I attended Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade for the very first time this year. I'd been thinking about going before but just hadn't gotten around to doing it. What compelled me to go to the 2018 parade was mostly because it was on a Saturday this year. I rode a crowded chartered party bus from Atlanta to Savannah.
Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade is heralded as the 2nd largest of its kind in America. The first St. Patrick's Day event in Savannah was a private celebration in 1819 with Savannah's first public St. Patrick's parade held in 1824. I believe the only time it hasn't been held since then is during the Civil War and World War II. Every year during this time the population of the city swells several times over its normal size and the cost of hotel rooms in the downtown area can be $300 and more a night.
Savannah, founded in 1733, is the oldest city in Georgia and the Irish have played an important role throughout its history. Many Irish were brought to Georgia as indentured servants who worked in exchange for a chance to start a new life in America. These indentured servants were treated horribly, not unlike black slaves. The main difference (besides race) being that indentured servitude was a contract that usually lasted around 7 years. Slavery was not a contract and most slaves were in it for life. Black slaves in the Savannah area were favored for plantation work while Irish indentured servants were preferred to build railways and canals. Also, Savannah had another huge influx of Irish immigrants during the Great Famine of Ireland (1845-1852). After America's Civil War, some Irish remained in Savannah but many moved on to large northern cities. However, the Irish influence in Savannah remains to this day.
Okay, back to the parade. It normally takes 3 hours to drive from Atlanta to Savannah but our party bus took over 4 hours to get there because there was so much traffic; not only because of the parade but because Vice-President Mike Pence was in attendance. When we arrived the temperature felt about 10 degrees warmer than Atlanta.
Savannah isn't nicknamed "The Hostess City" for nothing. The people here are way more hospitable than Atlanta. Also, Savannah has maintained its historical old south antebellum look mixed with just a hint of cosmopolitan. The Spanish Moss trees remind me of photos I've seen of New Orleans. Similarly, the people of Savannah absolutely love good food and music.
This is very important: If you want to walk around drinking during the parade, you must buy a wristband that cost $10. Without it, you can be fined $50. They are also serious about charter buses unloading passengers at the right locations, as our party bus driver was fined for letting some of us out at the wrong place. And don't wait until the last minute to rush to the restroom. They have porta-potties but you may have to wait in line to use them.
The parade is beautiful but it sometimes seems to repeat itself throughout with endless numbers of marching bands, people in kilts playing bagpipes, college & university queens, military troops, Irish dancers, floats and even some shameless local advertising. One of my favorite sights in the parade are the Clydesdale horses. Also, it's funny watching the women rushing out into the street to kiss the men in the parade. By the end of the parade, you'll see guys with lipstick smudges all over their faces. It rained some near the end of the parade but it didn't stop the fun.
After the parade, Savannah has its share of nightlife for a city is size. It's currently only the 5th largest city in Georgia but it seemed much larger due to the festivities. In all honesty, there isn't much difference in size between the 2nd and 5th largest cities in Georgia though. There are plenty of places to eat along the parade route with vendors having all kinds of food. A booth with Jamaican jerk chicken and a restaurant with Cuban dishes were favorites with the crowd. You can pretty much find anything you want to eat if you're willing to walk a bit. I don't know if Savannah is popping like this all the time but there was plenty of live music in the nightclubs/bars. And if you want to get away from downtown, there is a nice beach and several restaurants in nearby Tybee Island, GA.
I enjoyed the parade but I think it's best to get a hotel room there rather than go the party bus route like I did. I saved money but the party was far from over by the time we left that evening. I don't normally get into St. Patrick's Day but the way it's celebrated in Savannah made it fun anyway. I just wanted to be able to say I've been to the parade down there at least once in my life. read more