Usually, around this time of year, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is gearing up for Irish season. The parade itself requires a lot of planning and coordination, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The parade committee is responsible for a number of events leading up to the big day, including the yearly honor of electing a grand marshal to lead the parade. The group of Savannah Irish typically convene at the Benedictine gym to cast their vote for the "top Irishman" for the year. It's a spectacle. The doors to the gym are locked behind them, usually with members standing guard outside. For the last few years, when the vote is tallied, they send up green smoke to signal that a grand marshal has been chosen.