Local establishments stock up and increase security ahead of New Years Eve celebrations

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah businesses are preparing for New Year’s Eve crowds after the city welcomed roughly 12 million visitors throughout 2024.

Now that Christmas is behind them, local bars and restaurants are setting their sights on New Year’s Eve. Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar has been preparing for the last three months, according to owner Buddy Grayson.

“New Years believe it or not, New Years Eve was our second busiest day, and it was on a Tuesday,” Grayson said.

What will come to no one surprise, the bar’s busiest day is St. Patrick’s Day. This year brings possible setbacks, as New Year’s Eve falls on a Wednesday with less than ideal temperatures for the South. Even so, Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano expects a good showing.

December uptick signals strong tourism

“We have actually already seen a little bit of an uptick already this month, December typically is our slowest month,” Grayson said.

AAA is expecting New Year’s travel numbers to rival previous years with an estimated 122 million travelers through the end of the year. A busy holiday season means a tourism boost for Savannah.

Security measures increased

The boost in tourism comes with an emphasis on safety, with last year’s New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans still on the minds of many who are choosing to celebrate or stay in. Grayson said the city of Savannah has already made plans to increase patrol and he has as well.

“We will be on the high side of that, we will have people you see, people you don’t see,” Grayson said. “We will do what we need to do to keep our people, our customers and our patrons safety.”

Bars and restaurants are stocking up ahead of the holiday. The streets of Savannah are starting to fill up to ring in the next year.