Large numbers of Irish immigrants arrived in the American South during the 18th and especially 19th centuries. During the Great Famine, thousands of Irish Catholics arrived in Southern port cities such as Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans. The Scots-Irish settled in the Appalachian Backcountry a century before. For this reason, there’s no better region to experience the Irish holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.
Charleston, South Carolina
The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade in Charleston was held in 1762, making it one of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States. The event traditionally begins with a Mass at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, followed by a parade featuring marching bands, Irish step dancers, civic groups, and uniformed service units proceeding through downtown to Marion Square.
Park Circle in North Charleston also has a St. Patrick’s Day Block Party & Parade with live music, food vendors, kids’ zone, and a festive parade. You can follow it up with a stop by Madra Rua Irish Pub.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
While not a giant parade, Hot Springs celebrates with the quirky “World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” a 98-foot route packed with entertainment, floats, and big crowds. This event draws tens of thousands of visitors and has even attracted celebrity guests to serve as grand marshals.
Other weekend events include the “zero K,” a lighthearted mini-run that covers just 299 feet, plus dancers, marching groups, and themed entertainment, plus fun rituals like crowning a king & queen of the parade. While here, grab a pint at the Copper Penny Pub, a local favorite.
Memphis, Tennessee
The longest-running and most traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade in Memphis is the Silky O’Sullivan’s St. Patrick’s Parade, held annually on Beale Street. The parade traces back to the early 1970s, when local restaurants and bars, including Silky O’Sullivan’s, expanded their St. Patrick’s celebrations into a full parade.
In addition to the downtown celebration, Memphis also hosts the Lucas St. Patrick’s Day Parade, often associated with the Memphis Irish Society, in the Cooper-Young neighborhood in Midtown. The group also meets regularly at The Brass Door, a local Irish bar.
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration centers on the annual Krewe of Killarney St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a walking parade through downtown. Participants gather on Main Street, then march toward the Natchez Bluff Park bandstand overlooking the Mississippi River.
The parade ends at the Bluff, where tradition includes a playful ritual of casting the “snakes” of Natchez into the Mississippi River from the bandstand, symbolic of driving unwanted “snakes” away in the Irish spirit, usually with rubber snakes.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans may be known for Mardi Gras, but its St. Patrick’s Day festivities are a close second, including multiple parades, block parties with live music, and a lively street scene where beads and green flourishes are part of the fun.
The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club Parade in the namesake neighborhood is one of the city’s biggest, where you’ll see throws of cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and beads. Founded in 1947, it celebrates Irish heritage and the local community. There’s also a downtown club parade.
Savannah, Georgia
This is perhaps the most well-known St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the region and one of the largest in the country. The Irish community in Savannah dates back to the 1730s, but increased during the Potato Famine. There’s an especially strong connection to County Wexford, and a namesake pub was established in town.
The Hibernian Society of Savannah was founded in 1812 to help needy Irish immigrants, provide mutual aid, and preserve cultural ties. It became one of the central institutions of Savannah’s Irish community. In 1824, the society organized what became the first public St. Patrick’s Day parade, and it continues to this day.
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