the free kids’ programs offered this month at various Live Oak Public Library branches by clicking here.

FREE kids’ classes & programs include:
LEGO clubs (ages 5 & older);
Music & Movement (ages 0-5);
Pre-school yoga (ages 2-4);
Super Kids yoga (ages 6-8);
Dog Days reading program (ages 5 & older);
Baby Playdates;
Daddy & Me program (ages 6 & older);  
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) (ages 5 & older)

Details on those programs & more here.

Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival 2016 @ Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn St. Savannah 31401.

Saturday Jan. 30, 2016

Join Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary as they explore all the Wonders of the Ocean.

Secrets of our ocean will be revealed, including exciting creatures and underwater freedom. The event also focuses on our deep connection to our great, global ocean, while highlighting Gray’s Reef, Georgia’s amazing underwater park.

Children’s Films during Children’s Session include:

*Lost and Found: a magical tale of loneliness and friendship based on the award-winning book by Oliver Jeffers. One day, a boy finds a penguin on his doorstep and decides to take it home…….even if that means rowing all the way to the South Pole. Click here to watch film trailer.

*Journey to the South Pacific:  Narrated by Cate Blanchett, this films will take moviegoers on a breathtaking adventure to the lush tropical islands of remote West Papua, where life flourishes above and below the sea. Join Jawi, a young island boy, as he takes us on a journey of discovery to this magical place where we encounter whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and other iconic creatures of the sea. Click here to watch film trailer.

_______________________

More Film Festival Events on Sat. Jan. 30

For pricing on the events below & for adult tickets for the Children’s Session, click here. 

11:30am – Emerging Filmmakers Competition
2pm – Guy Harvey Exploration
3:30pm – Military Appreciation Session
7pm – National Geographic Night
9:30pm – Wrap Party on Stage

______________________________

Fri. Jan. 29 Film Festival Events 

Wonders of the Ocean
SCAD’S Trustees Theater
216 E. Broughton Street, Savannah, GA

Tickets info here. 
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for kids for 3D Ocean Exploration Evening

3D Ocean Exploration Evening
7pm
Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean in 3D
Secret Ocean in 3D
Narrated by renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean 3D offers a breakthrough look at a secret world within the ocean that is perhaps the biggest story of all – that the smallest life in the sea is the mightiest force on which we all depend. Alongside marine biologist Holly Lohuis, Jean-Michel Cousteau invites audiences to dive into this whole new world that will leave them in awe of the beauty and diversity of the oceans – the source of all life on our planet – and inspire an even stronger desire to protect what they have either seen for the first time or perhaps re-discovered along the journey.
Click here to watch film trailer.

Humpback Whales in 3D
An extraordinary journey into the mysterious world of one of nature’s most awe-inspiring marine mammals, Humpback Whales takes audiences to Alaska, Hawaii and the Kingdom of Tonga for an immersive look at how these whales communicate, sing, feed, play and take care of their young. Captured for the first time with IMAX ® 3D cameras, and found in every ocean on earth, humpbacks were nearly driven to extinction 50 years ago, but today are making a steady recovery. Join a team of researchers as they unlock the secrets of the humpback and find out what makes humpbacks the most acrobatic of all whales, why only the males sing, and why these intelligent 50-foot, 48-ton animals migrate more than 6,000 miles every year.
Click here to watch film trailer.

Q & A with Ed Lyman, Humpback Whale Rescue
Meet Ed Lyman, Humpback Whale Rescuer. Lyman is the Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. He will provide insights into Humpback Whales and how his team rescues these magnificent creatures from fishing gear and other debris.

For more information on the festival, such as trailers and a complete lineup of events, click here or contact
Chris Hines at chris.hines@noaa.gov or 912.598.2397.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge now hosts a “Young Explorers Club” on the first Tuesday of each month.

The free, hour-long monthly program for 3-4 year-olds. It starts at 10AM on the first Tuesday of each month. There will be story time, crafts, snacks, and take-home activities all about each month’s topic.

The programs will on the first Tuesday of every month at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (694 Beech Hill Lane Hardeeville, SC 29927).

Each month, a different animal or method of conservation will be highlighted. Juniors of Girl Scout Troop 30387 have designed the monthly programs as their service project for completing the Bronze Award. The themes are:
February – Lady Bugs
March – Plants
April – Recycle
May – Baby Birds
June – Alligators
July – Sea Turtles

Learn more here.

