Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11: Shiver me timbers, it’s time for the annual Tybee Island Pirate Festival! Start your weekend by attending Thursday night’s Buccaneer Ball at The Crab Shack, where pirates and wenches can enjoy grog and grub aplenty. During the evening, a pirate king and queen will be sashed to reign over the festival’s activities. Next up is a pirate-guided Cape Fear Rum Pirate Pub Crawl on Friday with a chance to win one of two $500 treasure chests. Then head over to the Tybee Pirate Festival Grounds, which will have free admission on Friday from 5-11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On tap is a full lineup of bands on the main stage; a Thieves’ Market; performances by the Tybee Mermaid
Water Show and the Stardust Pixxies; pro-wrestling matches; costume contests; and all kinds of kids’ activities, including a petting zoo, at the Little Mateys Cove. Purchase your ball and/or pub crawl tickets and view the entire weekend schedule of Tybee-wide fun at www.tybeepiratefest.com. Free trolleys run the length of the island every half hour. Main festival grounds are located at the Strand Parking Lot on 16th Street on Tybee Island.
Saturday, October 10: Join in the free, educational, family fun at Skidaway Marine Science Day 2026 on the north end of Skidaway Island. The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s Aquarium is open with no admission fee to offer a hands-on reptile exhibit and a behind-the-scenes peek at the aquarium and lab. The Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab offer hands-on activities about sustainable aquaculture and oyster restoration, and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary’s 52-foot Research Vessel Gannet is open for tours. Additionally, environmental organizations and coastal researchers present a variety of exhibits and activities for people of all ages on the bluff adjacent to the aquarium, and the Jay Wolf Nature Trail is open for hiking and nature observation. Held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UGA Marine Education Center & Aquarium, 30 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah.
Saturday, October 10: Hot Diggedy Dog! Get ready for the cutest competition of the year – the 2026 Savannah Wiener Dog Races at Plant Riverside presented in partnership with Savannah’s Waterfront. Watch as spirited dachshunds dash for glory during a fun-filled, family-friendly event supporting nonprofit Savannah’s Waterfront’s mission of preserving the rich history, enhancing the beauty, and promoting business collaboration along our historic waterfront. Weiner registration opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 10:45 a.m. Entry fee is $25 and dogs are grouped by weight. Fastest run certificates are given in each heat, and the grand winner of the final race is awarded a special trophy and a two-night stay at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District. In addition to the races, there will be a tail-wagging fun Doggy Parade and a free-to-enter Costume Contest. Held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in MLK Jr. Park, Plant Riverside District, 400 W. River Street.
Saturday, October 10: Join Chad Faries and Nicholas Goodly as they read poems from their respective collections and speak about their work. Faries is an accomplished SSU Professor of English, poet, and author of four books. He serves as senior editor and faculty advisor for SSU’s award-winning undergraduate literary magazine, Estuary, recently recognized as the best in the nation by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. Goodly is the author of Star Power, and Black Swim, and his work has appeared in Poetry Magazine, The New Yorker, Boston Review, The Poetry Project and other prestigious publications. An RSVP via Eventbrite is requested as space is limited. Books purchased that evening will be signed by the authors. Held 6:30-7:30 p.m. at E. Shaver, Starland, 1921 Bull Street.
Saturday, October 10: The Downtown Garden Club presents the third Over the Garden Wall Tour. Guests are invited to explore a collection of beautiful private gardens followed by a cocktail reception benefiting the Savannah Tree Foundation, with proceeds earmarked for the continued preservation of Savannah’s historic Candler Oak. The seven private gardens featured on the self-guided tour are rarely seen by the public. There will be docents at each property. General admission is $50, and VIP access, which includes admission to the exclusive cocktail reception at 5:15 p.m., is $125. Tours run between 2 and 5 p.m., and all ticket holders should check in at Asher & Rye, 345 Whitaker Street, to receive wristbands and programs. Purchase your tickets for this rain-or-shine tour via Eventbrite at www.downtowngardenclub.com.
Monday, October 12: It’s Indigenous Peoples Day and many of us are off work or out of school. Consider making plans to visit one (or all) of three Coastal Heritage Society museums not normally open on Mondays: The Savannah Children’s Museum, 655 Louisville Road, is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with hands-on activities; The Georgia State Railroad Museum, 655 Louisville Road, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with special train rides running hourly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The fascinating Pin Point Heritage Museum, 9924 Pin Point Avenue, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a guided tour at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Dining news for Savannah
During National Seafood Month, Common Thread presents a Curated Catch: Stories of the Sea Wine Dinner on Wednesday, October 7, from 6-10 p.m. For one night only, the 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist restaurant features a four-course dinner focusing on the bounty of ingredients sourced from the sea. The evening begins with a welcome from Seafood Specialist Erin Arneson Purvis from the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, who is joined by a local seafood producer who shares stories about their career and stays to converse over dinner. A portion of each ticket sold supports the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Lab, where researchers cultivate high-quality oysters, train new farmers, and study aquaculture practices to strengthen Georgia’s coastal economy and the environment. Common Thread is located at 122 E. 37th Street. Reservations can be made via Resy at www.commonthreadsavannah.com.
The Blues, Brews, BBQ, & Bourbon Festival is Saturday, October 10, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Park at Eastern Wharf, 101 Port Street. Enjoy live music from three local bands, Texas-style BBQ, and unlimited tastings of more than 50 craft beers, whiskeys, and spirits. General admission is $53 and includes a 5-ounce tasting cup, and VIP admission is $131 and includes a 6-ounce tasting cup, 11 a.m. early access, premium bathroom and VIP area access, private bar, and food. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Coast Conservation Association, Georgia. Buy your tickets via Ticketstripe at www.ccaga.org/blues-brews-bbq-bourbon.
Support our local Forsyth Farmers’ Market and its year-round community programming by attending the Fall Harvest Picnic on Sunday, October 11, from 3-5:30 p.m. Enjoy a fall afternoon of barbecue, live music, and family fun under the beautiful oaks at Daffin Park at Victory Drive and Waters Avenue. Munch on locally sourced hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, desserts, and more, with vegetarian and vegan options available. All proceeds support the efforts of South Georgia’s largest farmers’ market to increase food access, improve community health, provide a 912 Food Farmacy, and double SNAP/EBT benefits at the Saturday market at Forsyth Park. Adult tickets are $35, and youth tickets are $15. Tickets are available via Eventbrite at www.forsythfarmersmarket.com. Attendees are invited to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs.
The Emporium Global Table at the Perry Lane Hotel’s Emporium Kitchen & Wine Market is a monthly multi-course dining experience inspired by destinations throughout the world. On Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m., the Emporium Global Table travels from Savannah to Argentina for an evening influenced by the country’s rich culinary and winemaking traditions. Argentina’s table is shaped by a landscape of remarkable contrasts, from sweeping grasslands to the dramatic peaks of the Andes. Throughout the evening, each of the four courses is thoughtfully paired with wines selected to offer a taste of the regions from which they come. Seating is limited for this intimate, communal dining experience. Tickets are $127, including taxes and fees, and may be purchased on Resy.
I wrote back in August about the highly anticipated opening of Recess Hotel & Club Savannah at 7 E. Congress Street. Building on the momentum generated by the award-winning Hotel Bardo Savannah, Left Lane Hospitality has transformed Savannah’s 114-year-old Manger Building into a “retro futurist” space designed to channel the playful spirit of a screen-free childhood. Following September 16’s grand opening, patrons are raving about the French Brasserie classics (with a modern twist!) at Le Flaneur as executed by Executive Chef Zach Chancey. Le Flaneur offers breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.; lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; a midday menu from 3 to 5 p.m.; and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Think about oysters, icy martinis, and steak frites and make plans to check it out for yourself!
And in other dining-adjacent news, I am happy to report that Leopold’s Ice Cream has opened in the Starland District. Visit the new location at 2400 Bull Street, where current hours are Monday through Thursday from 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee pirates, wiener dogs and garden tours ahead this week
