HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.3 - 1335 St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festivities R
Page 1 of 3
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: March 7, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager
SUBJECT:
St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festivities Report
Prepared by: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts and Heritage Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will receive a preview of St. Patrick's Day Celebration festivities.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The 2017 St. Patrick's Day Celebration (Project # 763101) is budgeted to bring in
$103,200 in revenue. Expense associated with putting on the festival and supporting the
parade is budgeted at $94,264. The Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk (Project #
776114) is budgeted separately and is expected to bring in $58,500 in revenue, wi th
$29,784 in expenses. Costs for police services are not included in this number and are
typically about $25,000 annually.
DESCRIPTION:
The City of Dublin will host the 34th annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration on March 18
and 19, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Dublin Civic Center. The free two-day festival,
which attracts crowds from all over the Bay Area, is expected to draw as many as
80,000 people.
The event will have a strong focus on Irish music, dance, food and drink. There will be
three outdoor stages, including one devoted to Irish dancers performing traditional folk
dance, another devoted to Celtic rock music, and a third featuring traditional music. New
this year, the San Francisco Gaelic Athletic Association will offer demonstrations of
Gaelic football and hurling, the national sport of Ireland, which has been played for more
than 3,000 years.
The City will operate a traditional Irish tea room, serving scones and shortbread along
with fresh brewed tea in china cups. Celtic Food Court vendors will sell traditional fish
Page 2 of 3
and chips, bangers and mash, and Irish stew, and the customary Irish -American
favorite, corned beef. The Dublin Rotary Club will manage beverage operations, with
two bars serving Guinness, Harp and Smithwicks beers on tap.
Vendors in the Irish Marketplace will sell Irish wool sweaters, tweeds and tartans, Celtic
jewelry, metalwork, pottery, candies and baked goods. More than 85 other arts and
crafts vendors will also be on hand. Carnival rides will be set up in portion of the Dubl in
Sports Grounds parking.
In honor of the City of Dublin’s 35 th birthday this year, the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
will commemorate the occasion with special signage, a special edition emerald green
souvenir pint glass, and a leprechaun hunt challenge with a commemorative prize for
those who successfully locate all 35 leprechauns.
Sponsorships for this year’s festival are strong, with 19 businesses and $51,000 already
committed.
In conjunction with the festival, the Dublin Sister City Association will kick off the festive
weekend with its Green and White Gala dinner dance at the Dublin Senior Center.
Tickets are $65 per person and are available online.
Saturday morning, Fire Station #16 hosts the annual Firefighters Pancake Breakfast,
serving green pancakes hot off the griddle, along with sausage, eggs, juice and coffee.
Breakfast is $5 per person, purchased at the door.
The Dublin Lions Club will host its 34th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, starting at
Saturday 9:30 AM. The parade begins at Dublin Boulevard and Amador Plaza Road,
traveling east on Dublin Boulevard, north on Village Parkway, and west on Amador
Valley Boulevard to end near the Dublin Senior Center. The parade is expected to
feature more than 80 entries, including local marching band s, floats, antique vehicles
and community groups.
Sunday morning, the City will sponsor the Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk, with the
race ending at the festival site. Pancakes will be cooked onsite and served in the post -
area, and many festival vendors will open early to welcome runners in from the finish
line. Since longtime Fun Run sponsor World of Shoes has closed, the new bib pickup
location is The Fit Potato, 6894 Village Parkway. Online registration for the run is being
handled through the City's registration system.
In an effort to mitigate traffic and parking issues throughout the weekend, the City is
partnering with BART and LAVTA to offer free bus rides from both BART stations, via
the Wheels Rapid 30R bus, and half -price rides within Dublin via Lyft, Uber and DeSoto
Cab. Cycling to the festival is also encouraged, and the City will provide free secure
bike parking at two bike valet stations.
Page 3 of 3
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.