It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! No, I am not suffering from calendar confusion...I realize it is March and not December...However, I think a lot of us feel like children on Christmas morning...We are anxious because we know something big is about to happen...You can just feel something in the air...You know St. Patrick's Day is coming...
We spring forward with the time this weekend...That just gets us one hour closer to the 186th edition of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade...I'll gladly give up an hour of sleep for that...I suspect this year will be a little different since the big day falls on a Wednesday...St. Patrick's Day takes on a different dynamic when it falls mid-week...But make no mistake boys and girls, it is still going to be a great time...
While we often see drunken revelry on River Street with people guzzling green beer (not that there's anything wrong with that), that is not what the day is about...The day is all about family...You see that when you watch the parade...You see large families of 30-40 people or more walking or riding in cars or on floats during the three hour parade...Along the route, you see three and four generations of families gathered in squares and on curbs to watch all things Irish...Those are the spots they've gathered for years...It's a day, time and moment to celebrate history and heritage and share and the laughter and love of family...Grand marshal Denny Herb decided to make family, friends and faith his theme for this year's celebration...That's a great choice in my book...
Once again this year, I will be one of the hosts for our parade coverage which begins at 10 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day...If you can't make it down to watch the parade in person, I hope you will join us for our live coverage on Wednesday...
If you have never witnessed the Greening of the Fountain, I suggest you maybe take your lunch break a little early on Friday, March 12th...Get there a little early to get a good spot at the fence so you will have a great view...It happens at high noon in Forsyth Fountain..
Then on Saturday, be sure to head down to Emmet Park on the east end of Bay Street for Tara Feis...It's a day of family friendly entertainment, singing, dancing, games and activities
Back to the Greening of the Fountain...It is so entertaining to watch the pageantry and parade of green coats under the moss covered oak trees...Then there is the moment the grand marshal and others on the parade committee begin pouring dye into the water....The transition happens quickly...As the water goes from clear to green, that is just another reminder to me that Irish eyes are smiling on Savannah...Yes, this is the most wonderful time of the year!!!
