St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival
Starts around 11:30 a.m. at 2nd and Market Street
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Get immersed in Irish culture and be surrounded in a sea of green during the St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival. The parade procession will begin around 11:30 a.m. at 2nd and Market Street and march through the city streets for two hours. The parade ends at the Civic Center Plaza, where the fun, family-friendly festival will welcome guests. See a variety of groups, live bands and dance companies put on spirited shows for the crowds.
Past attendees have said that the people traffic gets a bit more crowded toward the Civic Center Plaza. If you are coming with your kids, the insiders recommend that you snag a spot along Market and Powell / Mason (since Hotel Nikko is nestled near Market on Mason Street, you can easily stroll two blocks to find your way to the event).
Experience sights, sounds and flavors from the Emerald Isle as you celebrate this major March holiday. See the staples of Celtic culture, including the kilted bagpipers and traditional Irish jigs. Once you reach the festival, you'll have the opportunity to get your Gaelic on. The annual Irish festival will take place from around 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy delicious fare from the area's most popular Irish pubs, where the beers will be flowing while the bands take the stage. Eat, drink, play games, and find kid-friendly activities for the little ones.
If your romantic rendezvous coincides with St. Patrick's Day weekend, whisk away your special someone to enjoy revelry at the local watering holes. San Francisco is chockfull of trendy bars and hotspot hangouts, so you can raise a pint to the saint and party with the locals.