Happy Friday, Savannah. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In today’s edition: Stormwater fee vote, Savannah holiday tree lighting, Elf the Musical, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Proactive stormwater strategy: Savannah City Council will vote Dec. 11 on a stormwater utility fee with tiered residential rates and $4.75 per ERU for nonresidential, expected to start July 2026 if approved — see what’s in the proposal.

Lowcountry housing boom accelerates: More than 650 single-family homes are planned in Jasper County, with Trilogy Investment Co. delivering sites to NVR and 414 underway at Hardeeville’s Heron Pointe plus more at East Argent — get details on both projects.

From CPA to brewmaster: Two Tides Brewing Company in Savannah expands its community-driven empire and hosts its 6th annual Metal Fest on November 28 at 4 p.m., featuring free all-ages live music — see the lineup and details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: Last week, my step-dad got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Annual plans are 55% off until Sunday — check it out here.

Highlights this week

• Enjoy holiday karaoke, gifts, pet parade
• Celebrate the season at Savannah Christmas Market
• Get tickets for Savannah Santa Train
• Celebrate Christmas at Red Gate Farms
• Celebrate Savannah’s glittering Christmas benefiting single moms
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals
• Pet parents: Don’t miss Chewy’s Black Friday sale

🫶 We got your back

Advocacy meets empathy in care: MiraSol Health is hosting a free national panel on the future of caregiving, moderated by CEO James Dismond, with clips from the PBS documentary Caregiving (executive produced by Bradley Cooper). Expect personal stories, systemic challenges, and solutions. It’s the finale of the Empowering Caregiver Series. Registration is required. Get event details and RSVP.

Neighbors lifting holiday spirits: Savannah Morning News’ Empty Stocking Fund, a 53-year tradition with the Salvation Army, is underway now through Dec. 24 to help families in need, so Santa has backup. Donations have dipped since COVID, but every dollar buys toys for kids, gift cards for teens, and food boxes. In 2022, it raised $63,000 for 1,800 people. Learn how you can help.

Vinyl with a twist: In the Starland District, Graveface Records & Curiosities pairs deep new and used crates with delightfully odd shelf-mates: bitters, cocktail gear, toys, games, taxidermy, even guitar pedals. Leave with a killer LP… plus something charmingly unnecessary for your shelf.

Health drinks that don’t taste like grass: With tasty tea and matcha blends for everything from recovery and radiant skin to energy without the crash, a metabolism boost, and immune support, everything in Pique’s lineup tastes as good as it makes you feel. They’re clean, there are no additives, and all new monthly subscriptions are 20% off for liferight now. Yup… literally forever (or until you cancel).

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎄 Savannah Holiday Tree Lighting @ City Market | Friday (11/28) at 5:00pm – Head to Broughton and Bull for Savannah’s holiday switch-flip, where a 30-foot tree gets its glow-up, and we all pretend we haven’t seen lights before. Expect a mini concert, live music, cameos, and photo op with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, if you beat the line.

🎤 Gregg Russell Thanksgiving Concert @ Liberty Oak Tree in Harbour Town | Friday (11/28) at 7:30pm – Skip the leftovers and head to Harbour Town for Gregg Russell under the Liberty Oak, the tree lighting, and a healthy dose of small-town magic. Santa pops in 5:30 to 7 pm, so corral the grandkids, sip some cocoa, and pretend you’re not tearing up.

This weekend

🦪 Oyster Roast @ Black Marlin Bayside Grill & Hurricane Bar | Saturday (11/29) at 3:00pm – Oyster roast season is back at Black Marlin, so dust off your shucker and your elastic-waist pants. Buckets of local oysters for 24 bucks, lowcountry boil, snow crab legs, and peel-and-eat shrimp, plus live music by Ben and Ross, and college football on every screen.

🛍️ Christmas Market @ Washington Square | Saturday (11/29) at 4:00pm – Skip the mall and wander Washington Square as it turns into a festive market with twinkle lights and neighbors. Sip Coffee Lab or Lowcountry Taps while browsing 40-plus local makers for actually good gifts, art, jewelry, and wreaths. Bring the family, and the dog.

