St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, GA {traditions and suggestions}

Hey guys!

This week we are going to talk about St. Patrick's Day specifically in Savannah, Ga! I just got back from an amazingly fun bachelorette in Savannah during St. Patrick's weekend and it was my first ever time in Savannah and I wanted to share my experience with you along with giving you guys some tips should you ever go!

The parade

First, I want to tell you guys a little about the parade and the traditions of Savannah that go along with St. Patrick's day!

• The parade in Savannah is one of the top 5 largest in the U.S. in terms of number of those attending (over a million people attend every year!)

• The parade route is over 4 miles long. 

• The parade time runs about 4-5 hours depending on stops and is mostly about paying tribute to those of Irish descent. 

• In this parade they don't throw beads or cabbages like other cities do for St. Patty's. 

• They have traditions such as women wearing red lipstick and giving beads to men in the parade and giving them kisses on the cheek. (I thought this was super cute!)

We had an amazing time at the parade but there are some things I definitely learned!

Tips for the parade:

1. Bring comfortable shoes!

     We went to mass before the parade and I wore really cute chunk heels but I brought flip flops with me to change into afterwards and I was so glad I did because the parade is definitely a long one!

2. Bring folding chairs!

     We had folding chairs but forgot to bring them with us and boy would it have been nice to be able to sit while watching the parade! Definitely something to remember when coming to a huge parade like this one!

3. Be prepared to walk long distances!

     I understand wanting to look your best but keep in mind there are so many people everywhere that parking is INSANE! We got to downtown Savannah at 7:30 a.m. for a parade that started at 10 a.m. on the other side of town and got a good parking spot which was still 6 blocks down from the parade route and we got lucky! 

4. Pack a cooler!

     While drinks are flowing in the downtown area a great money saver is to just bring your own cooler with you or even a flask and a mixer along with maybe a sandwich or something to munch on that way not only are you saving money but you don't risk losing your spot on the parade route!

The after party

While we did not go to River Street after the parade Thursday we did go Saturday night and just as many people were down there! If you are unfamiliar with Savannah, River Street is their hub for all the bars and parties in the downtown area. It is located right on the river and it is about 15 feet below the main streets of the downtown area. To get there you have to basically find a set of stairs that leads you from the main downtown area to this area where its just cobblestone roads and shops/bars/restaurants. Cars are not allowed down there and it is packed with people! 

Tips for River Street

1. WATCH YOUR STEP!

     Being someone who is clumsy I normally walk with my head down staring at the ground in front of me to ensure I won't trip or fall but even doing that  I still managed to twist my ankle right in the middle of everyone (I know, typical me). The streets are OLD and made of cobble stone so it is very uneven and hard to walk on so my suggestion is to take thing slow and maneuver the crowds at a relaxed pace or you will end up like me and face plant!

2. Shoes, shoes, shoes.

     I mentioned this earlier for the parade but I definitely want to mention it again for River Street because there is NO way you can wear anything other than flats really without biting the dust! Wear cute shoes that are low to the ground or are flat to ensure you can still walk by the end of the night.

3. Bring cash!

     They are not ATMs and everything requires cash so if you want to drink you will need to stop at an ATM before getting down there. They also sell wrist bands for $5 so that you can walk around the entire downtown area drink in hand without worry and you need cash for that as well. 

Here are a few other pictures from the weekend:

Overall it was an amazing weekend with fun friends and I had a great time! I hope you enjoyed reading about my experiences and also learning some tips to keep in mind if you ever travel to the beautiful city of Savannah, GA!

xoxo, Jess