Savannah Gay and Lesbian Scene

(Savannah, Georgia - GA, USA)

Even though Savannah is only a relatively small city, with its population of roughly 130,000 residents, it is a surprisingly gay friendly destination with plenty of evening entertainment on offer, together with a large summer LGBT pride festival each September.

In recent years, the city of Savannah has started to host a regular LGBT Wedding Expo in early February, which has been held within the Viennese Ballroom of the Forsyth Park Mansion. There are also yearly World Aids Day fundraising events at the beginning of December.

If you a looking to hang out in a gay bar, then River Street is a good place to look for like-minded locals. Chuck's Bar is a particularly popular spot and comes with a busy happy hour period, music provided by a juke box and inexpensive drinks. Relatively close by is Kevin Barry's, a historic Irish-themed pub with views over the Savannah River. Although this is not strictly a gay pub as such, everyone is welcome to hang out here and enjoy the live folk music, tasty Irish fare (including potato soup and rich beef stew) and choice of traditional Irish ale.


On West Saint Julian Street, Bar Bar has proved to be a popular gay haunt since it opened in 1993 and tends to attract a young and mixed crowd, including lots of college students. Bar Bar opens Monday to Saturday, between the hours of 17:00 and 03:00, and is well-known for its board games, foosball, pool table (free to play) and dance floor.

Savannah Pride Gay Festivals

Each year during the middle of September, the Savannah Gay Pride Festival arrives and brings with it a host of fun LGBT themed events. These include various live bands, entertainers, drag acts and cabaret performers, along with more than 60 different stalls, a large bar and a VIP tent.

The annual pride celebrations generally last around nine days and start with the 'Gay Beach Pageant', which is followed by comedy gigs, a speed dating night and karaoke.

There are also various parties, held at venues such as Jen's and Friends bar on East Congress Street, the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum on the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and at Marlin Monroe's Surfside Grill on nearby Tybee Island. During the Pride Festival, much of the main activity tends to be centered around Forsyth Park, within Savannah's historic district.