A Very Brief Explanation for the Savannah, Georgia St. Patrick's Day Festival
If you love a good party, St. Patrick’s Day is a perfect time of year to visit Savannah.
Everything is green- the cocktails, the food, even the fountains! Not to mention the St. Patrick’s Day parade- the biggest one of the year! Thousands of people, both local and visiting- turn out for this famed experience! Why are we so good at celebrating Irish pride? Just like everything else in our beautiful city, it boils down to centuries of elaborate history!
In 1733, James Edward Oglethorpe landed on Yamacraw Bluff. With him, he brought just over 100 settlers to populate his new colony in Georgia. At least nine of these settlers were Irish; having left the monarchy to pursue religious freedom as Irish Catholics. Later on in 1845, Savannah was swarmed by Irish refugees escaping the potato famine which starved nearly a third of their population.
A group of 44 prominent Savannah gentlemen had formed the Hibernian Society a few years earlier in order to assist the impoverished Irish refugees in Savannah. In 1813, they had marched to the First Presbyterian Church to celebrate the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
In 1824, the Hibernian Society had invited every Irishman in Savannah to Mass before a public parade through the streets of Savannah. Thus; the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade was born. A few years later, the first marshall was elected, and he proceeded to welcome a marching band into the procession! Slowly, the parade began to morph into a semblance of the modern parade we know and love today.
Over the years, the parade became more and more elaborate. First, themed drinks were served at the bars all over town, and then themed cuisine, and with the inclusion of non-Irish citizens; it became a big hoorah! Now, even the fountain waters are dyed green for the occasion, settling as the green cherry on top of a city decorated from rooftop to alley brick with shamrocks and green garlands. We hope to see you this year for the big celebration!