Choose your own Savannah holiday adventure this season

Amy Paige Condon, Savannah Morning News
·2 min read

What sparks the holiday spirit in you? Perhaps a graceful slide across the ice at the Savannah Civic Center public skating rink or a snuggle in a cozy winter yurt with your beloved at the Alida’s Alpine Village. Or maybe it's sitting in a church pew and hearing the choir's collective voice soar on "O, Holy Night."

Savannah turns out for the holidays, whether your seek festive crowds or contemplative reflection. Here are some of the Hostess City of the South's offerings this season:

Take a tour

Telfair Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Spark joy with a hot cocoa bar and cookies at the annual lighting of the Telfair Christmas tree. And gather some keepsakes for you and your family at the museum shop.

5:30 p.m., Nov. 30, Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St. Free and open to the public, telfair.org

The Grinch and Max make their way over the Talmadge Bridge on Saturday during the annual enmarket Savannah Bridge Run.
The Grinch and Max make their way over the Talmadge Bridge on Saturday during the annual enmarket Savannah Bridge Run.

Enmarket Bridge Run

Word of warning: this tour is not for the faint of heart. It is an endurance course known as the toughest bridge run in the South. As many as 3,700-plus runners and walkers register for this annual trek across the Talmadge Bridge.

Race begins at 8 a.m., Dec. 2, Hutchinson Island, savannahsportscouncil.com

A tour group stops outside the Isaiah Davenport House Museum during a walking tour.
A tour group stops outside the Isaiah Davenport House Museum during a walking tour.

Yuletide Tours

Step back into the candlelit 1800s as you tour through one of Savannah’s pearls all decked out for the season. Cider and cookies await you in the courtyard.

6-8 p.m., Dec. 8-9, Davenport House Museum, 323 E. Broughton St. (entrance), $35, davenporthousemuseum.org

Now the Green-Meldrim house on Macon Street. Item 1121-057_0145, Savannah, Gen. Sherman's Headquarters in his "March to the Sea." Record Series 1121-057, V. & J. Duncan Postcard Collection. Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives on behalf of V. & J. Duncan Antique Maps & Prints.
Now the Green-Meldrim house on Macon Street. Item 1121-057_0145, Savannah, Gen. Sherman's Headquarters in his "March to the Sea." Record Series 1121-057, V. & J. Duncan Postcard Collection. Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives on behalf of V. & J. Duncan Antique Maps & Prints.

Christmas in Wartime

Explore this historic parsonage decorated as it would have been during the period of the Civil War, 1859-1866. Music, dancing, parlor games abound, as do ghost stories.

6:30-8 p.m., Dec. 26, 27 and 28, Green-Meldrim House, 14 W. Macon St., Tickets $18 in advance, $20 at door, greenmeldrimhouse.org

All We Want for Christmas is a Song

A Christmas Tradition

For 21 years, the Historic Savannah Theatre has delighted children of all ages with song, dance and whimsy during the holidays.

8 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 24, Historic Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St., $25 (16 and under), $52-$57 (adults), savannahtheatre.com

Enchanted Noel with the Astralis Chamber Ensemble

6 p.m., Dec. 2, St. Francis of the Islands, $20, stfrancisislands.org/

All aglow: The Candlelight Concert Series features a string quartet playing classical and popular music in the round.
All aglow: The Candlelight Concert Series features a string quartet playing classical and popular music in the round.

Candlelight Holiday Concerts

Stir your soul with a live, multi-sensory musical experience as the Listeso String Quartet plays a variety of seasonal songs, from Christmas carols to popular and classical music.

6:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., Dec. 20-21, The DeSoto Savannah, 15 E. Liberty St., $49.50, feverup.com

Savannah Jazz Annual Christmas Concert

Teddy Adams and the Savannah All-Star Jazz Ensemble return for what has become a very Savannah Christmas tradition.

5-6:30 p.m., Dec. 25, Plant Riverside District’s Salzburg Ballroom, 400 W. River St. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, Eventbrite.com

Full Bags and Belly Laughs

Richard Kessler, Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection announces plans for a Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District during a press conference Thursday.
Richard Kessler, Chairman and CEO of The Kessler Collection announces plans for a Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District during a press conference Thursday.

Savannah Christmas Market and Festival of Trees

Bundle up and stroll through a European-style Christmas market with a promenade of 20 sparkly Christmas trees. Enjoy live music and a chance to share with Santa your Christmas list.

Daily through Jan. 1, Plant Riverside District, 400 W. River St., savannahchristmasmarket.com

Members of Front Porch Improv including co-founder Brianne Halverson (third from left) will be bringing their version of holiday movies to the stage over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Members of Front Porch Improv including co-founder Brianne Halverson (third from left) will be bringing their version of holiday movies to the stage over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Front Porch Improv’s Totally Made-up Holiday Movie

Drawing from the romantic, hilarious, heartwarming and mayhem-inducing tropes of holiday movies, the troupe of comedians at Front Porch Improv invent a new show on-the-spot using suggestions from the audience. You’ll chuckle. You’ll cry. You may pee your pants. But it will be worth every belly laugh.

8 p.m., Fridays, Dec. 1-29, 210 W. Victory Drive. Tickets start at $10, frontporchimprov.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Holiday happenings in Savannah Georgia