The annual Georgia Day Parade will take to the streets of Savannah this Friday, February 21, to commemorate the founding of the Georgia colony in 1733.

The parade begins at 10:45 a.m. as more than 3,000 school children in colonial costume, historical interpreters, local marching bands, and others march up Bull Street from Forsyth Park to City Hall.

Things you need to know about the 2020 Georgia Day Parade:

The Georgia Day Parade is part of the annual Georgia History Festival, presented by the Georgia Historical Society.

The theme of the parade’s banner competition is “Finding My Voice” and is based on this year’s Georgia History Festival theme: Women’s Suffrage at 100: The 19th Amendment and Georgia History.

The parade is sponsored by Georgia Power.

The parade Media Sponsor is WSAV TV. WSAV will also livestream the parade in its entirety beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The Banner Competition is sponsored by Gulfstream.

There are over 3,000 elementary and middle school students marching in the parade. They represent:
Chatham and Jefferson Counties. This is the first time Jefferson County Middle School from Louisville, Georgia, has participated in the Georgia Day Parade.

A variety of Georgia locations: Savannah, Bloomingdale, Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Wilmington Island, Isle of Hope, Tybee Island, and Louisville.

42 Schools.

Eighth-grade students from Coastal Middle School will represent historical figures from Georgia history including Juliette Gordon Low, Tomochichi, Johnny Mercer, Mother Matilda Beasley, Mary Musgrove, Noble Jones, Abigail Minis, and many others.

Music will be provided by the 3rd Infantry Division Marching Band, “The Best Band in the Land,” commanded by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mike Krzmarzick and led by Staff Sergeant Marc Ellis, and the Savannah Chatham County Public School Honor Band under the direction of John McMullen, band director at New Hampstead High School.

The 3rd Infantry Division Color Guard will march and present the colors at the program in front of City Hall.

Scott Hodges of History Through a Looking Glass and Edward Krolikowski of the Savannah General Pulaski Committee will portray General James Edward Oglethorpe and Count Casimir Pulaski respectively during the parade. Savannah’s Massie Heritage Center and Wormsloe State Historic Site will provide costumed interpreters.

Beach High School JROTC cadets will march and carry sponsor banners and banners for previous featured historical figures.