Mayor: Savannah St. Patrick's Day will no longer be a 'drunk fest,' changes coming for 2022

Savannah's 2022 St. Patrick's Day festival won't be a "drunk fest," Mayor Van Johnson says.

During his weekly media session, Savannah's mayor promoted a "reimagined" experience for the post-parade party on River Street and other parts of downtown. Johnson declined to share details of the plans, although he said more information would be released Thursday.

"We've all watched St. Patrick's Day become something we don't want to be representative of Savannah"," Johnson said.

UPDATE: Savannah St. Patrick's Day 2022: No on-street alcohol and food vendors in festival zone

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St. Patrick's Day, March 17, is on a Thursday this year, and 2022 is expected to be the first time in three years the city has hosted its world-famous parade. The COVID-19 pandemic led to cancellations in 2020 and 2021.

The parade, put on by the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and not the City of Savannah, is held in the morning following a Mass celebration at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The parade committee is not involved with the late afternoon and evening festivities.