Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade is always March 17: Wednesday, March 17, 2027. In 2026 it stepped off at 10:15 a.m. from Gwinnett and Abercorn streets.
Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. Facts come from the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and the City of Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day pages. The 2027 times, closures, shuttles and garage rates are not posted yet; the details below are from the 2026 parade and are marked that way. This page is updated each year at the same address.
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held on March 17 every year, so the 2027 parade is Wednesday, March 17. In 2026 it stepped off at 10:15 a.m. from the intersection of Gwinnett and Abercorn streets, right after Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. It is free to watch from the sidewalks and squares.
Know before you go
- When: Wednesday, March 17, 2027 (start time to be confirmed; 10:15 a.m. in 2026)
- Where: Historic Downtown Savannah; 2026 route and parking map
- Cost: free; bleacher seats sold separately
- Towing: cars on the route, staging and disband areas are towed from 12:01 a.m. on parade day
- No festival: no stages, wristbands or street alcohol sales since 2021
- Questions: City Special Events, Film and Tourism, 912-351-3837; Parade Committee, 912-233-4804
What it is
The parade traces its public roots to 1824, when the Hibernian Society invited the city to join it on the Feast of St. Patrick, the committee’s history says. About 280 units march today: bands, families, Irish societies, soldiers, public servants and commercial floats. The city calls it Savannah’s largest event and one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in America, behind New York City and Chicago. The 2026 parade marked the 202nd anniversary.
March 17, 2027, is also a student and staff holiday on the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System calendar. See our spring break guide.
The Irish season before the parade
The committee holds events in the weeks before. In 2026 its calendar listed:
- Grand Marshal investiture, Sunday, March 1, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
- Greening of the fountain, noon Friday, March 6, Forsyth Park
- Celtic Cross Mass, Sunday, March 8, at the cathedral, then a ceremony at the Celtic Cross in Emmet Park
- Tybee Island Heritage Parade, 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, on Tybee Island
- Sgt. William Jasper ceremony, Monday, March 16, Madison Square
The 2027 dates will be on the committee’s site once set.
Road closures and towing
From the city’s 2026 parade page:
- Staging area closed at 6 a.m.
- Parade route closed at 8 a.m.; Bay Street at 9 a.m.
- Disband area closed at 8 a.m.
- Towing started at 12:01 a.m. on parade day on the route, staging and disband areas. “No Parking” signs go up the week before. Do not move barricades or signs.
If your car is towed, pick up the tow slip you need to get it back at Savannah Police Department headquarters, 201 Habersham St., 912-651-6990. Bring proof of ownership.
Parking, shuttles and getting in
The city says the parking simply does not exist for the crowd and asks people to use shuttles or carpool. Its 2026 parking and shuttle page set these rules for city garages on parade day:
- Garages opened to the public at 6 a.m.; monthly pass holders had them to themselves until 8 a.m.
- Parade day rate: $25 from 5 a.m. to midnight, paid on exit. Lost ticket: $42.
- Visitor day passes and residential decals were not valid. Residents paid to park.
- Some garages do not let cars out until the parade is over.
- No tailgating or loitering in garages.
The weekend before cost $15 a day on Friday and Saturday. Private garages set their own rates; the committee’s parking page says special-event parking downtown runs $5 to $20.
Parade-day shuttles in 2026, all listed by the city:
| From | To | Hours | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham Toyota lot (Lot J) | Louisville Road, by the Visitor Information Center | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Enmarket Arena |
| Richmond Hill, Pooler, Berwick | Louisville Road, by the Visitor Information Center | 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Fun Travel, 912-433-7966 |
| Tybee Island | General McIntosh Boulevard at Pilot Street | 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. | Elite Savannah Travel, 912-403-5483 |
| Tanger Outlets | Turner Boulevard at MLK Jr. Boulevard | 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Pooler Chamber of Commerce |
Chatham Area Transit lists its own routes at catchacat.org.
Where to watch
- Lawns: folding chairs only, placed after 5 p.m. the day before (in 2026, Monday, March 16) and at your own risk. Not in parks and squares. No chaining chairs to trees or poles, and no tents set up in advance. Sidewalks and streets must stay clear.
- Squares: the city’s “Land Rush” opens square setup at 6 a.m. on parade day, and people camp overnight for a spot. The city’s parade page links the rules.
- Bleachers: the committee’s bleachers page lists Kelly Tours seats on Bay Street, Bull Street, by the cathedral and by Colonial Park Cemetery, from $40 to $55 for about five hours.
- Arrive early, stay behind the barricades, and keep emergency lanes open.
Rules and fines
There has been no permitted festival since 2021, when the mayor and City Council moved to return the day to a family parade, the city’s FAQ says. Food trucks are allowed. On March 17 only, the to-go cup zone stretches south to Victory Drive. Picnics in the squares are welcome; take your trash home.
The city’s public safety page lists 2026 fines for city ordinance violations, among them:
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| More than one drink on the street, or a cup over 16 ounces | $121 |
| Drinking from a can, bottle or glass | $121 |
| Open container outside the festival area | $121 |
| Urinating in public | $121 |
| Drinking in a parked car | $148 |
| Disorderly conduct or public indecency | $229 |
| Minor drinking or holding alcohol | $250 |
Kids, pets and lost property
- Children: take a photo of your child that morning in what they are wearing. If you are separated, tell the nearest officer, firefighter or EMS worker, or call 911.
- Pets: leave them home if you are going into the Control Zone. Only service animals are allowed, except for Control Zone residents walking their dogs. No reptiles or exotic animals.
- Restrooms: use the city’s portable toilets. Public urination draws the most arrests each year, the city says.
- Lost and found: the Civic Center Mason Room, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., until 5 p.m. on parade day.
What this means for you
- Plan the ride before the day. A shuttle beats circling for a garage you may not be able to leave until the parade ends.
- Living downtown? Watch for the city’s parking and road mailers in early March and move your car before midnight on March 16.
- Want a seat? Book bleachers through the committee’s site once the 2027 links are up.
More: things to do this month, road construction and closures and the Historic District guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2027?
Wednesday, March 17, 2027. The parade is held on March 17 every year. In 2026 it started at 10:15 a.m., right after Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
Where does the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade start?
In 2026 it started at the intersection of Gwinnett and Abercorn streets and wound through the Historic District. The committee posts the route map on its website before each parade.
How much is parking for St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah?
In 2026, city garages charged $25 on parade day from 5 a.m. to midnight and opened to the public at 6 a.m. Some garages do not let cars out until the parade ends.
Is there a St. Patrick’s Day festival in Savannah?
No. The city has not permitted a festival since 2021. There are no stages, wristbands or street alcohol sales, though food trucks are allowed and bars and restaurants are open.
Can I bring my dog to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Savannah?
The city says to leave pets at home if you will be in the Control Zone. Non-service animals are not allowed there, with an exception for Control Zone residents walking their dogs.
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