Discover San Diego St. Patrick's Day 2008

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Even though we don't know the actual date of St. Patrick's birth, most scholars believe he was born in 385 AD and died March 17th 461 AD. Born in Wales, the saint studied religion to become a priest and then went to Ireland to teach the people about God.

There are many wonderful stories about St. Patrick, some true, some not true. The most famous legend is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland. There is no proof of this actually happening, but the Irish will defend its truth, because to this day you cannot find a single snake throughout the country.

The Irish, and those of us in San Diego who choose to join hands with them, don't need a silly thing like hard evidence to celebrate a legendary victory over a reptile. With annual boisterous parades, festivals, and great pubs, we undoubtedly embrace the common belief that St. Patrick beat those snakes for all of us.

Cheers to San Diego St. Patrick's Day 2008.

2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Diego

It's important to start St. Patrick's Day off right. For many of us, it is a day that will end in a night that won't be remembered. Before that inevitable tomfoolery begins, check out San Diego's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade to get a taste of what the San Diego Irish Community has to put forth in celebration of their tradition.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade will start right before noon on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 6th and Juniper and will travel north all the way up to Balboa Park. This is always a great family activity with dancers, floats, and bands of all sorts rocking their way from start to finish.

Like most parades, the St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Diego is a competition to see who can be the most Irish on the most Irish day of the year. If you can squeeze this ethnic competitive drive into your day before you start the partying that will carry you on into the late night, it will give you a strong sense of what rich heritage the Irish have to share. For more Parade information, visit the official website here.

2008 San Diego ShamROCK

ShamROCK San Diego is a huge Irish block party that takes over the Gaslamp Quarter every year on this beloved holiday. Shamrock 2008 in San Diego, presented by The Field, will cover the Gaslamp streets with 60,000 feet of Astroturf – providing a fenced in area for dedicated partiers to rage in peace. Aiding the party efforts will be Miller Lite, Jameson Irish Whiskey, and traditional Irish Fayre. Within the Shamrock area will be two stages featuring Irish dancers, Go Go Girls, and traditional Irish music, food, and drink specials. DJs Marc Thrasher, Brent Bartel, and Rush will also keep San Diego dancing in the street.

This year in San Diego, ShamROCK is the place to be on Monday, March 17, 2008 from 4pm to Midnight. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door. For tickets and additional event information, visit the Gaslamp Quarter Association.

St. Patty's Official After-Party

TKProductions and Fortune 421 host the official St. Patrick's Day after-party: Good Fortune at Aubergine on March 17, starting at 7pm. This Irish-tinged party will feature DJs Theron, Craig Smoove, Jon Sautter, and G*Roy in addition to a live tattoo show by Core and Funhouse Tattoo and an interactive live art show starring various local artists.

Adding a new element of style, Good Fortune will introduce a live fashion show by Fortune Clothing, Mia Brazilia Bikini, Hart & Huntington, Future of Style, and Razor Sharp. Meanwhile, Peligro Threads will be in the lounge with an art and clothing display. Sip VeeV, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, and Carolans Irish Cream - everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day in San Diego.

For tickets and more information visit fortune421.com.

Best Irish Pubs in San Diego

The Tilted Kilt
San Diego welcomes a new member of the Irish Pub pack this St. Patrick's Day – the Titled Kilt in East Village. The unbeatable location might as well be inside PETCO Park, and the self-described “sassy” cocktail servers clad in school girl outfits with a Guinness-goes-punk twist are already making a stir in the downtown nightlife scene.

Insider Tip: Set to open its doors on March 17, 2008 – Titled Kilt is the official must-see venue of San Diego St. Patrick's Day 2008.

The Field
The Field is a humongous two story bar right in the center of the Gaslamp Quarter. The Field will offer live traditional Irish Music all day, along with green beer, and specials on the usual St. Patty's Day menu items, enhancing their everyday menu of traditional Irish cuisine. The Field looks and feels like an authentic Irish Pub, as it should – every element of the bar from the floor boards to the chairs and authentic rustic walls were brought to San Diego from an actual pub in Ireland that was going to be torn down.

Insider Tip: The Cheese fries with curry sauce are the best in town.

Gallagher's Pub and Grill
This Irish pub is going all out this year like they have something to prove. Since St. Patrick's Day is on a Monday in 2008, they have decided to make their celebration an entire weekend festival extravaganza. If you don't want to deal with the downtown crowds, check out this charming pub under new ownership on the Newport strip in Ocean Beach. The festivities start on Saturday morning with live music, great St. Patrick's Day food, green beer, and Leprechauns. That's right, the owners of Gallagher's have hired little people to run around dressed like Leprechauns that are completely serious about granting you wishes and finding you pots of gold (probably at the end of the OB pier).

Insider Tip: Gallagher's has everything that a cool Irish pub should have: great food, live music, an extensive Irish whiskey selection, darts, pool, and shuffleboard (very rare in San Diego). But the coolest thing about the place is the actual bar is designed like a giant piano with white and blacks keys painted on the countertop across the pub.

The Blarney Stone Pub (Clairemont)
This Irish bar may be in a strip mall, but don't let that discourage you. It's a blue collar joint in the middle of Clairemont, which happens to be the middle of San Diego. With all the shenanigans going on downtown, this might be a great alternative if you want to pursue something less hectic. On any other day of the year, it is your basic small dark Irish pub tucked away behind a Mervyn's, but on St. Patrick's Day, they go all out by fencing off their parking lot and tripling the capacity of patrons. If you want to go out with friends and actually be able to hear and talk to them, this is the place for you.

Insider Tip: Get there early in the day to enjoy the best corned beef and cabbage in the city without having to wait in line.

McP's Irish Pub and Grill
As soon as you walk through the door of McP's you will be enveloped by the warm relaxing atmosphere of an old Irish country pub. Founded by former Navy Seal, Greg McPartlin twenty five years ago, it has been somewhat of a landmark for military clientele looking for a good Irish atmosphere right in the middle of Coronado.

McP's should be going all out for this year's St. Patrick's Day celebration because it is their 25th anniversary of the holiday. Despite the celebration, McP's always remains a desirable venue for people looking for a more mellow time. McP's is proud of its authentic food and is proud to be a down home Irish Sports Bar that offers great viewing for European sports all year.

Insider Tip: Try the McP's Mulligan Stew, served in a bread bowl, this choice will soak up any alcohol you have in your system if you've been nominated to serve as your group's very, very necessary St. Patrick's Day designated driver.

Maloney's Tavern
Walking by Maloney's on Fifth Avenue, most people probably wouldn't bother taking a chance on it - but they are missing out. Down the steps and into the huge restaurant and bar with plenty of cozy booths, you get the feeling that this Irish bar caters to a younger crowd out for a good time.