I grew up in Savannah, where festivals and street parties are a way of life.
Tourism is the lifeblood of the historic city, and it knows how to throw a big outdoor event. From the quirky Beach Bum Parade on Tybee Island to the more mainstream Jazz Festival and Scottish Games in Savannah, a fun outdoor event is never too far away on the calendar for this coastal city.
But the city’s signature event, without doubt, is St. Patrick’s Day. The massive celebration and parade through downtown is one of the largest in the U.S. and turns downtown into a days-long party. With two military bases there, the soldiers—like they do in Fayetteville—help amp up any big event.
My experiences with St. Patrick’s Day started as a kid going with my parents to see the parade. I remember the long walks from wherever my dad could find a free parking space on the side of the road to our favorite viewing spot downtown. As I got older, I would sit on the curb waiting for my sister, who took part in the parade with her high school marching band.
When my time came, I was also part of the high school marching band. Every year, we all had to fend off women who would run into the street and plant kisses on our cheeks leaving behind lipstick stains as we performed. Nevermind the constant offers of free beer.
Not to be outdone by my older sibling, I was also drum major for three years, which is a far more fun—and easy—way to experience marching in the parade.
After high school, I would return to Savannah for St. Patrick’s Day, old enough to navigate the crush of people that turned River Street into an outdoor party after the parade. And as an adult, I’d visit with friends and learn that there’s something special about consuming a lukewarm beer and a massive turkey leg while walking through a crowd of tens of thousands of people.
I really am a sucker for a festival turkey leg cooked on an open grill.
All those memories came flooding back as I worked on the September issue of CityView magazine. We took an outdoor event approach to the arts and culture theme, focusing our cover story on the 48th International Folk Festival.
First started in 1978, the folk festival looks quite different today. But its celebration of the diverse cultures that call Cumberland County home is still a must-see, and we offer a guide to the late September event.
A companion piece provides details on several outdoor festivals and parties in the coming weeks, from the recurring 4th Friday from the Cool Spring Downtown District to Dogwood Nights from the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival and First Friday on Main in Spring Lake. There’s also the second Heritage & Harvest Bourbon event at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Over the years, my tastes have changed from beer out of a keg to bourbon, so that event piques my interest.
If learning history inside with air conditioning is more your speed, this issue also includes a look at two museums on Fort Bragg—the JFK Special Warfare Museum and 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum.
Our columnists this month explore cultural traditions during Hispanic Heritage Month, the dream of establishing downtown as the cultural core of Fayetteville, books examining the building blocks of civilizations, and the importance of family dinners.
This issue also includes a sponsored feature from Fayetteville State University focusing on the work of Jeremy Jackson. Each quarter, the professor and economist distills a mountain of data into a look at the status of the region’s economy and where it’s headed.
The magazine closes with a rundown of September events and photos from the inaugural Dogwood Nights.
Thanks for reading!
