St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Savannah in 1813, when the Hibernian Society planned a private gathering. Today, the popular St. Patrick's Day Parade and other fun events leading up to it attract visitors from around the United States and from around the world. Most visitors plan to arrive a few days early to take part in events leading up to the parade day. For families, there are a number of sanctioned family-friendly events, normally scheduled to take place prior to the parade.
Booking a Hotel Room
Because of the popularity of St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, it is important to book your hotel room as early as possible. Many hotels accept reservations as early as a year in advance and most of Savannah's available rooms are filled by March 1st or earlier.
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St. Patrick's Day 2009
Some of the popular events for St. Patrick's Day 2009 include:
- Greening of the Forsyth Park Fountain
Friday, March 6, 2009 - 12 noon
Every year the Fountain at Forsyth Park goes green for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. - Tara Feis Irish Celebration
Saturday, March 14, 2009 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This outdoor family-friendly celebration of Irish heritage and culture is traditionally held a week before St. Patrick's Day. Featured activities and live performances include Irish music, dancing, crafts, food and more. Location - Emmet Park, which borders East Bay Street on the bluff overlooking the Savannah River. - St. Patrick's Day Mass
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 8 a.m.
Attend St. Patrick's Day Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Georgia, located off of Lafayette Square. - The 184rd Annual Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 10:15 a.m.
The popular St. Patrick's Day Parade, the second largest in the United States, kicks off at 10:15 a.m. in Savannah's Historic District. Expect very large crowds and avoid trying to park anywhere near the parade. Good places to view the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade include the 600 block of Abercorn Street, Bull Street between Liberty and Harris Streets (near the reviewing stand), East Broad Street between Broughton and Bay Streets and Bay Street between East Broad and Bull streets.
Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Route Map - PDF - St. Patrick's Celebration on the River
March 16 - 17, 2009
Historic River Street is where you can really get your green on with thousands of St. Paddy's Day partiers. This lively festival features non-stop Celtic, country, rock, pop and alternative musical entertainment, plus contests, games, food, cold beverages and more to add to the lively fun. This is a free event, however, in order to consume alcoholic beverages on the plaza, you must be at least 21 years old, show proper identification and purchase a wristband. - St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Market
March 16 - 17, 2009
Celebrate all things Irish at City Market, featuring live entertainment, food and beverage booths, souvenirs for sale and more. Admission is free and open to the public.
