Dublin's St. Patrick's Day 2016 Events, Locations, Times This Weekend

DUBLIN, CA - It's here! Dublin's annual blow-out, all-things-Irish celebration.

The City of Dublin’s 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration includes a two-day festival, a 5K Shamrock Fun Run, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and pancake breakfast. It kicked off with a gala Friday night.

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Firefighters Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday, March 12, revelers can start their morning beginning at 7:00 AM 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. Purchase tickets 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.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Dublin Lions Club will present the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starting at 9:30 AM. The parade begins 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, and equestrian riders.

St. Patrick’s Day Festival

The 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Dublin Civic Center(100 Civic Plaza). Highlights include three stages of authentic Irish music and dance, an Irish Marketplace, an Irish Tea Cottage, plenty of delicious Irish food and beverages, arts and crafts vendors, and a carnival.

• Entertainment at the festival features a wide variety of Celtic music, from high-energy Celtic rock and traditional Irish Pub music to beautiful Celtic Harp and iconic bagpipes. Performing on Sunday on the Main Stage is Zoo Station: The Complete U-2 Experience. Also appearing on the Main Stage during the festival will be the traditional Irish folk band Culann’s Hounds, 1 Eyed Reilly, Avalon Rising, Kavanaugh Brothers Celtic Experience, Rogue Rebellion, and Pog Mo Thoin. On the Pub Stage are The Kavanaugh Brothers, Rogue Rebellion, The Elderberries, O’Craven, and the local group Extended Roots. In the Irish Tea Cottage, visitors can enjoy the sounds of The Elderberries, the Dublin Irish Jam Band, Margaret & Kristoph, and Mark Abdilla. The Irish Dance Stage showcases the McGrath Irish Dancers on Saturday and the McBride School of Irish Dance on Sunday.

• The Irish Marketplace features vendors specializing in unique Celtic artwork, Irish tartans, beautiful Celtic jewelry, handmade pewter goblets and steins, delectable Irish whiskey cakes and candies, genuine four-leaf clover jewelry, and much more.

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

• The Celtic Food Court features traditional Irish favorites, such as boxty, bangers and mash, and fish and chips, along with the Irish-American St. Patrick’s Day favorite, corned beef and cabbage. 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 beers are served on tap, and featured desserts include Irish Crème Brulee, green shamrock-shaped funnel cakes, shamrock mint shakes with Bailey’s whipped cream, and, new this year, Irish Stout Ice Cream made with authentic Guinness beer. Traditional festival foods and international choices will also be available.

• The Carnival will offer exciting rides and attractions for guests of all ages. On Saturday, the Carnival will be open until 7:00 p.m., two hours after the closing of the festival.

Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk

On Sunday, March 13, the City of Dublin will host the 18th Annual 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. Register in advance by March 10 atwww.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 directly to the front entry of the festival by taking Wheels Bus Route #10, using the special pass available during the weekend of the event. Free and secure bike parking will also be available onsite.

All festivities will be held rain or shine.