The best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Los Angeles

While New York and Chicago are renowned for their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Los Angeles offers a more subdued experience. Despite this, opportunities to celebrate the Irish-American holiday exist, ranging from family-friendly events to bar crawls.

A Parade

Hermosa Beach will host its 30th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, featuring bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, and classic cars. The procession begins at 11am near City Hall on Valley Drive, proceeding west on Pier Avenue to the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 8th Street. Festivities also include live music and Irish dancing at Pier Plaza. A pre-parade party will be held at Patrick Molloy’s pub at 6pm on March 13.

Movie Screenings

Families can enjoy a Paddy’s Day movie screening of the Disney Channel original movie The Luck of the Irish at Rooftop Cinema Club atop LEVEL DTLA on March 17 at 7:30pm. The Vista Theater will screen morning matinees of the 1959 Disney classic Darby O’Gill and the Little People on Saturday and Sunday at 10am.

Bar Crawls

Nasstive Entertainment is hosting two St. Patrick’s Day pub crawls on March 14—one in Downtown Los Angeles and one in Hollywood, as well as one in Long Beach. Participants will hop between bars enjoying drink specials, welcome shots, and live music. The Downtown crawl begins at Karl Strauss Brewing and includes stops at Pattern Bar, Broken Shaker, Beelman’s, and Golden Gopher, among others. The Hollywood crawl starts at Saint Felix and includes Jameson’s Irish Pub, Zero Lounge, and Boardner’s. Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl offers a similar experience in Santa Monica. St. Paddy’s Day on the Promenade will feature live music, trivia, and games on the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade. The Queen Mary will host a Luck of the Irish Celebration with green drinks, DJs, and Celtic dancers.

Did You Know? Tom Bergin’s, a 90-year-old pub, is identified as the best place in Los Angeles to get an Irish coffee.

Celebrations on St. Patrick’s Day

Tom Bergin’s will begin its St. Patrick’s Day party at 6am on Tuesday, serving a traditional Irish breakfast. A parking-lot party with three outdoor bars, a band, a DJ, and a bagpipe performance will begin at noon. St. Paddy’s Day Bash at Tam O’Shanter will offer corned beef and cabbage specials and live music. The Cat & Fiddle’s St. Patrick’s Fare, part of Re:Her’s Women’s History Month Festival, will feature an Irish menu, Guinness and Harp beer, Guinness chocolate cake, and a burlesque show. The Original Farmers Market’s Magee’s Kitchen will offer corned beef and cabbage while a bagpiper performs.

Expert Insight: While Los Angeles doesn’t match the scale of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations found in cities like Chicago and New York, a variety of events are available for those seeking to participate in the holiday, demonstrating a localized adaptation of cultural traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Hermosa Beach parade start?

The Hermosa Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 11am near City Hall on Valley Drive.

Where will the Downtown Los Angeles pub crawl begin?

The Downtown Los Angeles pub crawl will begin at Karl Strauss Brewing.

What kind of entertainment will be at the Queen Mary’s celebration?

The Queen Mary’s Luck of the Irish Celebration will feature green drinks, DJs spinning Irish music, and a live performance by Celtic dancers.

Given the variety of events planned, what aspect of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Los Angeles appeals most to you?

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