St. Patrick’s Day is never just a daylong celebration, but with the holiday falling on a Tuesday this year, many events will take place on the weekend before. Here are some highlights.
Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: March 14-15, Dublin Civic Center, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin. This 42nd annual East Bay celebration kicks off with a 9:30 a.m. Saturday parade followed by a two-day festival that features live entertainment from Celtic rock and bagpipes to Irish folk music and dancing, Irish foods and beverages, an Irish marketplace with more than 250 vendors, roaming leprechauns and carnival rides. Free admission. Before the parade, Dublin Fire Station #16 will host a $5 charity pancake breakfast starting at 7 a.m. Details: dublin.ca.gov/873/Celebration-Highlights
San Jose Shamrock Run: March 14, San Pedro Square, 25 N. San Pedro St., San Jose. Runners of all ages can kick off their St. Patrick’s season celebration at the San Jose Shamrock Run, which starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at San Pedro Square and ends there also. Besides a 5K, 10K and the Leprechaun Chase Kids Run, there will be Irish music and dancing, including bag pipes at 7 a.m. and speeches at 7:50 a.m. and the O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub and Five Points Post Race Party. Registration, $23 to $82, includes souvenir shirt and party. Tickets: sanjoseshamrockrun.com
St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll: March 13, Los Altos. Stroll and shop downtown from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday while sipping craft brews and listening to live music along the way. Admission, $71.88, includes commemorative glass and map of sites. Check in or buy day-of tickets at the Veterans Community Plaza, Main and State streets, starting at 5 p.m. Tickets: eventbrite.com
San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade: March 14, Market Street, San Francisco. Every year, the United Irish Societies of San Francisco host a large Saint Patrick’s Day Parade showing off colorful floats, Irish dance troupes, marching bands and community groups. Saturday’s parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Second and Market streets and head down to Civic Center Plaza, ending with a festival featuring live entertainment, food and drinks until 6 p.m. Free admission. uissf.org/st-patricks-day-parade
Irish Block Party at Slainte: March 14, at 131 Broadway, Oakland. The Irish pub Slainte is shutting down the street the Saturday before St. Paddy’s Day for its annual all-things-Irish block party featuring live music, dancing, food and giveaways from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission. Details: slainteoakland.com
St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt: March 15, Del Valle Regional Park, 7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore. This East Bay Regional Park will host a Sunday scavenger hunt for treasures hidden by nature-loving leprechauns. To participate, head to the visitor center first for clues. All ages are welcome, but adults must accompany children. No registration required for this free, drop-in program that will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is $5. Green attire welcomed. ebparks.org
Los Gatos St. Patrick’s Day: March 17, Campo di Bocce, 565 University Ave., Los Gatos. The Italian bocce courts will host the wearing o’ the green this year, a ticketed event running from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday. Live music by the Black Irish, the Prince Charles Pipe Band and others, plus Irish dancing, barbecue and holiday fare, bar offerings and bocce all day long. Tickets, $100, include food. Ages 21-up only. Early sellout expected. www.eventbrite.com