Squared Away in Savannah

77th Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens

ginny — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:41:06 +0000

March is an absolutely fabulous time to visit Savannah. Sure, St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal, but March also brings the beautiful springtime weather allowing the historic gardens and lush vegetation around town to be in full bloom. It is the perfect time of year to hold our 77th Annual Tour of Homes and Gardens Celebration, taking place March 22 – 25. If you’ve ever passed by some of the gorgeous houses in Historic Savannah and wondered what they look like on the inside, this is your chance.

Here’s a synopsis of what you can expect:

The tour offers a rare opportunity to enter some of Savannah’s finest private homes and experience the furnishings, architecture and collections that have been treasured by families for generations but seldom seen by the public. In addition to walking tours, you will enjoy seminars, special events and some of the best food and hospitality the South has to offer. Home and Garden Tours are self-guided with a different group of six to nine sites featured each of the four days. You may visit these selected sites in any order during a three-hour period at your own pace.

This is a uniquely-Savannah event that’s always a lot of fun and a great learning experience. And best of all, the proceeds from the tours go to local charities and historic preservation, which helps keep these beautiful homes and gardens maintained. Tickets are on sale now!

St. Patrick’s Day on the River

ginny — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:37:57 +0000

Immersed in a rich Irish history, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day is like none other. After experiencing the world’s second largest parade in the morning, you can spend the rest of your day enjoying the beautiful waterfront on historic River Street for St. Patrick’s Day on the River or celebrate the holiday in Savannah’s famous City Market. The Irish-themed events run from March 17 – 19 from 9:00 a.m. until midnight and feature live music, food, beverages, games, contests, entertainment and more. Everyone will be decked-out in green; we’re talking clothing, hats, face paint, beads, you name it! And best of all, the events are free and open to the public. You don’t want to miss this party!

188th Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

ginny — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:39:23 +0000

In just one month, Savannah’s biggest event of the year will take over the city and bring in roughly 400,000 eager visitors. Now there are many, many ways you can celebrate our beloved St. Patrick’s Day here in Savannah, but if you experience ONE thing, it absolutely has to be the second largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world taking place throughout beautiful downtown Savannah. This is truly the essence of what this incredible holiday is all about.
Stepping off at 10:15 a.m. sharp on March 17, the three-hour parade consists of over 350 units, including several U.S. military divisions, many award-winning bands and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Some of the bands include the 282nd U.S. Army Band (Fort Jackson, S.C.), The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (Fort Myers, VA), U.S. Coast Guard Pipes and Drums (Norfolk, VA), Irish Air Corps Pipes and Drums (Dublin, Ireland) and many more outstanding marching units. We highly, highly recommend this as the perfect start to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration. A word to the wise: if you want a good seat to watch the parade, get there early!

Harlem Globetrotters Come to Savannah

ginny — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:36:47 +0000

Sure, Savannah doesn’t have an NBA team, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love basketball. And on March 15, you can see the world’s best exhibition basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, as they invade the Savannah Civic Center. The Harlem Globetrotters’ traveling shows combine athleticism, theatre and comedy, and they have played more than 20,000 exhibition games in 118 countries since their inception. Now you can experience the special tricks and magical fun first hand.

This is a special show for us, as six former Globetrotters actually have Savannah ties. The current roster includes Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7 feet 8 inches, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5 feet 2 inches, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox of Temple University, the team’s first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history. We are very excited to welcome this exciting world-famous act. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online or by visiting the Civic Center Box Office. And if you’re looking for a hotel close by, consider our preferred hotel partner, the SpringHill Suites Historic District, which is within walking distance of the Civic Center. You won’t even need to find parking!

March of Dimes Shamrock Run

ginny — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:49:31 +0000

It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day season in Savannah without a green-themed running race, and this one is an annual favorite. The March of Dimes Shamrock Run is Friday, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. in Savannah’s beloved City Market. Participants are invited to come all decked out in their green attire for the Green Du Jour Costume Contest, back by popular demand. Win some green for wearing green as 1st Place will receive $400, 2nd Place will receive $200 and 3rd Place will get $100. There’s even a category for best pet costume with a prize of $100. This event is for runners, walkers, families, and also boasts a fun kiddie run, so bring the whole family. It’s the perfect way to kick off the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, and proceeds from the race will benefit the March of Dimes. Registration is available online through active.com until Tuesday March 6. See you at the starting line!

