Oktoberfest
Oct. 4-6, River Street. OK, you bratwursts, get your schnitzel on and watch the wiener dog races, oompah to the loompah bands and taste loads of frothy brew while massive container ships deliver even more.
Picnic in the Park
Oct. 6, Forsyth Park. Prizes are awarded for the most interesting "themed" picnic setup — yes, it does sounds like some eccentric Savannah-thing straight out of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil — the Savannah Philharmonic plays, and as long as the weather cooperates it's one of our loveliest autumn afternoons. See savannahga.gov
Savannah Folk Music Festival
Oct. 11-13, various locations. Three days of acoustic reverie culminates with the Sunday afternoon concert in Grayson Stadium (home of the swingin' Sand Gnats). This year's headliner is folk legend Peter Yarrow (of ... Paul and Mary fame). The wonderful Waymores are also on the last-day bill. Everything, all three days, is free. See savannahfolk.org
Tybee Island Pirate Fest
Oct. 10-13, around the pier. Expect a run on eye patches, puffy shirts and plastic swords as Chatham County's beach town goes all pirate. It's a festival, and a fair, with a parade, food 'n' booze, and live music performances including a last-night concert by Americana singer/songwriter Shooter Jennings. See tybeepiratefest.com
Savannah Greek Festival
Oct 10-12, St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church. Sixty-two years of spanikopita later, Stg. Paul's is still ground zero for Greek food, music, dancing and food. Yes, food, lots and lots of food. See stpaulsgreekorthodox.com
Stattsfest
Oct. 13, Muse Arts Warehouse. Local bands, visual artists and other creative types come together (with food and fun, bouncy stuff for the kids) to help out Savannah artist and musician Jason Statts, who remains paralyzed as the result of a senseless late-night shooting in 2008. See friendsofstatts.com
Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival
Oct. 19, Gregory Stadium, Richmond Hill. The closest thing we have to a good 'ol county fair, the Great Ogeechee is, in fact, the fairest of them all with a big ol' carnival midway, fun locals-oriented events, seafood — hence the name — and music (this year's headline is the Georgia perennial Collective Soul). See goseafoodfestival.com
Savannah Film Festival
Oct. 26-Nov. 2, downtown. The red carpet rolls out for Hollywood stars and film favorites, who come to the Savannah event — quickly becoming a "name" filmfest — with their newest cinematic projects. A full week of prestige screenings, too. Bittersweet note: James Gandolfini was here for the 2012 festival. The new schedule will be announced soon. See filmfest.scad.edu
Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival
Oct. 27, Forsyth Park. Maybe you didn't know that Savannah has a rich Jewish heritage — Congregation Mickve Israel is among the oldest in the United States. That's one reason to celebrate, and the food at this annual feast (blintzes, challah, latkes, etc., all of it home-made especially for Shalom Y'all) is another. Now in its 25th year, SY is the reigning "Best Food Festival" champion in Connect's annual Best of Savannah readers' poll. See mickveisrael.org
Savannah Food & Wine Festival
Nov. 11-17, Ellis Square. This'll be the inaugural year, so we don't really have much to say, except that — judging by the website — there'll be a lot of fancy tastin's and dining opportunities. See savannahfoodandwinefest.com
Telfair Art Fair
Nov. 15-17, Telfair Square. The 19th time around for Savannah's lovely open-air art event, with 80 artists showing, selling and vying for $12,000 in prizes, and giving locals and visitors the opportunity to bring home a little ol' cultural bit of Savannah — just in time for the holidays! The annual "Arty Party" preview is on the 15th. See Telfair.org
Savannah Children's Book Festival
Nov. 16, Forsyth Park. Live Oak Public Libraries and the City of Savannah are putting on this celebration of young folks' literature for the 10th consecutive year. Kids get to meet and interact with some of their favorite authors — this year's roster includes Marc Brown (creator of the Arthur series), Nick Bruehl (Bad Kitty) and Rachel P. Russell (Dork Diaries). See liveoakpl.org
