In the dark of winter, spring seems so far away. But if you plan to attend the Savannah Music Festival, March is closer than it appears.

It's time to make plans now for the best seats and to ensure you'll even get tickets to some of the most sought-after performances. Tickets are going fast for three performances by the Red Stick Ramblers, a Cajun, blues and western swing band, on March 27; the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's performance on March 30 is expected to sell out as well.

Michael Wilson / Special (ENLARGE)

Audra McDonald will perform at the Savannah Musical Festival.

Erick Anderson / Special (ENLARGE)

Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs are always a crowd-pleaser.

Adam McCullough / Special (ENLARGE)

Headliners for the festival's opening night on March 20 include the Blind Boys of Alabama, a gospel/blues group.

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And right there, you see the diversity of music in this festival, which began as the Savannah Onstage International Arts Festival 19 years ago. It was renamed and expanded in 2003 and has grown bigger each year.

Country star Marty Stuart performs on the same night (March 21) as Nrityagram, an Indian dance troupe. Broadway star and four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and Ricky Skaggs/Bruce Hornsby are scheduled for March 28, the same night as Pitingo, a flamenco soul singer, and Modern Skirts, an Athens rock band.

The Beaux Arts Trio plays classical music April 2, while hot jazz pianists Hank Jones, Eric Reed, Carl "Sonny" Leyland and Marcus Roberts perform solo or as duos in the Piano Showdown.

The Blind Boys of Alabama, gospel/blues singers; Steep Canyon Rangers, a bluegrass band; and Yundi Li, a classical pianist, headline the festival's opening night, March 20. The music ends April 5 with high school jazz bands from the Swing Central competition opening for the premiere of a commissioned piece by Wycliffe Gordon and a performance by the Sparrow Quartet with Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck (a banjo, Celtic and Appalachian band with a Far East influence).

Opening weekend will focus on "World Music, Classical and American Roots"; the middle weekend will be "For the Love of Singers" with performers such as McDonald and Angelique Kidjo and will include the 15th Annual American Traditions Competition for Singers; and closing weekend features select jazz and Americana shows.

Anyone with a love of music will find something to listen to, from Fado (sometimes described as soulful Portuguese folk music) to Cuban/salsa bands to sacred harp singing.

This year, a new venue, the Charles H. Morris Center, will be host to some performers in a club atmosphere. When the Red Stick Ramblers play there, for instance, ticket holders can get up and dance to their Cajun beat.

It seems appropriate to join this musical party, particularly this year, as Savannah celebrates the 275th anniversary of its founding. Better R.S.V.P. right away, though, before the best seats at the party are taken.

IF YOU GO

About the festival

The Savannah Music Festival, March 20-April 5, at 12 venues around the city. Tickets to each performance individually priced, or buy a weekend series that includes most of the Thursday-Saturday shows: $200 per person opening weekend (March 20-22), $238 per person middle weekend (March 27-29), and $150 per person closing weekend (April 3-5). A pass to all festival performances is $1,800 per person. Buy at www.savannahmusicfestival.org ; from the box office, 912-525-5050 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays); or in person at the Trustees Theater Box Office, 216 E. Broughton St. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays). Weekend and full festival passes must be purchased by phone. Not all performances will sell out and walk-ups will be able to buy tickets for those shows at the box office.

Where to stay

Thirteen hotels or B&Bs are corporate sponsors of the festival. Check www.savannahmusicfestival.org for the list.

Other suggestions:

• The Mansion on Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton St., a luxury hotel with a collection of more than 400 pieces of original artwork and the Poseidon Spa. 1-888-711-5114; www.mansiononforsythpark.com . Rates from $259 Monday-Thursday, $329 Friday and Saturday.

• The Gastonian Inn, 220 Gaston St., a bed-and-breakfast near Forsyth Park, consists of two adjoining Regency-Italianate-style mansions built in 1868. 912-232-2869; www.gastonian.com . Rates from $215.

• Holiday Inn Express Historic District, 119 E. Bay St., which opened in December. 912-231-9000, www.savannahlodging.com . Rates from $179.

Where to eat

Savannah has lots of fine restaurants in all price ranges. Perhaps best known are Elizabeth's on 37th, 105 E. 37th St. (912-236-5547, www.elizabethon37th.net; entrees $24-$34); and the Lady & Sons, television chef Paula Deen's eatery, 102 W. Congress St. (912-233-2600, www.ladyandsons.com ; entrees $16-$25).

Other suggestions:

• Local 11 Ten, 1110 Bull St., a new restaurant in an old bank off Forsyth Park, has European cuisine. 912-790-9000, www.local11ten.com . Entrees $22-$39.

• Belford's, 315 W. St. Julian St., in the historic City Market building, specializes in seafood and steaks. 912-233-2626, www.belfordssavannah.com . Entrees $21-$35.

• Cha Bella, 102 E. Broad St., specializes in organic fare, seafood, steak and pasta. 912-790-7888, www.cha-bella.com . Entrees $14-$34.

• LuLu's Chocolate Bar, 42 MLK Jr. Blvd., is a new after-hours dessert bar where the house's specialty cocktail is the Lulutini (Alchemy chocolate vodka, Godiva liqueur, crème de cacao, and real chocolate.) 1-866-461-8681, www.luluschocolatebar.net . Desserts $4-$8; martinis $10-$12.

Information

Savannah Convention and Visitors Bureau, 101 E. Bay St., Savannah, GA 31401. 1-877-728-2662, www.savannah-visit.com .