Community Corner
A Parade You Don't Want to Miss
The annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin will take place Saturday.
Where is the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Bay Area? Right here in Dublin.
Every year since 1984, the Dublin Lions have put on the , a community tradition and the public starting point for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. This year’s parade will take place on Saturday starting off at 9:30 a.m.
The routes have changed, the participants have increased, but one of the biggest events of the year in the Tri-Valley remains a constant.
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“It’s always been a good time parade,” said Dublin Lions Club president and parade director Bill Burnham. “It’s for the kids.”
Burnham said that more than 80 groups have requested entry into this year’s parade, which kicks off at Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza Road.
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Entries include a number of marching bands – including those representing and , school groups, civic organizations, scout troops and approximately two dozen organizations from outside of the city of Dublin.
Participants include local media outlets KSFO Radio and NBC-Channel 11.
“It’s more than last year and in those 80 entries there are about 3,000 participants,” Burham said.
Burnham estimates approximately 10,000 spectators will line the parade route, which moves from Dublin Boulevard to (north) Village Parkway to (west) Amador Valley Boulevard and ends in front of the Target Store.
Parade watchers begin staking out their places early in the morning and there will be traffic diversions and detours in the area of the parade route. Bleacher seating will be installed in front of the Oil Changers at the corner of Village Parkway and Amador Valley.
It’s suggested that parade watchers bring low-back chairs and a blanket to escape the morning chill.
David Grant, the mayor of Dublin’s sister city in Brea, Ireland will serve as Grand Marshall.
The largest St. Pat’s parade in the Bay Area takes place in San Francisco.
But Burham says he has people from San Francisco calling him to get details about the Dublin parade.
Mayor Tim Sbranti, who grew up in Dublin, believes the parade is one of the city’s best traditions.
"The St. Patrick's Parade is one of Dublin's greatest ways to bring the community together,” said Sbranti.
“It is an opportunity to showcase all of the best that Dublin has to offer, and I think it's great that so many people of all ages in our City get the opportunity to participate."
