SeeCalifornia.com

Dublin  St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade includes three days of festivities starting with Sister Cities Green & White Gala, then a parade and festival spanning the entire St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

California’s ties to Ireland aren’t always so obvious but when St. Patrick’s Day comes around each year on March 17, California becomes a massive scene of green. And when you wear the name of a famous Irish city, Dublin, count on spending several days celebrating!

The City of Dublin, located at the crossroads of the Tri-Valley on the outskirts of the Bay Area, is a relatively new California city, incorporated in 1982. Its Irish name and heritage, however, date back over 160 years to Irish immigrants Michael Murray and Jeremiah Fallon who bought 1,000 acres of land in 1850. The region’s lush rolling hills and pleasant valleys remind some of Irish locales, and the settlers who brought their accents and passions with them left enough of a mark that modern residents thought it seemed right to adopt the name, Dublin.

With a shamrock icon on the city website (ci.dublin.ca.us) and a sister city, Bray, Ireland, it seems only fitting that Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration launches with Dublin Sister City Green & White Gala on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 6 p.m. Irish Happy Hour is followed by dinner and dancing, call (925) 829-4758 for tickets and more information.

Other events include a Saturday morning tradition, a green pancake breakfast before the big parade which attracts thousands of residents and visitors to the city’s biggest annual event.  St. Patrick’s Day Parade officially launches a  weekend festival filled with music, laughter, food and good cheer. On Sunday morning a spirited Shamrock Fun Run takes place.  See more: DublinStPats.com

There are many St. Patrick’s Day Parades and events in California to check out!