California is preparing for St. Patrick’s Day with a variety of events across the state, reflecting both its Gold Rush-era Irish heritage and its current reputation as a center for craft beer.
In Dublin, California, a three-day celebration will take place at the Civic Center from March 14 to 15. The event will feature Irish music, traditional food and drink, over 200 vendor booths, and a pop-up tea cottage. Additional activities include a parade and pancake breakfast on Saturday, followed by a 5K fun run on Sunday morning.
San Diego’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Festival is scheduled for March 14 near Balboa Park. Organizers describe it as “the biggest parade west of the Mississippi,” featuring 120 bands, floats, and acts. The adjacent festival offers three stages with Irish dancers and folk singers, along with food and beer gardens. Later in the day, festivities continue in the Gaslamp Quarter at the ShamRock block party outside The Field pub.
Los Angeles will see celebrations at Molly Malone’s bar in the Fairfax District. Known for live music and traditional fare, this venue has long been associated with authentic Irish gatherings around St. Patrick’s Day.
Pleasanton’s downtown area will host a St. Patrick’s Brew Crawl where attendees can sample beers and ciders from more than 25 local establishments.
San Francisco marks its 175th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at City Hall with dancing troupes, floats, and marching bands. The United Irish Cultural Center near Golden Gate Park is also holding its second Emerald Gala to celebrate community ties.
Benicia’s Main Street is offering an 18-stop beer crawl featuring both classic Irish drinks like Guinness and California brews such as Bear Republic.
Old Sacramento continues its tradition with a parade through historic districts featuring Highland dancers, pipe players, and re-enactors.
On March 15 in Long Beach, the Queen Mary ocean liner hosts “Luck of the Irish Celebration,” converting parts of the ship into pubs for live music and cuisine; overnight accommodations are available on board.
Casey’s Bar in Downtown Los Angeles will hold its annual street festival on March 17 spanning four blocks. The event starts at 11 a.m., offering hundreds of kegs of beer and bottles of Jameson whiskey alongside DJ sets and food vendors throughout the day.
Finally, Murphys in Calaveras County celebrates “Murphys Irish Day” on March 21 with parades featuring bagpipes and classic cars plus wine tastings—a nod to both local history and present-day viticulture.
