For most, the holiday season occurs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, but party people observe an extended celebratory span – which involves ample opportunity to drink. After toasting the New Year, Valentine’s Day soon follows. And whether you’re wining and dining or downing shots solo, V-day is a good time to get drunk. Not long after that, it’s time to let the good times roll. We recently enjoyed our beads and booze for Fat Tuesday, and now we’re gearing up for the culminating event of the alcoholiday season: St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah.
Savannah is to St. Paddy’s Day what NOLA is to Mardi Gras, so you can expect crowds to turn out as the Hostess City goes green – perhaps even more so because, let’s be honest, we all could use a drink (or ten) right about now. For families and people who are otherwise unmotivated by unlimited libations, there’s still much to do around town.
Of course, Savannah will be jampacked the whole weekend, so you may want to consider staying nearby on Tybee Island. Take the stress out of St. Pat’s by taking the Tybee shuttle. The shuttle will make recurring trips to Savannah on Friday and Saturday. Check out the schedule below to plan ahead. If you’re looking for the round-up on all things St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah and Tybee, you’ve come to the right place. Mark your calendars for these St. Pat’s Day festivities.
Mar. 9: Greening of Fountain
Savannah kicks off the Patty’s Day (yes, I’ll change up the reference for all you nonconformists) celebration with the annual greening of the Forsyth Park Fountain. At 12 p.m., join the city at this Savannah icon as officials dye the fountain waters green. This is definitely a great photo-op that’s sure to do well on Instagram, if you care about that kind of thing. It’s family-friendly and free to the public.
Mar. 9-17: Junkanoo at The Crab Shack
If you’ve ever been to the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, you’ve likely noticed the colorful Junkanoo crew atop The Crab Shack float. Originating from the Bahamas and Jamaica, Junkanoo is a street parade defined by music, dance and ornate costumes. Get a taste of Junkanoo this Paddy’s Day at The Crab Shack (performance schedule). Acclaimed performers, Barabbas and the Tribe will give daily shows at the shack starting Mar. 9 leading up to the holiday. And expect to see the exciting act at the Tybee and Savannah parades.
Mar. 9: Tybee Shamrock Shop & Stroll
Discounts, giveaways, sales, and prizes for you when visiting Tybee’s best shops. Pick up a map at Seaside Sisters. Participating shops: Caldwells Cottage, Glazed and Confused , Inferno, Island Gypsea, Just a Breeze, Kelly & Co.Essential Oils, Latitude 32, The Misty Marsh Shoppe, Seaside Sisters, Shell Art, Sweetie Pies, Tipsy Mermaid Art, Tybee Cottage Art, Tybee Bakery & Cafe Miss Korea. Fun starts at 10-6, prize drawings at 5:30 at Kelly’s deck . More Info
Mar. 10: Tybee Island Irish Heritage Celebration Parade
Tybee Island will host the Irish Heritage Celebration Parade from 3 to 5 p.m. Featuring festive floats, exciting performers and live music, Tybee’s parade is all the fun of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah without the masses of stumbling drunkards. This is a family-friendly event, so feel free to deck the kids in green and get down together. Whether you’re Irish, or Irish-ish, it’s a great time to celebrate a culture that we’ve all come to know and love.
Mar. 10: St. Practice Day Bar Crawl
Unless you’re a stone-cold alcoholic – there’s no shame here if you are – a full day of drinking might be overwhelming for you. What’s the fun in donning your virescent vestments and hitting the streets to start drinking at 10, only to pass out around 2? There’s an effective preventative treatment for that: St. Practice Day! From 4 to 10 p.m., Bar Crawl Savannah will host a St. Paddy’s-themed pub crawl to help participants build tolerance for the big day. Enjoy drink specials at 12 of Savannah’s best bars and look forward to fun prizes. The crawl duly starts at McDonough’s, Savannah’s favorite Irish pub. Be sure to head to Wild Wings Café once you’ve completed the crawl for the afterparty. Register today!
Mar. 11: Celtic Cross Ceremony
Dating back to the Victorian period, the Celtic Cross Ceremony commemorates the past and present contributions of Savannah’s Irish populations. This family-friendly event will take place at 1 p.m. in the verdant Emmet Park. It’s free and open to the public, so be sure to check it out.
Mar. 17: Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The parade is definitely the hallmark of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah. With literally hundreds of flamboyant floats, marvelous marching bands and colorful crews, Savannah’s Patrick’s Day Parade has earned its rightful place as the nation’s second largest. The parade will start promptly at 10:15 a.m. at the corner of Gwinnett and Abercorn. The parade route will travel through Broughton, East Broad, Bay and Bull street.
Of course, the parade is why you come, but the party is why you stay. The St. Pat’s Festival Entertainment Zone will settle in on River Street on Friday and Saturday. While entry to the zone is gratis, you’ll need to purchase a wristband if you want to drink on the streets. Just $10, wristbands will be available for purchase at various stations around downtown. Check out the map, here. You’ll definitely want one if you plan to party hard for St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah. Also, don’t be a jerk and throw your to-go cups in the street. Go green for St. Pat’s in the best way by recycling. See you there!
