Press Release
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2025 |
43rd Annual San Diego St. Patrick's Day Parade
and Irish Festival Saturday, March 15
SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival will be held on
Saturday, March 15th, 2025, with activities and festivities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sixth and Laurel in Balboa Park. Rain or shine!
This year's parade theme, "Celebrating Irish Business," partners with the Irish Government which aims to strengthen the bonds within our Irish community and foster greater involvement from organizations in the region with an Irish connection.
“I’ve grown up going to the parade since I was a child. It’s one of the events I look forward to each year,” said parade chair Samantha Bonner. “It celebrates a heritage that is culturally rich. I hope people feel as I do when I go to Ireland – that Irish people are the nicest you have ever met. I want folks to feel welcome and have a really great time.”
The Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at 5th and Laurel then proceed north to Upas, east to 6th and south to Laurel Street. The parade will have nearly 100 entries including marching bands, military, fire fighters, law enforcement, Irish community groups and businesses, volunteer organizations, and more.
The festival will run along 6th Ave from Laurel to Nutmeg from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will host a variety of vendors, food, and information booths to shop and engage with. The festival area will also feature food, information booths and vendors, and be an exciting place to meet friends and show your green. Festival entry fee for adults 21 and over is $10; under 21 and active duty military with I.D. will get in free. Tickets and packages are available via Eventbrite: search 2025 San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Full entertainment line-ups of Irish music and dance will be available on two festival stages beginning after the parade.
Our Main Stage festival lineup includes rollicking live music from local bands:
1:00 pm Tony Cummins and Friends
2:00 pm The Fooks
3:00 pm Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas
4:00 pm The Downs Family
5:00 pm The Blindfold Monks
The Ashleigh Roach Stage will feature Irish dance performances from local Irish dance schools and other Irish cultural entertainment.
The Irish Congress of Southern California (ICSC) was formed in 1981 to organize the parade and
festival to promote appreciation and knowledge of Irish culture and heritage. Over its 40 plus year
history, it has honored and celebrated partnerships with first responders, veterans and military, law enforcement, Indigenous Americans, and a variety of organizations which make up the wonderfully diverse community in the San Diego region.
The ICSC, presenting sponsor Guinness, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Government of Ireland, My Lineage, Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, and our supporters bid you “cead mile failte” (kayd mee-la fall-chya) – a hundred thousand welcomes.
Saturday, March 15th, 2025, with activities and festivities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sixth and Laurel in Balboa Park. Rain or shine!
This year's parade theme, "Celebrating Irish Business," partners with the Irish Government which aims to strengthen the bonds within our Irish community and foster greater involvement from organizations in the region with an Irish connection.
“I’ve grown up going to the parade since I was a child. It’s one of the events I look forward to each year,” said parade chair Samantha Bonner. “It celebrates a heritage that is culturally rich. I hope people feel as I do when I go to Ireland – that Irish people are the nicest you have ever met. I want folks to feel welcome and have a really great time.”
The Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at 5th and Laurel then proceed north to Upas, east to 6th and south to Laurel Street. The parade will have nearly 100 entries including marching bands, military, fire fighters, law enforcement, Irish community groups and businesses, volunteer organizations, and more.
The festival will run along 6th Ave from Laurel to Nutmeg from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will host a variety of vendors, food, and information booths to shop and engage with. The festival area will also feature food, information booths and vendors, and be an exciting place to meet friends and show your green. Festival entry fee for adults 21 and over is $10; under 21 and active duty military with I.D. will get in free. Tickets and packages are available via Eventbrite: search 2025 San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Full entertainment line-ups of Irish music and dance will be available on two festival stages beginning after the parade.
Our Main Stage festival lineup includes rollicking live music from local bands:
1:00 pm Tony Cummins and Friends
2:00 pm The Fooks
3:00 pm Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas
4:00 pm The Downs Family
5:00 pm The Blindfold Monks
The Ashleigh Roach Stage will feature Irish dance performances from local Irish dance schools and other Irish cultural entertainment.
The Irish Congress of Southern California (ICSC) was formed in 1981 to organize the parade and
festival to promote appreciation and knowledge of Irish culture and heritage. Over its 40 plus year
history, it has honored and celebrated partnerships with first responders, veterans and military, law enforcement, Indigenous Americans, and a variety of organizations which make up the wonderfully diverse community in the San Diego region.
The ICSC, presenting sponsor Guinness, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Government of Ireland, My Lineage, Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial, and our supporters bid you “cead mile failte” (kayd mee-la fall-chya) – a hundred thousand welcomes.
- For interviews or news spots the week before the parade and at the event, contact John Hyatt: [email protected]
- Media attending the event, park at Juniper between 5th and 6th avenues.
- For more information about the parade, please visit www.stpatsparade.org
- Additional photos are available upon request or on our website.