Sam Spade's San Francisco

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WHAT:

The 158th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in San Francisco is the largest gathering of Irish and the largest St. Patrick's Day Parade west of the Rocky Mountains. If you want a family-friendly American-style parade with lots of bands and marching military, police, fire and schools - all with the bright Kelly Green color of St. Patrick's Day - then this is the parade for you!

The addition of the Festival after the parade provides a great opportunity for people to learn more about Irish history and culture while having a green beer and perhaps a little corned beef and cabbage. A full day of activity is planned for the St. Patrick's Day Festival at Civic Center Plaza and on Grove Street, Polk to Larkin Street.

The colorful festivities surrounding the Parade & Festival will showcase Irish Culture through live performance and entertainment, arts and crafts exhibitors, food and beverage concessions, children's rides and inflatable’s, cultural displays, a petting zoo and pony ride and a number of non-profits booths representing the Irish community in San Francisco. It's always a great event and I recommed it to you.

WHERE:

The Parade begins at 11:30 AM at the corner of , where more than 5,000 participants from all over the country, will march all the way to San Francisco's magnificent City Hall.

If you watch the parade you will not be disappointed. It is sharp, well-planned, well-executed and colorful. There will be plenty of marching police officers, sheriff's deputies and an amazing number of firefighters. The police bring their best cars and motorcycles and the fire departments bring their best engines and trucks. The military is always present in good number and big marching brass bands are plentiful. Irish cultural organizations provide dancers, musicians and wear traditional Irish clothing. Schools send their bands and twirlers and all the local politicians are out in full force including, of course, San Francisco's Irish Mayor,(and possible candidate for Governor) Gavin Newsom. (You can reach the Mayor's personal website at gavinnewsom.com)

WHEN:

Saturday March 14th, 2009 ~ 10 am to 5 pm ~ Parade at 11:30 am

WHO:

The 158th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in San Francisco is proudly presented by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco. The stated purpose of the group is "to preserve and perpetuate the democratic principles of the Irish people, and of those for the freedom of Ireland and of the United States of America; to enlist the goodwill and cooperation of our fellow citizens in support of such democratic principles".

The entire event is being produced for the Societies by Steven Restivo Event Services, LLC. The company is a long time provider of event production services to chambers of commerce, merchant associations, various city agencies, corporations, non-profit groups, and other event industry professionals. The company’s founder, Steven Restivo, has been involved in the event world for 26 years and has contributed to the production of hundreds of public events and large corporate functions.

Public Transportation:

AC Transit: Serves Berkeley, Oakland and other East Bay communities. In SF, buses depart from the Transbay Terminal and Financial District. .

BART: Links San Francisco with the East Bay and Daly City. In SF, trains run underground along Market Street. Stops at Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center. .

CalTrain: Rail service to the Peninsula, San Jose. In SF, trains depart from the San Francisco Cal-Train Station. 4th St./Townsend .

Golden Gate Transit and Ferries: Serves Marin County, parts of Sonoma. In SF, buses stop on Lombard St., Van Ness Ave., Geary Blvd., Financial District, Transbay Terminal. .

SamTrans: Serves San Mateo County including the San Francisco International Airport, Palo Alto, Daly City. In SF, buses stop in Financial District, Transbay Terminal. .

S.F. Muni: For complete schedule information call (415) 673-MUNI.

Note: If you plan to take a taxi, be SURE you read this important information! Go to: Taxicab Crooks and Scam Cabs in San Francisco

Additional Ferry, Bus, Rail, Transit Information:
Baylink Ferry
Golden Gate Ferry
AMTRAK

Parking Garages:

Ellis-O'Farrell Garage, 123 O'Farrell St.

Union Square Garage, 333 Post/Geary

Sutter-Stockton Garage, 330 Stockton/Sutter

Fifth & Mission Garage, 833 Mission/5th St. 415-82-8522

Four-Fifty Sutter Garage, 450 Sutter Street

Chinatown Portsmouth Square Garage, 733 Avenue

St. Mary's Square Garage, 433 Kearny Street, SF

Vallejo Street Garage, Vallejo At Powell Street

Embarcadero Center Garages,

Moscone Center Garage, 255 3rd St./Howard St.

Museum Parc, Third & Folsom St.

Resources:

2009 San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade - website

History of the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade (goes back to 1851)

United Irish Societies of San Francisco - sponsors of the parade
Member organizations include:
Ancient Order of Hibernians, County Board
Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 5
Ancient Order of Hiberians Division 17
Connaught Athletic and Social Club
Comhaltas Ceoltoire Eireann
Cork Athletic Club
Drishane Club
Gaelic League Association
Irish American Action Association
Irish Football Youth League
Irish Northern Aid
Irish Pipers Band
Irish Political Prisoners Children's Holiday Club
Kerry Social and Athletic Club
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians County Board
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 1
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 2
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 3
Pearse and Connolly Fife and Drum Band
Rebel Cork Ladies Association
Rebel Cork Benevolent Association
Residential Builders Association
Saoirse Club
San Francisco Bay Area Law Enforcement Emerald Society
San Francisco Cork Sister City Committee
San Francisco Glens Soccer Club
Ulster Social Club
United Irish Cultural Center
.