Fall Festivities & Rich Histories Make These 7 Cities Perfect for a Columbus Day Weekend Getaway
Savannah
Columbus Day weekend is the perfect time to visit Savannah, GA. You can get in the voyaging spirit with the city’s weekend-long Tybee Island Pirate Fest, which has a Buccaneer’s Ball and a market full of fun pirate-themed gifts, food and drink.
Although Columbus Day usually gets associated with Italian heritage, immigrants of all kinds have been coming to America for hundreds of years. That’s why you also can’t miss Savannah’s Oktoberfest celebration, featuring traditional wiener dog races and live entertainment.
As it’s a relatively old town, especially by American standards, Savannah also has tons of organized ghost tours. One of the most haunted areas featured on these tours is Columbia Square, named after Christopher Columbus himself.
St. Louis
Celebrate Columbus Day in St. Louis with theater, music, dance and visual art. The American Arts Experience hosts a slew of performances and events throughout October, involving American-based artists.
Although pizza is often attributed to the Italians, it’s become almost as American as apple pie. St. Louis has their own style of pizza, and are hosting a Pizza Festival during Columbus Day weekend.
Even if Christopher Columbus wasn’t eating pizza back in the 1400s, you can get transported back to his time via the St. Louis Renaissance Festival, about an hour outside the city. St. Louis stands as a landmark to America’s progression. Attractions like the Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion are reminders of how far we’ve come since the days before we were a united country.
These spring vacation ideas are perfect for thawing out from a long, cold winter. Experience the beauty of spring in these colorful and warm destinations.
Santa Fe
With the highest rate of Hispanic ancestry in the country and the second largest Native American population, New Mexico has a very different view on Columbus Day. Santa Fe in particular has chosen to adopt Indigenous People Day in place of celebrating Columbus Day.
All weekend long, local tribes will perform traditional dance and music rituals in the heart of the city. To really get a sense of Santa Fe’s Native history, take a visit to the pre-Columbus era La Cieneguilla Petroglyph site, where you can still see the symbols carved into rock — some of which are thousands of years old.
There are over 13 historic sites and 19 museums in Santa Fe, all of which celebrate New Mexico’s rich history and culture.
