Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is bracing for 30,000 to 50,000 visitors on top of the regional “day-trippers,” said Susan Broker, director of the city’s office of special events, film and tourism.
“People are tired of being cooped up,” Broker told ABC News.
Hotels are expected to be over 90% full this weekend. Joseph Marinelli, president of Visit Savannah, the city’s tourism office, attributes the crush of visitors to COVID-19 fatigue and more vaccinations. A major hotel along Savannah’s riverfront said Friday it was “super slammed.”
Savannah’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade has been canceled for the second year due to the pandemic, which Marinelli said was the right call.
Mayor Van Johnson has been “protective of the community through each of the holidays,” Marinelli said. “He’s really been very careful to follow the protocols and remind people that large groups together can be super-spreaders.”
“The Saint Patrick’s Day festival is a major economic driver for our community,” Marinelli continued. “To not have it two years in a row takes a toll. … The impact of the holiday is tens of millions of dollars.”
“However,” he said, “we support the mayor’s decision.”
UPDATE:
Even with this year’s parade being canceled, some have started celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah.
One man from South Carolina says even compared to last year, he notices a difference.
“Last year, they had a big stage set up and it rocked. This year, not so much,” said Gerald Congdon.
Some said it’s less crowded.
“For St. Patrick’s Day, there’s not that many people. I’m kind of surprised it’s a lot less crowded here for Saint Pattie’s weekend,” said Savannah Resident Nicholas Basquez.
“It’s been filtering in slowly but surely we’ve been seeing more of the slow ride parties, some families,” said Store Manager of The Georgia Tasting Room Rachael Livings.
Livings said this year they feel more prepared.
“It was a lot easier this year than it was last year when it was so last minute. I felt like we were scrambling to try and figure out what we needed to do so it was better planned out this year for sure,” she said.
Even with a slow start, they’re seeing a lot of tourists.
“We’re expecting a lot of people to be partying especially the festival going down on River Street, big groups of people and a better year this year. I think locals we will see a little bit more tomorrow afternoon. We’ve got a lot of tourists, a lot of bachelorette parties, a lot of families. I think a lot of people are on Spring break as well this time around so we’re seeing a lot more of the tourist and out-of-state ID’s,” said Livings.
Livings is expecting the store to be busier as the weekend goes on but she says they’re still enforcing masks and they’re allowing a smaller amount of people in the store to keep everyone safe.
