St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego means parades, parties, and plenty of beer! Gather your lads and lasses to celebrate the luck of the Irish. San Diego offers parades and celebrations that are suitable for the whole family including your little leprechauns. And late-night parties and pub crawls with ever-flowing green beer for the adults. No matter what you are looking for this St. Patrick’s Day, San Diego has you covered.
Where To Stay
The Rockaway House

This Mission Beach duplex can be rented as individual units (Rockaway North with 1 bedroom/1 bathroom and Rockaway South with 2 bedrooms/1 bathroom) or in combination to sleep up to 8 guests. Staying at The Rockaway House, you’ll be just steps away from the Mission Beach boardwalk. Rockaway South – a 1930s beach cottage – is full of charm and is perfect for your next beach getaway. Upstairs, Rockaway North is thoughtfully designed and inviting. Whichever space you choose, you’ll love the bright interior and the coastal boho vibes that Rockaway offers.
Makai Mission Beach
A fantastic option for your trip to San Diego is Makai, the Hawaiian word for “towards the sea.” You’ll love the 2nd-floor patio and ocean view from this beachy duplex home. With its laid-back charm, thoughtful amenities, and absolutely unbeatable location, you’ll love staying at Makai. Makai North is a spacious one-bedroom, and Makai South is a two-bedroom. The house comfortably sleeps 8 if you rent the entire duplex. Makai offers garage parking and all of your beach essentials – towels, an umbrella, chairs, and sand toys. We look forward to hosting you soon at Makai!

Did you know that The Rockaway House and Makai are next-door neighbors? So groups traveling with up to 16 guests can rent out both duplexes. This is perfect for multiple groups or families traveling together as you’ll be close by but everyone still has their own space to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
St. Patrick’s Day 2023 In San Diego
The 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade happened on March 11, but don’t worry if you missed it because there are tons of other fun things to do!
Events For Families:
St. Patrick’s Day at Seaport Village
Bring the whole family and jam out to some Irish music before heading over to the pond to snap a selfie in the shamrock light tunnel. Keep your eyes peeled, if you’re lucky you might even see a leprechaun! The event takes place Friday, March 17 from 3–7 pm. You can also grab dinner and dessert from one of the yummy eateries in the west courtyard. Don’t forget to wear your green!
Seaport Village| 849 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, 92101| (619) 530-0704
St. Patrick’s Day Science
Head to the Feel Science Center in Balboa Park and get ready for Saint Patrick’s Day by experimenting with Irish foods and folklore. On Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 9–10:30 am and 11 am–12:30 pm you can join them for a day of science fun. The event costs between $13–$15.
Fleet Science Center| 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101| (619) 238-1233
Spring Fling – St Patrick’s Family Festival
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day as a family at the 4th annual Spring Fling! Paint the town green at Welk Resorts San Diego on March 16 and 17. There’s face painting, rides, an infinite obstacle course, two “escape the leprechaun” wipeout challenges, flying trapeze, and so much more. They have something for the whole family! All ages are welcome at this event and it is open to the public. You can also skip the line at the door and reserve your tickets online!
The Welk| 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive Escondido, CA 92026
Events For Adults:
ShamROCK St. Paddy’s Day Festival

Tradition returns as an authentic Irish celebration and the festival take over the streets of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter district (check out our San Diego Neighborhood Guide: The Gaslamp Quarter). The 27th Annual ShamROCK is happening Friday, March 17 from 4 pm – 11 pm. The festival provides a full lineup of the nation’s top Irish & Celtic Rock bands, iconic tribute performances, and Irish dancers galore! The event is open to all ages, but you must be 21+ to partake in all that green beer.
ShamROCK St. Paddy’s Day Festival| Gaslamp Quarter
St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party
Who doesn’t love a good party on the beach? The second annual beach event is expecting over 10,000 party-goers in 2023. Make sure to be dressed in green from head to toe! Then gather in the Ocean Beach Pier Parking Lot for live music, green beer, cocktails, and St. Paddy’s Day-themed games.
The first 500 attendees, on Friday, March 17th, will receive complimentary corned beef sliders and get to participate in the Gold Coin Giveaway, winners will receive gold coins redeemable for a variety of prizes. While the first 500 on Saturday, March 18th will participate in the highly anticipated “Guac Off” competition, where local vendors will compete to be crowned the “Best Guac in Ocean Beach.”
St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party| Where Newport Meets The Beach
Luck O’ Loma Block Party
Get ready for green beer, festive foods, and entertainment featuring live bands and DJs. This dog-friendly, 21-and-over event will transform the lot of GoodBar with a stage, bar, vendor booths, and, of course, YOU. The Luck O’ Loma block party ends at 10 pm, but GoodBar will be open and serving until 1:30 am. Come have fun with themed games, local vendors, the green stuff & so much more!

Luck O’ Loma| 1872 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106| (619) 642-0900
St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
Head to the University Heights neighbors with friends for a fun St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl with tons of participating neighborhoods, bars, and food trucks on Friday, March 17th from 5 pm – 9 pm. Dress festively in green, and pop by as many of the participating locations as you can. The list of participating bars includes…
Head To One Of The Local Bars
The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations won’t be contained to the Irish pubs, everyone will be getting in on the fun! Pick any of the local favorite bars or restaurants, and they’ll likely be having a St. Patrick’s Day party and specials!
- GoGo Amigo for Mexican flare
- BarleyMash for traditional Irish cuisine
- Miss B’s Coconut Club for a fruity cocktail
- The Smoking Gun for an Irish mule
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego gives you so many options for a fantastic time! Come back to your Arrivls vacation rental to unwind from all of the Irish fun!