Did you know that Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in all of America? When you wander around our city, you can’t walk 10 feet without running into a supernaturally charged building or hearing a story from any of the locals about the ghosts they’ve seen in the area. Any time of year, you are sure to walk by a tour, featuring an expert explaining why every square in the city holds some sort of terrifying significance but this season is special to us. With Halloween right around the corner, you’ll see an upswing in themed events and costumes presented in shops all over. Keep on reading to find out what’s happening in Savannah for Halloween 2022, there’s always something insane going on.
The Dinner Detective
4.5 ★
Unlike any Murder Mystery show you’ve ever seen or attended, The Dinner Detective features actors who aren’t in costume and are hidden in the audience. You might be surprised to find out that YOU might have had a hand in the murder taking place. Set in the present time, with meals, drinks and snacks served seamlessly during the entire experience, you have the opportunity to get fully immersed in the entire experience with The Dinner Detective. While this company offers their services from September through October, there is no better time than Halloween season to indulge in this crafty activity reminiscent of a new age CLUE. Presented by The Holiday Inn on Bryan Street in the Historic District on Saturdays from 6-9, you will want to go ahead and book your tickets now!
Vampire Ball
4.6 ★
Hosted at the Ships of the Sea Museum on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Downtown Savannah, the third annual Vampire Ball has found a new home for the creatures of the night. Plenty of parking will be available for all ball attendees and advance tickets are available now. Get all goth-ed out and prepare for a night of epic music, vendors and a generally great time. Whether your favorite dark era is something Victorian, Steampunk, Edwardian or even Cosplay, there’s plenty of space for you at the Vampire Ball. Be sure to bring a selection of canned goods as this event is donating proceeds to Savannah’s EMMAUS HOUSE, an unrestricted soup kitchen where no one gets turned away, no questions asked. Any cans brought in can be redeemed for raffle tickets to enjoy activities at the event.
Wag-O-Ween
5.0 ★
Wag-O-Ween is focused more on your four-legged friends and is tons of fun every year. On the weekend of October 22 & 23, over 100 local businesses will be providing dog treats and fun activities for all dogs in attendance. If you needed an excuse to wear that matching outfit you’ve been saving for you and your pup, this event is for you. Funds raised for this event all go to support local animal rescues, aiding in spay and neuter programs and helping to inform the community through educational programs throughout the city. Go ahead and plan to dress your pups up or even borrow a costume from the costume photo booth. Check out the website for information on pre-event activities like costumed walks happening in various places around the city. A wristband system is in place, only one wristband is needed for every dog participating (regardless of how many humans are coming along with) but all band proceeds go to a great cause so don’t hesitate to purchase more than one!
Trick-Or-Read at Neighborhood Comics
4.8 ★
If you find yourself at Wag-O-Ween this year, you are sure to run into the Neighborhood Comics booth at the event but even if you don’t have a dog to attend that event, you can still get some comic time in on the same day. From 10 am on October 22 until 6 pm on October 23 you can head over to Neighborhood Comics on Bull St for a FREE comic style event. While supplies last, you can come by and grab some free comics and check out the store while you’re at it. This event goes on in tandem with Wag-O-Ween so don’t have to, but can bring your puppy out for a free treat as well.
4 Nights of Halloween at Bonaventure
4.6 ★
When you want to experience all of what a tour through Georgia’s most haunted city without having to navigate the huge groups that line our streets during the Halloween season, you sign up for one of Bonaventure Cemetery’s 4 Nights of Halloween. On any of these four evenings from October 28th through October 31st , get yourself locked in to Bonaventure Cemetery for a private and intimate tour of the area while learning about serial killers, secret societies and more. Unlike the normal tours that are hosted throughout the year, this particular series is only available during the weekend leading up to Halloween. Participating in this tour will end with a swag bag and signed poster, designed by your host Doctor Buzzard. If you are really dedicated to the full experience, one night only (October 29th) also includes a special dinner with a full bar and the opportunity to win prizes.
