The luck of the green comes to San Diego

Morgan M. Hurley | Editor

San Diego is gearing up for the biggest celebration of green it’s ever seen.

On Saturday, March 14, starting at 9 a.m. with the Irish Congress of Southern California’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and 35th annual Irish Festival in Balboa Park and ending with the Gaslamp Quarter’s 21st annual shamROCK, San Diegans are in for an entire day filled with the luck of the Irish. Organizers say the parade is the largest this side of the Mississippi.

St. Patrick’s Day, as observed by the Catholic and Anglican churches, is a cultural and religious celebration honoring the death date (March 17) of the most recognized patron saint of Ireland. A public holiday in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day — or the “Day of the Festival of Saint Patrick” as it is referred to there — not only celebrates Irish culture and heritage, it honors the arrival of Christianity to Ireland.

Though widely celebrated in North America since the late 1800s, according to Wikipedia, there are only two places in the United States where St. Patrick’s Day is an official holiday; Suffolk County, Massachusetts, where Evacuation Day is the real reason for the holiday, and Chatham County, Georgia.

Despite this fact, here in America we still have to kick that celebratory nature up a notch. The rest of us still use our unofficial holiday as a day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage by throwing lavish and often controversial parades, the wearing of green attire and by adding green food coloring to everything we deem edible or drinkable.

It is also a day known for its imbibery and overindulgence, and as Wikipedia says, “It is one of the leading days for consumption of alcohol in the U. S.”

Here in San Diego, the Irish Festival — and its beer garden — opens its doors at 9 a.m. in Balboa Park west of Sixth Avenue and north of Laurel Street with a flag ceremony.

San Diego’s St. Patrick’s Day parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street and will have over 120 contingents. The parade will proceed north up Fifth Avenue to Upas Street, where it will turn right over to Sixth Avenue and proceed south on Sixth Avenue back to Juniper Street. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Faith and Freedom.”

Following the parade, the Irish festival will continue until 6 p.m., with two stages and a beer garden. Bands include SDFFES Pipes & Dreams, The Fooks, Pocket Whiskey Fellas, Highland Way, Irish Rockin’ Rebels, The Shamrockers, Lexington Field, and Tony Cummins.

shamROCK takes place that same day from 4 p.m. – midnight in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. Its huge block party, four stages, a 150 foot-long pub, more green beer than you can imagine, Jameson Whiskey flowing, go-go dancers, Irish river dancers, Celtic crooners, plenty of deejays and dozens of bands will help you keep your “Irish on” for the rest of the evening.

Presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bud Light and The Field, shamROCK will benefit the Gaslamp Historical Foundation, located at 410 Island Ave.

The block party will feature 80,000 square feet of Astro turf starting at the main gate and its “pot of gold” at Sixth Avenue and E Street, all the way down to G Street. F and G streets between Fifth and Seventh avenues and will also be part of the sprawling block party.

Over 20,000 revelers are expected to take part in the event. Free designated driver shuttles will be available to all those wearing a shamROCK wristband. Shuttles will be available (look for signage) on E Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues and will take you home anywhere in the county. First come, first served, and VIP get front-of-the-line privileges.

VIP ticket holders with wristbands also get complimentary drinks and in-and-out access to the block party as well as no cover and other food and drink specials at participating Gaslamp nightclubs, bars and restaurants.

Three stages will be host music:

The Pub Stage, located on Sixth Avenue between F and G streets: the Celtic music of Sligo Rags; the Fenians; the Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas; The Fooks; the Shamrockers; and Down’s Family.

The Luck of the Irish stage on Sixth and G streets: Jesse Marco; Rock It Scientists; DJ G-Roy; Fresh One; Deejay O; and DJ Big Dude.

The Clover Stage, located on F Street between Fifth and Sixth streets: Hot Mouth; Kristina Sky; Adam Auburn; Brady Spear; Beefam; Huy Believe; and DJ Engage.

The Field Irish Stage will feature live bands performing Irish rock, Irish punk rock and other Irish favorites.

Tickets are available online and cost $40 for general admission $40 through March 13, and will be $45 the day of. VIP tickets are $85 through March 13, and $95 the day of.

For more information about shamROCK or to buy tickets, visit sandiegoshamrock.com. For more information about the St. Patrick’s Day parade and Irish Festival, visit stpatsparade.org.

—Reach Morgan M. Hurley at [email protected].