Twelve Bars of Christmas Savannah 2026: Dates, Tickets & Tips

The Twelve Bars of Christmas in Savannah is a holiday-attire bar crawl through downtown, and the 2026 edition is set for Saturday, December 12, from 4 to 10 PM. The short answer: buy early, pick up your packet at Stafford's Public House between 4 and 8 PM, bring a 21+ ID, and crawl the participating bars at your own pace. If that date doesn't work, a separate Christmas bar crawl runs a week later on December 19.

TL;DR: Savannah Christmas Bar Crawls 2026

• Twelve Bars of Christmas: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 4-10 PM, run by Savannah Bar Crawl. Packet pickup at Stafford's Public House, 4-8 PM.
• Prices rise as the date gets closer: $14.99 through October 16, then $19.99, $24.99, $29.99, and $39.99 on the day, per event listings.
• The second option: a 12 Bars of Christmas crawl run by Crawl With US on Saturday, December 19, 2026, checking in at Barrelhouse South on West Congress Street.
• Both are 21+: bring a valid ID. Drinking is optional at the December 12 crawl.
• Dress up: ugly sweaters, Santa suits, and elf costumes are the whole point.

What Is the Twelve Bars of Christmas?

It's a self-paced bar crawl through Savannah's downtown, themed around holiday costumes. You check in, get a scorecard and map of the participating bars, and work your way through them in whatever order you like. Each stop stamps your card. There is no big group march from bar to bar, so you can move with your own friends and skip the lines.

The organizer, Savannah Bar Crawl, pitches it as "a snail's pace 5K" around downtown: the full loop covers about 3.1 miles on foot. That's real walking in December, so wear shoes you can stand in for six hours.

It's the same organizer behind several of the city's themed crawls through the year. If you liked a Halloween crawl or our haunted pub crawl guide, this is the holiday version with more tinsel.

When Is the 2026 Twelve Bars of Christmas?

The 2026 crawl is on Saturday, December 12, 2026. Event listings show it running from 4 PM to 10 PM. Photos with Santa are offered from 4 to 8 PM.

That date lands in the middle of Savannah's busiest holiday stretch. The Lighted Christmas Street Parade also starts from Plant Riverside District at 5:30 PM that evening, so expect crowds and street closures near the river. The same weekend is a good one to pair with the Christmas lights in Savannah or other picks from our Savannah Christmas events guide. Downtown hotels fill up on December weekends, so book your room early.

How Much Are Tickets?

Ticket prices go up in steps, so the earlier you buy, the less you pay. Event listings for the December 12 crawl show these tiers:

• $14.99 through October 16, 2026
• $19.99 through October 31, 2026
• $24.99 through November 28, 2026
• $29.99 through December 11, 2026
• $39.99 on the day of the crawl

Buy through the organizer's site, savannahbarcrawl.com, and confirm the current price there. Listings may not reflect last-minute changes.

What Does a Ticket Include?

According to the organizer, a ticket covers:

• No cover charge at the participating downtown bars
• Drink specials at participating locations
• A scorecard and map of the route
• Free photos with Santa from 4 to 8 PM
• An event t-shirt for early finishers, while supplies last

T-shirts are limited. Different listings give different numbers (first 100 vs. first 200 people), so don't count on one if you start late. Drinks themselves are not included. You pay for whatever you order, and the specials vary by bar.

Where Do You Check In?

Packet pickup is at Stafford's Public House, listed at 306 W Upper Factors Walk, between 4 and 8 PM. Factors Walk is the stack of old cotton warehouses between Bay Street and River Street, so expect stairs, cobblestones, and steep ramps. Event listings also point to McDonough's for t-shirt pickup later in the evening. Check the confirmation email for final locations.

The organizer hadn't posted the full 2026 bar list as of early October. Expect a mix of downtown pubs and late-night spots, many of them close to the bars in our best bars on River Street guide.

Local tip: Savannah lets you walk between bars with a drink in the Historic District, but only in a plastic cup of 16 ounces or less, one drink per person. No glass, no cans. Read our to-go cup rules guide before you go, and ask the bartender for a to-go cup instead of walking out with a glass.

Is There Another Christmas Bar Crawl in Savannah?

Yes. A different company, Crawl With US, runs its own 12 Bars of Christmas crawl on Saturday, December 19, 2026. Check-in is at Barrelhouse South, 125 West Congress Street, starting at 4 PM.

Its listings differ in a few details. The organizer's own page lists 10 participating bars from 4 to 10 PM, including Stafford's, Churchill's, Pour Larry's, and Dub's Pub, with an after party. Its Eventbrite page lists 12 bars and runs until 11:59 PM, with some drinks included in the ticket. Check the organizer's page for the current bar list, hours, and what your ticket covers before you buy.

Which to pick? If you want the original Savannah event with Santa photos and a scorecard, go with December 12. If you're in town the following weekend, or want a ticket with drinks built in, look at December 19.

Do You Have to Drink?

No. For the December 12 crawl, the organizer says drinking is 100% optional. You don't have to buy a drink to get your scorecard stamped or earn a shirt. That makes it easy for designated drivers and sober friends to join in costume.

You do need to be 21 or older with a valid ID, even if you aren't drinking. Bars check at the door.

What Should You Wear?

Holiday attire is the theme: ugly sweaters, Santa suits, elf hats, reindeer antlers, light-up necklaces. Savannah in mid-December is usually mild by day and cool after dark, so dress in layers you can peel off inside crowded bars. Our Savannah in winter guide covers what December feels like and what to pack.

Skip anything that's hard to walk in. Factors Walk and River Street are paved with uneven historic stone.

Tips for a Good Night

• Buy early. The cheapest tier ends October 16, and prices climb every few weeks after that.
• Arrive near 4 PM. Early arrivals get the Santa photos, shorter lines, and a better shot at a t-shirt.
• Eat first. Get a real meal before you start. Our River Street restaurants guide has options near check-in.
• Plan your ride home. Don't drive. Stay downtown, or line up a rideshare. Our guide to walking Savannah at night has more on getting around after dark.
• Charge your phone. You'll want it for photos, the map, and your ride.

Where to Stay for the Crawl

A hotel in the Historic District or on River Street puts you close to check-in and saves you a late-night ride. Browse our best Historic District hotels or the full Savannah hotels directory.

Planning a group trip around it? The crawl fits easily into a Savannah bachelorette party or a December girls' weekend. If part of your group would rather skip the bars, send them to the ideas in our things to do at night besides bars guide.

Bottom Line

The Twelve Bars of Christmas in Savannah runs Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 4 to 10 PM, starting at Stafford's Public House on Factors Walk. Tickets start at $14.99 and rise to $39.99 on the day, so buy early. Bring a 21+ ID, wear a festive outfit you can walk in, and use plastic to-go cups between stops. If the 12th doesn't fit your trip, Crawl With US runs its own Christmas crawl from Barrelhouse South on December 19. Confirm details on each organizer's site before you go.