Green initiative: The weekend in St. Patrick's Day parades

Hilton Head Island

The 25th Annual Hilton Head Island St. Patrick's Day Parade begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Pope Avenue, and will feature hundreds of bands, animal contingents, marching units and more. For information, call 843-837-4956.

Savannah

Chances are good that you're either at the parade or reading this -- this year's edition of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day parade starts at 10:15 a.m. today. But the festival on River Street runs through Saturday. If you plan to drink, you'll need a $5 wristband, and drinkers are limited to one 16-ounce plastic cup. The Civic Center lot will be closed, but four city lots will offer parking starting at 8:30 a.m; they'll be open 24 hours. Garages will be closed to entry from midnight until 8 a.m. Parking is also available at the Visitors Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard starting at 7 a.m. today. Take the Talmadge Memorial Bridge to Savannah and get off on Oglethorpe Avenue. MLK Jr. Boulevard will be the first major stop light. Take a right. Parking is $10 today.