Live Updates: After the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade, they forgot a snake on River St.

The 2023 Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade is in full swing in downtown Savannah today. The city is celebrating the 199th anniversary of the festivities.

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Here are stories from the route:

Check one off the bucket list

South Carolina natives Tony and Jennie Street finally got the chance to check off a bucket list item by attending Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations. As first-timers, they made sure to dress to impress and embrace all the fun.

“It’s one of the best places to be,” Tony said as he and Jennie embraced on River Street. — Laura Nwogu

St. Patrick forgot one snake

“The snakes were out,” someone on River Street yelled. And they were right. JTK Animals, a business owned by Tampa Bay native Caleb Smith and his friends, had a variety of snakes including a yellow python out on Bay Street for intrigued passersby to take pictures with — around their necks.

“We sell snakes and we do events. Everybody sees the snakes and they get excited,” Smith said with one of the reptiles around his neck. — Laura Nwogu

Savannah is better than Boston. He said it, not us.

South Boston native and bride-to-be Katie Grasso was decked out in a green bob wig, green clover shades and a green feather boa for her bachelorette party. Why come all the way down to Savannah when Boston is also known for its St. Patrick’s Day celebrations?

“It’s better than the Boston parade. We love it here. We’re so excited to be involved in this community.”— Laura Nwogu

Go, Go Savannah St. Patrick's Day

George Lawrence and Shane Brodie love tradition, evident by their annual date to gather their friends and get dressed to the nines for one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Savannah. And nine years is how long they’ve been participating, even in 2022 when the echoes of the pandemic were still evident on the event.

“It was just me, and then I added four people. This year we’ve got 9,” said George Lawrence who started the tradition. “We all wear green suits and just have a good time.” — Laura Nwogu

Sharing is caring

University of Georgia students drove down to Savannah for another year of St. Patty’s partying in Wright Square. An early-morning squad arrived at 5:30 to stake out a spot while the rest joined later. In the meantime, they shared drinks with passing-by fellow partiers. –– Marisa Mecke

Foster pups

“We’re down here with a purpose,” Becca Rush said.

This Savannah resident was lined up on Bull Street to watch the parade with Brody Girl, a five-month-old puppy she is fostering from Renegade Paws Rescue. On the parade route, Rush said she is hoping some holiday exposure will get the puppy adopted. This is her first St. Patrick’s Day parade without her family coming into town, but she wasn’t alone with her four-legged friend. –– Marisa Mecke

Warm hearts

Randy and Katina McWherter made the almost hour-long drive from Ludowici for the parade, their first since moving to Georgia about a year ago. They used to attend the parade every year in Indianapolis, Indiana, and are excited for what they’ve heard is an even bigger event in Savannah.

“We want to be down where it's warm,” Randy said. –– Marisa Mecke

Cover model

“We’re all Irish!”

Lynn Davis’ neighbors on Bull Street said they laughed as they saw his wife start lathering on the green paint this morning. He has become a regular site for St. Patrick’s Day attendees, his chest, face, arms and legs entirely coated in dark green. In 2012, he said, he was even put on the cover of Savannah Morning News. –– Marisa Mecke

Birthday party

Savannah is this year’s chosen destination for Elyce Yahnke’s big 70th birthday celebration. Her daughters and friends, always a group of 8, started an annual tradition in Las Vegas on her 60th birthday to travel to a new city each year. Stationed between Wright and Johnson square, the birthday girl and her loved ones decked out in personalized cups and t-shirts celebrating the milestone, including a t-shirt where the birthday partiers checked off with a sharpie each drink as 5 years counting up to the big 7-0. –– Marisa Mecke

Prime spot

Angel Butler found a viewing spot on Bay Street for the parade, an annual viewing she’s participated in for 23 years. She said she was excited to see the thrum of the crowds back in Savannah after the years of smaller parades. With her is Mark Conley, who not only loves viewing the parade but marched in it during his time in the army.“You’re having a blast even when the marching takes hours,” Conley said. –– Marisa Mecke

Corn dogs and chicken tenders

For these Effingham teens, the best part of St. Patrick’s Day is the food.

“Corn dogs, chicken tenders,” Jordan Simpkins said.

“Basically Parker’s,” his sister Alex Simpkins agreed.

The fair-style food wafting through the air by the Savannah Theatre makes the St. Patrick’s parade compete for best event of the year with the county fair, the Simpkins siblings agreed. –– Marisa Mecke

Bagpipes on Broughton

For 20 years, Thomas Gaynor, chief of the Rockland, New York, police department and band leader, has played bagpipes alongside his law enforcement peers for the parade.

His dedication hasn’t wavered during those decades: even when there was no parade due to COVID-19, Gaynor said the group came down to Georgia anyway.

“It’s the traditional New York way,” Gaynor said. “(Playing the bagpipes) honors the profession, and we play for memorials that take place for officers.” –– Marisa Mecke

Just Like Christmas

“It’s like Christmas,” said Kesha Smart about St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Smart, from Jacksonville, Florida, has celebrated the holiday in Savannah for the last 13 years. This time, she brought along her cousin, Juanita Baskin.

