Around March 17 each year, South Georgia turns into one of the greenest places to visit in the world.
No, I don’t mean environmentally friendly or even necessarily green with vegetation. I mean green with love for a holiday that celebrates the history of Ireland.
Liberty County may not hold St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on the same scale as Savannah, but the residents of Colonels Island make a unique effort.
Conducting a parade consisting of everything from decorated golf carts to more traditional parade floats, this festive group always puts on a good show for the onlookers.
The parade begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and departs from the Colonels Island Fire Department.
Admission is $5 and benefits the Eastern District Fire Department, the Fourth of July fireworks show and a children’s home. To see a route map, go to www.facebook.com/LibertyCVB and look in the March photo album.
If you attend the Colonels Island parade, please be sure to send your photos to tourism@libertycounty.org. We can’t wait to see photos of you in your finest green apparel!
If you choose to brave the crowds Saturday in Savannah, look closely for an entry from Liberty County. The Convention and Visitors Bureau will share a float with local band, 3rd Class Citizens.
Based in Liberty County, these talented musicians will play against a Sal the Salamander backdrop in front of an audience of several hundred thousand, according to the Savannah Morning News.
The CVB float also will make an appearance in the Shellman’s Bluff parade Saturday, March 23, in McIntosh County. For directions and more information about the Shellman celebration, go to www.thefriendsofshellmanbluff.org.
Both parades will place Liberty County in front of diverse audiences that otherwise might not be reached. In addition to the numerous South Georgians who will be in attendance, both parades routinely draw crowds from Middle Georgia, the Atlanta area and, as everyone knows, Savannah attracts visitors from around the nation and world.
This level of exposure usually is not an affordable option, as traditional advertisements can cost thousands of dollars for a space as small as a business card.