 Telfair Museums hosts Free Family Days each month in Savannah, 1-4PM.

All Free Family Days are free and open to the public thanks to the sponsorship of the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

Upcoming Family Days

Saturday, January 30
PULSE Art + Technology
Jepson Center

Celebrate STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) and family fun at the most popular event of the PULSE Art + Technology Festival! See demos of amazing technology, work by local makers and students, and more!

Sunday, February 7
Super Museum Sunday Celebration
Jepson Center

Super museum Sunday is a great day to celebrate museums and art with family friendly art projects and exhibitions. Come explore our 3 sites and participate in art making demonstrations and fun crafts at the Jepson Center!

Saturday, March 12
Jepson Center Birthday Family Day: Were Turning 10!
Jepson Center

Happy birthday to the Jepson Center! Learn about architecture and the making of this unique building. Take time to appreciate the beauty of our architecture as you explore the nooks and details that make our building unique.

Saturday, April 23
Technology Then and Now at the Owens-Thomas House
Owens-Thomas House

Did you know the Owens-Thomas house had running water before the White House? Explore the technology of the past and compare it to what we have today.

FOR MORE LOCAL KIDS’ EVENTS, VISIT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR BY CLICKING HERE.

Telfair Museums Jepson Center, 207 W. York Street on Telfair Square, 912.790.8800, www.telfair.org Telfair Museums is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

The Home Depot Kids Workshop is a free class for kids held the 1st Saturday of every month at The Home Depot stores between 9 AM-Noon. More info here.

When a child goes to the Home Depot Kids Workshop, they’ll get a free project kit they can complete and take home during they workshop. They’ll also get a free kid sized orange apron and an achievement pin for a job well done.

The Home Depot Kids Workshop is similar to the Lowe’s free Build and Grow Clinics for kids held on weekends at Lowe’s stores. For info on the Lowe’s Build and Grow free workshops, click here.

Home Depot Kids Workshop Schedule

Valentines Mailbox

• Offered the 1st Saturday at all The Home Depot stores between 9AM- Noon. Please do not arrive before 9AM
• Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment.
• All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin.
• One workshop kit, apron and pin per child, while supplies last.
• Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
• Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis.
• Thank you for registering online to help organizers better plan our craft kit quantities needed. Register here. 

The free kids’ workshops are available at Home Depot stores in Savannah, East Savannah, Hilton Head Is/Bluffton, & Pooler. More info here.

“How The Grinch Stole The Polar Express!” starts this Fri. Dec. 4.

Shows through Dec. 16 at various Live Oak Public library branches.
Garden City Library: Friday, Dec. 4, 10:30 a.m.
Hinesville Library: Monday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m.
Midway Library: Monday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m.
Thunderbolt Library: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 11:15 a.m.
Islands Library: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.
Tybee Library: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m.
W. W. Law Library: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.

——————————–

Hampstead Stage Company presents the C. S. Lewis classic, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” which runs Sat. Dec. 5 through Thurs. Dec. 10.

Step through an old wardrobe and enter a snowy world laced with fantasy and wonder. There you will meet magical creatures as you accompany two intelligent and imaginative children, Lucy and Edmond, on their adventures. Ages 5 and older.

Southwest Chatham Library, 925-8305
Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m.

Rincon Library, 826-2222
Monday, Dec. 7, 4;30 p.m.

Islands Library, 897-6233
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 11:30 a.m.

Hinesville Library, 368-4003
Thursday, Dec. 10, 10:30 a.m.

Garden City Library, 629-5070
Thursday, Dec. 10, 4:30 p.m.

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, we have 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? Please email us the info at anne@southernmamas.com

____________________________

Confirmed 2015 displays not to be missed

New addition: 18,000 lights and 4 blow ups and sparkling crown at 24 Greatwood Way Savannah 31407 in the Highlands subdivision.

* NEW ADDITION (pictured above): 18,000 lights and 4 blow ups and sparkling crown at 24 Greatwood Way Savannah 31407 in the Highlands subdivision.

*  NEW ADDITION:  Computerized and static display at 165 Bald Cypress Lane off of Little Neck Road, 5:30-9:30PM nightly in Cypress Creek subdivision. Entrance to subdivision is 5 miles from Savannah Christian Church. There is also a display on Cypress Street in Bloomingdale.