“I come up here because of the parade, it’s a reason to celebrate with friends and family,” said Smart.

The two cousins have plans to party on River Street. Smart tells Baskin they have to get a drink from Wet Willie’s.

“Let the party begin,” said Baskin. –– Nancy Guan

Pipe Music

Connie Beagan and Tom Glynn are members of the Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band from Fairfield, Connecticut. The drummer and bagpiper were taking a break under the canopy next to Chippewa Square before rejoining the rest of the band making their way along the parade route.

“We’re a bit older,” Beagan joked.

The two musicians said they’re enjoying the warmer weather in Savannah. The morning they left Fairfield, the wind chill had dropped to 16 degrees.

The band has until Sunday to bask in the Savannah spring.

“Savannah is beautiful and we look forward to our next trip here,” said Glynn right before he gathered his pipes to rejoin the rest of his band members. –– Nancy Guan

Leprechaun Love

Paddy O’Furniture was born in Dublin and raised in the states since he was “a wee lad.” In those many years, his Irish accent never left him, says O’Furniture.

“I’ve been coming down here (Savannah) up until the plague,” he said, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m a leprechaun, love , and I love the city, love St. Patrick’s.”

O’Furniture comes down from his home in Atlanta to celebrate each year. He carries a Peter tanker mug and a shillalaugh, a fighting stick made of black thorn.

“I haven’t gotten into any fights yet, but you never know,” he said, “depends if someone gets me really angry and Irish.” –– Nancy Guan

Happily Buzzed

Charlie Mangan and Michael O’Connor have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day their whole lives. This year — Charlie’s 65th — the two walked in the parade as members of the parade committee. Their spirits were jovial and their smiles were easy as they explained what the holiday meant to them.

“It’s a religious holiday, first and foremost,” O’Connor said. “But then it’s a celebration to have fun, with anybody and everybody here.”

O’Connor said he wanted everyone to feel the celebration, even if people were at work or sitting at home.

“Have fun, be good and don’t forget your roots,” the Savannahian said. ― Zoe Nicholson

Family Tradition

Dennis Germann came more than an hour away from St. Marys to see the parade with his family. Although he’s come for the last 15 years, he knew this year was going to be especially overcrowded on the 199th anniversary of the celebration. Germann arrived at 5 a.m. to find parking and was sitting near the square formerly known as Calhoun.

His favorite part of the parade is “well, everything,” said German. “It’s always a good time here.” –– Drew Favakeh

Class Reunion

Three longtime friends Steve White, Harry Sammons and Frank Moulis have made the city's St. Patrick’s Day Parade a tradition for the past 40 years, ever since they met at Windsor Forest High School.

“I look forward to seeing friends I only see once a year,” said White.

Sammons laughed and said, “I look forward to this guy getting drunk, because he can’t drink!”

They were walking near Forsyth Park when an officer asked them to move off of the road.

“You can only be on the road if you’re in the parade,” the officer told them.

“We are in the parade!” Sammons responded, and they both laughed.

Although White and Sammons still live in Savannah, Moulis moved away years ago. He’s moving back, though, in 2024, in no small part because of the parade.

“If there’s one event that brings Savannah back to me, it’s this event,” said Moulis. –– Drew Favakeh

Costume party

Shawn Patrick and Lynette Miller treat St. Patrick’s day as a costumed affair. The couple, originally from South Carolina, are on a weekend getaway and are making the most of it in a St. Patrick’s-themed traditional getup.

Patrick and Miller are excited for this year’s parade, which has returned in full force since the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple visited two years ago and “made the most of what was available” walking along River Street.

“This will be our first time seeing the parade,” said Patrick. “It’s a stark contrast from back then. It’s an extremely inviting town and we wanted to be back and be a part of that.” –– Nancy Guan

St. Patrick's Day wedding

For John and Michele Mahoney, St. Patrick’s Day is more than just an Irish celebration, it’s also the date of their wedding anniversary.

The couple wed 33 years ago in Tampa, Florida with an Irish-themed wedding cake decorated with shamrocks. Every year since, the Mahoneys celebrated both their heritage and their union on St.Patrick’s.

“We have two little leprechauns,” said John, referring to their two sons.

For anniversaries past, the Mahoneys have traveled to Boston, London, Jamaica and Dublin. After two years of planning, they can finally cross Savannah off their bucket list.

“We heard Savannah has one of the biggest St. Patrick’s day celebrations in the country,” said Michele. “It’s looking pretty crazy already.” –– Nancy Guan

912 Brew comes through on East Broad

The scene on East Broad was a true pre-game as thousands of parade goers awaited the arrival of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

But as the early morning alcohol consumption began to take its toll, a few drowsy eyed revelers found a beacon of caffienated light amidst the sea of green.

912 Brew,  an organic coffee shop on East Broad Street, decided for their first St. Patrick's Day parade, they'd offer free cold bre samples for those in need of a lift. Owners Alex Brooks and Anissa Craig said they wanted to find a way to give back to the community who has welcomed them warmly in their first three months.

And while green dye would go against their organic ethos, they said they thought about experimenting with a matcha drink, but ultimately decided on cold brew. –– Will Peebles

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 2023 Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade: Live updates