Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is one of nation’s biggest and best
Savannah's festive St. Patrick's Day parade steps off at 10:15 a.m. on March 17. Photo by Bailey Davidson, Savannah Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee
Shamrocks, leprechauns, parades and all things green are on tap for March 17, the day when Americans and their European neighbors traditionally celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Georgia’s oldest city, Savannah, is recognized as one of the key U.S. locales for celebrating the holiday. In fact, it’s one of only two places in the U.S. where St. Patrick’s Day is recognized as a legal holiday for celebrating Irish and Irish American culture.
The Georgia event, which is comprised of numerous religious and cultural activities, is so big that it spans nearly a month. The centerpiece of the festivities is the must-see parade, which marks its 201st anniversary this year.
Irish roots
St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, a 5th century Christian missionary who died on March 17, 1461. Savannah’s claim to this Irish-born holiday has nothing to do with luck; it’s perfectly legitimate.
According to the 2010 census, more Georgians claim ancestry from Ireland than any specific nation other than England. The Irish began arriving in Savannah on some of the first ships to transport settlers to the new colony in 1734. At least nine of the first Georgia colonists to be granted land were Irish.
The real Irish rush didn’t begin until 100 years later when Georgia’s growth lured a flood of Irishmen who were the primary source of labor in building canals and railroads across the state. The influx was magnified in 1845 when starving families fled Ireland during the country’s potato famine.
Research conducted by Georgia Southern University suggests that by 1860, as many as one in three white households in Savannah were Irish-born immigrants. The Irish population swelled again during the Civil War when Savannah was one of the few port cities remaining open to Emerald Isle immigrants.
St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have been occurring in Savannah since 1824. That year a few dozen of the city’s earliest Irish immigrants invited all citizens to join them in marching a half mile from a hotel near the riverfront to attend a special service at what was then the area’s only Roman Catholic Church. A mass is still held just prior to the parade’s start each year.
Many of Savannah’s iconic fountains go green in March to honor Irish culture. Photo by Bailey Davidson, Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee
Keen on green
Considered by many to be the official St. Patrick’s Day kickoff, hundreds of Savannahians gather for the Greening of the Fountain at Forsyth Park, an annual tradition where the water is dyed green to symbolize Irish pride. This year the rite is set for Friday, March 7, at noon. The fountain water remains green until the end of the festivities on March 17. Nine fountains throughout the historic district will flow green this year.
Following an 8 a.m. service at the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, the parade steps off at 10:15 on March 17 for a leisurely amble through Savannah’s Historic District. The three-hour event is one of the largest and most recognized St. Patrick’s Day parades worldwide. It’s also believed to be one of the nation’s oldest on-going parades.
Among those marching in Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade are pipe-and-drum bands hailing from several states. Photo by Bailey Davidson, Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee
Around 250 units, including shamrock-decorated floats, pipe-and-drum bands from all over the East Coast, military divisions, Irish dancers and representatives of Celtic societies and Irish families — even the Budweiser Clydesdales — are expected to participate.
Though this year’s parade falls on a Monday, enthusiasm isn’t likely to be dampened. Savannah officials are expecting about 300,000 Kelly green-clad visitors to cram sidewalks and the city’s historic squares for a “wee bit o’ fun” at the 2025 event.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Details: A map of the parade route, parking details, picnic policies and more can be found at savannahsaintpatricksday.com and visitsavannah.com.
Hot spots: According to organizers, the best viewing spots include Bay Street, Colonial Park Cemetery and the area near the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. To claim a good spot, expect to get an early start on the day.
“The Rush”: Seven historic squares along the parade route are closed and guarded beginning at 10 p.m. on March 16. The squares officially open at 6 a.m. the next morning, allowing parade-goers to participate in a “rush” to claim prime viewing spots.
Warning: Green clothing is the day’s expected dress. Those who forget are very likely to be punished with a bruising pinch.
More fun: Just a short drive from downtown Savannah, Tybee Island hosts the first parade of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend on Saturday, March 15, from 3 to 5 p.m.
