Augusta businesses share thoughts over new St. Patrick’s Day parade route

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – One of the biggest parades in Augusta will take place on Saturday.

The Irish American Heritage Society will host the St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown.

Friday was an “all over the place” day of preps for organizers, but they started off their day honoring former Augusta Mayor Patrick Walsh at the monument on Telfair Street.

The green fountains, festive paintings, and shiny green decorations can only mean one thing in downtown Augusta — St. Patrick’s Day is near.

“Lot of fun, lot of festivities, lot of comradery, putting on a great parade for the city of Augusta,” said Russell Gambill, 2024 Parade Grand Marshall.

The parade will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, heading west on Telfair Street from 7th Street, then going north for a block on 11th Street and heading east on Greene Street to 6th Street.

Things will be a little different with the new route.

“Shortening the parade route just complicates things a little bit but the parade is gonna go on and we’re still gonna have a good time no matter what,” said Parade Chairman Tyler Snead.

Some businesses are upset the route changed. One says they hope parade-goers don’t forget about the businesses on Broad Street even though the route has changed.

Katlyn Kelly with Groucho’s Deli said: “We’re very disheartened and upset because not only did they move the Christmas Parade already, away from Broad Street, now they’ve moved St. Patrick’s Day. We have to kind of stagger labor a little more to be smarter in case we don’t get a business, like a big pop.”

A new business, Tip Top Taps, says they still anticipate a crowd after the parade.

“People will be back on Broad Street after the parade and we hope they’ll come visit. We’ll have extra people on duty to make sure everything moves quickly,” said owner Marty Koger.

Parade organizers say they don’t plan on being on Telfair Street for long.

“Hopefully next year and if not next year, the year after, we’ll be able to bring it back down Broad Street and help out all those businesses,” said Snead.

Tip Top Taps will have live music after the parade and Groucho’s will have some beer specials all day long.

As the weekend approaches, Pineapple Ink Tavern is ready for the foot traffic.

“It’s fun to watch. It really is. And you find yourself drawn into it, and you want to be a part of it, and it’s got Irish history here. I’m all for it,” said manager Hope Trujillo.

Because whether it’s a holiday or not, they want your support.

“We’re not part of a corporation. We’re not part of a chain. So when guests come in the door, they’re really important to us, we want people to come back. We want to make them regulars. We want to make them family,” she said.

They’re hoping for a little Irish luck with this new parade route.

“I would love for everybody to come give this parade route a chance, you know, enjoy it for what it is. And then just come over a block. See what we got over here on broad we got some great shops. We got some great restaurants. We have so many genres of food. I mean, you just really can’t go wrong with just a stroll,” said Trujillo.

The parade isn’t the only St. Patrick’s Day event downtown.

Bars and pubs downtown are gearing up for one of their biggest days, with the parade bringing an influx of visitors.

Also, there’s a new St. Patrick’s-themed challenge at Broad Axe Throwing.

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