A Reveler’s Guide to the 200th Anniversary of Saint Pat’s in Savannah

Plant Riverside District Opening Ceremonies. Photo / Van Bruckner

Listen closely and you can hear Saint Patrick’s Day warming up downtown: The early morning Running of the Square to stake a parade route claim. The bells of St. John and the Grand Marshall’s blessing. Pipe and drum echoing off every historic façade from Abercorn and Gwinnett to Broughton, Broad, Bay, and Bull.

The 192nd Annual Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, 2016

Second only to New York City, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest and most loved in the nation. But it’s not just a parade, it’s a bullet on the bucket list, so whether you’re coming from down the street, over the bridge, or across the sea, here’s what you’ll need to know to enjoy the sainted scenes like a local

Saint Paddy like a Savannahian: What to Do and When

L-R: Erin Kirby (7) (left), Lesancia Mohamed (10), Aoife Kenny (11), Eve Kirby (6) and Saoirse Kenny (6). Pic: Robbie Reynolds/CPR.

Photo: Plant Riverside District’s Mix it Up at the Moon, featuring Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 17 at Plant Riverside District

The 2024 Shamrocks and Shenanigans Celebration in honor of St. Patrick’s Day will run from Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 17 along Savannah’s riverfront at 400 W. River St. All events are open to the public.

March 8, 12 p.m. The Greening of the Forsyth Park 

St. Patrick’s season gets its start with the ‘greening’ of one of Savannah’s famous landmarks, the fountain at Forsyth Park. A rite of passage, crowds turn out annually to watch the water join the party as the Parade Committee dyes it bright Irish green. We suggest arriving early because of the popularity of this open to the public event.  

March 10, Celtic Cross Mass and Ceremony 

The 200th anniversary of the Celtic Cross Mass and ceremony will take place at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, where the ceremony is held at the Celtic Cross monument in sunny Emmet Park, an inspiring intersection of faith and history.

The Luck Of Savannah at the Alida Hotel 

Once a year, the city of Savannah is painted green for their Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. To commemorate the 200th Anniversary of this Celtic celebration on March 16, The Alida is delighted to offer guests the opportunity to find their pot of gold during their stay in Savannah.

If you’re lucky enough to book our “The Luck of Savannah” package, you will receive overnight accommodations and a custom Alida branded cooler. No need to pack drinks, our team has prepared individual coolers stacked with all your parade essentials.

After the parade, be sure to raise your pints at Rhett, The Trade Room, or The Lost Square and continue the celebration all day long.

Eat, drink, and be Irish at The Alida!

The Budweiser Clydesdales are back in Savannah for Saint Patrick’s Day weekend! ☘️ PRD will host the world-famous horses on Friday, March 15 between 11 am & 2 pm in MLK Park for a meet & greet and photo opp See you there! — at Plant Riverside District.

March 15, 4:00 p.m., Seargent Jasper Green ceremony at Madison Square  

The night before the St. Patrick’s Day parade is a night of honor and reverence when you attend the Seargent William Jasper Green ceremony at Madison Square – an annual tradition that pays tribute to military members with a commemoration held at the base of the Sgt. William Jasper monument. 

Kiss the Blarney Stone 

Could you BE any more Irish?! Pucker up for a beloved 600-pound stone transported from Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland to the heart of the coastal southeast, and be a part of a history and tradition that ties you straight to the hills of the Emerald Isle.  

As you may have heard, Plant Riverside District hosted a weekend of fun-filled, outdoor shenanigans to kick off St. Patrick’s Day 2021 celebrations.

March 16 starting at 4 p.m., The Official Lucky’s St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl  

St. Patrick’s not so toxic trait is how it doubles as the world’s best drinking game, so there’s hardly a more Irish way to bless the day than with drink in hand on the ultimate St Paddy’s bar crawl, setting out from Barrelhouse South and unraveling like a good pub story from your Uncle Danny. Don’t forget to don your best costume for the voyage. 

March 16: Patrick’s Day Parade 

Mass: The day begins with Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist celebrating the feast of St. Patrick, of which Parade Committee General Chairman Tim Mohoney shares, “we keep the foundation of Faith in our hearts as we celebrate this great day.” 

The Parade: The pipes are calling as the 200th St. Patrick’s Day Parade fills downtown, welcoming up to 15,000 people. Staring at 10:15 at the intersection of Gwinnett and Abercorn, pipe bands and Irish dancers from all over the East Coast commence the route amongst representatives from Celtic societies and Irish families. Visit savannahsaintpatricksday.com/route to get the official map of the parade route, and take note of these top three tips from those in the know:  

Plant Riverside District Opening Ceremonies. Photo / Van Bruckner

1. Remember, waves of “Save Your Spot” activity begins along the parade route at 6a.m.  
2. Shuttles are the way to go, as parking lots will be at max capacity day-of.  
3. Picking your Place: Abercorn is most kid- and family-friendly and your best bet for high-vis is Broughton, while Bay is the way to sow your wildest Irish oats.  

March 16: Annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at The DeSoto (March 16)  

Breakfast is the most important meal of your St Paddy’s Day, so what better way to start than a hearty Southern breakfast at the DeSoto, a landmark Historic District hotel pouring popular Bloody Marys and classic Irish coffees. Hair of the dog! 

March 16: The Original Pinkie Masters annual cheap beer special for St. Patrick’s Day 

From Blarney stones and blessings to picking up a pint in a pub, beer is the national anthem of St. Pat’s Join the Original Pinkie Masters from the early morning of the parade where they will be running their annual tradition of selling cheap beers for locals.

Irish Pubs and Whiskey Bars 

Raise a glass among friends where everyone’s Irish for a day, visiting one of the many Irish pubs and whiskey bars peppering the parade route. Erin go bragh your way through faves like McDonough’s Restaurant & Lounge, a popular after-work bar and grill among locals or The Rail Pub, known for its Kegs and Eggs St. Patrick’s Day breakfast.

Your Own Private Emerald Isle 

Take a break from the crowds arranging a VIP experience at The Alida, offering guests two gourmet buffets, private bleachers on Broughton to watch the parade, and private bathrooms which are a real pot of gold on parade day (IYKYK). Stay in the middle of everything with places to relax your feet and enjoy a drink while keeping the party going as long as Irish eyes are smiling

Port-a-Paddys

Where to go when you’ve got to go, google the loo and find your way to the city’s 15 downtown locations with more than 400 public restrooms discoverable with maps available online.

The Luck O’ The Irish: Celebrity Sightings  

One of the most famous Paddy parties, SAV draws A-listers, so keep your potatoes peeled because you never know when you might share a pint with names of fame seen wandering streets in years past like Travis Tritt, Conor McGregor, former Vice President Mike Pence, and, legend has it, a wee leprechaun or twelve – depending how far you got on that pub crawl

Sláinte