SAVANNAH, Ga ()- It is an annual tradition here in the Hostess City.  It is the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Land Rush.

The Land Rush is when parade-goers rush to grab a spot to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and things can get hectic.

News 3 Genevieve Lund was out on the scene to get the first look at excited eventgoers claim their spots.

Before the parade kicks off – thousands of parade goers will rush to claim the best spots in the city’s historic squares. But securing a front-row seat isn’t as simple as showing up.

When we are talking about the land rush – this is where the early birds don’t get the worm – they get the best parade spots! Anticipation built all night, and some people waited outside the barricades for hours, and some told they waited for two days.

At 6 a.m. city officials blew a whistle – allowing everyone to dash and mark their territory for the day.

From pitching tents to tossing lawn chairs, and kitchen supplies – people secured their front-row seats in just minutes for one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the country. This all is in part of Savannah’s 201st celebration of the holiday parade. The event officially starts the night before, when the city clears the squares at midnight, ensuring a fair and orderly event.

While excitement runs high – city officials are enforcing rules.

“There will be no grills, Styrofoam, glass, amplified sound, kegs, scaffolding, stages, advertisements, barriers, bartenders, ladders, and personal portable toilets,” said Gordon Denney, the director of Park and Tree. He also added that those in the squares need to, help out by packing out what you pack in, and please stay off our monuments. These are historic monuments.”

With thousands gathering to celebrate today the land rush is just the start to an action filled day with tradition and of course… plenty of green here in Savannah! Until then… while there is laughter and stretching to prepare for the mad dash -once the whistle blows – it’s every parade-goer for themselves.

View the Prep before the Land Rush below… it takes more than just walking in early!

View below how more parade-goers that are new to the tradition prepare for the big day!

After the Land Rush what happens? View below how the event is only the first of many for the day, people are just getting started with breakfast and finally sitting down in the spots they staked out.