Point Loma residents and their guests will be seeing green from 1-11 p.m. on March 17 and 18 at the second annual St. Paddy’s O’Beach party, a two-day Irish-themed festival in Ocean Beach arranged by the producers of Oktoberfest.
“We are really creating a festival experience and pride ourselves on not being a traditional St. Patrick’s Day event,” said Heather Hudson, Irish holiday event organizer for the second year who added, “It’s St. Paddy’s Day with a twist – a really big concert and party at the beach.”
The inaugural St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party a year ago was so successful, Hudson said they opted to extend it to two days, which allowed the event’s festivities to be beefed-up. “We are really promoting local bands and the musical element,” she pointed out.
Reggae rock band The Expendables, along with a handful of other well-known bands, are set to perform at the Irish fest. “We are bringing in headliners up and down the coast that truly embody that Southern California lifestyle,” noted Hudson.
One of those Southern-California lifestyle bands appearing at the two-day affair is Half Hour Late. The band’s album, “Busy Chillin,” is in the running for “Best Pop Album” at the San Diego Music Awards. An OB-based group, Half Hour Late is led by the Musical Dring Boys – Riley, Kasey, and Karl on harmonica – along with bandmates David Pozay and Zac Stillwater. They will be performing Friday, March 17 for an hour starting at 4:30 p.m.
A Montreal native, Pozay gradually worked his way in his van down the coast ending up in OB where he met his sweetheart who introduced him to the Dring brothers and Stillwater. “We became friends and started jamming together in a shed,” Pozay said adding forming a band “just happened organically for us. We began performing at The Holding Company. Since then, we’ve cut our first album, which got nominated as best pop album at the San Diego Music Awards.”
Pozay characterized Half Hour Late as a rock ‘n’ roll band but added, “We all come from very different influences, mixing a bunch of different genres and sounds.”
Pozay added the Drings are influenced by their dad, Karl, a “blues man” who plays harmonica, among other instruments. “He’s going to be sitting in with us a lot at the St. Paddy’s Day show,” said Pozay adding the band played at OB Oktoberfest last fall noting it was “memorable.”
Pozay said he and the Dring’s dream is to “play major festivals, travel the world with our music, and spread love and rock ‘n’ roll.” He added, “It’s just really cool to get to do it together with your homies.”
The event on Saturday will kick off with a 5K run by the pier prior to the day’s shenanigans held by OB Run Club. The run drew 200 participants last year.
The second annual beachside event is expecting over 10,000 party-goers this year, dressed in head-to-toe green, to gather at the Ocean Beach Pier parking lot for live music, green beer, cocktails, and St. Paddy’s Day-themed games. The first 500 attendees each day will receive a special experience.
On Friday, those that arrive first will receive complimentary corned beer slides and a gold coin that can be redeemed for prizes such as cocktails, swag, and cash. On Saturday, the first 500 party-goers will participate in the returning and highly anticipated “Guac Off” competition, where local vendors will compete to be crowned the “Best Guac in Ocean Beach,” challenging the reigning champion, La Doña.
A portion of proceeds from the St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party will benefit two organizations. One is the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association, a business improvement district dedicated to building a thriving business district. The other is The Peninsula Alliance, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities and implementing change in the Peninsula’s Point Loma and Ocean Beach communities. Last year’s event raised over $50,000 for St. Paddy’s community partners.
LIVE MUSIC
March 17
March 18
The Expendables
EVENTS
Gold Coin Giveaway – The first 500 people on March 17 get to participate in the gold coin redeemable for a variety of prizes including; green beer, car bomb shots, and exclusive merch. One winner will receive $500 cash.
Guac Off – March 18, the first 500 people will get to try 10 samples of guacamole from local restaurants going head-to-head in a blind tasting for the title of Best Guac in Ocean Beach.
Beach 5K Fun Run – March 18 at noon on the beach hosted by the OB Run Club. Tickets can be purchased here and include participation in the race, entrance into the beer garden, and one green beer.
Also: Pot O’Gold Hold, Rainbow Toss, Lucky Charms Flip Cup, and Leprechaun Limbo.
