Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade draws tens of thousands to downtown

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A sea of green poured into Savannah on Tuesday as tens of thousands of tourists and residents packed downtown for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Visitors were joined by locals for whom March 17 is a long-standing tradition — a chance to get outside, reunite with friends and family, and celebrate in the Hostess City.

Whether it was a first-time trip to the parade route or a decades-long ritual, crowds lined the streets to take in marching bands, floats, and the festive atmosphere. Savannah is known for hosting one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world, and many attendees said the event more than lived up to its reputation.

“I’m here every Saint Patrick’s Day, for the last twenty one years, absolutely love it, wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

“It’s more than I expected to be honest with you, you know there’s a whole lot going on out here, I’m excited, I love Savannah I love Saint Patrick’s Day.”

“If you want to have a good time this is the place to be, where else would you be on Saint Patrick’s day.”

The one complaint heard most often was the weather. Temperatures were chilly early in the day, but conditions warmed up as the parade continued.

Festivities are set to continue into the night, with more celebrations planned throughout downtown Savannah.