×
Their descendants, by and large, live in a more prosperous time. Savannah's robust Irish population now celebrates its heritage in style. St. Patrick's Day is Savannah's biggest event of the year, attracting as many as half a million people every year to the city, according to estimates from a 2018 Georgia Southern University study. On March 17 in 1824, the Hibernian Society president invited the public to join him on a walk through Savannah’s streets to go hear a speech from Bishop John England, the founder of the diocese of Charleston. And so, the city’s first public St. Patrick’s Day parade went down in the history books. Meanwhile, more Irish kept arriving in come rain or shine."say our prayers in front of the cathedral that st.patrick's day will be this beautiful that day, no rain." the first st.patrick's day parade was held in savannah in the 1820's. over the years, the size of the parade grew with the catholic irish population. Or what big events are planned outside of the parade? We've got you covered. * * *Why is Savannah's celebration so big?St. Patrick's Day has grown to be Savannah's biggest event of the year and one of the largest Irish celebrations in the nation, attracting hundreds of thousands to the Hostess City of the South. First and foremost, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah has a rich history that dates back to 1824. The Hibernian Society, a prominent Irish-American organization, published a notice inviting the citizens of Savannah to join them for a discourse at the Roman Catholic Church on the Feast of St. Patrick. This invitation marked the beginning of an St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is an experience not to be missed. There are also lots of themed events such as the Greening of the Fountain, Celtic Cross Ceremony, pub crawls and concerts down by the Savannah River. So whether you are Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah is always an exciting event and an excellent way to kick off the Savannah celebrates St. Patrick's Day with vibrant festivities and puts on the second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States. The city is decked out in green, with thousands of visitors flocking to join the lively celebrations that include traditional Irish music, dancing, and plenty of festive food and drink. Though St. Patty’s day falls on the 17th of March, expect Savannah to start celebrating at least two weeks early. These 14 days are filled with cultural events, religious ceremonies, parades, music, and entertainment, so there’s surely something for everyone to enjoy. Savannah has a long-standing relationship with St. Patrick’s Day and is known for having one of the most exciting celebrations of the holiday. This is due to the city’s Irish influence, which dates back to its founding in 1733. When General James Oglethorpe established the Georgia colony, he brought a group of Irish Protestant immigrants The ceremony is meant to pay respect to Savannah’s original St. Patrick’s Day celebrations back in the early 1800s. Feast of St. Patrick Mass. Before the St. Patrick’s Day parade begins, Savannah’s Irish Catholic community gathers at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist for morning Mass. Let's take a look at what may be in store for St. Patrick's Day 2025 in Savannah.Here at WJCL 22 we use a long range forecast method that allows us to pinpoint specific features of the weather pattern weeks or even months in advance. This is why each year we are able to issue our St. Patrick's Day forecast weeks in advance! Why is Savannah's celebration so big? St. Patrick's Day has grown to be Savannah's biggest event of the year and one of the largest Irish celebrations in the nation, attracting hundreds of thousands to the Hostess City of the South. Check out the below file video for a crash course in how the event grew over the years. * * * Or what big events are planned outside of the parade? We've got you covered. * * *Why is Savannah's celebration so big?St. Patrick's Day has grown to be Savannah's biggest event of the year and one of the largest Irish celebrations in the nation, attracting hundreds of thousands to the Hostess City of the South. Download the WJCL News App to watch the Savannah St. Patrick's Day parade liveCity officials estimate more than 100,000 people could attend Friday's St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Savannah.With so many people in town, getting the best view of the parade can be hard to come by. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is in its 196th year. The first publicly-held St. Patrick’s Day parade was in 1824 and organized by the Hibernian Society. “The parade was pretty much established for the purpose of the Irish families celebrating the patron saint of St. Patrick,” explains Norris. Check out our St. Patrick's weekend festivities! 3/14 Friday Night: Bluegrass by the Pint with local bluegrass band, Swamptooth 6-8:30pm Food Truck: Smashed Savannah burgers and fries 5-8:30 3/15 Saturday: On stage, tunes with DJ Dane 1-4pm Food Truck: Slow Fire BBQ 12-8pm / Cone Ranger ice cream 12-5pm 3/16 Sunday: Live music with Tina & Her Pony 2:30-5pm Food Truck: Smashed Savannah burgers Like even older St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York and Boston, Savannah’s parade is likely rooted in military units celebrating the holiday during the American Revolution, Keeley said. He noted there are accounts of Irish-born soldiers marching on St. Patrick’s Day while serving under George Washington. It's that time of year again! Either you love it or you hate it, but it is going to happen nonetheless: St. Patrick's Day Savannah. This year, St. Paddy's (pro tip: it is NEVER Patty's or Patti's) is on a Friday and the parade will be on the same day. Generations later, there’s an immense amount of pride that surrounds Irish identity in Savannah. “This idea that they're not just Irish, they're not just from Savannah, they're Savannah Irish,” Dwyer-Ryan said. While the Savannah Irish have enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day festivities for 200 years, its bigger than the parade itself. Savannah's legendary St. Patrick's Day parade will return on Friday, March 17.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |