BY SAMANTHA REVELEY
Kicking off at 10:15 a.m. sharp on March 17, Savannah will celebrate its 187th St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Often granted the title of the second largest St. Patrick’s Day event in the United States, General Chairman Michael Foran of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee claims that Savannah’s parade is the “grandest in the world!”
Eighty years after the city was founded by General James Oglethorpe, Savannah celebrated its first St. Patrick’s Day in 1813. The event was initiated by a small gathering of Irish Protestants, known as the Hibernian Society, who marched through Savannah in memory of the death of the city’s patron saint, Saint Patrick of Ireland.
Since then, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah has grown to such an enormous scale that even SCAD has to end winter quarter to make room for it. In line with city’s notorious reputation for hospitality and grand parties, St. Patrick’s Day’s success is also greatly in debt to the historically large population of Irish immigrants brought to Savannah by potato famine and political persecution.
Today, the parade attracts more than 300,000 visitors from around the world. As one of the biggest events Savannah hosts, St. Patrick’s Day plays a major role in the city’s local business and tourist industry, as confirmed by Director of Public Relations Erica Backus of the local visitor’s center Visit Savannah. Backus continued to say this is particularly true for hotels and restaurants. Currently, Savannah hotels are already at 80 percent occupancy the week before St. Patrick’s Day.
This year, the three-hour parade will host more than 350 marching units. Several military units and award-winning bands will be making an appearance. Prominent bands to look out for include the 282nd U.S. Army Band from Fort Jackson, S.C, the Old Guard Fife and Drums Corps from Fort Myers, Va., the U.S. Coast Guard Pipes and Drums from Norfolk, Va., the Irish Air Corps Pipes and Drums all the way from Dublin, Ireland, and of course the SCAD Drum Line.
Comprised entirely of volunteers, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will be organizing its traditional on-site team commonly known as “the men in white coats.” These individuals will be working around the parade to welcome visitors and make sure everything runs smoothly. If a “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya” is heard, there will likely be a man in a white coat following behind.
Beyond the parade, there are many other events taking place on March 17 throughout Savannah to look forward to. Traditionally, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day begins for local Irish patrons with 8 a.m. morning mass at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Entertainment, food, games and contests will be offered on River Street throughout the day and continue throughout the weekend. Within the same time frame, Savannah City Market will also be offering live music and food in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will be seen traveling by scooter throughout the day of the parade. A few reminders include to avoid underage drinking and to not take alcoholic drinks in an open container outside the festival area.
The festival area is defined as north of Jones Street to the river and east of Boundary Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to west of East Broad Street. If planning to set up camp to watch the parade, remember to wait until after 6 a.m. Tables, coolers and tents that are 10 x 10 inches or smaller are all allowed, but tents that are any larger will be prohibited.
For more information visit the Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day official website.
