Savannah Chamber

An Active Social Calendar From festivals and parades to marathons and concerts, there's always something amazing happening in Savannah. Some of the more renowned gatherings include: Savannah Music Festival Founded in 1989, this annual weeks-long festival is Georgia's largest musical arts event. The sounds are varied, the classes abundant and the performances plenty, with nearly 500 artists coming from all over the globe. 912-234-3378 savannahmusicfestival.org St. Patrick's Day Parade Families and revelers come from hundreds of miles around to attend this beloved parade, one of the biggest such celebrations in the country and one that celebrates Savannah's rich Irish heritage. 912-233-4804 savannahsaintpatricksday.com Savannah Juneteenth Celebration The Savannah Juneteenth Fine Arts Festival features events performances, and experiences that celebrate freedom, culture, and community. Highlights include Lunch & Learn seminars, live performances, cultural showcases, and the "Unity in Fireworks" event at Daffi n Park. 912-521-7474 savannahjuneteenthfestival.com SCAD Savannah Film Festival This multi-day extravaganza has something for everyone, from serious fi lm buffs to star-struck fans. 912-525-5051; fi lmfest.scad.edu 16 SAVANNAHCHAMBER.COM L I V I N G H E R E Explore Your New City From stunning architecture and restaurants to museums and oak-canopied squares, here are several must-dos, each putting you one step closer to becoming a true Savannahian. 1. Immerse yourself in history. Founded in 1733, Savannah is steeped in a rich history marked by relationships and triumphs. Fly with the memory of the true "Masters of the Air" at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, the Savannah- originated bomber unit that played a major role in World War II. Relive wartime dangers and glories at the Webb Military Museum. Admire the Cathedral Basilica of of St. John the Baptist. With it's striking, neo-Gothic architecture, this historic structure from the last quarter of the 19th century feels like a slice of Paris' Notre Dame. Visit Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest Jewish congregation in America, the fi rst synagogue built in Georgia and the only Gothic-style synagogue in North America. Learn about the The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation, which is home to The Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, that memorializes the fi rst school built specifi - cally for emancipated African American chil- dren in 1867, and the King-Tisdell Cottage, a restored home that showcases Savannah's Black cultural and commercial heritage. Step back in time at First Bryan Baptist Church, which sits on the oldest parcel of real estate continuously owned by Black people in the United States. Stop at Greene Square to see Second African Baptist Church, dating back to 1802. Many years later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would preach his "I Have A Dream" sermon here, an address he repeated during the famous march on Washington, D.C., in 1963. See how urban gentry as well as enslaved servants lived at The Owens- Thomas House & Slave Quarters museum, one of the Telfair Museums' three unique sites. Walk in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers at Fort Pulaski National Monument. For more military history, catch a cannon fi ring at Old Fort Jackson. 2. Be one with nature. Mother Nature thrives here. Put down the electronic devices and join her. Visit native animals in natural enclosures along the nature trail at Oatland Island Wildlife Center. Meet sea turtles and other aquatic life at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center's home on Tybee's North Beach. Be amazed at Bonaventure Cemetery, one of Savannah's most beautiful green spaces. 3. Become cultured. From theaters and museums to art enclaves, opportunities abound to be educated and inspired. Transport yourself to another era at the American Prohibition Museum and the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Catch impressive contemporary works at the Jepson Center for the Arts. Feast your eyes on cutting-edge modern art installations and breathtaking fashion displays at the SCAD Museum of Art. Discover the Cinematic Sites of Savannah, which brings you up close and personal with city's most famous locations caught on fi lm. L I V I N G H E R E S A V A N N A H M A G A Z I N E N A T I O N A L M U S E U M O F T H E M I G H T Y E I G H T H A I R F O R C E National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, Ga FOR MORE EVENT IDEAS, SEE PAGE 19.

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