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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. 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. 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 Daffin Park. savannahjuneteenthfestival.com SCAD Savannah Film Festival This multi-day extravaganza has something for everyone, from serious film buffs to star-struck fans. filmfest.scad.edu 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 first synagogue built in Georgia and the only Gothic-style synagogue in North America. Learn about The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation, which is home to The Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, that memorializes the first school built specifically for emancipated African American children in 1867, and the King- Tisdell Cottage, a restored home that showcases Savannah's Black cultural and commercial heritage. Savannah's Landmark Historic District boasts three historically Black churches that date back well more than 200 years, originally formed by and ministering to enslaved men and women. These are active congregations in addition to histori- cal sites. First Bryan Baptist Church sits on land identified as the first property continuously owned by Black people in the U.S. The long history of circa-1802 Second African Baptist Church includes hosting Martin Luther King Jr. for the presentation of a preliminary version of his "I Have a Dream" speech. And at First African Baptist Church, you can still see ancient African script and symbols carved into some of the pews. 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. FOR MORE EVENT IDEAS, SEE PAGE 22. Forsyth Park V I S I T S A V A N N A H Savannah Film Festival D I A D I P A S U P I L / G E T T Y I M A G E S 20 SAVANNAHCHAMBER.COM L I V I N G H E R E