Savannah goes green

Since 1824

The Hibernian Society of Savannah was founded in 1812, and its members held a private St. Patrick's Day procession to the Independent Presbyterian Church in 1813. In 1824 the society published a notice inviting the public to join it, and on March 17, 1824 it walked in procession to the city's Catholic church, St. John the Baptist, for an address by Bishop John England of Charleston. The parade committee counts this as the first public observance, and the start of today's parade.

Bishop England told the gathering of Catholics and Protestants: “May the example of Savannah be widely influential; here men who differ in religion may meet as friends and brethren.” In 2024 the city marked the parade's 200th anniversary with a historical marker, and Hibernians retraced the original route. (Today's Cathedral of St. John the Baptist dates from 1876.)

The parade today

According to the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, about 280 units (bands, families, societies, soldiers, public servants and floats) wind through the historic district every March 17. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution describes a route of about 3 miles through the heart of the district.

The parade is held on March 17 itself. For the year's route map, start time, Grand Marshal and rules, use the committee's official site: savannahsaintpatricksday.com.

The greening of the fountains

The season opens with the Greening of the Fountain in Forsyth Park. The story goes that in the mid-1980s an unknown group tried to dye the fountain green; concerned about the wrong chemicals, the city had its Park and Tree Commission do it each year with a food-quality dye, and the official ceremony began soon after. The parade committee says nine fountains in the historic district now flow green for the season, and the water stays green through St. Patrick's Day.

The city once tried to dye the Savannah River green, in 1961, but the current swept the dye away.

What to know

• Plan for crowds.A local visitor guide (savannahtourism.org) notes that around St. Patrick's Day the city closes off the City Market and River Street areas, city garages charge a special-event rate, and cars in no-parking zones are towed. Check the City of Savannah's announcements before you go.
• The free DOT shuttle doesn't run on parade day, according to the City of Savannah. See Getting around.
• To-go cups.Savannah allows adults 21+ to carry one drink in a paper, plastic or aluminum cup of 16 ounces or less within the downtown open-container area (no glass or cans). Event-day rules can be stricter.

Dates, times and rules change every year. Use only the official parade committee and City of Savannah sites for this year's details.