St Patrick's Day may not be til Wednesday, but the party in downtown Savannah has already started.
That means more money for businesses in the area.
For folks who've never done business on the holiday it's a new experience, and one that they are looking forward to.
Cloudy skies overhead didn't keep folks from flocking to downtown Savannah Friday.
Five days before the big day the streets are full, and so are the bars.
Lots of green on the shelves and all over the folks in town for St. Patrick's Day.
"We're on vacation so we have to spend a little money," said Sharon George from Birmingham. "Bring t-shirts back for the friends who didn't get to come."
"St. Patrick's Day is kind of like Christmas for us in retail," smiled Hope Ebberwein.
This is Hope Ebberwein's first St Patrick's Day as owner of Saints and Shamrocks.
Her store has some of the usual St Patrick's Day apparel, and some more tradition gear as well.
She expects the holiday to count for 20% of her yearly sales, so every customer that comes in, is a step in the right direction.
"When you own a small business you've got to believe," explained Hope. "And so we're just believing this is the turning of the corner and good times are ahead."
"It's almost like square one. We're excited and anxious at the same time. But we'll get through it," said Bryan Huskey
Over at Abe's on Lincoln, it's a new start for Bryan Huskey. He owns two restaurants downtown already, and has added this bar to his list.
The Grand Opening was Friday night, just in time for all the St Patrick's Day fun.
"The beginning of the light season and the end of the dark season," said Huskey.
But looking at the smiling faces and happy people, both on the street, and on the balconies, could be a sign of the times.
Times where the future is so bright, everyone's got to wear shades.
While they look good now, expect even more folks down here Saturday and Sunday culminating in millions more flocking to the parade on Wednesday live in City Market.
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