Savannah's streets were overflowing with gaudy green guests who swarmed to town by the thousands to celebrate the city's most profitable holiday of the year - St. Patrick's Day.

Party goers lined up four deep along the sidewalks Thursday as the city's St. Patrick's Day parade - billed as the nation's second-largest - wound its way around the oak shaded squares of the downtown historic district.

Business owners were counting on the sunny spring weather to keep St. Pat's visitors out celebrating through the night and into the weekend.

The sprawling parade started in 1824 by Irish immigrants to the Georgia coast. Turnout on peak years has been estimated at up to 400,000 people.

Tags: Georgia, Savannah, St. Patrick's Day, parade, celebration, party, drinking