Every year San Diegans celebrate their Irish heritage (or love of Irish culture) by putting on a grand St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival on the eastern side of Balboa Park.
At the corner of Sixth and Quince, visitors will find a Celtic Village where it is the year 1582, and a troupe of renaissance re-enactors portray the daily drama of the soldiers of House McFionn, explaining their history as they do. Kids and adults alike will be amazed by authentic fighting demonstrations as well as Irish dance, song, crafts, and story-telling.
The Festival will offer an entire Kids Zone full of games, rides, llamas, face-painting, and other fun, while adults will enjoy strolling amidst the booths that offer Irish crafts and a variety of snacks and meals. Adults may also enjoy slaking their thirst at the beer garden.
Festival entertainment will include the bagpipes and drums of the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society; Brian Baynes, recording artist Tony Cummins, Brehon Law, an Irish folk rock trio from Carlsbad; the Shamrockers, original Celtic-style music from San Diego-based Sheela-na-Gig; and Celtic vocal talents Heloise Love & Richard Gordon.
The Parade begins at 11 a.m. from the corner of Sixth and Juniper Streets, travels north on Fifth Avenue to Upas, then west for a block and south on Sixth Avenue to conclude at Laurel Street.
The parade has over 150 groups participanting including Police and Fire Department units such as the Emerald Society, equestrians (including the unique miniature horse Paddy O?Pony), five marching bands, three bagpipe contingents (including the All-Star Marching Band from Dublin), dancing groups, representatives from Ireland, roller skaters, the reigning Miss Colleen, San Diego?s current Smiling Irishman, along with antique cars, clowns, and Corvettes.
Parade Location:
Starts at Sixth and Juniper Sts.
Festival Location:
Balboa Park (eastern side)
Saturday, March 13 - 11 AM
For more information, please visit: www.stpatsparade.org
At the corner of Sixth and Quince, visitors will find a Celtic Village where it is the year 1582, and a troupe of renaissance re-enactors portray the daily drama of the soldiers of House McFionn, explaining their history as they do. Kids and adults alike will be amazed by authentic fighting demonstrations as well as Irish dance, song, crafts, and story-telling.
The Festival will offer an entire Kids Zone full of games, rides, llamas, face-painting, and other fun, while adults will enjoy strolling amidst the booths that offer Irish crafts and a variety of snacks and meals. Adults may also enjoy slaking their thirst at the beer garden.
Festival entertainment will include the bagpipes and drums of the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society; Brian Baynes, recording artist Tony Cummins, Brehon Law, an Irish folk rock trio from Carlsbad; the Shamrockers, original Celtic-style music from San Diego-based Sheela-na-Gig; and Celtic vocal talents Heloise Love & Richard Gordon.
The Parade begins at 11 a.m. from the corner of Sixth and Juniper Streets, travels north on Fifth Avenue to Upas, then west for a block and south on Sixth Avenue to conclude at Laurel Street.
The parade has over 150 groups participanting including Police and Fire Department units such as the Emerald Society, equestrians (including the unique miniature horse Paddy O?Pony), five marching bands, three bagpipe contingents (including the All-Star Marching Band from Dublin), dancing groups, representatives from Ireland, roller skaters, the reigning Miss Colleen, San Diego?s current Smiling Irishman, along with antique cars, clowns, and Corvettes.
Parade Location:
Starts at Sixth and Juniper Sts.
Festival Location:
Balboa Park (eastern side)
Saturday, March 13 - 11 AM
For more information, please visit: www.stpatsparade.org
