The Voice
It’s time for St. Patrick’s Day. Let the staff of The Colonnade guide you in your St. Patrick’s Day celebration and also give you a little history behind this day.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many places around the United States, such as New York City and Chicago. It’s celebrated on March 17, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. Lucky for us, we have two venues nearby that really know how to do the whole St. Patrick’s Day thing.
The St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, Ga., started in 1966 through the work of a local radio station and its local newspaper, The Courier Herald. The festival includes approximately 45 events each year during the month of March, such as the Annual Pancake Supper, a leprechaun contest where schoolchildren dress up as leprechauns, the St. Patrick’s Bowling tournament and Main Street Munchies, where local restaurants set up and showcase their foods.
The St. Patrick’s Parade will take place in Dublin on Saturday, March 22, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Many of the rooftops of Dublin are painted green. If you go, be sure you’re a wearin’ o’ the green or you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival is more of a family event, and there isn’t a lot of rowdiness like you may find down in Savannah around St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah dates back to 1813, when the oldest Irish society in the United States – the Hibernian Society – was formed by 13 Irish Protestants. The following year, the society gathered in a private procession, and marched to a church. The first public procession in Savannah took place March 17, 1824.
You can find lots to do in Savannah this weekend. There will be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration all weekend in the courtyards of City Market, filled with live music, food and fun. The Tara Feis Irish Festival will take place Saturday afternoon in downtown Savannah’s Emmet Park, featuring authentic Irish music, dance, children’s entertainment and
more. All weekend, the infamous River Street will be filled with food, drinks and musical entertainment from acts like the Gin Blossoms and Starship.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Monday, March 17, beginning at 10 a.m. In some squares of the city the parade is a nice, quaint family affair, but in other parts it’s just one big drinkfest! So, if you want to be near the party or far from it, you’ll need to know which square to be in.
Even though St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah began as a religious occasion, it is safe to say that things get a little rowdy, a little out of hand and a little unreligous! When night falls, you’ll see lots of beads, beer and arrests. The City of Savannah has reported that in one day of the Irish festivities, there can be up to 50 arrests, with people being arrested for public indecency, underage drinking and disorderly conduct. So, if you’re planning on going down there this weekend, please be careful.
For more information about Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival, you can visit www.saintpatricksfestival.com. To get more info about Savannah’s Irish festivities, go to http://stpats.savannahnow.com. Erin Go Braugh!
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 14 2003. Filed under Our Voice.
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