Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is one of the largest in the country — behind only New York City and Chicago — and the city’s single biggest event of the year. If you’re coming to town for it, a little planning goes a very long way.
Held every March 17, the parade dates back to 1824 and draws crowds from all over the world to the historic district. Below is a general guide to the parade, parking, the squares, and the downtown festival zone — but read the note first.
Savannah sets its St. Patrick’s Day rules fresh every year, and they’ve changed a lot in recent years — dates, festival hours, wristband prices, zone boundaries, and bleacher seating all vary. Use this as a general guide, then check the official City of Savannah St. Patrick’s Day page and the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee site for the current year’s exact details.
About the Parade
The parade is held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and traditionally steps off at 10:15 a.m. from the corner of Abercorn and Gwinnett streets, following morning Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. From there it winds north through the historic district and its squares before making its way toward the river and City Hall.
The exact route and the squares it passes can shift from year to year, so the safest bet is the official St. Patrick’s Day Parade page, which posts the current route map each year. The City also typically offers paid bleacher seating along the route, with prices that vary by location and how early you buy.
Parking & Getting Around
Parking during the festivities is extremely limited, and it’s the number-one thing to plan ahead for. The City operates several downtown parking garages — in recent years Bryan Street, Eastern Wharf, Liberty Street, Robinson, State Street, and Whitaker Street — which fill early. Be aware that vehicles left in restricted areas are towed in the run-up to the parade, so read the posted signs carefully.
Many locals skip driving downtown altogether, using rideshare (the City sets up designated rideshare pickup zones during late-night hours), biking, or walking in from parking outside the core. For the current official parking and transportation details, see the City’s St. Pat’s Weekend page. And for garages and lots near the historic district year-round, our Savannah parking guide can help.
Claiming a Spot: The Squares
Savannah’s squares along the route are prime parade-watching real estate — so coveted that the City runs an annual “Running of the Squares.” Devoted revelers camp out overnight, and City staff officially open the squares to parade-goers at 6 a.m. on Parade Day. Not a moment before.
The rules for what you can bring into the squares are set each year, but in general they’ve looked like this:
- Typically allowed: tables, coolers, lawn chairs, and 10-by-10-foot tents (tents usually cannot be set up in advance).
- Typically not allowed: grills, amplified sound, kegs, scaffolding, advertisements, barriers, private security, and private portable toilets.
- All belongings generally must be removed by the evening of the parade, and the use of City electricity and water is prohibited.
These guidelines change, so confirm the current year’s square rules on the official City page before you set up — anything against the rules can be removed.
The Festival Entertainment Zone
During the celebration, the City establishes a downtown control zone (also called the Entertainment or Festival Zone) covering a large stretch of the historic district near the river, where special festival rules apply. In most years, a wristband is required to drink alcohol on public property within the zone; you don’t need one to enter, and you don’t need one to drink inside licensed bars and restaurants.
The details — the wristband price, the exact zone boundaries, the enforcement hours each day, and even whether on-street sales happen at all — are set annually and have shifted significantly since 2022. Prohibited items in the zone have typically included coolers, non-service animals, and fireworks or noisemakers. For this year’s zone map, hours, and wristband information, check the City’s St. Pat’s Weekend page.
In Town for St. Patrick’s Day? See Haunted Savannah, Too
The same historic squares that host the parade by day come alive with ghosts after dark. Round out your Savannah trip with a walk through its haunted history.
Book a Savannah Ghost Tour
Chris Allen is the founder of Destination Ghost Tours, a historian and storyteller with a lifelong fascination for the darker corners of history. He spends his time uncovering the true stories behind haunted legends, guiding guests through historic cities, and chasing down details that refuse to stay buried. When he is not working, he can usually be found with his partner Arissa, their dog Bear, and their two cats, Trouble and Covu, photographing old places, digging through archives, or disappearing into historical rabbit holes. He believes the best history is honest, atmospheric, and just unsettling enough to linger.