St. Patrick’s Day Parades & Parties in the Greater Sacramento Region

We may not dye our river green as they do in Chicago, nor illuminate our landmarks green like they do in Sydney. But here in Sacramento, we certainly know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, with parades and parties held throughout the region. From Sacramento to Placerville, Roseville to Davis, there are family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day events, cultural events, and of course, lively after-hours events just for the grown-ups.

But first, a little history. St. Patrick’s Day honors one of the patron saints of Ireland, a 5th-century missionary credited with bringing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. His feast day, March 17, originated as a religious observance, but has since morphed into a celebration of Irish culture and identity, mostly among those of Irish descent living in other countries.

In the U.S., St. Patrick’s Day is commemorated with public parades and festivals. Green-clad revelers, Irish dancing, Irish musicians and Irish food such as corned beef and cabbage are all part of the celebration, as is drinking Irish beer and whiskey.  

One of the biggest celebrations in Sacramento is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival. Scheduled for March 14 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in Old Sacramento, the event features a parade with Irish music and dancers. But the celebration isn’t limited to that weekend. Throughout the month, Old Sacramento is hosting a special leprechaun hunt for kids and a Taste of Ireland promotion by local restaurants and cafes that features special Irish dishes and drinks. 

Another St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Sacramento is the Shamrock’n Half Marathon. Held March 14–15, the event kicks off at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. There’s a half-marathon, a 10K, a 5K, and a .5-mile Leprechaun Dash for kiddos.

Walk over to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento from your new home. 

If you’re interested in Irish culture this St. Patrick’s Day, there are several options. At the Mondavi Center in Davis, you can enjoy the music of Celtic superstars Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy during a performance on Friday, March 20. They will be welcoming a handful of other Celtic musicians as well for an evening of banjo, piping, and fiddling. On March 11, the Harris Center in Folsom will be hosting a performance of traditional Irish music and a special Irish dance performance.

Another event is the Irish Social, to be held 3–9 p.m. on March 7 at the Limelight in East Sacramento. This family-friendly event features Irish tunes, a pipe band, Irish dancing, and plenty of food and drink. Can’t get enough Irish dance? Check out the McKeever School of Irish Dance during a St. Patrick’s Day performance on March 21 at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento.

Irish Bars in the Sacramento Region

One of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to visit one of the many Irish pubs in the greater Sacramento area. You can join one of the many bar crawls taking place in the midtown and downtown areas. On Saturday, March 14, there’s one that starts at Sacrament Brewing in midtown and another that starts at Zebra Club. On March 17, there’s a bar crawl that starts at Kbar Underground in Downtown Sacramento.

Feeling lucky? Find your new home new! 

Otherwise, there are plenty of Irish bars (and non-Irish bars) that are putting on special celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day. Live music, drink specials, and traditional Irish food are a few of the things offered. The following are some options.

• Sudwerk: Technically, it’s a German bar, not an Irish bar, but this longstanding brewery and restaurant in Davis is hosting a special St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, March 20, featuring live Irish music, food specials, green beer, and Guinness on tap.
• Fox & Goose: This British pub in downtown Sacramento is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 with traditional Irish music, bagpipes, and a group sing-along. They’ll also have hearty Irish fare, including Irish lamb stew and corned beef and cabbage.
• The Boxing Donkey: Located in Roseville, this traditional Irish pub has celebrations planned on both Saturday, March 14, and Tuesday, March 17. Both days offer live music, green beer, and food and drink specials.
• The Green Room: The St. Paddy’s Day party at the Green Room in Placerville on March 17 features live music by O’Connell Street Band, which performs both traditional Celtic and modern Irish tunes. They also have a full bar and pub bites.
• Father Paddy’s: This traditional Irish bar hosts an all-day street bash in Woodland on St. Patrick’s Day. Live bands include Stout Rebellion, The Groogs, and One-Eyed Riley, with deals on Irish beer, whiskey, and traditional food like shepherd’s pie and corned beef & cabbage.