Dublin Chamber Of Commerce: 38th ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION

Press release from the Dublin Chamber of Commerce:

February 17, 2022

EXPERIENCE THE EMERALD ISLE WITHOUT A PASSPORT 
AT THE CITY OF DUBLIN’S 
38th ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION
MARCH 11 - 13, 2022

 The City of Dublin is excited to announce the return of its 38th St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, taking place March 11-13, at the Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza).  The two-day festival will be accompanied by a new Shamrock Gala on Friday, March 11, at The Wave; the Firefighters Local 55 Pancake Breakfast; the Dublin Lions Club St. Patrick’s Day Parade; and the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk. 

On Friday, March 11, a new evening event, The Shamrock Gala, will help kick off the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.  The Gala will be held at The Wave (4201 Central Parkway), hosted by the Dublin Historical Society in collaboration with the City of Dublin.  This is an event for adults, 21 and older, and will include hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, music, and dancing.  Cocktail attire is encouraged. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at Shamrock Gala 2022 Tickets, Fri, Mar 11, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite or at www.dublinstpats.com.  
 

On Saturday, March 12, revelers can start their morning beginning at 7:00 a.m. with a big stack of hot “green” pancakes served fresh off the griddle at the Annual Firefighters Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station #16 (7494 Donohue Drive).  Breakfast also includes eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $5 per person.  All proceeds benefit the Alameda County Firefighters Association - Local 55 Charity Fund, which supports local non-profit and community-based organizations.

Following the pancake breakfast, the Dublin Lions Club will present the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starting at 9:30 a.m.  The parade kicks off at Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza Road, traveling east on Dublin Boulevard, north on Village Parkway, and west on Amador Valley Boulevard, ending near the Dublin Senior Center.  Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to watch from along the parade route. The parade features more than 80 entries including festive marching bands and floats; Irish bagpipes; Irish Wolfhound and Irish Setter rescue groups; and equestrian riders.

The 38th St. Patrick’s Day Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza).  Highlights include three stages of authentic music and Irish dance; an Irish Marketplace; an Irish Tea Cottage with musical accompaniment; plenty of delicious Irish food and beverages; arts and crafts vendors; and a carnival.  

• Entertainment at the Festival includes two stages featuring a wide variety of music, from high-energy Celtic rock to traditional Irish folk music and iconic bagpipes. Performing on the Main Stage both days, Tempest will infuse Folk Rock and Irish Reels for a high-energy performance.  Also appearing on the Main Stage during the Festival will be Cali Celtic, Fast & Vengefully, Zoo Station, and Piano Madness. Performing on the Pub Stage are One Eyed Reilly, Fast & Vengefully, Peter Daldry Band, Cali Celtic, and Piano Madness.  In the Irish Tea Cottage, visitors can enjoy the sounds of the Peter Daldry and Margaret & Kristoph.  The Irish Dance Stage showcases the McGrath Irish Dancers on Saturday and the McBride School of Irish Dance on Sunday.  Bagpiper Jeff Campbell will perform throughout the festival grounds.
• The Irish Marketplace will feature vendors specializing in unique Celtic artwork; authentic Irish kilts and textiles; beautiful Celtic jewelry; delectable Irish candies, scones, preserves; and more. 
• Visitors craving a wee bit of Ireland can visit the outdoor Irish Tea Cottage to enjoy lively music along with tasty tea cookies, shortbread, scones, and a steaming cup of authentic Irish tea served in a souvenir cup.
• The Food Court will feature expanded Irish menus with traditional favorites, such as corned beef sliders; bangers and mash; fish and chips; Guinness-marinated tri-tip on soda bread; and boxty (Irish potato pancakes).  Traditional festival favorites, kettle corn and corn dogs, will also be served, as well as international selections such as Teriyaki chicken and beef kabobs. Authentic Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick’s beer will be served on tap, and featured desserts include green shamrock-shaped funnel cakes. 
• The Carnival will offer exciting rides and attractions for guests of all ages.  

On Sunday, March 13, the City of Dublin will host the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk.   The race begins at 8:30 a.m. along Dublin Boulevard near the Civic Center, and winds its way through town, finishing at the festival with live music, awards, and giveaways for participants.  The top three finishers in each division will win a medallion and gift certificate from race sponsor Dick’s Sporting Goods. Register online at dublinstpats.com.  For race information, please call (925) 556-4500.

Festival admission is free, and free parking will also be available in designated lots and on nearby streets. Accessible parking for those with disabilities are available in the Sports Grounds parking lot on Dublin Boulevard for both the Shamrock 5K Race and for the festival. Access is available ONLY from the eastbound lane on Dublin Boulevard. The entrance is just past Civic Plaza.  Disability placards must be visible to enter the lot. 

A free festival shuttle will be provided to transport guests from the Zeiss Innovation Center parking lot (5300 Central Parkway) directly to the festival entry. Visitors can also ride BART to either the East or West Dublin BART Stations and connect for free directly to the festival by taking Wheels Rapid 30R bus.  To ride for free, guests must tell the driver they are headed to the festival.  Wheels is also offering half-priced rides within Dublin via Lyft, Uber, and DeSoto cabs.  Visit www.WheelsBus.com/godublin for more information. Free and secure bike parking will also be available onsite at the bike valet.  

All festivities will be held rain or shine.  The City of Dublin will abide by all State and County public health requirements to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for all.  While the St. Patrick's Day Celebration is largely an outdoor event, masks must be worn if guests enter the Dublin Library and when taking the festival shuttle. The City of Dublin will have masks available for patrons; hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the festival grounds; and high-touch areas will be sanitized regularly.

For more details on the weekend’s celebration, please visit www.dublinstpats.com or call (925) 556-4500.
 

This press release was produced by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.