Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

St Patrick’s Day Celebration in Savannah 2010

by

The city of Savannah is known for its rich history and for its many festival. This time of year festival season is in full swing. Savannah hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day party in the South over several days, with a St Patrick’s Day parade, green fountain and lots of beer on this Irish party day. This is one of the most popular events in Savannah, it is said that 400,000 people will show up to celebrate Irish heritage.

Go Green!
Start your celebration early and head to Forsyth Park at lunchtime on Friday March 12, 2010.  Watch the water turn green at noon.
This event is sure to be a hit with the younger crowd. With the nice, warm weather we’re having, it might be a perfect time for a picnic in the park.

Tara Feis, an Irish Festival
Then on Saturday, we’ll go all out with a genuine Irish Festival, Tara Feis taking place on  Saturday March 13. This is a festival celebrating Irish culture with lots of fun for the whole family from food, to music and dance and much more. The festival is held in Emmet Park. The event is free and open to the public, this year’s event features the Cathie Ryan Band. Tara Feis festival takes place in Emmet Park from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information call 912.651.6417 or http://www.savannahga.gov/arts.

Then there is of course the River Street celebration in the historic downtown district on March 16-17, 2010. This is the main waterfront location for all Paddy Day partygoers coming to town.

The 2010 St. Patrick’s Festival on Historic River Street takes place along the waterfront, includes the following area: River Street from East Broad Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Festivities in this area include games, food, beverages, and live entertainment. The event itself is free, but partygoers must purchase a wristband ($5) to consume alcoholic beverages on the plaza and inside River Street businesses on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wristbands will be sold at kiosks on the plaza, and at businesses on River Street. Already on Tuesday, the party starts with the I-95 Battle of the Bands.

For more details about St Patrick’s Day on Riverstreet, visit www.riverstreetsavannah.com

The City Market also hosts an Irish celebration on March 16-17.

St Patrick’s Day Parade
Don’t miss the parade itself. This year it’s the 186th time for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, so this is one of the oldest in the United States. The parade features bands and marching groups from across the country. Savannah St Patrick’s Day parade starts at 10:15 a.m. (Here is the map of the parade route)

For more information visit www.SavannahStPatricksDay.com

The city will double in size for St Patrick’s Day – so plan to come early and stay late. For more information about St Patrick’s Day and places to stay, contact Savannah CVB at 1-877-SAVANNAH
St Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, Georgia

Flip the Bird? Only in Georgia…

by

When I was reading my twitter stream today, @dizzygirl pointed out a story about the state bird that I found interesting.

The state bird in Georgia is the brown thrasher. But now, there is a movement trying to change the state bird from the Brown Thrasher to the chicken.

Their argument – the chicken makes more of an economic impact.
Here are a few of the interesting facts from the website:

  • Georgia broiler production accounts for 16% of the nation’s total.
  • By the beginning of World War II, chickens had replaced cotton as Georgia’s leading agricultural moneymaker.
  • More than 47,000 Georgians are employed by the poultry industry directly.

    • Take a look at the video below – and make sure to post your comments below – I’m interested to hear what you think!

    It makes you wonder about the other state birds. Do they contribute to the economy? And what about the plants? What do they do?

    For more information, visit www.flipthebirds.com

    First Friday Art Walk March 2010 – St Augustine, Fl

    by

    The First Friday Art walk is one of St. Augustine’s most popular events. The art walk for March 2010 is scheduled for Friday March 5, 2010, from 5 – 9 p.m., rain or shine!

    Start your artwalk at any of the participating AGOSA galleries and pick up a free map – or click here to download the map!

    As usual there is a FREE Artwalk Train and a FREE Artwalk Trolley. Just hop on board starting at 6pm on King Street. The train and the trolley each make a loop around town to the galleries about every 15 minutes.

    Enjoy exhibits, music, entertainment and refreshments at over 20 participating galleries around town.

    For more information about the event, please call 904.829.0065 or visit www.staugustinegalleries.com.

    artwalk-st-augustine

    The Sack of St Augustine 2010

    by

    This is a great opportunity to relive history in St Augustine when the Historic Florida Militia re-enacts the Sack of St. Augustine, March 6th, 2010. The sack happened back in the year of 1668. Captain Robert Searle and his privateers left Jamaica and set course for St Augustine to loot the silver ingots held in the royal coffers at St. Augustine.

    At the encampment at the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park on Magnolia Drive, visitors can relive history. Take an up-close look at authentic 17th century arms, equipment and food at the encampment.
    (The camp is set up Friday thru Sunday)

    Then, on Saturday March 6, the buccaneers will gather and proceed to the Plaza de la Constitucion in downtown historic district of St Augustine. At 5 p.m. they will attack Spanish soldiers and St. Augustine citizens. Townspeople and soldiers will flee up St. George Street to the Redoubt at Orange and Cordova Streets in the Historic St Augustine.

    For more information, please call 904.534.6168 or visit the website

    Riverside Arts Market Re-Opens for Spring 2010

    by

    Winter has definitely left the coast – and a sign of spring is the re-opening of the Riverside Arts Market (RAM) on Saturday March 6, 2010.  The Riverside Arts Market is located next to the St Johns River and here you’ll find local arts and crafts, produce, flowers, and you can watch entertainment on stage as well. adriana.olivarez onlyfans florescent It’s a great event for the whole family. To celebrate the re-opening, there will be a big parade. (Click here to download the pdf document)

    Here is a video we did when we visited the Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville last year