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The Tri-Valley is going green for St. Patrick’s Day as local organizations throughout the region get set to host a number of events — mostly in Dublin — for residents to showcase their Celtic pride.
Observed every March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious day that pays tribute and honors the death of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.
Danville was set to get the fun started locally with Irish-themed crafts and activities for kids 2 to 9 years old this Thursday afternoon at the Danville Community Center.
But with a name like Dublin, this Tri-Valley city is going all out for the holiday weekend — just like it does every year — with its 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.
“Joy, culture, and tradition will be on full display at the city of Dublin’s 41st St. Patrick’s Day Celebration,” city officials stated in a pre-event press release.
The weekend of festivities will kick off with the Dublin Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that supports the heritage and history of the city, hosting its fourth annual Shamrock Gala at Shannon Community Center in Dublin on Friday (March 14) from 6-10 p.m. The adult-only event will feature dinner, music, dancing and a raffle. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the historical society’s website.
The next day, Tri-Valley residents will be able to start their weekend off right — with green pancakes. Alameda County firefighters will be serving stacks of hot, green pancakes, sausages, juice and coffee during the annual Alameda County Firefighter’s Pancake Breakfast at Fire Station No. 16 from 7-10 a.m. Saturday (March 15). The fire station is located at 7494 Donohue Drive in Dublin.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 and according to the city of Dublin, all of the proceeds benefit the Alameda County Firefighters Association-Local 55 Charity Fund, which supports local nonprofit and community-based organizations.
After some green breakfast, people can head over to Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza Road to watch the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which is hosted by the Rotary Club of Dublin. The procession, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will continue east on Dublin Boulevard, north on Village Parkway, and west on Amador Valley Boulevard before ending near the Dublin Senior Center.
“Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets to watch from along the parade route,” according to the Dublin press release. “The parade will feature more than 80 entries including festive marching bands and floats, Irish bagpipes, classic cars, dance troupes, equestrians, local dignitaries, and more.”
One of the organizations that will participate in the parade will be the Dublin Leprechauns, the Tri-Valley’s professional baseball club, according to a statement by Guy Houston, director of baseball operations for the local team.
“Calling all supporters of the Leprechauns to help make it a fun time and help promote the team,” Houston, a former mayor of Dublin, said in the statement. “We will have a large bed truck with music and of course our famous mascot will be there. There will be coffee and doughnuts and perhaps some fix’ins for Irish Coffees as well to keep warm.”
Following the parade will be Dublin’s 41st St. Patrick’s Day Festival, which takes place over the course of Saturday and Sunday (March 15-16). The two-day festival will be located at the Dublin Civic Center and will feature authentic Irish food and beverages, music and dance, Irish Marketplace, Irish Tea Cottage; arts and crafts vendors, and a carnival.
Some of the music acts will be performing everything from high-energy Celtic rock music to traditional Irish pub music and iconic bagpipes, according to the city.
“The Irish Dance Stage showcases the McGrath Irish Dancers on Saturday and the McBride School of Irish Dance on Sunday,” the city stated in its press release. “Bagpipers will perform throughout the festival grounds.”
The festival will start at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on both days — admission will also be free.
And if you don’t feel like driving to the festival, you’re in luck because the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority announced Monday that Wheels will provide free bus services to the festival on its 30R Rapid bus.
The 30R route connects the Livermore Transit Center, BART, and the Dublin Civic Center grounds.
The city is also hosting its annual Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk on Sunday. The race, which residents can register for online, will begin at 8:30 a.m. along Dublin Boulevard near the Civic Center — contestants will finish at the festival.
“Racers participating in this annual event include serious athletes, parents pushing strollers, and visitors and residents dressed in green from head to toe,” the city stated. “The top three finishers in each division will win a medallion and gift certificate from race sponsor Sports Basement.”
But Dublin isn’t the only surrounding city celebrating Celtic and Irish roots.
On Saturday evening, downtown Pleasanton will be hosting its 12th annual St. Patrick’s Day Brew Crawl where Tri-Valley residents — who are of drinking age — will help turn Main Street green.
The annual event, organized by the Pleasanton Downtown Association, pairs up downtown businesses with breweries so residents can sample over 15 craft beers while enjoying “the Luck of the Irish festivities along the way”. The crawl will last from 5-8 p.m.
Event guests are encouraged to wear green and other St. Patrick’s Day gear as they enjoy live music, a car show, food trucks, photo booths and other entertainment, according to the event description. The starting location, which is also where folks can redeem their tickets for the crawl, will be at the Museum on Main.
Residents can also buy tickets at the museum for $65, if the event isn’t sold out by then.
Over in Livermore, residents will be able to pay homage to their Irish roots during the St. Patrick’s Day Party at McGrail Vineyards. The event, which will last from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, will feature live music, a food truck, local vendors and, of course, wine.
“Enjoy walk-up tastings of our Celtic Series Red Blend wines and live music,” according to the event description. “Marty’s Joint Food Truck will be on site serving up delicious food for purchase including some St. Patrick’s Day menu specials! McGrail wines will be available for purchase by the glass and bottle.”
Open seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis — tickets cost $25 for guests and $15 for those who are a member of the vineyard’s club.
