HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.2 St Pats Festival Update
STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK
File #950-40
CITY COUNCIL
DATE:March 1, 2016
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager
SUBJECT:
St. Patrick's Day Festival Update
Prepared by Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts & Heritage Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a brief update on promotions for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day
Festival and review a 30-second commercial developed by TV30 to promote both the event and
Dublin’s “New American Backyard” branding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the update.
Reviewed By
Assistant City Manager
DESCRIPTION:
rd
The City of Dublin’s 33 annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be held Saturday, March 12 and
13, at the Dublin Civic Center. As Dublin’s largest cultural celebration, the St. Patrick’s Day
Festival and related events offer a unique opportunity to showcase the City regionally.
The City’s “New American Backyard” branding features prominently in St. Patrick’s Day
advertising, including a 30-second television spot produced by TV30, and BART station
advertising at both Dublin/Pleasanton stations and at the Castro Valley Station. The ads note,
“When we throw a party in our backyard, 80,000 people come.” Indeed, a sizeable crowd is
expected all weekend. Festivities will proceed rain or shine.
Weather permitting, the recently donated Kolb Truck, a beautifully restored 1929 Ford Model A
Truck, will be in the Parade and on display outside the Civic Center during the Festival.
ITEM NO. 3.2
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Inside the Civic Center, the Irish Tea Cottage, coordinated by Heritage Park and Museums staff,
will serve traditional scones and tea in china cups.
Irish beers and traditional Irish foods, such as Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips, and Boxty
potato cakes will be available outside, along with American foods that give a nod to the Irish
theme, such as Corned Beef Sliders, and “Irish eggrolls” with corned beef and cabbage filling.
New this year, Three Twins Ice Cream will serve Guinness-flavored ice cream and beer floats.
This year’s event features three stages of Irish music and dance, as well as roaming
entertainers. The line-up includes the Celtic-Americana band One-Eyed Reilly, the Celtic ‘pirate
rock’ band O’Craven, and Zoo Station, which covers hits of the Irish mega-band U2. In addition,
more traditional entertainment fare will be offered, such as pub band Pog Mo Thoin, bagpiper
Jeff Campbell and local young Irish dancers from McGrath Irish Dancers and McBride School of
Irish Dance.
An Irish Marketplace features stalls selling kilts, clovers, stone art, Celtic pottery, and jewelry.
Arts and craft vendors will also be on hand selling unique artwork and handmade goods. Many
local businesses and nonprofits will have booths at the event and a children’s carnival is also
included.
In addition to activities at the Festival, the entire weekend St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will
include the following events:
The Dublin Sister City Association will host dinner and dancing to live music at the annual
Green and White Gala
on Friday, March 11 starting at 6 p.m. at the Dublin Senior Center.
Firefighters Pancake
Saturday, March 12, festivities will kick off at 7:00 a.m. with the annual
Breakfast
at Fire Station #16, on Donohue Drive. Breakfast is $5 per person, with all proceeds
benefiting the Alameda County Fire Fighters Association-Local 55 Charity Fund, which supports
Dublin Lions
local non-profit and community-based organizations. Starting at 9:30 a.m., the
Club St. Patrick’s Day Parade
proceeds east on Dublin Boulevard from Amador Plaza Road.
Parade-goers can bring their own blankets or chairs and find perfect viewing along Amador
Valley Boulevard or Village Parkway. The parade is expected to include more than 80 entries:
marching bands and floats, Irish bagpipes, equestrian riders and more.
Shamrock 5K Fun Run
On Sunday, March 13, the begins at 8:30 a.m. on Dublin Boulevard in
front of the Civic Center Plaza, with runners crossing the finish line into the Festival itself.
All event information can be found at www.DublinStPats.com
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
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