Savannah St. Patrick's fervor begins with a rush, settles into a steady stream of floats

Once 6 a.m. hit on Lafayette Square Saturday morning, Mike Powers and a group of friends and family started moving like a well-oiled machine: tents were thrown up at whiplash pace, wooden stakes were hammered into the grass, holding a string of pink tape to mark off a section of the square.

A "night shift" staked out the square Friday evening, going all the way to about 2 a.m. when Powers came in. Powers and others in his group of about 10 families wore shirts celebrating a milestone for their shared tradition, which coincide with this year's historic parade.

"This our 10th anniversary, so it's special for us to have it on the 200th anniversary," Powers said.

St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah: Live updates from Saturday's celebrations

The running of the squares is a mainstay of the Savannah St. Patrick's Parade Day tradition, which kicked off its 200th anniversary amid historic crowds and peak fervor Saturday morning. By 6:05 a.m. the entire vista of Lafayette square had changed from open to packed with chairs, tables and tents.

The Savannah Police Department chopper escort fired its engines and started the parade right at 10:15 a.m. The motorcycles were followed by the City of Limerick Pipe Band with Grand Marshal John Forbes followed just after.

Flags of Ireland towered above a sea of green lining Abercorn Street as the parade kicked off. Crowds were so large there was nearly no walking room along the sidewalks all the way back to Lafayette Square.

Meanwhile north on Bay Street, Eoin and Erica Gibson were in Savannah for their first St. Patrick's Day Parade, traveling from the Emerald Isle. The flags were flying there, too.

“We have a giant Irish flag that today we’ll be carrying,” Gibson said.

The morning's buzz took a pause for prayer and reflection at 8 a.m. inside The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, where the annual parade-day mass where Gov. Brian Kemp, Mayor Van Johnson and Chatham County Chairman Chester Ellis accompanied the parade committee and grand marshal for worship.

Forbes was welcomed into the service with a standing applause and the sound of horns. Seating in the cathedral was at capacity. Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, Bishop of Charleston delivered the homily, telling the story of St. Patrick, and the influence of the Irish on the Catholic Church in the U.S.

"Because of them, we are here," Jeune said.

After Mass ended around 9:30 a.m., Forbes was escorted the toward Forsyth Park for the parade's start.

Floats were lined up in anticipation of the parade's start. The Alee Shriners had a school-bus converted into a pirate ship. This year's potentate, Carey Hodges, said it was a special moment to hold the honor for the parade's 200th. "It's the most awesome thing you could ever imagine."

The parade, with Forbes and his aides, reached the cathedral at 10:28 a.m. for the grand marshal's final blessing from Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah. Just before Forbes made it up the steps, he shared an embrace with his chaplain John Fogarty.

Parkes' prayer over Forbes ended with the request God provide Forbes all the energy he needs to be grand marshal.

At 10:31 a.m., Forbes made his way down the Cathedral's steps and started the walk toward the parade's start.

Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah celebrates 200th anniversary of St. Patrick's Dade Parade