St. Patrick's Day in LA 2009

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and sometimes for the whole month of March. Here are a few ways you can get your Irish on in LA this St. Paddy's season.

Before St. Patrick's Day

LA County Irish Fair and Music Festival

The biggest Irish event of the month, the LA County Irish Fair and Music Festival in Pomona, is the weekend before St. Patrick's Day.( This should not be confused with the Great American Irish Fair, which takes place in June in Irvine.) The event includes carnival rides, historic re-enactors, several stages of Irish music from rock to trad, dance performances and social dancing, casual and fine dining, Irish and other Celtic product vendors, a petting zoo, sheep herding demonstrations and Highland-style games. When: March 7-8, 2009, 10 am - 6 pm
Where: The Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 West Mc Kinley Avenue, Pomona, CA 91766
Cost: Adults $16, Seniors 55+ and Students with ID $14, 2-Day Pass $26, Children 11 and under are free.
Parking: Additional fee for parking
Metro: There are MetroLink trains from Union Station to the Fairplex
Info: 310-537-4240, www. la-irishfair.com
LA County Irish Fair Photo Gallery

South Bay St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival

The annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Hermosa Beach.
When: March 14, 2009, Saturday parade 11 am, festival until 5 pm
Where: The intersection of Pier and Valley drive, west to Hermosa Avenue then South on Hermosa to 9th Street. Festival at Pier Plaza
Cost: Free
Parking: Metered street parking. Obey posted signs.
Info: www.hermosabch.org

Young Dubliners at the Key Club

The renowned Irish Celtic-rock band is in town touring their new album Saints and Sinners.
When: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Where: The Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90069
Cost: $25, check www.goldstar.com for half price tickets.
Info: www.keyclub.com

OC Marketplace St. Patrick's Day Festival

The annual St. Patrick's Day festivities at the Orange County Marketplace include Irish dancers and musicians the weekend before St. Paddy's during this weekly swap meet at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
When: March 14-15, 2009, Festival 10 am - 4 pm, swap meet 7 am - 4 pm
Where: The Orange County Fairgrounds, FWY (55) and Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, CA
Cost: $2, children under 12 free
Parking: General parking is free, priority parking for a fee
Info: www.ocmarketplace.com

On St. Patrick's Day

Los Angeles St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival

The St. Patrick's Day Parade through downtown Los Angeles will take place on St. Patrick's Day. For 2009, they are reversing directions and the parade will begin at Main Street and Arcadia Street and proceed to 5th and Pershing Square. The festival will include Lorenzo Lamas singing the National Anthem and a performance by the Young Dubliners at Pershing Square immediately after the parade. Anyone wearing green is welcome to join in the parade. The event benefits the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society.
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, parade 11:30 am to 12:30, festival 11 am - 7 pm
Where: From Main and Arcadia near Olvera Street to Pershing Square
Cost: Free
Parking: Parking under Pershing Square, metered street parking
Metro: Red Line to Pershing Square, Civic Center or Union Station (Olvera Street), Gold Line to Union Station
Info: www.lafd.org/stpats.htm, or www.cityofla.org

A Bit of Irish at the Santa Monica Playhouse

Chris Sullivan's annual tribute to all things Irish features songs, poems, limericks and stories of the Emerald Isle.
When: March 17, 2009 8 pm
Where: Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (at Wilshire)
Cost: $17
Info: www.santamonicaplayhouse.com

Moving Hearts at Royce Hall at UCLA

A reunion performance of the 1980s Irish folk-rock band Moving Hearts, who have together and individually played a key role in the revival of the popularity of Irish music over the last decades.
When: March 17, 2009, 8 pm
Where: Royce Hall at UCLA, 340 Royce Dr. , Los Angeles , 90095
Cost: $28-$56, $15 for UCLA students
Parking: $9
Info: www.uclalive.org

Ollin Pogues Tribute at Spaceland

Only in LA will you find an East LA Chicano world/punk fusion band playing a tribute to an Irish rock band, and doing a bang up job of it too - no joke!
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 9 pm
Where: Spaceland, 1717 Silverlake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Cost: $10
Parking: valet parking available, street parking with limitations (read signs)
Info: www.clubspaceland.com, www.ollinband.com

After St. Patrick's Day

SEAN/NUA: An Irish Dance Drama

SEAN/NUA, created and choreographed by Erin Murphy, T.C.R.G., and Kylie Eaton, explores the different paths taken by two young women growing up in the modern world of Irish dance. The full-length production features the dancers of the Cairde na hÉireann Irish Dance Company of Los Angeles and the music of Jerry McLean and Blackthorne Aire and more.
When: March 20, 2009, 8 pm
Where: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 S. Lucerne, Los Angeles, CA 90005
Cost: $15-$25 advance, $20-$30 at the door
Info: http://sites.google.com/site/seannua/Home

Best Irish Pubs, Bars and Food in LA

On the one night you would expect to hear Irish music in Irish bars, many of the Southland's best Irish bands take off to play St. Patrick's Day gigs in other parts of the country leaving many of the LA Irish pubs that usually have Irish music with extra space to pack in more of the drinking public. However you can still find some venues with live music or other St. Paddy's day activities in the Guide to Irish Bars and Pubs in LA.

For information on St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland and elsewhere, visit Ireland Guide Bernd Biege's page on St. Patrick's Day Around the World.

This information was accurate at the time of publication. Please check with venues for the most current information.