Here are some helpful hints, answers to frequently asked questions and more from our friends at Connect Savannah.
What are the to-go cup rules for St. Patrick’s Day?
Within the Festival Area, all alcoholic drink cups must be paper, plastic or styrofoam, and 16 ounces or less. No other alcoholic containers of any kind will be allowed in the Festival Area.
So where’s the Festival Area?
The "Festival Area" for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is north of Jones Street to the River; east of Boundary Street and MLK Blvd.; and west of East Broad Street.
I can just take those "No Parking" bags off the parking meters myself and park in those spaces, right?
Sure, if you want your car towed and want to pay a lot of money to get it back.
What city parking lots are open to the public?
The Visitors Center lot will be available for parking at 7 a.m., Tuesday, March 17. Vehicles parking before 7 a.m. must purchase a $10 pass.
RV and motor coach parking is permitted but limited during the festival. Parking fee is $10 per day per vehicle and/or vehicle in tow.
Parking passes can be purchased Friday, March 13 thru Tuesday, March 17 for the festival.
Lots along River Street be closed as of 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, and will remain closed until 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.
The Bryan, Liberty, Robinson, and State Street garages will be open to the public beginning at 8:30 a.m. $10 fee.
Civic Center lot will be closed for parade staging.
How about the Trade Center on Hutchinson Island?
Parking for Tuesday’s parade will be available at the Trade and Convention Center 7 a.m.-3 p.m. A parking fee of $10 per vehicle will include a round trip on the water ferry. The Trade Center Parking Lot will not admit vehicles after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. The water ferry will continue operations until midnight for the convenience of Trade Center and Westin guests.
Is there a free shuttle from Oglethorpe Mall this year?
Yes, the round-trip St. Patrick’s Day Parade Shuttle goes from Oglethorpe Mall to downtown and back on Tuesday, March 17. It’s $5 round trip per adult. Children under 41 inches are free. Two free children per paying customer.
Tickets will be sold at the Oglethorpe Mall ONLY and will be available Tuesday, March 17 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased onsite at the shuttle location under the parking deck near J.C. Penney’s at the Mall.
Shuttles leave the mall and stop downtown at Oglethorpe Avenue and Houston Street. Schedule is: 7:30 a.m. first trolley leaves the mall; 1 p.m. last trolley leaves the mall; and 5 p.m. last trolley leaves Oglethorpe Avenue and Houston Street to return to the mall.
Will the regular free Historic District shuttle be in operation?
Not on Tuesday, March 17.
Will other regular buses run?
For $1 per trip, the public may catch any of CAT’s fixed bus routes from Friday, March 13 thru Tuesday, March 17. Most of the routes take passengers to the MLK Jr. Blvd./Broughton Street vicinity. East/Southside buses alight and board passengers at Oglethorpe Avenue and Price Street. Bus stops for the 14 Abercorn and 27 Waters Road routes will shift from under the Oglethorpe Mall parking deck to Hodgson Memorial from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 while the City of Savannah-operated St. Patrick’s Day shuttle is in service.
Last but not least: Will there be any portable toilets downtown?
Yes, nearly 400 of them. They are clustered along the parade route, either along the route itself or nearby the adjacent squares.