11 Essential Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Survival Tips

Have you ever visited Savannah, Georgia, for St. Patrick’s Day? If not, you need to put this on your bucket list. You will have a blast there. The city hosts one of the biggest celebrations in the United States, including the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day parade. People from all over the country come to Savannah for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. I’ve had the chance to experience St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah a few times because I lived there for eight years. Everyone needs to go at least once. I have eleven tips for navigating Savannah St. Patrick’s Day events today.

Savannah St. Patricks Day 2023

Book Your Lodging Early

There will be about 500,000 people coming to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day. You want to make sure you book your room early. I like to reserve my rooms several months in advance. I suggest that you book your rooms no later than December. Hotels generally raise their prices around January. An excellent place to look for hotel deals is TripAdvisor. You can find all kinds of info on that site. You can still book rooms in February or March, but nine times out of ten, the only vacancies will be near the Savannah airport or I-95, which are both far from the downtown area. You don’t have to worry about going back and forth from Downtown Savannah to the Southside.

Explore hotel options in Savannah

If hotels aren’t your thing, you can check out VRBO. You can book people’s homes or condos on that site. Depending on when you book your room, you may even get a better deal than you would on a hotel room.

Arrive a Few Days Before the Parade

The Savannah St. Patrick’s Day parade is usually held on March 17th, but the events can start a week or two early. Check out Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day for details. One event you should consider attending is the Greening of the Fountain. It’s when city officials dye the water in the Forsyth Park Fountain green. It’s an event that takes little time, but it can have people from all over the country there to witness it. 

Coming to Savannah a few days early allows you to do some sightseeing around the city before the madness begins. Doing this will enable you to see things before the crowds arrive. 

Check the Weather

March is a weird weather month for the whole state of Georgia. Savannah isn’t an exception. The temperatures fluctuate. Some St. Patrick’s Day Savannah weekends have been warm, while others have been cold. Make sure you check the weather and dress accordingly. A few years ago, a cold front came during St. Patrick’s week. The temp dropped by twenty degrees in a few short hours. Many people weren’t prepared for that. Make sure that you check the weather and pack the right clothes. 

Attend Mass

Saint Patrick’s Day Mass is held every year on March 17th. It starts at 8 am. It is held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah. The mass is open to people of all faiths. It is a way for Savannah’s Irish-American community to celebrate their heritage and faith.

Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The biggest event during this time is the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The parade starts at 10:15 am. It features tons of floats and performances. You can expect the parade to last three hours. People begin to arrive hours before that. If you want to view the parade from any historic squares, the earliest you can get there is 6 am. I’ve been to the parade once out of all the times I’ve been to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day. It was packed when I got out there a little after 8 am. It took forever to find a place to park my car. If you want to watch the parade in a good spot, arrive downtown no later than 7 am. Bay St, Abercorn St, and Broughton St are excellent places to watch it from.

Bring Plastic or Styrofoam Cups

Make sure you bring some plastic or styrofoam cups because you can drink in the Historic District, which is downtown. Nope, that wasn’t a typo. You can drink in downtown Savannah. They have an open container law stating that the cups can be no more than 16 ounces. Make sure that you don’t overdo it. I’ve seen people pass out on the streets numerous times. I’ve also seen folks get locked up for being too drunk. That’s not a good way to spend your time in Savannah.

Bring Cash

You want to ensure you have some cash on hand for food and souvenirs. Vendors will have tents all around downtown selling different types of food. Some of them only take cash. Vendors will also sell shirts, beads, and other souvenirs. There is a good chance that you will see something that you like. Below is a funny St. Patrick’s Day themed design. Click on the picture below for more info.

Visit River Street

River Street is a popular destination in Savannah. It is a cobblestone street that features over 70 businesses. It is located on the Savannah River. A lot of the partying goes down on River Street. Thousands of people will be in the area enjoying themselves. The bars and restaurants will ensure folks get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. There will be multiple drink specials going on. You will also see tons of live music performances and other entertainment there. 

Try Some Green Beer

What better way to celebrate Savannah St. Patrick’s Day than to try some green beer? That’s the only time you can get a green beer, so you could live a little. It tastes just like regular beer. The bars use a special dye to make them green. Below is a picture of some green beer I had a few years ago.

Enjoy Yourself

Make sure that you have fun. Besides River Street, you should check out City Market. They usually have a stage setup that will feature live music. There are multiple bars to check out in the area as well. If you want to see the ocean, you can take a short drive to Tybee Island. They will have St. Patricks Day week events, including the Annual Tybee Heritage Parade. It’s usually a few days before the actual day.

Stay Safe

Last but not least, stay safe. Stay out of dark alleys by yourself. Use common sense. Don’t drink too much. Let me repeat myself, don’t drink too much. You don’t want to get locked up for public intoxication. You may be locked up for a couple of days. Always pay attention to your surroundings. With any big event, there could be pickpockets or scammers out there. Use good judgment. If you have a hotel on the other side of town and you’ve been drinking, please get a designated driver or use Uber/Lyft. You don’t want to risk your or anyone else’s life.

Here’s $5 off your first Uber ride if this is your first time using it.

Here’s $5 off your first Lyft ride.

St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah can be a wonderful time. The eleven tips above should help you have a great time. Click the image below to book your trip to Savannah St. Patrick’s Day trip today.