11 Best Performing Arts Venues in Savannah, Georgia

Said to be the country's oldest continuously operating theater, the beautifully maintained Savannah Theatre presents family-friendly comedies and musical revues. The 600-seat theater is a throwback to the glory days of the stage. Don't miss the Savannah Live variety show and the popular holiday production A Christmas Tradition.

Slated for demolition in 1976, the Lucas Theatre is now one of Savannah's most celebrated spaces. The beautifully renovated 1921 Beaux-Arts space hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, from ballet to bluegrass bands. It's a go-to venue for events hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Savannah Film Festival, and the Savannah Music Festival, and even occasionally screens classic and family films.

Georgia's largest and most acclaimed music festival brings together musicians from around the world for more than two weeks of unforgettable performances in late March and early April. The multigenre entertainment ranges from foot-stomping gospel to moody blues to mainstream rock to new takes on classical music. Performances take place in Savannah's premier theaters, as well as nontraditional venues like historic churches.

This intimate indie music festival held every March is a yearly "stopover" for bands headed to the massive South by Southwest event in Austin. The event features almost 100 acts in about a dozen different venues, providing indie music fans with an unmatched opportunity to experience their favorite up-and-coming acts in intimate spaces.

This star-studded affair, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design in late October and early November, offers multiple daily screenings of award-winning films in various venues on or near Broughton Street. Sir Patrick Stewart, Salma Hayek, William H. Macy, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Hugh Jackman, Ava DuVernay, and Kevin Bacon are among the celebrities who've attended in recent years. Q&A sessions with visiting celebrities and industry professionals are always popular. Be ready to purchase your screening and panel tickets as soon as sales open, as the most popular often sell out in half an hour or less.

Savannah College of Art and Design's Sidewalk Arts Festival, held the last Saturday in April, is an opportunity to experience Forsyth Park in abundant glory. At no other time in the year is the park so packed with people of all ages, coming out in droves to see students past and present take to the park's winding sidewalks with rainbow colors of chalk. By the day's end, the park is lined with out-of-this-world drawings as far as the eye can see, plus fun stains of chalk throughout the grass and on scraggling artists.

This creative, collaborative event takes place on the first Friday evening of each month throughout the Starland neighborhood. The family-friendly event features food trucks, music, art receptions, exhibits, and open studios. Check out their Instagram page for more information.

A local favorite since 1982, this free outdoor musical event is held annually in late September. Thousands of concertgoers pack Forsyth Park's expansive lawn with chairs, blankets, and picnic spreads for several nights of live jazz performances. Given the ideal weather this time of year, this festival puts Savannah's foremost green space to great use. After the evening headliner, head to local clubs to check out the nightly jam sessions, where unexpected collaborations are the norm.

This community art center and lively nexus houses working artists, dynamic events, and revolving exhibitions. It's a must during First Fridays, when visitors can wander the labyrinthine warren of studios featuring textiles, painting, sculpture, performances and more. This is also the headquarters of ARTS Southeast, a non-profit that sponsors installations around the city.

When it opened in 1946, the Trustees Theater was one of the largest movie screens in the South. Now run by the Savannah College of Art and Design, it hosts a variety of events, including the Savannah Film Festival. It's also a popular venue for concerts and lectures.

Swashbucklers and wenches descend on Tybee Island in early October for the Pirate Fest. Don your best pirate-theme costumes for the Buccaneer Ball at the Crab Shack to kick off the weekend's festivities. Saturday is the popular Pirate Victory Parade, where Butler Avenue becomes a sea of ships filled with buccaneers tossing beads and booty. Venture over to the Thieves' Market, where vendors from across the country peddle their pirate wares and arts and crafts. Fun for the whole family, the festival includes magicians, puppet shows, and storytellers. Live entertainment rounds out the experience with concert headliners like Vince Neil and Quiet Riot.