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Savannah Pride Festival
4.9 ★
Three full days of Pride celebration are going down this year in Savannah’s Historic District and you won’t want to miss a second of the fun. From the free “Masqueerade” party on October 27th in Starland Yard, to Ellis Square on October 28th – 29th where the full Savannah Pride Festival event will go down. Musical acts, performances of all kinds, carnival games and much more (in costume, of course) will take over the streets of Savannah on the weekend before Halloween. You won’t want to miss this iconic celebration presented by and benefiting The First City Pride Center.
A Nightmare on Congress Street (Bar Crawl)
4.8 ★
Paced exactly as fast or slow as your group wants, A Nightmare on Congress Street is THE bar crawl to attend for Halloween season here in Savannah’s Downtown Historic District. Even if you aren’t as invested in drinking, there’s no reason you can’t participate in this event happening on October 29th. All you have to do is purchase a ticket, show up to grab your scorecard and make sure that the door man at every participating bar marks that you were in attendance. For those who want to take advantage of drink specials, participating bars like Barrelhouse, Eclipse and many others will have a special menu for bar crawl participants. Throughout the evening, you and your friends will explore various bars in Savannah while in costume with the intent of finishing up to win a tshirt and maybe even the 2,000$ prize for best outfit. Have plenty of fun while gathering special swag from the evening and participate in one of Savannah’s most popular themed bar crawls.
Oktoberfest Plant Riverside
4.5 ★
Throughout the entire month of October, you have yet another reason to make your way down to Plant Riverside for their second annual Oktoberfest celebration. What starts in the last week of September and follows through until October 29th is a blend of traditions from Germany ranging from the classics to some new twists. Family friendly in nature, this is a series of events for all age groups at the Plant Riverside District Pavilion Stage. Polka music, bratwurst eating contests, stein holding contests and more can be found on the infamous Plant Riverside district this October. Take some time to check in on the surrounding area bars for specialty drinks and meals that fit right in with the trend. From 1-4 pm every Saturday in October, there is something to be found at Oktoberfest Plant Riverside.
Forsyth Park Halloween Costume Crawl
4.7 ★
Have you ever seen what Savannah turns into during the weeks leading up to (and even the week after) Halloween? Even the local hermits love to come outside and watch all of the outlandish costumes that line the streets of Savannah’s Historic District. Here’s you chance to get all dolled up and even win a cash prize if your costume is the best. For the first time ever, come out and participate in a city wide costume contest in Forsyth Park. Yes, the park with the big white fountain that everyone takes photos at is where you can show out with your best costumes on October 30th from 2-6 pm. Prizes range for different categories with the grand prize being 1,000$ given out by a panel of celebrity judges. Visit their website to find out how you can even participate online! Alongside the costume contest, there will be food trucks, trick-or-treat bags and plenty of other activities to keep you busy.
Murder on the Front
4.7 ★
Front Porch Improv is one of our favorite groups to mention here at The Savannah Insider because they always have something fun going on in our Historic District. When you want to see what a bunch of professional goofballs can do to have you laughing hysterically, you check their calender to see what’s up with them. Right before Halloween on October 28-29, you can check out this 90 minute show hosted at the Front Porch building on Victory Drive. If you have never been to a Front Porch Improv show, or you have and already know what they have to offer, here is your chance to hang out with Savannah’s “Leading force in the Comedy scene” for an interactive experience that is truly unlike any other offered in this area.
Conclusion
Well, what are you waiting for? Now that you know how much is going on for the weekend of Halloween here in one of America’s most haunted cities, there is no reason for you to not go book something to do from Friday-Monday. Savannah is an incredible place to visit regardless of what holiday might be taking over but Halloween is the one time of year when you can dress up like any character and show out. There’s nothing better than a trip to our favorite city, except for maybe an excuse to wear outlandish costumes while taking advantage of our rich history and insane party scene. No matter what you pick from our list, you are sure to have the time of your life and create memories that will last far longer than your Instagram and Snapchat stories. Savannah takes all holidays seriously, but Halloween pushes the bar much higher and you will want to come back every year for more fun. Keep coming back to The Savannah Insider here at cyclesavannah.com for information on where to eat, drink, party and stay when you are vacationing in Savannah. There’s always something new to talk about and we are ready to be the ones to tell you about it!