* New addition: 701 Stuart St. off Waters Avenue. The huge collection of giant inflatable holiday decorations are back at 701 Stuart St. off Waters Avenue in Savannah. The inflatables weren’t up last year so we didn’t have it on this year’s list of best Savannah home decorations. Glad to see them back.

* 116 N. Sheftall Circle on Wilmington Island. Roughly 40,000-50,000 lights.

* 512 Gordonston Ave. Savannah: Old-fashioned holiday yard display that’s been a favorite for years.  On certain nights, they offer hot chocolate for visitors and even Santa visits.

* 1 Nina Court in Paradise Park, Savannah,  31406: light display that plays along to music. There’s also a talking Santa.

* 1915 Linnhurst Drive, Savannah, 31404: traditional lights display accompanied by blow ups. (Expected to be up by Dec. 5 2015)

* 9 Yorkshire Place (Expected to be up by Dec. 5 2015)

*125 Sea Palm Road in Palmetto Cove subdivision off Walthour Road on Wilmington Island

*6022 Betty Drive. Should be up by Sat. Dec 5 2015.

* 82 Coffee Pointe Drive. For years, these owners had a favorite display at their former home at 102 Junco Way in Georgetown. They continue to have a lights display at their new home; however it’s in a gated community. But the gates are usually open until 7PM so come early.

* 130 Smoke Rise Rd. in Creekside at Richmond Hill Plantation. Dancing Lights. Nightly viewing 6-10 PM. Through Dec. 31. Creekside at Richmond Hill Plantation is located off of Highway 144 on Brisbon Road. Visitors should tune into 107.1 FM to sync up with the Dancing Lights and enjoy the show.

*Taking the 2015 season off: 182 Mills Run Drive near Chatham Parkway is taking 2015 holiday season off. We hope this favorite dancing house will be back in 2016.

_____________________________________________

Traditional home decorations

*202 Blue Marlin Drive off Jamaican Run in Seagate, Whitemarsh Island

*504 E. 52 St, Ardsley Park

If you know of other homes that we should include in this list, please email anne@southernmamas.com.

____________________________________________

Not sure yet

Below are a few of last year’s amazing house light displays that we hope will be great again this year BUT WE AREN’T SURE YET IF THEY ARE UP YET. We’ll keep you updated when/if they are.

Savannah Quarters subdivision in Pooler
*116 Sussex Retreat
*124 Kingfisher Circle
*5 Cobham Draw
*194 Kingfisher Circle

*Keystone Drive & Dyches Drive 

*109 Wynngate Rd in Wilmington Park on Wilmington Island. (nearby are usually nice displays at 3 Lancaster and 106 Okatee and 110 Santee)

* 208 Cypress St. Bloomingdale,  31419: Dancing Lights!

* 39 Holly Springs Circle @ Lakeshore, Port Wentworth off Hwy 30

* Several houses on Silverleaf Court (off Gilliam & Norwood avenues near La Roche Ave.), Savannah with beautiful displays of lights.
______________________________________________

Public Holiday Lights Displays in Savannah

December Nights & Holiday Lights 2015 @ Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, Savannah. Details here.

_____________________________________________

Holiday Lights worth the drive

Harbour Town Lights, Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Is. FREE. ($6 per vehicle Sea Pines gate fee) Through January 1. Details here

Dove Street Festival of Lights at Shelter Cove Towne Center, Hilton Head Is. 6-10PM nightly through Jan. 2. Details here. 

Lights Before (& After) Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, S.C. Details here.

Holiday Festival of Lights Charleston S.C. Details here

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights @ Atlanta Botanical Garden.  Details here.

Want to add a home lights display to this list? Please email us the info at anne@southernmamas.com

Bluffton’s Christmas Tree Lighting: 5PM Fri. Dec. 4 (includes presentation by the M.C. Riley Chorus & a visit from Santa)

Light up the Night on Calhoun St. 3-8PM Fri. Dec. 4 (includes free rides aboard Old Town Trolley’s Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley from 5-8 p.m. Featuring live holiday music from 4-7 p.m., with the Town Hall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m., a presentation by the M.C. Riley Chorus and a visit from Santa. Shops will be open late.) More details here. 

Bluffton’s Christmas Parade: 10AM Sat. Dec. 5 (See the parade route here.)

