Clean it up, Savannah? Litter marshals to write tickets during St. Patrick's Day parade.
In 2022, the City of Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day rules changed. In an effort to temper what was at times a raucous, inebriated festival celebrated by everyone from tourists to city councilmen, Mayor Van Johnson and the aldermen introduced new policies meant to create a “family friendly” celebration.
On Thursday, City Council voted to keep those same rules in place for 2023: No live music on River Street's Rousakis Plaza, no gated "festival zone" or wristband sales, and no food or beer trucks along public right-of-ways. The entertainment, alcohol and food will once again be the purview of the local experts on the subject - Savannah’s bars and restaurants - and not big out-of-town brands hoping to cash in on the day.
For 2023, the to-go cup zone will again be extended to Victory Drive, but only on March 17. A control zone downtown will return as well, prohibiting weapons, coolers, bikes, skates, various fireworks, exotic animals and pets, with the exception of service animals, in the parade area. Additionally, out-of-town motorcoaches are barred from entering and parking in the festival zone.
There is one new wrinkle in the city's plan this year: posting city staffers in the squares to help combat the usual spike in litter on St. Patrick's Day. These litter marshals will hand out citations for littering as well as other city ordinance infractions and help with ongoing cleanup efforts. They will be accompanied by Savannah police officers in every square along the parade route.
“We feel like it’s going to get us ahead of the trash,” Susan Broker, director of the Office of Special Events, Film & Tourism, said at the workshop preceding the meeting.
During the workshop, City Manager Jay Melder added that this year is expected to a be a much busier St. Patrick's Day than 2022, noting that most hotels within 25 miles of Savannah were sold out for the holiday weekend.
"We feel like it’s going to get us ahead of the trash."
Susan Broker, City of Savannah
More:2023 Savannah St. Patrick's Day: Here's what to know about the festival zone
Welcoming the Parade Committee
The Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee also received their ceremonial parade permit on Thursday, with Grand Marshal George Schwarz III and General Chairman Ashley Norris leading the charge.
More:From white jacket to green: Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade grand marshal earned the honor
Schwarz worked with the Parade Committee’s logistics team, known as the Adjutants staff, for years. He joked with the mayor ahead of the permit issuance, offering a trade: the parade permit for a better position in the parade. Johnson had a few jokes too, noting he took a DNA test and it came back showing he was 2% Irish.
“But no, really,” Schwarz said after a laugh. “The City of Savannah has treated us so well. We think we put on a quality product for the parade, for the community and for whoever comes.”
Schwarz echoed the city's hopes of pushing for a more family friendly festival.
Johnson referenced the cancelled parades of the COVID-19 years and said he believed that the event has returned even better than before the pandemic.
“We’ve had some rough times, but we’re back and we’re better and we’re much stronger,” Johnson said.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah council approves St. Patrick's Day rules, adds litter marshals
