The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
ACROSS AMERICA — Several Saint Patrick's Day festivities across the country took place over the weekend to celebrate Irish heritage. Many of the major holiday events occurred on Saturday, commemorating the day early. New York City's parade had Heineken USA CEO Maggie Timoney as a grand marshal. While Savannah, Georgia, honored their parade's bicentennial that began in 1824 with a few dozen Irish immigrants. The southern event was so popular that it nearly sold out every hotel in the area.
March 17th celebrates Ireland's patron saint, popularized largely by Irish Catholic immigrants. Since this year's holiday fell on a Sunday, some parades were moved up so as to not interfere with church services. Many of the parades saw brightly green colored audiences, bagpipes marching alongside several police and fire departments, and even a green-dyed river in Chicago.
Check out photos below of the Saint Patrick's Day festivities.
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Six-year-old Eloise Tallon of Savannah waves to friends during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. This is the 200th parade since the first in 1824. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)A bagpiper marches along Fifth Avenue during the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)A member of the Garda Síochána, the national the national police and security service of Ireland, is kissed by a bystander during the 200th anniversary of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)Members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local 130 dye the Chicago River green ahead of St. Patrick's Day celebrations. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)A spectator dressed in his finest St. Patrick's day outfit uses his cell phone to record part of the 200th anniversary celebration of Savannah. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)A woman cheers during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)A kayaker floats on the Chicago River. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)The grand marshal of the 2024 Manhattan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, Irish-born Heineken USA CEO Maggie Timoney, the first female CEO of a major U.S. beer company, marches in the NYC parade. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)Bagpipers, right, and State Police, center, march along Fifth Avenue in NYC. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)An honor guard leads a group of dignitaries past the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist during the beginning of the 200th anniversary of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade, Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Savannah, Ga. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)Bagpipers march along Fifth Avenue in NYC. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)Floats and vehicles make their way along the parade route as spectators watch during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Boston's South Boston neighborhood. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)Spectators watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
