St. Patrick's Day Parade

March 16, 2024,  Parade starts: 10:30 a.m. stpatsparade.org

Parade route: Parade Steps off at Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street and proceeds North up Fifth Avenue from Juniper Street to Upas Street, over to Sixth Avenue and South on Sixth to Juniper Street.
Irish Festival: Balboa Park

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.--More than 150 parade entries and over 30,000 attend the San Diego St. Patrick's Day  Parade and Festival, making it one of the largest single-day events in San Diego, and the special event to celebrate Irish Culture.  There is also shamROCK festival in Gaslamp Quarter with street closures, bands, and a party atmosphere but that event is held at night.

St. Patrick's Day celebrates Irish Culture in San Diego, but invites participants and attendees from all over to visit and join in.  Before the parade, there is a a Flag Raising ceremony in Balboa park at 10 a.m.  After the parade, Balboa Park is the gathering spot for a day of Irish brews, foods, entertainment, booths, and good times with friends in one San Diego's most beautiful spots.

St. Patrick's Day Parade  starts at 10:30 a.m. when the bands begin playing and kilt-clad units begin marching forward with their best plaids on display.  The parade launches at  Fifth Avenue and Juniper Street, travels north on Fifth Avenue to Upas, then over to Sixth Avenue and South on Sixth and finishes at Juniper Street. 

What's in the parade? The parade includes 150 entries, includes Marching Bands, Floats, Police and Fire Department units, the Emerald Societies, Clowns, equestrian entries, Border Patrol units, Scout Troops, bagpipe contingents, dancing groups, drill teams, roller skaters, antique cars, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, representatives from Ireland, and the reigning Miss Colleen and Smiling Irishman.

Balboa Park is also home to other festivals such as the Pride Festival and Parade in February.