St. Patrick's Day Events Around the Bay

St. Patrick's Day began as a purely Catholic holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. Today, people of Irish ancestry and non-Irish alike observe the holiday as a way to celebrate Irish culture and traditions. Here is a quick guide to several St. Patrick's Day events happening in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Poetry Reading and St. Patrick's Day Celebration!
Thursday, March 17
7 p.m.

Book Shop West Portal
80 West Portal Avenue @Vicente Street
San Francisco, CA

Come for a night of poetry and Irish hospitality to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Author and poet, Katherine Hastings, will host a reading of some of the Bay Area's finest poets: Gillian Conoley, Kathleen Lynch, and Gwynn O'Gara.

This is only one of dozens of events taking place during the Crossroads Irish-American Festival (March 4-25) so be sure to visit their Web site for a complete schedule of events!

St. Patrick's Day Celebration in The City of Dublin, California
Saturday/Sunday, March 12/13
Starting at 10 a.m.

Dublin Civic Center
100 Civic Plaza
Dublin, CA 94568

Fun for the whole family: this two-day outdoor Festival includes authentic music and dance, an Irish Tea Cottage, over 150 arts & crafts and vendor booth displays, two stages of entertainment, carnival rides, and food & drink.

The weekend's Celebration also features a Firefighter Pancake Breakfast, Lions Club Parade, Dublin Sister City Green & White Gala and the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk. (Visit their Web site for directions to these activities.)

St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival in San Francisco
Saturday, March 12
Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at 2^nd and Market Streets
Festival starts at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Admission is free) at Civic Center Plaza

The festival after the parade gives participants an opportunity to learn about Irish history and culture through arts and crafts, children's activities and cultural displays.

St. Patrick's Day Run
Sunday, March 13
8 a.m.

Vasona Park
Los Gatos, CA

Wear green, some good running shoes and sign up to run a 5K, 10K or Half Marathon!

PUBS:

O'Flaherty's Irish Pub (Their St. Patrick's Day Celebration starts on Thursday, March 17 at 2 p.m.)
25 N San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 947-8007

McNally's Irish Pub (Oakland's oldest - since 1933)
5352 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-3929

The Irish Bank
10 Mark Lane
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 788-7152
Food hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Bar hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

AAA Tipsy Tow Program
Starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 to 6 a.m. on Friday, March 18

A friendly reminder not to drink and drive! If you need a ride, call 1-800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to ten miles! Just tell the AAA operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and a truck will be on its way. You don't have to be a member of AAA to use this free service!

As an Irish saying goes, "May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go!" Happy St. Patrick's Day!