Things To Do In Savannah In September

Cannons inside the fortification at Fort Pulaski, Georgia.

September is Savannah’s bonus summer month, with hot beach weather lasting through most of the month before the fall cooling-off in October and November.

There is plenty to do in both the city and nearby, with hotter days perfect for water-based activities such as boating or kayaking or a day at the beach, and cooler (but still usually very warm) days ideal for enjoying the best of the area’s state parks and wildlife refuges, or for outdoor sightseeing in downtown Savannah.

Savannah’s many museums, historic houses, and other attractions are open year-round, or read on for more ideas for things to do in the city this September.

Labor Day

Visit Tybee Island For The Labor Day Beach Bash

Tybee’s annual Labor Day Beach Bash on Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer season. Relax on the beach during the day, then enjoy the free concert at the pier in the evening, and fireworks after dark.

Celebrate Labor Day At A Local Attraction

If you don’t feel like a day at the beach, many of Savannah’s local forts and state sites offer special programs on Labor Day, including at Wormsloe Historic Site, Fort McAllister (near Richmond Hill) and Fort King George (near Darien).

These events usually offer demonstrations of traditional practices, soldier activities and weapons demonstrations (at the forts) and other fun and educational activities perfect for families with children.

Experience German Culture At The Salzburgers’ Heritage Day Festival

Each year, the Georgia Salzburger Society at historic Ebenezer commemorates the arrival of Salzburger refugees in Savannah with a Labor Day Heritage Day Festival.

This free event celebrates the Germanic culture of the Salzburg people and their descendants, with traditional exhibitions and demonstrations, craft activities, market place and traditional German foods.

September’s Events

For a more extensive list of festivals and events this month, see Savannah in September

Enjoy A Free Jazz Concert

One of Savannah’s most popular annual festivals, the Savannah Jazz Festival, is scheduled toward the end of September each year. During the week-and-a-bit long event, you can enjoy a series of free concerts, culminating in three evenings of outdoor jazz in beautiful Forsyth Park.

Local History & Culture

Visit Fort Pulaski For Free

Enjoy fee-free access to Fort Pulaski on the fourth Saturday in September for National Public Lands Day. See the historic 19th-century fort, learn about its role in the Civil War, hike out to see the picturesque Cockspur Island Lighthouse, or just enjoy the river views. Read more about things to see and do at Fort Pulaski

Commemorate The Founding Of The US Air Force At The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum

September 18 of each year is the official Air Force Birthday, celebrating the creating of the aerial arm of the American military on that day in 1947. Mark the day with a visit to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, a few miles from downtown Savannah in the neighboring city of Pooler.

See historic aircraft, learn about the role of the Air Force’s precursors in World War II and beyond, view the collection of aviation art, or reflect in the museum’s memorial gardens.

Go On A Ghost Tour

If you want to beat the Halloween season rush, September is a good month for a ghost tour. One of Savannah’s most popular tourist activities, a haunted history tour will introduce you to the spooky tales and unexplainable happenings that give the city its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the United States.

Options range from family-friendly early evening walks to adults-only late night tours exploring the more sordid side of Savannah’s haunted history (see list of available ghost tours); others focus on local African-American folklore (see available tours).

Wildlife & The Outdoors

Learn About Georgia’s Wildlife For National Wildlife Day

September 4 is National Wildlife Day. Learn more about Georgia’s diverse wildlife and habitats this month at a local refuge or state park: Savannah National Wildlife Refuge or Skidaway Island State Park are both only a few miles from downtown. Both offer exhibits on local wildlife and ecology in their respective visitor centers, and opportunities to see a variety of birds, reptiles and other animals in their natural habitat.

You can also see local aquatic creatures at the small University of Georgia Aquarium, near Skidaway. A little further away in Statesboro (about an hour from Savannah) you can view birds of prey in flight and other native animals at Georgia Southern University’s Center for Wildlife Education.

Make An End-Of-Summer Trip To The Beach

September is a great time of year to make a trip to the beach. The weather and ocean temperature in Georgia and South Carolina is warm through the month, and crowds are much smaller then during the school vacations.

Savannah’s most convenient beaches are at Tybee Island, but there are many other beautiful beaches within an hour or two of the city, whether you prefer the developed beachfront of a seaside community or the unspoiled views on a deserted barrier island.

Food & Drink

Try A Local Craft Beer

September 7 is National Beer Lover’s Day. Celebrate the day by trying a new beer at one of Savannah’s several microbreweries, which produce a variety of year-round and seasonal craft ales.

Savannah’s local craft breweries include the Southbound Brewing Company (107 East Lathrop Avenue, tap room open Wednesday-Saturday), the Service Brewing Company (574 Indian Street, tasting room open Wednesday-Saturday), Coastal Empire Beer (79 Ross Road, tap room open Tuesday-Sunday), Moon River Brewing Company (21 West Bay Street, brew pub open daily) and Two Tides Brewing Company (12 West 41st Street, tap room open Tuesday-Saturday).

You can also buy many of these breweries’ beers at local bars and restaurants.

Visit One Of Savannah’s Independent Coffee Shops For National Coffee Day

Beer is not the only drink to celebrate this month, as September is the month of National Coffee Day too (September 29, two days before International Coffee Day, on October 1).

Savannah has plenty to offer to the coffee-lover, with a wide selection of independently-owned coffee shops offering specialty coffee drinks, cold brew coffees, locally-roasted coffees and more.