Oktoberfest
Oct. 5–7 on River Street. Oompah bands, fun for the kids, brewskis and all the bratwurst you can stand. Ja wohl!
Tybee Island Pirate Fest
Oct. 5 and 6 in the South Beach parking lot. Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil, who knows a thing or two about pillage and plunder, was the perfect choice as entertainment headliner for the 2012 arrgh–fest. Neil and his band perform Oct. 6; the rest of the weekend is taken over by a pirate–themed marketplace, gun ‘n’ games, more live music and a lot of folks wandering around puffy shirts and eye patches. See tybeepiratefest.com
Picnic in the Park
At 7 p.m. Oct. 7 in Forsyth Park. The park’s the place to be on this Sunday afternoon, and many thousands will be there with elaborate, eccentric and eclectic themed picnic setups to the theme of “Some Enchanted Evening.” It all starts with a pet costume contest at 2 p.m., and the enchanted evening itself kicks off at 7:30 p.m. the Strings of the South Orchestra, pianist Eddie Wilson’s annual musical potpourri. See savannahga.gov
Savannah Folk Music Festival
Events from October 12th (music in Ellis Square) to the 14th (a concert in Grayson Stadium with Doug McLeod, Curley Maple, Al Petteway & Amy White, and Diedre McCalla. Also: A “Noteworthy Arts Auction” and a performance from this year’s winner of the Youth Songwriting contest. See savannahfolk.org
Savannah Greek Festival
Oct. 11–13 at the Hellenic Community Center, 14 W. Anderson St. St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the 61th year of its tasty celebration of all things Greek – food, dancing, music, food, arts and culture, food and more food. See stpaulsgreekorthodox.org.
Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
Oct. 19–22. At J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill, they always get some cool bands for this annual family fun fest. This year it’s the Gin Blossoms, still justifiably proud of their one and only major hit “Found Out About You.” Arts and crafts, carnival rides, and (yes) seafood. See goseafoodfestival.com
Graveface Fest
Oct. 27. Southern Pine Co. It’s a Halloween festival, complete with haunted house, hosted and mosted by Savannah’s spookiest resident, Ryan Graveface. Music by Black Moth Super Rainbow, Casket Girls, Marshmallow Ghosts and others. Plus three horror films.
Savannah Film Festival
Oct. 27–Nov. 3, downtown. Curated by SCAD and endorsed by Hollywood, this is the biggest red–carpet event of all. A full week of screenings including major movies that haven’t even opened yet, independent features and shorts, and celebrity–attended events and award ceremonies. The 2012 schedule hasn’t been announced – expect it soon.
Shalom Y’all Jewish Food Festival
Oct. 28 in Forsyth Park. The folks at Congregation Mickve Israel never disappoint with a day full of blintzes, latkes, strudel, challah and other delicacies.
Tybee Beach Brew Fest
Nov. 2 and 3. Starts Friday with live music, beers and bratwurst at Marlin Monroe’s; Saturday pairs craft beers with local fare at a gala at the Tybee Lighthouse, and music by the Sons of Bluegrass. A fundraiser for the Tybee Post Theater. See tybeeposttheater.org
Geekend
Nov. 8–10. Charles Adler, founder of Kickstarter, is the keynote speaker at this year’s celebration of all things technological. Location is still TBA. It’s three days of talks, workshops and demonstrations on 21st Century creativity. See geek–end.com
Telfair Art Fair
Nov. 10–11. Following an opening night preview on the 9th, the Telfair Museums’ delightful open–air art fair features approximately 120 artists, in all media, showing and selling their wares. There are $10,000 in prizes.
Savannah Children’s Book Festival
Nov 10. in Forsyth Park. More than 60 local and regional authors and illustrators, food, live entertainment, arts and crafts and fun stuff for the younger set. The event is little brother to the Savannah Book Festival, Feb. 14–17, 2013.
