As Philadelphia's Center City gears up for the annual St. Patrick's Day revelry, bars and restaurants are primed for an influx of partiers clad in their greenest attire. Nathan Hicks, manager of the long-established McGillin's, expressed his eagerness for the weekend's surge, telling CBS News Philadelphia, "This is kinda what we live for. This is our Super Bowl and what we train all year for is a weekend like this." And indeed, the celebration has begun early under favorable weather, with the city's atmosphere resembling a verdant sea of revelers.
In Manhattan, the St. Patrick's Day parade planners are prepping for a massive turnout, as Heineken CEO Maggie Timoney is slated to lead the procession as grand marshal, a nod to her Irish heritage and groundbreaking role in the beer industry. Approximately two million spectators are expected to gather for the event, as reported by 990 The Answer. Meanwhile, the Windy City is set to maintain tradition, with the Chicago Plumbers Union colorizing the Chicago River with an, eco-friendly powder that doubles as a festive gesture and a nod to a functional past, when it was used to detect leaks.
The buzz isn't just confined to the North, as Savannah, Georgia braces for an enormous turnout for its own St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade, a staple since 1824, is expected to draw historic numbers this year. According to an ABC News report, nearly 18,000 hotel rooms in Georgia's oldest city were booked solid well in advance of the weekend. This surge of visitors is expected to contribute generously to the local economy, as attendees take part in the bicentennial celebrations.
Back in the City of Brotherly Love, Fergie's Pub owner Fergie shared with CBS News Philadelphia the spirit of the holiday, "St Patrick's Day is very special you know, everyone is here and everyone is happy, everyone is wearing green, and everyone is Irish. Not really, but they pretend and we will run with it." And run with it they do, as the weekend promises raucous tradition, streams of Guinness, and the merry cacophony of Celtic tunes, as businesses brace for one of the most lucrative weekends of their calendar.
