Things to do in Savannah on Thanksgiving weekend go well beyond dinner. The short answer: Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the weekend is when Savannah flips into holiday mode. Take a riverboat cruise on Thursday, shop the free Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside, see the opening weekend of the holiday lights at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, and catch the Lighted Boat Parade on River Street Saturday night.
TL;DR: Savannah Thanksgiving Weekend 2026
- The dates: Thursday, November 26 through Sunday, November 29, 2026.
- Thanksgiving Day outing: Savannah Riverboat Cruises runs a holiday buffet cruise at lunch and dinner.
- Free all weekend: the Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside, open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting November 19.
- Friday night: December Nights & Holiday Lights opens at Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens on November 27.
- Saturday's big event: the 25th annual Savannah Lighted Boat Parade, 7 to 9 p.m. on November 28. It's free to watch.
- Plan around closures: Fort Pulaski and Wormsloe both close on Thanksgiving Day, then reopen Friday.
What Is There to Do in Savannah on Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving Day itself is quiet. Many shops and attractions close, and locals are at home cooking. That makes it a lovely day to walk the Historic District, as long as you plan around a few closures.
Take a Thanksgiving Riverboat Cruise
The easiest way to turn the holiday meal into an outing is a cruise with Savannah Riverboat Cruises. On November 26, 2026, it runs two Thanksgiving buffet cruises from River Street:
- Lunch: boarding at 11:30 a.m., cruising 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
- Dinner: boarding at 4 p.m., cruising 5 to 7 p.m.
- Price: $115.95 for adults and $68.95 for children 5-12, per the company's seasonal cruise page. Kids 4 and under ride free. Taxes and fees are extra.
Our Savannah riverboat cruise guide covers what to expect on board. If you'd rather eat on land, see our list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Savannah.
Walk the Squares and Forsyth Park
A morning walk before the big meal is a Savannah tradition for many visiting families. The squares are free, open, and nearly empty on Thanksgiving morning. Start at the river, head south through a few squares, and finish under the oaks in Forsyth Park.
Our guide to Savannah's squares has a route and the story behind each one.
Know What's Closed
Two of the area's best-known historic sites close on Thanksgiving Day. The National Park Service lists Fort Pulaski as closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Georgia State Parks lists Wormsloe State Historic Site as closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Save both for Friday.
For anything else, check holiday hours before you drive out. Smaller museums and shops often close for the day.
What Should You Do on Black Friday in Savannah?
Friday is when the weekend really starts. Attractions reopen, and the holiday season kicks off in earnest.
Shop the Savannah Christmas Market
The Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District runs from November 19, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Plant Riverside's official page lists these details:
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, rain or shine.
- Admission: free.
- What's there: a European-style outdoor market with more than 250 vendor stalls, live entertainment, photos with Santa, a Festival of Trees, and holiday food and drink.
Plant Riverside notes that some vendors may close on Thanksgiving Day, so Friday is the better day to shop. Parking on site is paid. Our Plant Riverside District guide covers the rest of the complex.
Visit Fort Pulaski or Wormsloe
Both reopen after the holiday. Fort Pulaski sits on Cockspur Island on the way to Tybee. Wormsloe's famous oak-lined avenue is about 20 minutes south of downtown. Late November weather is usually cool and dry, which makes either one a comfortable half-day outing.
See December Nights & Holiday Lights
Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens opens its walk-through holiday light display, December Nights & Holiday Lights, on Friday, November 27, 2026. It runs through December 24, according to WTOC. The 50-acre gardens are lit with illuminated walking trails.
Ticket prices and nightly hours for 2026 weren't posted yet when we checked, so confirm on the gardens' website before you go. Don't mix it up with the smaller Savannah Botanical Gardens on Eisenhower Drive.
For the drive-thru show at the fairgrounds, the holiday lights trolley tour, and free lights downtown, see our guide to Christmas lights in Savannah, GA.
What's Happening Saturday, November 28?
Saturday is the biggest day of the weekend, with two free downtown events and a farmers market in the morning.
If you want a ticketed show too, South Carolina Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Johnny Mercer Theatre at 5:30 p.m. on November 28. See our Nutcracker in Savannah guide for tickets and how to pair it with the parade.
Morning: Forsyth Farmers' Market
The Forsyth Farmers' Market runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the south end of Forsyth Park, year-round and rain or shine. The market notes its schedule can shift for weather or other reasons, so check its site the week of. It's a good place to pick up local food gifts.
Evening: The Savannah Lighted Boat Parade
The 25th annual Savannah Lighted Boat Parade runs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2026. Per the Savannah's Waterfront event page, more than 30 decorated boats, led by the Georgia Queen riverboat, loop twice between Eastern Wharf and the Talmadge Bridge. They pass Plant Riverside District and all of River Street along the way.
There are three good ways to watch:
- Eastern Wharf: the Holiday Kickoff there includes the lighting of the Eastern Wharf Christmas trees, a visit from Santa, food trucks, and entertainment.
- River Street: the promenade is free and central. Our River Street guide covers parking and the best stretches.
- On the water: Savannah Riverboat Cruises runs a Boat Parade of Lights cruise, boarding at 6 p.m. and sailing 7 to 9 p.m. Its site lists $82.95 for adults and $49.95 for kids 5-12, with heavy hors d'oeuvres included.
Local tip: For the Lighted Boat Parade, claim your River Street spot before dark, and dress warmer than you think you need to. It gets chilly by the water after sunset in late November. If you want a riverfront dinner table that night, book it now. Window seats along River Street go first.
What Can You Do on Sunday Before Heading Home?
Keep Sunday easy. Have a late brunch, take one more lap of the Christmas Market, or ride a trolley loop to see the parts of downtown you missed. Our Savannah trolley tours guide compares the hop-on, hop-off options.
If you have a car and a free afternoon, the beach is about 30 minutes away. Tybee is quiet in late November, which is part of its charm. Our Tybee Island day trip guide has a simple plan.
Is Thanksgiving Weekend Good for Families?
Yes. Most of the weekend's best events are free or cheap and work well with kids. The Christmas Market has photos with Santa. The Lighted Boat Parade is free, and Santa also visits the Eastern Wharf Holiday Kickoff. On the riverboat cruises, kids 4 and under ride free.
For more low-cost ideas, see our family-friendly Savannah activities under $50.
Where Should You Stay Thanksgiving Weekend?
Stay downtown if you can. Almost everything on this list is walkable from the Historic District or the riverfront, and parking gets tight on parade night. Thanksgiving week is one of the busier stretches of an otherwise quiet November, so book your room early. Our Savannah in November guide covers weather, crowds, and hotel rates for the month.
If you want to be right on the parade route, the JW Marriott Plant Riverside puts you steps from the Christmas Market and the river.
Bottom Line
Thanksgiving weekend 2026 in Savannah runs November 26-29, and it's one of the best times of year to visit. Cruise or stroll on Thursday. Shop the Christmas Market and see a historic site on Friday, then the botanical garden lights that night. Save Saturday evening for the Lighted Boat Parade, and take it slow on Sunday. Book cruises, dinners, and hotels early, and confirm 2026 hours and prices directly. For the rest of the holiday season, see our Savannah Christmas events guide.
