Great-tasting October Event: Savannah Jewish Food Festival in Forsyth Park

Bring your empty stomach to one of the most popular and unique food festivals is coming to Forsyth Park on Sunday, October 28, 2012:  the Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival!  Our Savannah inns offer first-class accommodations and amenities during this annual event.

Now in its 24th year, this tasty event offers food, music, dance, and kids shows from 11am to 4pm.  Getting into the park is free - but you'll want to buy plenty of $1 food tickets to taste your way through the many booths serving such treats as: sandwiches, noodles, potato latkes, blintzes, strudel, challah, sodas, a variety of other kosher foods... and of course homemade sweets!

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy all the great food and fun!  Over 10,000 attendees are expected, meaning that lines for tickets can be long.  But fear not - closer to the time of the festival, advance tickets will be available at discounted prices.  You can pick up your pre-purchased tickets before the event, and avoid waiting in those pesky lines!

The Festival is hosted by Congregation Mickve Israel, a Reform synagogue that is the third oldest in America at 279 years.  The church itslef is the only neo-Gothic style synagogue in America, and tours are available to see this amazing building and in-house museum.

Another reason to stay at a Romantic Inns of Savannah bed and breakfast:  three of our inns are adjacent to the park, meaning you can pretty much walk out the front door and be there within seconds.  Even if you are here for another reason, the scents of the festival will draw you right over!  The remainder of our current member establishments are well within a mile of Forsyth Park, allowing you to work off some of the great food during the short walk to the event!  So skip the hotels and choose your favorite historic inn during your Savannah food festival vacation!

The 2012 Jazz Festival Brings Music, Food, and Fun to Savannah

In late 1982, three students from Ben Tucker's Jazz Appreciation course at what is now Savannah State University decided to take their love of Jazz to the next level.  After some discussion, The Coastal Jazz Association was created with the purpose of sharing the music they so loved with others, and to support jazz education by sponsoring scholarships for students.  To further these efforts, the group decided to showcase local artists with the Savannah Jazz Festival on October 1, 1983.  The rest, as they say, is history.  This coastal celebration has continued through today, and the member B and Bs of the Romantic Inns of Savannah welcome you as our guests during this year's Festival, being held from September 23-30, 2012!

Savannah's Jazz scene has long followed that of New Orleans.  With deep southern roots, a creative environment, and an influx of different musical talents through the nearby military bases, the jazz movement flourished in our beautiful city from the start.  In fact, we have produced some worldwide jazz talents in the form of Jabbo Smith, Trummy Young, Ben Riley, and James Moody.  Even the Jazz Association's own Teddy Adams has performed both here and around the globe, and still performs at the Jazz Festival each year.  These greats have inspired others from the area to contribute to this musical genre, giving the annual event reason to stay alive.

Now in its 29th year, the Jazz Festival draws attendees from the local area, around the United States, and even from other countries.  Featuring 18 different performances, workshops, seminars, and a film viewing, there is truly something for all jazz appreciators and musicians.  The free-to-the-public event even offers an opening-night Jam Session with Teddy Adams, and three additional late-night jam sessions, where anyone and everyone can join in the music (bring your own instrument)!  All activities take place at Forsyth Park in the Heart of the Historic District and Blowin' Smoke BBQ, just east of the Park at 514 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (very easy walking distance from the Festival).

Speaking of food, there will be no shortage of nourishment, as Blowin' Smoke and a number of other local eateries will offer food and drink throughout the week.  Great food and great music at a landmark event... what more could you ask for?

For the first time this year, the event will host the Coastal Jazz Association Golf Tournament on September 24th, 2012 at the Club of Savannah Harbor!  Groups of four will be assembled to play through the tournament, which features live Jazz during lunch, a Hole 17 Hole-in-One prize of a Buick Verano, and a raffle and auction.  Mulligans are available!!!  Early-bird registration prices are active through August 23, 2012.  Registration deadline is September 6, 2012.

