Best St. Patrick’s Day Festivals in California

Though California isn’t known for her Irish heritage the way other states are, St. Patrick’s Day festivals still abound in California. Three of the best St. Patrick’s Day festivals of 2011 in California take place in San Francisco, San Diego and Dublin.

Dublin‘s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration takes place beneath the green hills of the East Bay. Shuttles from the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Station in Dublin will take visitors directly to the center of the celebration right on the parade route. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m on Saturday, March 12 and the outdoor festival at the Dublin Civic Center continues throughout Saturday and Sunday and includes: authentic Irish music and dance, an Irish Tea Cottage, over 150 arts and crafts and vendor booth displays, two entertainment stages, carnival rides and midway for the kids, food and drink booths, pancake breakfast, Dublin Sister City Green and White Gala and a 5K fun run and walk. For more information visit the Dublin St. Patrick’s Day website.

San Diego’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 10:30 am, rain or shine, on the corner of 5th Street and Juniper Street. The parade features over 150 entries and is the largest parade in San Diego. The St. Patrick’s Day festivities continue at Balboa Park and include: two stages of entertainment featuring well-known folk singers and groups, food and craft booths, two beer gardens, both serving Guinness, wine and spirits, an authentic Celtic Village, and a Kid Zone with rides and fun for the family. For more information visit the official Irish Congress of Southern California St. Patrick’s Day Website.

San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival

San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the longest St. Patrick’s Day traditions in the state. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at 2nd Street and Market Street. The festivities continue with 5,000 other Irish and Irish for the day revelers with Irish music, art, dancing, cultural displays, food, and more at the Civic Center plaza. Children will enjoy the rides, inflatables, and petting zoo. For more information visit the United Irish Societies of San Francisco Website or at the Steven Restivo Events Services Website which includes information on the parade route, a list of participants, and BART and MUNI information.

A full listing of other parades in California, including links to websites, is available here.


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