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Lots of blarney in the Savannah lore about St. Patrick’s Day

In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, a crowd watches as the cast-iron fountain in Forsyth Park sprays water dyed green less a week before the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Ga. While dying the fountains in Savannah's parks is a longstanding St. Patrick's Day tradition, many visitors believe the city dyes the Savannah River as well. That happened only once in 1961. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum) In this Friday, March 11, 2016 photo, a crowd watches as the cast-iron fountain in Forsyth Park sprays water dyed green less a week before the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Ga. While dying the fountains in Savannah's parks is a longstanding St. Patrick's Day tradition, many visitors believe the city dyes the Savannah River as well. That happened only once in 1961. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum)

By Associated Press March 16, 2016 1 min read

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – Believe everything you hear about St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah and you might think hotel rooms are sold out as 1 million people cram Georgia’s oldest city to see the Savannah River dyed green.

A sober look at those assertions, however, reveals they’re all pure blarney.

Savannah will host a supersized St. Patrick’s Day parade Thursday. It’s one of the South’s largest street parties after Mardi Gras and its 192-year history comes laden with plenty of myth.

The Savannah River was only dyed green once – in 1961 – and it flopped. The official who claimed more than 1 million people attended the 2012 Savannah parade now says he meant over several days and an area extending into South Carolina.

The Savannah visitors bureau says last-minute travelers can typically still find a room.