Crowds Pack Savannah for St. Patrick's Day (Photo Series)

And Georgia Gazette is there, with live sound from the scene: http://www.gpb.org/georgiagazette


(All photos: Orlando Montoya)

As bagpipers and shamrock-plastered floats passed the crowd, Nancy Cox raised a Bloody Mary and clicked the heels of her emerald slippers -- one of the head-to-toe green accessories of her "Wizard of Oz" costume.

(All photos: Orlando Montoya)

Each time her sparkling shoes touched, Cox repeated: "There's no place like Savannah."

Especially not on St. Patrick's Day. Thousands of gaudy green revelers lined the cobblestone streets and magnolia-shaded sidewalks of the downtown historic district today to join the
coastal city's 185-year-old Irish celebration.

Economic gloom may have thinned the throngs slightly, but thirsty tourists started hitting the bars as early as 7:30 a.m. and bar owners anticipated healthy profits by last call at 3 a.m.
tomorrow.

Started in 1824 by Savannah's early wave of Irish immigrants, the St. Patrick's Day parade is the biggest tourist attraction of the year in Georgia's oldest city.

(All photos: Orlando Montoya)

Savannah touts itself as having the nation's second-largest parade, based on the hours-long procession of marching bands, and elaborate floats, Civil War re-enactors and convertibles
chauffeuring local dignitaries. On peak years, the celebration draws up to 400,000 party goers to the city of 150,000.

(All photos: Orlando Montoya)

The turnout today wasn't nearly as smothering as Savannah can be when March 17th falls on a weekend. People stood shoulder-to-shoulder two to three deep on the sidewalks, but many spots had enough elbow room to walk unimpeded.

(All photos: Orlando Montoya)

Oak-shaded Chippewa Square, normally one of the busiest parade-watching spots, still had ample space for party tents by the time the parade began.

(AP)

Savannah Ready For St. Pat's Day Festivities

One of the largest St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the nation gets going this morning in Savannah. The signature event in the coastal city is the St. Pat’s parade winding through the downtown street. That kicks-off at 10am.

The parade is only part of a full roster of activities in Savannah--the events includes a St Patrick’s Day mass at one of the old churches in the city.

A programming reminder for tonight on GPB Radio--join us for a special edition of Georgia Gazette. Orlando Montoya will be hosting from the streets of Savannah, with all the color and flavor of another St Patrick’s celebration along the coast. Georgia Gazette airs 6pm tonight...7pm in Athens.

Famous Horses Grace Georgia Parades

The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales are spending several days in Georgia to participate in two parades on Georgia's coast - the Tybee Island Irish Heritage Parade on Saturday and the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade on Tuesday. The horses are taking up temporary residence at J.F Gregory Park in Richmond Hill, where the public can see the horses daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Savannah is one of 300 cities the five traveling hitches visit annually. A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 25 quarts of feed, 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water a day.

(Associated Press)

Savannah Goes Dark for St. Paddy's Day

The color of Savannah's weekend St. Patrick's Day celebration turned from green to pitch black late Saturday as the city and most of Chatham County lost power, plunging the downtown party into darkness as thousands roamed the streets.

The only lights in the downtown historic district were flashing atop police cars as officers directed traffic amid throngs of revelers roaming streets littered with plastic cups and shouting "Paaartay!" and "Happy Blackout Day!"

"It's just people wandering around in the dark, man," said 23-year-old Danielle Smith of Savannah, looking for friends amid the confusion near the city's riverfront. "This is crazy!"

The blackout hit at about 10 p.m. as strong thunderstorms tore through southern Georgia and South Carolina just north of Savannah. Georgia Power said some 150,000 customers in the Savannah area were without electricity after transmission lines were knocked out by the storms in Effingham County, said company spokesman Jeff Wilson.

Lights in the city started coming back on about 1 a.m. Sunday, he said.

A few bars kept pouring drinks, with bartenders counting customer's drinks with flashlights, as patrons huddled around tables lit by candles. Smith managed to buy a cold beer for $2.50 at one darkened watering hole.

Power crews were trying to restore electricity to the Savannah area, Georgia Power spokesman Jeff Wilson said. It was unclear how long it would take.

Authorities reported few problems despite the potential for chaos. Police closed the riverfront bars by 11:30 p.m. and the lingering street party began dispersing an hour later as it began to rain. Savannah Fire Capt. Matthew Stanley said a couple of street robberies were reported downtown, but no major incidents.

"Everything's still very calm," Stanley said. "Everybody's just kind of wandering around aimlessly."

Steve Gaskell and his friends had just stepped off the elevator at their hotel when the power went out. They walked near the riverfront and sat on a park bench, sipping beer with a video camera ready in case anything crazy happened.

"We were expecting mayhem, but there isn't much," said Gaskell, 26, of Milwaukee. "We walked past a jewelry store and I figured the alarm was off and windows would be broken. But so far so good, I guess."

The blackout didn't stop Mike Birbiglia of Myrtle Beach, S.C., from heading out late to join the party. By the time he got to the ramps winding down to the riverfront bars, he said, police turned him away.

So he wandered with the rest of the crowd by the lights of a firetruck parked at an intersection, unsure of where he was going but hoping the fun wouldn't stop.

"We were looking for a good time, and then this happened," said Birbiglia, 25. "But I'm still having a good time."