🧸 10th Annual Tommy Holland and Friends Musical Toy Drive @ Coach’s Corner | Saturday (11/29) at 6:00pm – Head to Coach’s Corner for the 10th annual Tommy Holland and Friends Toy Drive, as Savannah’s finest, including The Church Band, keep the beat while we fund the next generation. Drop a ten at the door for raffle tickets, silent auction temptations, and bragging rights.

🥫 November Food Drive @ Richmond Hill Fire Department (Multiple Locations) | Sunday (11/30) at 10:00am – November in Richmond Hill means filling the WAY Station pantry, not just our own. Drop canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, and the good TP at City Hall, the fire stations, Way Station Coffee, Green Spork, or the Farmers Market, cash welcome. Give early for Thanksgiving.

🥂 AMP’D Weekend Brunch @ Electric Moon Skytop Lounge | Sunday (11/30) at 11:00am – Weekend brunch on the Electric Moon rooftop means one thing, you’re getting spoiled. For $50, expect a welcome cocktail, a buffet with carving, ceviche, and Hong Kong French toast, and bottomless mimosas with river views. The DJ keeps it lively without drowning conversation, 16+ only.

🧝 Elf the Musical @ Savannah Theatre | Sunday (11/30)3:00pm – This live stage take on Elf returns to Savannah Theatre, bringing Buddy’s candy-cane chaos, big-hearted songs, and plenty of holiday cheer. It’s one of those rare family shows you actually enjoy, kids, grandparents, and your inner cynic included. Grab tickets, sing loud, repeat.

Next week

🎄 Festival of Trees @ Lobby of Power Plant Building | Monday (12/1) at 10:00am – Nothing beats holiday people-watching among a forest of twinkling trees in the Plant Riverside power plant lobby. Each evergreen is decked out by a local business or organization, so expect creativity, a touch of shameless branding, and more photo ops than your phone storage allows.

🛍️ Savannah Christmas Market @ Riverwalk at Plant Riverside District | Monday (12/1) at 11:00am – Whether you’re shopping or just angling for hot chocolate, the riverfront’s Christmas Market at Plant Riverside delivers lights, live music, and 50 booths of local finds. Expect Santa selfies, the Festival of Trees, a gingerbread unveiling, and the tradition of dodging tourists with cheer.

🐾 Palmetto Wildlife @ Panera Bread | Tuesday (12/2) at 4:00pm – Skip the stovetop and swing by Panera in Bluffton to feed yourself and help the locals who live in the trees. Order your go-to, show the flyer, and 25% supports Palmetto Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, proving soup, salad, and saving critters can happily coexist.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 11/28 A Tribute to Prince @ Victory North – 8 pm
• 11/29 Amp’d Weekend Brunch @ Electric Moon Skytop Lounge – 11 am
• 12/2 Lylie Mae @ The Public Kitchen & Bar – 5 pm
• 12/4 Elli Perry @ Lone Wolf Lounge – 7 pm
• 12/5 A Tribute to The Beatles @ Victory North – 6:30 pm
• 12/5 Josh Bruen @ The Wormhole – 9 pm
• 12/6 Kate Willett @ The Wormhole – 8 pm
• 12/7 A Tribute to Grateful Dead @ Brother Shucker’s Hilton Head – 6 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Savannah edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Liza DiMarco (Compass Georgia LLC)

Upper East River, Savannah’s newest waterfront community, delivers an industrial-chic JJ Cory home, sold furnished and short-term rentals permitted. Three beds, three and a half baths, soaring ceilings, walls of glass, and exposed brick set the vibe. A premium kitchen anchors the open plan, with front porch and a broad back deck extending the party outside. Private elevator, two-car garage, storage for toys.

The showstopper is the rooftop deck with sweeping river views. Steps to the Savannah River, River Walk, and the Historic District’s shops and restaurants, this waterfront community blends contemporary grit with coastal ease and investment potential.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →