St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah 2027: Parade Route, Tips and Where to Stay

St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah 2027: Parade Route, Tips and Where to Stay

Savannah St. Patrick’s Day 2027 will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 17, and the city’s parade is one of the largest Irish celebrations in the United States. The tradition goes back to 1824, and the city fills with people in green for days before and after. If you want to be there, you need a plan for where to sleep, where to stand, how to get around and how to see the Historic District without fighting the crowds.

This guide covers what we know about the 2027 parade, how it has been run in recent years, the rules the city enforces, and the days that work best for sightseeing. It is written for first-timers, so it starts with the basics.

When is St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah in 2027?

The parade is held on March 17 every year, whatever day of the week that falls on. In 2027, March 17 is a Wednesday. The Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has been planning for 2027 since the 2026 parade ended, and the city treats parade day as the biggest event of its year.

The celebration is longer than one day. The festivities traditionally begin in early March, when the water in the Forsyth Park fountain is dyed green. In 2026 that happened on March 5. The week leading up to the parade brings concerts, church events and parties, and the weekend before the 17th is often as crowded as the day itself.

What to expect on parade day

The following timing is how the parade ran in 2025, based on the City of Savannah and local news guides. The 2027 schedule is likely to be similar, but confirm it on the City of Savannah St. Patrick’s Day page before you travel.

• 8 a.m.: A Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
• 10:15 a.m.: The parade steps off. In 2025 it began at Abercorn and Gwinnett streets and wound through the Historic District past several squares.
• Closures: In 2025, roads at the staging area closed at 6 a.m., roads along the route at 8 a.m., and Bay Street at 9 a.m.
• Crowd size: Tens of thousands of people attend in a typical year. The 200th anniversary in 2024 drew an estimated 250,000.

The parade is long. It lasts several hours, with marching bands, military units, Irish societies and floats. If you want a spot on the route, expect to claim it early. The city does not allow people to set up in squares until 6 a.m. on parade day, and many locals arrive around then.

Rules to know before you go

Savannah enforces its festival rules, and the fines are real. These are the 2025 rules; check the 2027 guidance before you arrive.

• Drinks: Open containers are allowed on the street in a plastic cup, with limits. The 2025 rules set a one-drink limit on the street, a 16-ounce cup size and a ban on drinking from a can, bottle or glass.
• Glass: Prohibited.
• Styrofoam: Styrofoam coolers and cups were prohibited.
• Trash: The city asks everyone to bring their own trash bags and take them away. Public bins fill within hours.
• Squares: You cannot set up in a park or square before 6 a.m. on parade day.

Public restrooms are scarce on parade day. Plan your restroom stops before you claim a spot, and eat before the parade. Many restaurants have long lines or limited menus.

Where to stay for St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah

Hotels in the Historic District fill up for St. Patrick’s weekend well in advance, and prices rise sharply. If you are coming in 2027, book as soon as you know your dates.

• Inside the Historic District: Best for walking to the parade, but expensive and sold out early. Street closures can make arriving and leaving by car difficult on parade day.
• Just outside the district: Midtown and areas on the south side of Forsyth Park have more availability and lower prices. Plan on a rideshare or a shuttle.
• On Tybee Island or in the suburbs: The beach is about half an hour from downtown and a good base if you do not mind driving. You will need a plan for parking on parade day.
• Short-term rentals: Read the rules for events and parties. Many homes in the Historic District limit occupancy and noise.

Whichever you choose, check the cancellation policy. Dates can sell out quickly, and a flexible booking is worth the extra cost.

Getting around and parking

Driving on parade day is the hardest way to get around. Streets close early, and downtown garages fill up. In 2025 the city sold parking permits for the festival period, and a private lot offered parking at Industry Drive, so look for similar options in 2027.

The better approach is to park once and walk, or avoid driving into the district at all. Use a rideshare or the public bus network. Chatham Area Transit runs buses and shuttles, and local news coverage typically publishes shuttle details in the week before the parade. Our Historic District parking guide explains where the garages and lots are and how they work.

If you are staying in the district, walking is faster than any vehicle on parade day. Wear comfortable shoes, since the brick sidewalks and cobblestones are not friendly to heels.

When to see the Historic District if you are in town for St. Patrick’s Day

This is the part most guides skip. On parade day the Historic District is full of people, and the streets that make up a sightseeing route are closed. A vehicle tour cannot run through a closed zone, and a walking tour spends most of its time stuck behind crowds. Check our booking page for what is running on March 17, and expect limited or no vehicle tours that day.

The days around the parade are better:

• Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16: The city is busy but the streets are open. These are good days to ride the loop and learn the layout before the parade.
• Thursday, March 18: Most visitors are leaving, the crowds thin out, and the squares are quiet again.
• Early morning on parade day: The squares are calm before the crowds arrive, but anything you plan has to be finished before the 8 a.m. closures.

A 75-minute guided tour is a useful orientation if this is your first trip to Savannah. Our guides explain the squares, the riverfront and the history, and you can plan where to be on parade day. For a general guide to dates and crowds, read our month-by-month guide to visiting Savannah.

A simple plan for St. Patrick’s weekend

1. Arrive early in the week if you can. Prices and crowds rise as the 17th gets closer.
2. Take a guided tour on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. You see the squares, River Street and Forsyth Park without the crowd.
3. Plan parade day around a spot, not a route. Pick one place, bring a chair if allowed and stay put.
4. Eat early and often. Book dinner reservations weeks ahead. Many restaurants close for parade day or run limited hours.
5. Leave time to recover. The day after the parade is the best time for a slow walk in the squares.

Our Savannah weekend itinerary fits easily around the parade if you are staying two or three days.