100th Year Girl Scouts Celebration

ginny — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:58:32 +0000

Savannah is bursting with history and home to many historical landmarks, organizations and milestones. One of the ones we are most proud of is being the birthplace of the Girl Scouts, founded by Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912. This year marks the 100th anniversary of this great organization, and there are several celebrations happening in March to commemorate this milestone, including a Sunrise Ceremony on Monday, March 12 at our famous Forsyth Park. Hundreds of girl scouts from across the nation will gather in the park at sunrise to celebrate the organization’s achievements and look forward to the future. Here’s a little history on the first girl scouts organization from the official Girl Scouts website:

“On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides in Savannah, Georgia. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year. From the original 18 girls, Girl Scouting has grown to 2.6 million members. Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls in the world and has influenced the more than 50 million girls, women and men who have belonged to it.”

We are very happy to welcome all of the children and adults who will be traveling to Savannah to celebrate this special occasion. Congratulations Girl Scouts!

The Greening of the Forsyth Park Fountain

ginny — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:43:06 +0000

We are very excited to post the first of many blogs related to our favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day! It’s hard to believe, but the festivities begin in just over a month. If you’ve visited Savannah during this special time, you’ve probably noticed that we dye all of our fountains green. We are very proud of this, so proud in fact, that we hold a celebration to recognize that this is the official start of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. And now you can be a part of the fun. We welcome you to come to our beloved Forsyth Park on March 9 at noon for the Greening of the Forsyth Fountain. Now how does one dye a giant fountain green? It’s pretty simple – a lot of food dye. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee members and their families pour full pitchers of green food dye into the fountain water. It is truly one of Savannah’s best traditions, and hundreds of visitors and Savannahians alike attend. Come see what all the fuss us is about on March 9!

Savannah Stopover Festival 2012

ginny — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:01:26 +0000

Not everyone can fly out to Texas for one of the nation’s largest music festivals, South By Southwest, but now you don’t have to, as it’s coming right here to Savannah! We are very excited to welcome the best up and coming indie bands as they “stop over” in Savannah on their way to SXSW in Austin, Texas for 4 nights of music in our city’s famed historic district. The Savannah Stopover Festival was founded in 2011 and was an instant hit. The four-day music extravaganza takes place from March 7 – 10 across multiple venues within walking distance of beautiful downtown Savannah. An incredible 70-plus bands will perform, some of them from right here in Savannah. You can purchase tickets for individual days or for the entire festival. Be on the lookout for the complete schedule on their Facebook page, as it should be announced very soon. This is a rare opportunity to see some very talented bands right here in our own city, and we are honored to host such a unique event.

Second Annual A-Town Get Down

ginny — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:49:55 +0000

Today we want to tell you about an event that honors the life of SCAD student, Alex Townsend, a junior at Savannah College of Art and Design who passed away in a car accident on Valentine’s Day 2010. In memory of his life, his family began the A-Town Get Down Music Festival last year, and it was an instant success. This year’s event will be held Saturday, February 25 at the Charles H. Morris Center located at 10 East Broad Street in downtown Savannah.

To tell you more about the event, the A-Town Get Down is a public music festival that features local, regional and national touring bands. In his name, Alex’s friends and family use the A-Town Get Down to celebrate his love of Savannah, music and the arts for hundreds of people each year. All net proceeds from the event will go to Savannah-based non-profit organizations.

This year’s event will feature Devon Allman, son of Southern rock legend and Savannah resident Gregg Allman, national touring reggae-jam band Passafire, ever-popular local hip-hop group, Word of Mouth, renown stencil artist Peat Wollaeger, and DJ, composer and performer Sean “Unda” Carter as MC.

Concert tickets are available for purchase at www.a-towngetdown.com or by visiting the Savannah Box Office. Ticket prices are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. We hope to see you there!

The 10th Annual Savannah International Boat Show

ginny — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:53:01 +0000

If there’s one event Savannah-area boaters circle on their calendars each year, it’s the Savannah Boat & Outdoor Show. Now in its 10th year, the show attracts thousands of current and would-be boat owners and outdoor enthusiasts with its extensive displays of the latest in watercraft lines, marine equipment, accessories and services. It all takes place March 2 – 4 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center on Hutchinson Island across the Savannah River, and more than 30 exhibitors will be present. In addition to the boats and outdoor equipment, this year’s show features some interesting exhibitions including the Swampmaster alligator show, Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel, the Coastal Fishing Expo and more. Live music, fishing clinics and simulations, kids’ activities and great food make this a family-friendly event. Admissions prices vary, but you can download a coupon straight from the show’s website!