The Yuge St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, Georgia

It was 36 degrees Fahrenheit when Eric and I left Skidaway State Park Campground to drive into Savannah at 5:00 am.  We found a parking spot at Little Bryan Missionary Baptist Church on East Gwinnett Street.  Eric and I carry our chairs, cooler, etc. just a few blocks to Abercorn Street, where the St. Patrick's Day Parade starts.

And....  Eric is now famous for his big furry hat and jacket.

Janel Few, of the Savannah

Morning News took this

picture of Eric as we

waited for the parade

to start.

The sun eventually crested the tall trees east of Abercorn Street and things heated up.  America's second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade starts now.....

The parade started at 10:15 am

 with Bagpipe Music.

Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band
provides the first music of
the morning.

Michael Ring, Irish Minister

of State represents the

Emerald Isle in Savannah.

Oglethorpe Charter School
Titan Band from Savannah

The Hibernian Society of

Savannah steps off....

The Dwaine & Cynthia Willett
Children's Hospital of
Savannah float

The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale
 Horses pull the Budweiser
 Stagecoach.

17 Hundred 90 Restaurant
sent a beautifully decorated
antique car to the parade.

Ronald McDonald waves

to the crowd.

Eric twirls his green
beads for me.

A woman dressed to honor

Savannah's Live Oak Trees
 leads City's employees.

Clydesdales pull the Wells
Fargo Stagecoach.

Coca-Cola sent a float

to the parade.

Here comes another
Color Guard.

Army Rangers march by.

The Vietnam Veterans' float

Shriners on motorcycles

How does that little

Leprechaun carry a

full grown man?

Argh mateys.... Thar be

Pirates!

St. Paul Greek Orthodox

Church's float

Beach High School Marching

Bulldogs from Savannah

The Georgia State Patrol
marches

The Georgia State Police

Motorcycle Unit

Hillbillies brought their

Out House to the

parade.

The Savannah Morning

News float

Mini Dune-Buggies!

The Mini Dune Buggy

Tow Truck

Georgia Southern
 University

Their mascot, Gus the Eagle,

waves at the crowd.

They brought a live Eagle
with them...

Uniquely costumed

marchers...

... are accompanied by
Caribbean music on
The Original Crab Shack
float.

The Tybee Queen sails by.

Motorized Big Wheels

on parade.

A Higgins Boat transports the

Savannah Detachment #564

Marine Corps League.

Windsor Forest High School 's

Marching Knights from

Savannah

The Justice for Children

Foundation's float promotes

Bike Helmet Safety.

The US Coast Guard
represents

The Beat Goes On Marching

Band from Portland, Oregon

Baton Twirlers march by.

Eric is pleased to see the
group is made up of adults.

Savannah Harley Davidson's

float

The Keystone Kops brought
their Paddy Wagon.

A Flamingo escorts Two Women

& a Warehouse's float

Eric & I wave at Skidaway
Island State Park Rangers.

Nassau County Firefighters

Pipes & Drums Band from

Long Island, New York.

Today is a great day for the Irish and Savannah's St. Patrick's Day Parade honors its Saint well.