St. Patrick's Day

No list of Savannah events would be complete without mention of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. What Mardi Gras is to New Orleans, St. Patrick's Day is to Savannah!

St. Patrick's Day
If you remember the history of the founding of Savannah, James Oglethorpe did not allow Catholics as part of his settlement. He might find himself stunned if he were to see Savannah's 150,000 citizens joining with 350,000 other revelers, over a span of three or four days, to celebrate a Irish-Catholic holiday.

Why is St. Patrick's Day so big in Savannah? It is rivaled only by New York City and Philadelphia in size. Most people will tell you there are two primary factors - 1) a good many of Savannah's citizens are of Irish ancestry and 2) Savannahians are always looking for a good reason for a party. Another reason might be the fact that the parade has been held in Savannah continuously since 1824. Still another reason is the fantastic weather than Savannah experiences during that time of year. Whatever the reason, you will need to book your accommodations early in order to join in on the festivities.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is always held on March 17th, unless that day is on a Sunday, and then the parade will be on March 16th. If St. Patrick's Day falls into the Lenten season, the parade will actually occur on March 14th. The actual parade route covers two miles beginning at Abercorn and Gwinnett ending at Bull and Harris. There are usually more than 250 entries, so the parade often takes more than 3 hours to complete.

The people in Savannah get into the spirit of the holdiay. They cover themselves, top to bottom, in green. They consume green beer and green grits (definitely a southern twist to St. Patrick's Day). All of the city's water fountains, including the one in Forsyth Park, flow green. Parties are everywhere, from black tie to pub gatherings. St. Patrick's Day in Savannah should not be missed!