Get lucky in San Diego on Saint Patrick’s Day

Photo from 'Eustaquio Santimano' via Flickr

Mark your calendars San Diego–next Wednesday is Saint Patrick’s Day, the day to grab your greenest attire and see the Irish spirit our city has to offer. You can bet your shamrocks that there will be plenty of festivities to partake in on our favorite Irish holiday!

Since the 17^th century, Saint Patrick’s Day has been celebrated with an annual feast to honor Saint Patrick, the most recognized patron saint of Ireland.

Although the holiday falls during the season of Lent, in which families were prohibited from eating meat and other pleasures, the rules were overlooked on this special day. Families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon by dancing, drinking and feasting—on the delicious and traditional corned beef and cabbage, of course!

The first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade took place not in Ireland but in the United States in 1762. The parade honored the Irish soldiers that served in the English military. Now, hundreds of years later, the ritual of a Saint Patrick Day Parade lives on, along with some newer traditions.

This Saturday, March 13^th, the Irish Congress of Southern California, Inc is hosting its 30^th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival here in San Diego. This year’s parade theme is “Unity with the Community, with special thanks to our Military and Veterans.” With over 150 parade entries, including Bagpipers, bands, floats and more, the San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade is known to be the largest parade west of the Mississippi.

The jamboree begins at 11:00 am on Fifth Avenue at Laurel Street. An Irish Festival will follow in Balboa Park (Sixth Avenue and Maple Street). Enjoy the Irish Folk singers, Irish Step Dancers, kiddie rides, and of course plenty of food and beer at this spirited, once a year festival.

Earlier in the day, a Catholic Mass will be held in the Imperial House at 505 Kalmia Street at 8:00 am. Msgr. Patrick O’Neill, “the oldest practicing Priest in California,” will be conducting the mass. A Military Flag Raising ceremony at Sixth Avenue and Maple will take place at 10:00 am.

If you’re looking for a different scene, check out the shamROCK St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on Wednesday, March 17^th. The fun begins at 4:00 pm and doesn’t stop until midnight. There will be plenty of live entertainment, DJ’s, go-go dancers, and what’s a shamROCK block party without green beer and Jameson Whiskey?

Don’t want to do anything too crazy? Head over to San Diego’s best Irish pubs for a beer and live music. Mc P’s Pub, The Blarney Stone Pub, The Field Pub and Dublin Square Irish Pub are some the Entertainer’s favorite San Diego pubs. Why not go for a good, old-fashioned pub-crawl?

San Diego St. Patty’s Day festivities begin this weekend and will last through next week. Whether you choose to watch the parade, chug a green beer while rocking out at the block party, or simply stay in and drink a Guinness, one thing is certain—don’t forget to wear green!