St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, Georgia, is the most talked about event in the entire city. Savannah holds one of the largest parades in the U.S. alongside New York City, Chicago, and Boston. The population during this week can easily triple in size as well as have hotels booked up almost a full year in advance. People from all over the world attend this celebration. I once met a group of people from Ireland! The event is so big that the college, Savannah College of Art and Design, strategically plans their Spring Break during this week, so students can escape the city if they wish.
I attended the festivities in 2018. This specific year was a little different than the norm because Vice President Mike Pence was attending. Due to his attendance that had blocked off a safety zone in the middle of downtown, which did not allow drinking, backpacks, or any intoxicated disturbances. Other than this gated zone, you were able to do anything.
Savannah starts to ready the portable toilets and trashcans throughout the city weeks in advance. Their preparation before the festival is planned very well. A lot of the Savannah economy relies on this specific event. Revenue for shops, bars, hotels, and airlines skyrocket about a week before the event and is steady for a full week after the event has finished. People use the celebration as vacation and will explore Savannah either before or after the event.
People attending can get competitive when it comes to their attire. Some people will wear their sparkly, green heels with their makeup all creative, while others (like me) wear an Irish t-shirt and attempt a makeup look. You at least have to wear something green because otherwise, you will stick out from the crowd.
My day at the celebration started interestingly. I was in the Uber heading downtown when I saw three different car accidents. Each one was due to a drunk driver. Also, I should mention I was heading downtown at 10 am. If you are ever attending an event that involves heavy alcoholic drinking, never drive! Ubers or any other transportation are there for you to avoid situations like car accidents while drinking. Be responsible and never drive while drunk.
Once I met up with some friends, we went to one of the best pubs in Savannah. Six Pence is known as the most authentic English pub in the South. They offer a full lunch and dinner menu on an average day, but for St. Patrick's Day, they were only offering drinks. That is because the crowds during St. Patrick's Day in bars are shoulder to shoulder of people. I always commend the bartenders on this day because it is busy all day, and they never get a break. After we grabbed a few drinks (always order two for yourself to avoid waiting again), we made our way outside to the street to watch the parade. We were able to do this because Savannah has no open container law. That means you can carry drinks around to different bars and walk freely while drinking. The only requirements are that your beverage must be in a clear plastic cup and only one drink per hand. Also, another rule is that you must remain in the Historic District of Savannah. Usually, that is not a problem because that is where most of the bars are located within the city.
The parade route is full of families, students, and tourists. The entire curb is shoulder to shoulder of people, so if crowds are not for you, maybe skip the parade. People will start waiting for their parade spot as early as 12 hours before! By 10 am, there were already HUNDREDS of people waiting. The parade usually starts anywhere between 10:30-11 am, but depending on where you await, it might not reach you until almost noon. The streets are closed off from vehicles well in advance, so walking the parade route before the parade is of no concern. They continue to blockaded for the remainder of the day, so if you Uber into the downtown area, you will have to walk a distance to reach the route and then walk to the outskirts to be picked back up. I still find that worth the Uber fee rather than trying to find an overpriced place to park.
After the parade, we walked our way to the main bar stretch, City Market. That is where most bars and restaurants are. Hotels are also nearby, so if you are staying downtown, you are in the best spot for experiencing the festival. Within City Market, you can purchase wristbands that allow you to get a free drink at a participating bar. That is a great way to bar-hop around to different locations without pulling out the credit card each time. You do not have to purchase a wristband to have a great time! I usually do not get one because I am not a super heavy drinker. If you only plan on getting a few drinks, I advise against investing in a wristband. They do not allow you to skip the queue, or come with many perks, except if you plan on drinking the equivalent in price or more than you spend on the wristband.
Food downtown is never a problem to find. You can call for a restaurant reservation in advance, or you can enjoy the endless amounts of different food vendors the city allows to set up downtown. Some of the best food I have had are the quick food grabs on the way to another bar. They are cheaper, faster, and usually do not have a super long wait, unlike a sit-down restaurant. Make sure you have some cash on you because some do not take cards.
If you are looking for tourist shops, restaurants and bars, and beautiful cobblestone streets, River Street is another popular destination during the celebration. It goes along the Savannah River and the border of South Carolina. If you want the perfect Savannah photo, this is the street to go. It is usually all the google images that pop up if you google Savannah, Georgia. It is the staple street for the city and rightfully so. The sunsets here are incredible, as well as the atmosphere during St. Patrick's Day. It is always fun with singing, dancing, and Irish chanting.
After a long day of bar-hopping and laughing with friends, I decided to turn in early. I was back in my room by 7:30 pm tuckered out. Dealing with so many people the entire day was sure exhausting, but so much fun! I turned in early with no regrets of missing the night festivities. I was staying a little further out than downtown, so I was able to get some peace. My friends and I still reminisce about our time spent in Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. It is one of the memories we will never forget due to the fun adventures we experienced. I will eventually return for another St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, but until then, I will remember the 2018 event with nostalgia.
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