I am so excited for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, which are taking place this coming Saturday, March 13 at Balboa Park. The theme for this year’s parade is “Celebrating 30 Years of Community Unity with Special Thanks to our Veterans and Military.”

The 30th Annual San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade (the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi) will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. on Fifth Avenue at Laurel Street, near Balboa Park. The Parade route will make travel through Hillcrest up Fifth Avenue from Laurel to Upas Street and then returns down Sixth Avenue to Laurel.

Over 150 Parade entries are expected including; Bagpipers, High School Marching Bands, Police and Fire Department Units, Floats, Dancing Groups, Marching and Equestrian Units, Clowns, Dignitaries and Honorees, Representatives from Ireland, Antique Cars and more.

In conjunction with the parade, the Irish Festival in Balboa Park (at Sixth Avenue and Maple Street) is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features entertainment on 2 Stages with performances by Irish Folk singers and Irish Step Dancers. There will also be Irish Crafts, food booths, a Celtic Village, Beer Garden, and a Kid Zone with rides.

Over 20,000 people are expected to attend, so arrive early to get a front row seat for the parade!  And after the parade spend the afternoon enjoying wonderful Irish performances, food and more at the festival!

For more great March events in San Diego, check out the Events Calendar!