Savannah Entertainment

Nightlife in this town reflects Savannahs laid-back personality. There is plenty to do after dark, but things follow a lazy pace typical of the Deep South. Many of the clubs offer live music, with most of them showcasing traditional jazz, blues and piano bar vocalists. Most of the action takes place along the Riverfront Plaza or on the south side of town. While the city has its own symphony orchestra to keep pace with the cultural arts, most of the entertainment is of a more fun-loving nature.

Nightlife

River Street, which runs along the Savannah River, is the main drag for bars and clubs of all kinds. Although live music is the dominant feature in most of the citys bars, there are still plenty of watering holes where you can simply have a drink with the locals and watch the river float by. Another popular thing to do on the river is a dinner cruise. The Savannah River Queen is a replica of the boats that used to regularly travel up and down the waterway. The 2-hour cruise, which departs daily at 18:00, includes a hearty meal and live entertainment, but reservations are necessary.

Theatre and music

The bars and nightclubs in Savannah offer every kind of live music there is, although most of them focus on the blues and jazz which are so influential in this part of the country. Many visitors simply wander down River Street until they hear a sound they like. The most popular venues in the Historic District are all within walking distance of each other, making for an easy and fun night out. During the summer, Johnson Square becomes a centre of outdoor concerts by Big Band, Dixieland and jazz combos.

For those who like a more cultured evening out, the Savannah Symphony Orchestra performs regularly at the Johnny Mercer Center, as well as putting on a series of outdoor concerts during the summer. The Johnny Mercer Theater is also the place to catch ballet, musicals and Broadway shows. Another popular venue is the Savannah Theater, which puts on contemporary plays by the local theatre troupe. If you have the chance, however, try and see a show at the historic 1920s Lucas Theater for the Arts, which hosts events throughout the year.

Festivals

Savannah has plenty of interesting artistic and cultural festivals to keep things exciting in this southern oasis. Most of them occur during the summer, when the city becomes an open-air party zone.

• Savannah Music Festival brings a melange of world-class blues, jazz, classical, rock and zydeco music to the city (March).
• Savannah Tours of Homes and Gardens opens up some of the citys finest 18th and 19th century mansions to the public (April).
• Savannah Shakespeare Festival is one of the citys premier cultural events with evening performances in Forsyth Park (May).
• Savannah Seafood Festival takes place along River Street with plenty of fresh shrimp, crab and crawfish to go with the live music (May).
• Savannah Jazz Festival is a free event which brings jazz artists from around the region to Forsyth Park for nightly concerts (September).
• Savannah Folk Music Festival is the citys main musical attraction, with four days of free folk music (October).