St. Patrick’s Day 2011
You probably have no idea who Saint Patrick was but it hardly matters, does it? His celebration is now about Irish culture more than anything and, luckily, the Irish are a sociable, lively bunch with a knack for drinking. And that always makes for a good party.
Here’s a few of our favorite 2011 St. Patrick’s Day themed events in San Francisco and the Bay Area. So wear plenty of green (even though, at one time, the color associated with Saint Patrick was actually blue) and party hard.
Live St. Patrick’s Day Bagpipe Serenade & Party Farley’s (1315 18th St — Potrero Hill) Thursday, March 17 — All Day Cost: FREE
Events and activities all day long. Begins at 9 am with a live bag pipe serenade, live Irish music until 1 pm and a special Dance/Concert at 8 pm with the Soul Delights. Free prizes and gifts, come and enjoy the day and their 22nd Anniversary.
St. Patrick’s Edition of NightLife California Academy of Science ( 55 Music Concourse Drive — GG Park) Thursday, March 17 @ 6:00 to 10 pm Cost: $12
Celebrate at the “greenest” museum on Earth with a fun-filled night of Irish-themed activities and entertainment, including live Irish music and dancing. Music by DJ Nako. This is always a good time out but the St. Pat’s festivities should kick it up a notch.
2011 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Market Street — Downtown SF Saturday, March 12 & 11:30 am Cost: FREE
Attracting some 100,000 revelers, the 160th St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is one of the city’s most popular events. It begins on the corner of Market and Second Street and runs down Market. Well over a hundred colorful floats, Irish dance troupes and marching bands, including thousands and thousands of participants, young and old alike. Again this year, the popular Irish Festival will be held at Civic Center Plaza, in front of City Hall before, during and after the Parade.
City of Dublin 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza — Dublin) Saturday, March 12 & 13 @ 10 am – 5 pm Cost: FREE
The City of Dublin in California feels pretty strongly that it should at least try to hold up to its namesake in Ireland. Join us for all the Irish celebrations; partake of Irish drink and food, shop for authentic Irish wares and crafts, learn the Irish jig or how to play a pennywhistle, Kiss the Blarney Stone, or watch the Hurling Contest. There’s lots of music too—think live Irish music and Irish dancing—but the time to really go is on March 12th from 3 to 5 pm when U2 Tribute Band Zoo Station will be performing.
St. Patrick’s Day Block Party Royal Exchange ( 301 Sacramento St. — Financial District) Thursday, March 17 @ 3 pm until late Cost: FREE
Who cares is St. Patrick’s Day 2011 falls on a Thursday – don’t tell that to the thousands of people who will congregate in the financial district after work as The Royal Exchange will shut down Front Street from Sacramento to California and throw a giant impromptu beer garden.The street shuts down around 3pm and live music begins around 5pm. Royal Exchange has 32 different beers on tap including Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s.
Rolling Stones Cover Band & Free Irish Food The Parlor ( 2801 Leavenworth Street — Fisherman’s Wharf) Thursday, March 17 @ 8 pm Cost: FREE with RSVP to get on guest list
The Parlor features the following for St. Pat’s: a performance by The Unauthorized Rolling Stones tribute band, a set by DJ Don Lynch and FREE Corned Beef and Cabbage. Plus plenty of green beer on tap. Just get there early. If you go on their site in advance and sign up for their guest list you can get in for free until 9 pm.
Aventine St. Patrick’s Day Alley Block Party Hotaling Street (btwn Washington/Jackson and Montgomery/Sansome) Thursday, March 17 @ 5pm to 10pm Cost: FREE
Aventine hosts their third annual St. Patrick’s Day Alley block party in the financial district on March 17, 2011. Listen to DJ Cams and expect to get drunk with about 1,500 people at four remote bars (serving Guinness, Harp, Jameson shots and more) and wash down the beer with food from a Rib Truck parked at the end of the alley.
O’Reilly’s St. Patrick’s Day Block Party Green Street (btwn Columbus and Powell) – North Beach, SF Thursday, March 17 – All Day Cost: FREE before 3pm, $10 after
Block party commences at 3pm featuring live music from: Revenant; Lunar Groove; Blue on Green; The Hooks. Also featuring the ever popular girls from The Whelan Academy of Irish Dance. We were told by the O’Reilly’s staff that if you arrive before 3pm there’s no cover charge. $10 afterwards.
Irish Bank St. Patrick’s Day Block Party 10 Mark Lane (Bush Street btwn Grant and Kearny) Thursday, March 17 – All Day Cost: FREE before 3pm, $5 after
A full day block party beginning at 11am with Bushmills Irish pipe band, traditional irish and celtic rock beginning at 1pm, Live 105 broadcast in the afternoon and a DJ until midnight.
Free Cab Rides Home on St. Patrick’s Day San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Sacramento Thursday, March 17 – 3pm until 3am Cost: FREE, but cabs must be called in advance.
St. Patrick’s day revelers in Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco can get their cab rides home paid for throughout the night of March 17, 2011 as Alameda law firm Berg Injury Lawyers once again is sponsoring the “Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home” program for 2011. Full details.
