MARCH 17 --- St. Patrick's Day in Savannah is arguably the most anticipated annual event in the city and without question the most attended. The Parade generally has an attendance in excess of 450,000 spectators, but, with the parade falling on a Saturday this year, Savannah will likely welcome far more guests than in recent years.   

The celebration culminates with the Parade, but there are events throughout the week such as: The Greening of the Fountain,Tara Feis, The Celtic Cross Ceremony, and the St. Patrick’s Day Mass.  This is sure to be one of the best St. Patrick’s Days in recent memory so plan for a long day with lots of people enjoying the Parade!

A Great Time, A Great Place to Celebrate

We Suggest You Make Reservations Early!

March and April are among the most beautiful months of the year in Savannah. Temperatures are often in the 70s, sunny, with flowers in bloom. March and April are also the busiest months for tourism in Savannah, so pre-planning is a must when it comes to celebrating your St. Patrick's Day in Savannah.    Revelers are encouraged to contact one of the Bed and Breakfast of Savannah hotels to make reservations early.

• Olde Harbour Inn
  Located on River Street!  Enjoy spacious suites, overlooking the Savannah River.  Includes breakfast and a wine and cheese reception.  Undoubtedly, this is the  best location  in Savannah for being in the very center of  the St. Patrick's Day Celebration. 
• The Marshall House
  Located just 1/2 block from the Parade Route!  This popular historic hotel was Featured on The Travel Channel's Great Hotels, and boasts one  of Savannah's  finest restaurant and lounge  on its first floor.    Built in 1851,  The Marshall House has  sixty-eight  guest rooms, all completely renovated in 2008.    Its  Broughton Street location is a hot spot for  a spirited good time for  parade-goers. 
• The Eliza Thompson House
  Located in the heart of residential historic Savannah and near  Savannah's decorated  squares and popular  historic sites, this elegant inn boasts one of the most classic center gardens in Savannah.  
  The East Bay Inn
  Always popular for parade and people watching!  The East Bay Inn is perfectly situated for walking around through the party...then taking a break...and then re-joining the fun at your own leisure. 
• The Kehoe House
  Classic and sophisticated, The Kehoe House is located on Columbia Square.  It is central to the parade and is just one block off Bay Street and two blocks from the River Street festivities.
• The Gastonian
  Just  one block away from Forsyth Park and the green'd fountain!    This award-winning inn is located in a residential neighborhood, near all the fun, but  in an excellent position to provide a peaceful, truly relaxing  Savannah afternoon after the party.   

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Green Reigns Supreme on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah

Beer is not the only thing that flows emerald green during the holiday. Every fountain within the city limits is dyed green in a ceremony that dates back more than 100 years. Green reigns supreme when everything from hair to dogs to even green eggs and ham gets residents and visitors into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia.
 
Savannah has been celebrating her Irish heritage for more than a century. Traditional Irish values and customs of old are mingled with the vibrancy and charm of a city whose quirky personality comes out in those who call Savannah home and those that are just here to visit!

How St. Patrick's Day in Savannah Has Grown Into One Major Party

Most do not know that the first St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah was a small private affair 179 years ago for a group of men of Irish heritage who wanted to honor the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, a Catholic priest. Over the years, the parade has become a public event that grows in size every year. To this day, the true Savannah St. Patrick's Day celebration remains a deeply religious family event that features authentic Irish music, Celtic dances and great food.

FAQ About St. Patrick's Day in Savannah 

Q: What's the weather like in March?

A: It all depends. Usually, March and April are among the most beautiful months of the year in Savannah. Temperatures may be in the 70s, sunny, with flowers in bloom. But, depending on whether a cold or warm front moves through the area, it can be hot and humid, as high as 90 degrees, or cold and rainy, perhaps in the 50s.

Q: What do I need to know about parking on the parade route? When do I have to move my car? When will parking there resume? What other traffic stuff do I need to know?

A: Cars in the staging area and along the parade route will be towed on the day of the parade. The parade staging area is bounded by Henry, Gaston, Habersham and Whitaker streets. Meters in the area will be bagged beginning at about 6 p.m. the night before and will be rechecked at about 4 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day.

Q: Do the Savannah parade and drinking scene in any way compare to the New Orleans Mardi Gras? Also are there displays of public nudity, as there are on Bourbon Street?

A: Some have said the festivities surrounding the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Savannah are reminiscent of Mardi Gras. However, Savannah hosts only one parade, and displays of public nudity will get you arrested.

Q: What are the regulations concerning alcohol in Savannah on St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day evening, all bars must close at 1 a.m., regardless of where they are located in the city. In the festival zone, which is on River Street from MLK Boulevard to Savannah Electric, wristbands are required to drink outside. Anyone caught drinking in that area without a band risks a $90 fine. No drinks can be taken in or out of the festival zone.

Those not wishing to drink can still enter the festival zone without a wristband. People can also drink inside River Street bars without a band; they cannot, however, take the drinks outside without a band.

You can only purchase one alcoholic beverage at a time. Beer will not be sold after midnight outside on River Street, but wristbands will still be sold in case you want to buy a drink in a bar after midnight and walk outside. Outside the festival zone, 16-ounce to-go cups can be carried anywhere within city limits.

Q: What does "Erin Go Bragh" mean?

A: Ireland Forever.