SoCal celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in a number of free and affordable ways, with plenty of fun planned for the Irish and not so Irish. Check out the following Los Angeles and Orange County events for March.
2013 Los Angeles County Irish Fair and Music Festival
WHAT: Features 9 stages with true Irish music from the likes of Wrath of McGrath, Skelpin’, The Mulligans, The Twilight Lords, and many more. Also see Cripple Creek Cloggers and the McCartan School of Dance; sheepherding demos, an Irish Dog Show, lots of food booths, and more.
DEAL: The only deal is the two day pass for $25 (reg. 1-day admission is $16 adults, $14 Seniors/Students, children 11 and under are free).
WHEN: Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10, 2013, 10am to 6pm.
WHERE: Fairplex at the Pomona Fairgrounds, 1101 West McKinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91766.
2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hermosa Beach
WHAT: FREE admission. The parade, presented by the Chamber of Commerce, draws an estimated 30,000 people each year.
WHEN: March 16, 2013, 11am – 1:30pm.
WHERE: The parade begins at the staging area near City Hall on Valley Drive, makes a left onto Pier Avenue and ends at the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 10th Street, in Hermosa Beach, CA.
2013 98.7 fm L.A. LIVE St. Patrick’s Day Festival
WHAT: FREE admission. Features traditional Irish music, dance and food, entertainment by tribute band Wayward Sons, Ken O’Malley & The Twilight Lords, The Budweiser Clydesdales, L.A. Clippers at STAPLES Center (12:30pm pre & post-game festivities), L.A. Lakers at STAPLES Center (6:30pm pre-game festivities), Harley-Davidson Ride to L.A. LIVE (hundreds of motorcycles on Chick Hearn Court), L.A. Police Emerald Society Drum & Bagpipe Band, L.A. Fire Department Historic Vehicles and Honor Guard.
WHEN: Sunday, March 17, 2013, 11am – 6pm.
WHERE: Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE, 800 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
SAVVY TIP: The LA Marathon takes place the same day as the St. Patrick’s Day Festival. But the event organizers say it should not affect traffic coming to L.A. LIVE.
2013 St. Patrick’s Day Festival at OC Marketplace
WHAT: FREE admission and free parking. (Admission to Swap Meet $2, 12 and under free). Irish entertainment, green lemonade, mint ice cream and more. Entertainment includes Irish dance performaces by Claddagh School of Irish Dance (10am & 11am); Anair Academy of Irish Dance (noon & 1pm); Fearon O’Connor School of Irish Dance (2pm & 3pm); Electric Cellist, Marson Smith performing old Celtic favorites (9:30am-3pm); Abbit the Average Leprechaun, magic, juggling, Irish comedy, Celtic stiltwalker.
WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 2013, Festival 10am-4pm.
WHERE: The Orange County Fairgrounds, FWY (55) and Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, CA.
