San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival

San Francisco’s 164^th  Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

This year’s theme is Technology-Linking the Bay Area and Ireland

The West Coast’s largest Irish event celebrating Irish history and culture, the 164th Annual San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will take place on Saturday, March 14th at 11:30am. The Parade will start at the corner of Market and Second Streets where over a hundred colorful floats, Irish dance troupes and marching bands will wind their way to Civic Center Plaza. Building on the success of the last several years, the organizers of the Parade are expecting another memorable event.

The United Irish Societies is pleased to announce Bill Duggan as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Parade and Festival. “Bill Duggan a native San Franciscan has been serving the Irish community all his life and continues to do this with grace at his family owned mortuary business ” said Liam Frost, President of the United Irish Societies “The Duggan family place a big emphasis on family and community and this is an integral part of the work they do” continued Frost .

This year the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will showcase the Irish and their strong links with technology here in the Bay Area. In recent years the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival has regained its status as one of the biggest parades in our State. Featured groups from throughout the Bay Area’s Irish community include schools, youth organizations, labor unions, cultural groups, as well as the San Francisco Fire and Police Departments. In addition, many of our local political leaders proudly march up Market Street.

Again this year, the Festival will be held at Civic Center Plaza, in front of City Hall. The Festival is full of flair, and offers all in attendance the opportunity to truly experience Irish culture. This year’s Festival features cultural and exhibitor booths, a healthy selection of Irish food and beverages, Irish dancing, live music, both contemporary and traditional, and a multitude of activities for children such as pony rides, inflatable and mechanical rides and much more.

The San Francisco Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is a great day out for everyone, Irish or otherwise. It is a time to celebrate and participate in the City’s Irish culture. So mark your calendars for March 14^thand celebrate with us. The Parade and Festival starts at 11:30am on the corner of Market and Second Street. For more information please visit www.uissf.org or FaceBook at www.facebook.com/SaintPatricksDaySF

Contact: Olivia Canniffe (415) 860-3196 (contact her for media questions)
[email protected]