Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade + Other Green Events Around The City

ATLANTA, GA -- It figures to be a green weekend around town as the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the biggest annual events in the city, rolls down Peachtree Street on Saturday.

Thousands are expected to line the streets at the parade, which will feature Rep. John Lewis as the grand marshal.

Another special guest will be avid "Star War" fan Sam, whose dream to ride in the parade will come true, thanks to Make-A-Wish Georgia and the 501st Legion, a "Star Wars" costuming group.

Sam, an 8-year-old from Macon, was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. On Saturday, he'll get a chance to lead more than 100 "Star Wars" characters down Peachtree.

The parade will begin at noon to 1:30 p.m. and start at the intersection of Peachtree Street and 15th Street, and continue down Peachtree to 5th Street. Participants are encouraged to use the Arts Center and Midtown MARTA stops to access the parade route.

Saturday will be a big day at Colony Square as well when the Luck On The Square celebration kicks off at 10 a.m.

Certain to make an appearance will be the Colony Square Leprechaun, which has been seen around Midtown this week. Students at Primrose School sketched a wanted poster of the leprechaun, just in case you ran into him.

Before he was found Friday, Colony Square said this about the lucky fellow: "Witnesses describe him as short with red hair, a sly smile and green clothing. Students of Primrose School saw him firsthand, and provided amateur sketches to Atlanta Police."

In addition to those shenanigans, the Ellis Hotel in downtown Atlanta will be serving a St. Patrick's Day meal at their Terrace Bistro. Parade-goers will be treated to such St. Paddy's Day staples as corned beef and cabbage and a Reuben served on H&F rye bread.

In tandem with the St. Paddy's Day love, the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities is offering a promotion that can help sick and injured children in the city: From Saturday, March 11 on up to Friday, March 17, McDonald’s will donate 25¢ from every purchase of a Shamrock product to its charity.

The offer means every Shamrock Shake, Frappe, Hot Chocolate and Mocha will go toward providing clothing, lodging and food to families most in need.

Also on Saturday, the biggest party in the city may be at Atlantic Station in Midtown. That's where the "Shamrock the Station" party, featuring live music, Irish cuisine and, of course, green beer, will be held at Meehan’s Public House. The live music event, put on in conjunction with Radio 105.7, will begin at 5 p.m. on the main stage in Atlantic Station’s Central Park.

Other events in the city include the annual Get Lucky Festival at Park Tavern, the LEPRE*CON fest, also at Park Tavern. And various celebrations and bar crawls in Virginia Highland hosted by outfits such as the Boozy Bunch, Kegs & Eggs and the Atlanta Street Car St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl.

Images courtesy of The Wilbert Group