Bob Strozier reads Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” @  Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home in downtown Savannah. 

One of the founding members of the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home and a retired professor of English at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Bob Strozier returns for his annual reading of “A Christmas Memory” @ Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home in downtown Savannah. 

Don’t miss this much-loved holiday tradition. Be sure to arrive early to get a seat.

4pm, Sunday December 13 2015

The reading takes place in the parlor at the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, located at 207 E. Charlton Street on Lafayette Square in Savannah. All lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information, please visit www.flanneryoconnorhome.org  or call 912.233.6014.

Bring your kids to the FREE Children’s Christmas Festival @ Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market, Sat. Dec. 12, 9AM-1PM

Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market
111 Walthour Rd, Wilmington Island, Georgia 31410

Come for fun filled day full of bouncy houses, carnival games, crafts, cookie decorating and festive holiday music.

Event sponsored by the Savannah Islands MOPS.

Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market fabulous food vendors will be joining in on the Christmas fun and will have all your holiday food needs.

It’s a Christmas parade, Savannah style!

On November 28, 2015, about 35 lighted vessels parade both sides of the waterfront. The Holiday Boat Parade of Lights 2015 starts at 7:15 PM.

You can watch the parade along River Street, free of charge.

Or for a $5 admittance fee, you can view it at Westin Savannnah on Hutchinson Is., accompanied by live music performances, tree lighting ceremony, and a 9 PM fireworks extravaganza.

Nightly Schedule 6-9PM @ Westin Savannah, Hutchinson Is.
Nov. 28-Dec. 12 (Thursday – Saturday)
Dec. 16-Dec. 25 (Open Daily)
6PM – The Region’s Best Santa Claus Turns on the Lights!
6:15PM – SANTA’S WORKSHOP is open for visitors!
7PM – Special Guest Presentation
8PM – Holiday Story Time with Mrs. Claus at the NORTH “POOL”
9:30PM – Last call at the WINTER ESCAPE – ICE BAR

Details & schedule of events here. 

More information on the Savannah Harbor Foundation’s Boat Parade of Lights here.

———————————————–

Tybee Lighted Boat Parade 2015 

December 6 2015 5:30PM @ The Crab Shack

Crab Shack’s 7th Annual Lighted Boat Parade is 5:30PM Sunday, Dec. 6. Details here. 

All the boats will be decked out in Festive Christmas Lights and will get you in the Holiday Spirit as they slowly cruise by.

Donation to Second Harvest requested for all participants both floating and onshore. Boats depart Crab Shack docks at 5:30pm sharp and awards will be presented out upon their return.

Call 912-786-7009 or email stephanie@thecrabshack.com for more information or to register.

FREE Christmas For Kids Celebration @ Savannah’s City Market
Sat. Dec 5 2015 @ 11AM – 2PM

Bring the family to City Market in downtown Savannah for fun-filled activities including cookie decorating, making ornaments to take home, facepainting, a petting zoo, photos with Father Christmas in the Carriage Tours of Savannah Cinderella carriage and a choir performance.

This annual Christmas For Kids celebration starts at 11 AM and lasts until 2 PM.

Savannah’s City Market is a 2 block area at Jefferson & West St Julian streets.

Learn more here. 

Free holiday parking in City of Savannah parking garages

Enjoy three hours of free parking in City garages from Thanksgiving until Dec. 27, 2015.

City Market Holiday Open House

Fri. Dec 4 @ 6PM – 9PM
Explore the beauty of holiday decorations including hundreds of lights and over 500 luminaria in the courtyard. Enjoy Christmas carolers, visit with Father Christmas, and sample holiday treats in the shops. Please bring an unwrapped toy to drop off in City Market’s Holiday Hope collection box.

Learn more here. 

Savannah’s City Market is a 2 block area at Jefferson & West St Julian streets.

Don’t miss Savannah’s Lighted Christmas Parade 2015 starting West River Street at 5:30PM Sat. Dec. 5 2015, traveling throughout downtown and ending at Ellis Square.

The parade marks the official arrival of St. Nick, so this is one event you don’t want to miss!

The lighted parade starts at 5:30PM Dec. 5 on the west end of River Street and will travel throughout downtown, ending in City Market.

This year’s parade will have over 40 community groups and businesses with multiple units of decorated cars, trucks, floats, and trolleys. Even the walking groups are wrapped in Christmas lights.