Let's recap.

What:  Savannah Jazz Festival
When:  September 23-30, 2012
Venues:  Forsyth Park and Blowin' Smoke
Admission:  FREE!!!

35,000 attendees are expected during the Festival, meaning that rooms will fill up quickly for these dates!  Staying at a RIOS establishment makes attending a breeze, as many of our members are within a block of Forsyth Park itself, and all of our current members are within one mile of both event sites!  So make your Jazz Festival vacation plans at your favorite Savannah Inn for first-class accommodations with all the comforts of home!

Savannah's Gay Pride Festival Offers GLBT-Friendly Fun

Sometimes you find what you least expect, even in Savannah.  While the city is known for its history, natural beauty, and southern traditions, we have some more colorful events that happen each year.  On September 8, 2012, The Hostess City of the South, and our Romantic Inns, will welcome members, family, and friends of the LGBT community to historic Forsyth Park during the annual Gay Pride Festival.

Now in its 13th year, the event has evolved from its initial 2000-person attendance into one of the largest in the state.  Second only to Atlanta, the Savannah festival now sees over 10,000 people attend each year!

The Festival offers vendors, food, a family area plenty of fun kids' activities, some amazing live performances, and more.  Performers during the show include Liquid Ginger, Foxx Cabaret, Spykey van Dykey, Vida DeVoid's Burlesque Show, and many more!  Club One hosts the pre- and post-parties on both Friday and Saturday nights.  Lady Chablis will be at Club One on Friday.  Area businesses also join in, hosting events and gatherings throughout the entire weekend.

To keep areas around the park as traffic-free as possible, free parking and shuttle service are offered at the old Sears building at Henry and Bull streets.  There is a $5 admission fee to the Festival, which runs from 11:30 am to 10pm.

Visitors to Savannah from all walks of life are also fascinated with the Festival, and we receive guests from diverse backgrounds during this weekend.  When you stay, you can choose to attend the Forsyth Park celebrations, or you can stick to other areas of town with less activity.  Forsyth Park is central to many of our member inns, and just a short walk from others.  Interested in the Festival?  Choose a B and B in the southern part of the Historic District that is closer to the Park for easy walking access.  Interested in seeing the rest of the city?  Choose one of our member inns to the north, closer to River Street and the Riverfront.

No matter what you choose to do in Savannah, we welcome you to our homes as our guests.  So choose a room at one of our beautiful inns as a perfect lodging option for a relaxing Georgia vacation!

Forsyth Park is a Beautiful Savannah Natural Attraction

Savannah is a town of amazing natural beauty. Strolling through our streets is a refreshing experience. While many U.S. cities are more concrete than green, our town was designed around green space. As you make your way throughout Savannah's Historic District, you will notice the 'squares': signature landmark green spaces built into the very plan of our city. Almost every nine-block area contains one 'square' of green space in the middle - think of them as mini-parks. However, as you explore the Historic District further, you are bound to run into a massive green area in the center of town. This 20-acre area is known as Forsyth Park, is the center of many of our city's outdoor events, and is used by residents and visitors alike for outdoor activities.

With a history dating back to the early 1700s the original park lands were home to much of our earliest British and European settlers, and later hosted Civil war encampments before settling into the role of parade grounds, and then to the Forsyth Park we know today. The park itself was created in the 1840s when William Hodgson, who thought that the city needed a park, donated 10 acres of land. In 1851 the park was expanded to 30 acres after a donation of land by Georgia Governor John Forsyth, and the park was subsequently named in his honor.

In 1858, the park became home to a Parisian-inspired cast iron fountain designed to resemble the structure at Place de la Concorde. This same fountain still stands on the north end of the park today. Each year, the waters at Forsyth Fountain are colored green for Saint Patrick's Day to commemorate Savannah's strong Irish heritage, and is one if the park's most-visited attractions.

The center of the park is home to the Confederate Memorial Statue to commemorate those who gave their life fighting for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The park is also home to a one-mile walking/skating/biking path that passes beneath moss-draped oaks, an amphitheater, an amazing-smelling garden for the blind, tennis and basketball courts, large grassy areas for picnics and social sports, the Savannah Shamrocks Rugby Club's home field, and Savannah's official Christmas tree in December.

The park is located in Savannah's Historic District, surrounded by bordered by stately mansions lining Gaston Street on the north, Drayton Street on the east, Park Avenue on the south and Whitaker Street on the west. On any given day at the park you may see wedding tents, outdoor concerts, soccer tournaments, exhibits, and tennis matches. You will definitely see plenty of people and lots of natural beauty!

If you are planning a Savannah getaway, Forsyth Park is definitely a sight to see during your time here! Our member innkeepers can give you additional ideas of places to explore within the park, and will have your cozy room ready for your return.

Things to Do in Savannah GA, Picnic in the Park, BBQ

October 2, 2011 there are many fun things to do in Savannah GA a few of which are a Picnic in the Park on Forsyth and also the 2nd annual BBQ, Brews and Bluegrass at the Roundhouse Museum.

Picnic in the Park is a beloved Savannah tradition that takes place in Forsyth Park on Sunday October 2, 2011 beginning at 3pm.  The event will feature an evening filled with live music and family picnics big and small.  Entertainment this year will be provided by Eddie Wilson and The Strings of the South.

This years picnic themes for the contest will be 'Greenest Picnic' and 'Rock & Run' in celebration of the runners, volunteers and upcoming event, Savannah Rock n Roll Marathon, promises to put Savannah on the running map.  Come to the picnic dress as your favorite rock star or athlete and enter the WSAV Look-a-like Contest!

Also there will be the 2nd Annual BBQ, Brews and Bluegrass festival on Sunday October 2, 2011 from 3pm -7pm.  This event is The Next Generation's Annual Fundraiser for the Children's Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center.  Last year this event raised $25,000 for the Children's Hospital and the look forward to another great year.

The festival will be at The Roundhouse Railroad Museum at 303 MLK Jr Blvd. and will feature music from The Jimmy Wolling Bluegrass Band and also The Marshall Brothers.  There are going to be kids activities such as FREE train rides, face painting, pumpkin patch, Arts & Crafts and much more.

Food will be available to purchase from the Smokin' Pig BBQ, Whistle Stop Cafe and Wright Square Cafe.  A Cash Bar will be available as will free Coca-Cola products.  Tickets are $20 per person (kids 12 and under are FREE) and may be purchased by clicking here.

As you can see there are many wonderful and family fun things to do in Savannah GA.  Book your overnight lodging with one of our many fine Savannah Inns.

Savannah College of Art & Design Annual Sidewalk Art Festival

The Savannah College of Art and Design's annual Sidewalk Arts Festival in Savannah GA draws thousands of visitors each year to view temporary chalk masterpieces created by SCAD students, alumni and prospective students on the sidewalks of historic Forsyth Park.

The event has been the cornerstone of SCAD's spring activities and marks it's 30th Anniversary in 2011 and features a chalk art competition, children's drawing areas for young artists, food, drinks and music.

The participants will be judged for first, second and third place monetary prizes. The artists represent many areas of study from animation to architecture in the three categories of student, alumni and prospective student.

The Sidewalk Arts festivities will be kicked off by Films in Forsyth, SCAD's outdoor film series for the SCAD and Savannah communities. "Goonies" will be screened on Thursday April 28, 2011 and "Toy Story 3" will be shown on Friday, April 29, 20011. Both movies begin at dusk, around 8pm.

Admission to the SCAD’s Arts Festival is FREE and open to the public.

While planning your romantic getaway to Savannah GA, be sure to visit these Savannah Georgia Bed and Breakfasts for your ideal choice in lodging accomodations.  We have many wonderful and luxurious Inns ready to serve you.