February 16, 2026 – The 3rd Annual Savannah Camellia Festival returns on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, inviting the community to experience thousands of camellias planted by Savannah students along the Truman Linear Park Trail, followed by a free, open-air festival at Cohen’s Retreat.
Now in its third year, the event expands for 2026 with the addition of a community run and walk, transforming the festival into a citywide celebration of movement, art, food and public space. Designed for runners, walkers, families and neighbors alike, the morning run/walk flows directly into an afternoon festival experience, intentionally blurring the line between race participants and festival-goers. Attendees will enjoy a variety of immersive, educational activities, allowing them to see, touch and feel the offerings through 15-minute workshops and smaller table speakers. Specific times will be posted.
At the heart of the event is the Savannah Camellia Project, a youth-led civic planting initiative that has transformed a section of the Truman Linear Park Trail into a living camellia corridor. Thousands of camellias planted by students across Chatham County now bloom each winter, creating a visually striking and time-specific experience unique to Savannah.
“This festival is about showing what happens when young people help shape public spaces,” said Grayce French from the Cohen’s Retreat Community Foundation. “The trail is their legacy in bloom and the festival is an invitation for the entire community to experience it together.”
Event Highlights Include:
- 5K Community Run and Family-Friendly Walk on the Truman Linear Park Trail
- Youth ‘Planted the Future’ recognition along the trail
- Kids planting stations and hands-on learning
- Meet-the-Plant stations featuring camellia varieties
- Live art, community art wall, and demonstrations
- Food and beverage offerings, including camellia-inspired items
- A free public festival designed to activate the trail and surrounding neighborhood
The Savannah Camellia Festival is intentionally inclusive and non-competitive, welcoming experienced runners, casual walkers, families with strollers and first-time festival-goers. With peak camellia bloom occurring from February through March, the event offers a fleeting seasonal moment that is both visually compelling and deeply rooted in local impact.
