Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival Savannah 2026: Date, Food & Tips

The Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival in Savannah is one of the city's best-loved fall food events. The short answer: the 2026 festival is on Sunday, November 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Congregation Mickve Israel hosts it in and around Monterey Square. You pay for food with tickets sold in $10 increments, and you can buy them online in advance to skip the lines.

TL;DR: Shalom Y'all 2026

• When: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., per Congregation Mickve Israel.
• Where: Monterey Square on Bull Street, home to the congregation's Gothic Revival temple.
• How you pay: food tickets in $10 increments, sold at booths and online in advance.
• What to eat: past menus have included latkes, matzo ball soup, blintzes, New York-style deli sandwiches, baba ghanoush and black-and-white cookies.
• Extras: live entertainment, a kids' zone in recent years, and a tribute to veterans.
• Best move: arrive close to 11 a.m., before the lunch rush.

What Is the Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival?

Shalom Y'all is an annual one-day festival of Jewish food, music and culture. Congregation Mickve Israel has run it for more than three decades. WTOC reported that 2025 was the 36th year.

The host congregation has deep roots here. Mickve Israel was founded in 1733, the same year as the Georgia colony. It describes itself as the third-oldest Jewish congregation in America. Its first synagogue, built in 1820, was the first synagogue in Georgia.

The festival takes over one of Savannah's most beautiful squares for the day. WTOC reported that thousands of people came in 2025.

When and Where Is Shalom Y'all in 2026?

Congregation Mickve Israel's festival page lists the date as Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival centers on Monterey Square, on Bull Street between Taylor and Gordon streets. The temple sits on the square's east side. The Mercer Williams House, made famous by Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is across the square. Our guide to Savannah's squares covers Monterey and its neighbors.

Forsyth Park is just a few blocks south. That makes it easy to pair lunch at the festival with a walk under the oaks.

How Do Tickets Work?

Food is paid for with tickets, not cash at each booth. Here's what the congregation's festival page says:

• Increments: tickets are sold in $10 increments.
• Buy ahead: you can buy tickets online in advance to avoid the lines.
• Pickup: advance tickets are picked up at the congregation's office.

WTOC reported that in 2025 the festival added more ticket booths around the square. Per-dish prices for 2026 weren't posted when we checked. Confirm details on mickveisrael.org the week of the event.

What Food Will Be at the Festival?

The full 2026 menu wasn't posted in text form when we checked, but recent years give a good idea. WTOC's coverage of the 2025 festival mentioned:

• Latkes, the crisp potato pancakes.
• Matzo ball soup.
• Blintzes, thin pancakes rolled around a sweet filling.
• New York-style deli sandwiches.
• Baba ghanoush.
• Black-and-white cookies for dessert.

WTOC also noted plant-based and gluten-free options in 2025. If you have a strict dietary need, ask at the booth about ingredients. For sit-down options the rest of your trip, see our guides to gluten-free restaurants in Savannah and vegan and vegetarian restaurants.

What Else Happens at Shalom Y'all?

It's more than a food line. In 2025, WTOC reported performances by the Savannah Philharmonic and Savannah Theatre Company, plus a kids' zone with family activities.

The 2026 entertainment lineup was still listed as "coming soon" when we checked. The congregation's page says this year's festival will honor veterans with a color guard presentation and swag bags for veterans. It will also raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and the Georgia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program will take part.

Local tip: Buy your food tickets online before the weekend, then get to Monterey Square close to 11 a.m. The lunch hour brings the biggest crowds and the longest lines. Grab your latkes first, find a bench in the square, and go back for dessert once the rush thins out.

Can You Tour Temple Mickve Israel?

Yes, but not on festival day. The congregation's museum page lists docent-led tours Monday through Friday, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tours last about 45 minutes.

• Price: $14 for adults and $5 for children under 12, paid at the gift shop on arrival.
• Entrance: tours enter at 20 Wayne Street, behind the temple.
• Highlight: the museum holds a 15th-century Torah, which the congregation calls the oldest Torah in North America.

Book through the congregation's website. If you're in town for a long weekend, a Friday or Monday tour pairs well with the festival. For more historic interiors nearby, see our Savannah historic homes guide and our roundup of Savannah museums.

Is Shalom Y'all Good for Kids?

Yes. The square is open and shady, and recent festivals have included a kids' zone. Kids tend to love the latkes and black-and-white cookies. Bring a stroller-friendly plan, since the square gets crowded at lunch. Our family activities under $50 guide has ideas for the rest of the day.

Where Should You Park?

Street parking near Monterey Square fills up fast on festival day. Plan to park a few blocks away or use a city garage and walk. Our Historic District parking guide covers garages and meters. If you're staying downtown, skip the car altogether. Our walkability guide explains why most visitors don't need one.

Where Should You Stay?

Stay in the Historic District so you can walk to the square. The Mansion on Forsyth Park is a few blocks south of Monterey Square. Our best Historic District hotels guide compares more options.

What Else Is Going On in Savannah That Weekend?

Early November is one of the nicest times to visit, with cooler weather and fewer summer crowds. Our Savannah in November guide covers weather and other events for the month. If you love festival food, the Savannah Greek Festival is another fall food festival hosted by a local congregation. For dinner after the festival, browse our Historic District restaurant guide.

Bottom Line

The Shalom Y'all Jewish Food Festival runs Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Monterey Square. Buy food tickets online ahead of time, arrive early, and come hungry for latkes, matzo ball soup and deli sandwiches. Add a weekday tour of Temple Mickve Israel if you can. Confirm the final menu, entertainment and ticket details on the congregation's website the week of the festival. For more fall ideas, see our Savannah in fall guide.