Celebrate the holidays at Eastern Wharf - Santa's Grotto

November 29-December 20, 2025

Welcome to Santa’s Grotto at Eastern Wharf, where the Park at Eastern Wharf’s Daymark Lawn will be transformed into an intimate,magical open-air space decked out in festive holiday decor, twinkling lights and a lighted Christmas tree.

Santa’s Grotto at Eastern Wharf (located at 101 Port St.) is open to the public daily from November 29th through December 20th. All special events are free and open to the public.

Attendees are invited to bring items to donate to Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia to help local residents in need during the holidays. Foods they need the most include peanut butter, jelly, canned proteins and meats (tuna, chicken, beef stew), soups, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta, and rice.

Programming Schedule

Sundays with Santa

Attendees can take free photos with Santa using their own cameras or phones.

Sunday, November 30 - 1-3 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 - 3-5 p.m.
Sunday, December 14 - 3-5 p.m.

Holiday Concerts

Katie McAuliffe Trio featuring the holiday music of Vince Guaraldi
Thursday, December 4 - 6-7 p.m.
NEW LOCATION: Bar by Fleeting at Thompson Savannah, 201 Port St.

Andy & Mandy’s Hard Candy Christmas
Thursday, December 11 - 6-7 p.m.

Trae & Sam’s Mistletwo
Thursday, December 18 - 6-7 p.m.
NEW LOCATION: Bar by Fleeting at Thompson Savannah, 201 Port St.

Trae Gurley is a Savannah native and has been entertaining local audiences for over 30 years. Renowned in the low country for his sultry renditions of American Songbook, his voice has served as the soundtrack to many love stories around town. He was a featured performer in The Key Change Cabaret Series at The Lucas Theatre (2015 - 2020). In 2015 he self-produced Elvis’ How Great Thou Art album with full band and chorus at Trinity United Methodist Church is due for a repeat in 2026. A few of his favorite shows include: Once, (Savannah Repertory Theatre), Sweeney Todd (City Lights), Forever Plaid (DHP), Broadway’s Music of the Night (DHP), and One Purrfect Evening with Eartha Kitt (DHP). Catch him around town with his band or solo acoustic.

Born and raised in Midwestern Iowa, cutting his teeth in Austin, TX, and finding the low country soul in Savannah, GA, Jared Hall has performed and worked throughout the United States as a pianist, organist, accordion player, singer, and music educator. His style of playing includes a wide spectrum of sounds, including blues, boogie-woogie, honky-tonk, country, rock, and classical.

Throughout his career, he has performed at The Austin City Limits Music Festival, South By Southwest Music Festival, North By Northeast Music Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, The Savannah Jazz Festival, The Rochester Jazz Festival, and the South Carolina Dizzy Gillespie Jazz Festival. You can also find him performing in Savannah at Victory North, District Live, The Lucas Theatre, The Grey Restaurant, Vic’s River Grill, The Olde Pink House, 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant, Plant Riverside District, and many other local venues.

Jared currently resides in Savannah, GA, and continues to perform and record with artists such as Velvet Caravan, Dolette McDonald (Sting, The Police, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones), Trae Gurley, Lyn Avenue, Chuck Courtney, John Tisbert, and many other artists and ensembles. Jared is an artist and part of the Hammond Family with Hammond Organ Company. He is currently an active and voting member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy/Grammy Awards and has worked for several years with The Recording Academy as a music advocacy representative.

Getting Here/Parking:

Metered on street parking can be paid at kiosks or by downloading the ParkSavannah mobile app, and is enforced from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday. Space numbers are listed on the curb next to your parking space.

Parking is also available in the 700 space City of Savannah's Eastern Wharf Parking Garage or hop on the DOT trolley which stops at Eastern Wharf up until 7pm.

Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Squirrel’s Eastern Wharf and Thompson Savannah. Small, personal coolers no bigger than 20” x 20” x 20” are allowed.

For a full list of Park rules, visit theparkateasternwharf.com.

THE LOCATION

Entering The Park at Eastern Wharf or participating in or attending an Eastern Wharf-sponsored program or event constitutes the voluntary consent of the user, participant or attendee, or his or her parent or legal guardian if he or she is a minor, to (a) be photographed, filmed or video-recorded by a EWCDA representative at the park, facility, program or event; and (b) the reproduction and use of all such photographs, digital images, films and likenesses taken at the park, facility, program or event for publicity purposes in publications, brochures, advertisements, promotional and marketing materials and all other media venues, all without further notice or compensation to the user, participant or attendee or his or her parent or legal guardian if he or she is a minor.