FIRST FRIDAY & SATURDAY
DEC 4-5, 2015
Rousakis Riverfront Plaza 115 East River Street Savannah, GA 31401

It’s a holiday celebration on Historic River Street. Rousakis Plaza will be full of regional arts & crafts exhibitors with holiday gifts and stocking stuffers to check off of your Christmas list. Music and local entertainment will take place on the Arbor Stage throughout the weekend leading up to Savannah’s Lighted Christmas Parade. 

Weekend festivities will kick-off Fri. Dec. 4-5 from 4-10PM with First Friday Fireworks at 9:30PM  and continue on Sat. Dec. 6 10AM- 7:30PM. First Fridays & Saturdays on the River take place each month from March-December. For more details including an entertainment schedule, click here.

Admission: Free & open to public
Phone: (912) 234-0295

Santa & the area’s largest holiday tree is at the Savannah Mall through the 2015 Holiday Season.

The 50-foot tree and mall decor covered in 500,000 LED lights is in center court of the Savannah Mall at 14045 Abercorn Street.

Kids can ride the special edition “Rio Grande Train”  – a bright blue, yellow and red choo-choo manufactured in Vincenza, Italy by Zamperla, Inc. – that seats 28 passengers and features a one-of-a-kind track designed especially for Savannah Mall.

Santa will be at the Savannah Mall through Dec. 24.

Santa Schedule @ Savannah Mall
Santa will be located on the lower level at Dillards court daily.
Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm Breaks 3-4p.m.
Sunday 12-6pm Break 2:30-3p.m

If you have any questions or need more information, please call 912-927-9663.

All Aboard

Ride the holiday train at center court . Train hours Monday-Friday 10-8p.m. and Sunday 12-6p.m.

Train rides $2 per person. Children 2 and younger are free with a paid adult train ride.

Moving trains. Free activity tables. Free crafts and remote control trucks. And at certain hours, free photos with Santa – all at Santa’s Wonderland inside Bass Pro Shop @ Savannah Mall.

Santa’s workshop with free games, crafts, activities is Nov. 14- Dec. 24 2015.

Details here.

For the Savannah schedule of when to have free photos with Santa, click here.

FREE Photos with Santa Schedule

Nov. 14-Dec. 6:
Special Hours on Preview Night Sat. November 14, 5-8PM
5-8PM Mondays-Friday
Saturdays 10AM-8PM
Sundays Noon-5PM

Thanksgiving Nov. 26
10AM-5PM

Fri. Nov. 27
10AM-8PM

Dec. 7-21
10AM-8PM Mondays-Friday
10AM-8PM Saturdays
10AM-5PM Sundays

Dec. 22-23
10AM-8PM

Dec. 24
10AM-5PM

————————————–

Preview Event & Santa’s Arrival, 5PM Nov. 14
Magical tree lighting
Unveiling of Santa’s Wonderland®
Carolers
Santa will be giving away a $25 Bass Pro Shops® gift card to one lucky winner every half-hour! 5:30-7:30pm
FREE craft and Outdoor Plush Buddy* November 18, 6-8pm
FREE cookies and McSteven’s hot chocolate*

Savannah Mall, 14045 Abercorn Street, www.savannahmall.com , 912-927-7467. The Savannah Mall is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser.

Bring the kids to two free movies this holiday season at the Lucas Theatre in downtown Savannah.

ELF
Fri. Nov. 27 AT 8 PM
Rated PG. 97 minutes.

White Christmas
Sat Nov. 28 at 8 PM
Not rated. 120 minutes.

These are free screenings to benefit the America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia and the Humane Society of Greater Georgia. Admission is free, but please donate non-perishable items to the Second Harvest, and pet supplies to the Humane Society.

Lucas Theatre for the Arts, 32 Abercorn St. Savannah, 31401, (912) 525-5040, email lucas@lucastheatre.com, www.lucastheatre.com

Holiday Family Events 2015 on Tybee Island include:

Jan. 1: The 16th Annual Tybee Polar Plunge, noon Friday, Jan. 1. Don your favorite costumes and dive into the chilly Atlantic Ocean for a brisk and refreshing way to welcome the New Year. Before the Plunge, join in the Gang of Goofs Parade and costume contest at 11AM for a chance to win great prizes. FREE