Guide to Dublin's St. Patrick's Day 2015

Announcement information submitted by City of Dublin:

Get out your kilt and put on your green to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day with the City of Dublin at its 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 14 – 15.

On Saturday, March 14, revelers can start their morning with a big stack of hot “green” pancakes served fresh off the griddle at the Annual Firefighter’s Pancake Breakfast. Breakfast will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee, and will be served beginning at 7:00 AM at Fire Station #16, located at Donohue Drive and Amador Valley Boulevard. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Alameda County Fire Fighters Association-Local 55 Charity Fund, which supports local non-profit and community-based organizations.

Related:

• St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail: How to Make a Jameson Julep
• Seniors Invited to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Danville Senior Center
• Danville to Have Veterans St. Patrick’s Day Fundraising Dinner

Afterwards, the Dublin Lions Club will present the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets or take a seat in the parade grandstand, located at 7400 Amador Valley Boulevard. Over 80 entries, featuring festive marching bands and floats, Irish bagpipes, equestrian riders and much more, will step-off promptly at 9:30 AM onto Dublin Boulevard from Amador Plaza Road. The route continues east on Dublin Boulevard, north on Village Parkway, and west on Amador Valley Boulevard, ending near the Dublin Senior Center.

The 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Dublin Civic Center, 100 Civic Plaza. There will be plenty of good green fun at this year’s event, including 3 stages of authentic Irish music and dance, 250 craft and commercial vendors, including an Irish Marketplace, an Irish Tea Cottage, plenty of delicious Irish food and beverage, and carnival rides for all ages. New this year will be the game of rugby, an Irish favorite, played throughout the day on Saturday.

• Entertainment at the festival will include two stages of lively Celtic music with everything from high-energy Celtic rock to traditional Irish Pub music to beautiful Celtic Harp and iconic bagpipes. On the Main Stage, with performances on both Saturday and Sunday, “Stand Easy,” led by award-winning singer/songwriter John McLean Allan, will feature a powerful blend of original and traditional songs with bagpipe/rock instrumentals. Also appearing on the Main Stage will be the high energy LeperKhanz, offering an exotic mix of Irish fiddle, reggae, sea shanty, disco, and rock. Molly’s Revenge, The Black Irish, Avalon Rising, and the USAF Irish ensemble, known as the Blue Yonders, will round out the line-up on the Pub and Main Stages, along with The Elderberries and Bicycle Irish in the Tea Cottage. The Irish Dance Stage will showcase the McGrath Irish Dancers on Saturday and the McBride School of Irish Dance on Sunday.

• The Arts & Crafts fair will showcase a variety of talented artists, but there will also be an “Irish Marketplace,” specializing in unique Celtic artwork, Irish tartans, beautiful Celtic jewelry, handmade pewter goblets and steins, delectable Irish whiskey cakes and candies, genuine 4-leaf clover jewelry, and much more.

• The Celtic Food Court will feature traditional Irish favorites, such as corned beef with cabbage, Irish bangers and mash, and, of course, fish and chips! Unique Irish-inspired specialties, such as the corned beef sliders with cheddar and spicy slaw, and Irish Egg Rolls with horseradish sauce will also be on the menu. Authentic Guinness, Harp, and Smithwicks will be served on tap, as well as virgin Irish coffee. For dessert, the menu will feature Irish Crème Brulee, green shamrock-shaped funnel cakes, and shamrock mint shakes with Bailey’s whipped cream. A host of traditional festival foods and international choices will also be available.

• Visitors craving a wee bit of Ireland can step inside the cozy Irish Tea Cottage to enjoy lively music along with a steaming cup of authentic Irish tea served in genuine china cups, and tasty shortbread and scones.

• The Carnival will offer exciting rides and attractions for guests of all ages.

• New this year, visitors can watch a popular pastime on the Emerald Isle -- the game of rugby. Matches will be played continuously throughout the day on Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, on field #5 at the Dublin Sports Grounds. Local Tri-Valley teams will compete against teams from as far away as Sacramento.

On Sunday, March 15, the City of Dublin will host the 17th Annual Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk. The race begins at 8:30 AM 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. Participants can register in advance by March 12 at www.active.com. For race information, please call(925) 556-4500.

Festival admission is FREE . . . and free parking will also be available nearby. Visitors can also ride BART to either the East or West Dublin BART Stations and connect for FREE directly to the front entry of the Festival by taking Wheels Bus Route #10 and collecting the special pass available during the weekend of the event. Free and secure bike parking will also be available onsite at the Bike Valet.

All festivities will be held rain or shine. Please call (925) 556-4500 or visit www.DublinStPats.com for more information.

What is your favorite St. Patrick’s Day event? Tell us in the comments section below.

Also on Patch:

• ‘Jeopardy!’ Features Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Open House Sunday: Cute Albany Starter Home With Detatched Office
• Leaky Toilet? It’s Fix a Leak Week
• Mountain Lions in Our Community: Big Cats versus Humans
• You’ll Be Crabby if You Miss This!
• “For the Love of Food” with Dr. Rajnish Khanna at Las Positas
• Terrifying New Prediction for Killer Earthquake
• California Reevaluates Role of School Standardized Test