St. Patrick's Day in Palo Alto

St. Patrick's Day in Palo Alto is a quiet affair. There is no local parade, no green river and no street festival. What you will find is a handful of downtown bars with full taps, families making soda bread and corned beef at home and a steady stream of people heading north on Caltrain for San Francisco's parade. If you want a big crowd, go to the city. If you want a pint and a plate of fish and chips, stay put.

In 2027 St. Patrick's Day falls on Wednesday, March 17. A midweek date usually spreads the celebrating over two weekends: the parade weekend before or after and the night itself. Daylight saving time starts on Sunday, March 14, so the evening is light until about 7:15 p.m. This guide covers where to go in town, how to get to the parade and how to get home safely. For the rest of the month, see our March guide.

What is open and closed

St. Patrick's Day is not a public holiday. Everything runs as normal on Wednesday, March 17:

• City offices follow their usual weekday schedule. City Hall closes every other Friday under its 9/80 schedule, which does not affect a Wednesday.
• Libraries keep their regular hours.
• Trash pickup runs on the normal day.
• Caltrain runs its regular weekday timetable. Its holiday list does not include St. Patrick's Day.
• Schools are in session. Check the PAUSD calendar for spring break dates.

The only thing that changes is the bar scene. Expect fuller rooms downtown after work and longer waits at the pubs on the Friday and Saturday nearest the date.

A pint in Palo Alto

Palo Alto has no Irish pub with a famous name, but it does have a few bars that suit the day.

The Rose and Crown

The Rose and Crown at 547 Emerson Street is an English-style pub that calls itself Palo Alto's oldest bar. The menu leans British, with fish and chips and cottage pie. The taps rotate through Bay Area and West Coast breweries rather than Dublin, so ask the staff for a stout. It opens in the early afternoon on weekdays and stays open until 11 p.m. or later.

Nola

Nola at 535 Ramona Street is a New Orleans-style restaurant and bar in a 1908 building with a courtyard. It does not take reservations. In past years it has run St. Patrick's Day drink specials, including green beer, according to local press coverage. Check its site in March for any 2027 plans.

The Patio

The Patio at 412 Emerson Street is a sports bar with a large outdoor area and what it calls the longest bar in Palo Alto. It opens at 11 a.m. daily and seats first come, first served. With rugby and soccer often on TV in March, it is a natural spot for a crowd.

For more choices, including wine bars and cocktail lounges, see our bars, wine and beer guide. Palo Alto has no brewery inside city limits, so local craft beer means Bay Area breweries on tap.

San Francisco's parade

The region's big St. Patrick's Day event is the San Francisco parade, produced by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco. Coverage of the 2026 edition called it the 175th parade. In 2026 it ran on Saturday, March 14, stepping off at 11:30 a.m. at Second and Market streets and heading up Market Street to Civic Center Plaza. A festival ran near City Hall, at Grove and Polk streets, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 2027 date had not been posted as of November 1, 2026. Since March 17, 2027 is a Wednesday, expect the parade on a nearby Saturday. Check the United Irish Societies site in February.

Getting there by Caltrain

1. Board at Palo Alto station on University Avenue or California Avenue station. Weekend trains run less often than weekday trains, so check the timetable the night before.
2. Ride to the 4th and King terminal in San Francisco. Allow about 40 minutes to an hour.
3. Walk about a mile north to Second and Market, or take Muni toward Market Street.
4. Head home before the evening rush at 4th and King, or plan for crowded trains.

Caltrain has banned open alcoholic drinks on trains during some special events in past years, so check its alerts before you go. Our Caltrain guide covers fares, Clipper cards and stations. Fares rise on January 1, 2027. From that date monthly pass holders must also tap on and off.

Make a day of it if you like. Our San Francisco day trip guide has ideas for the afternoon. You can also book a San Francisco walking or food tour to fill the hours around the parade.

Cooking at home

Plenty of Palo Alto families mark the day with dinner at home. Corned beef brisket, cabbage, potatoes and soda bread are the classic menu. In March, grocery butcher counters usually stock corned beef, though it is wise to call ahead for a large cut. Our butchers and fish counters guide lists where to shop. The Sunday California Avenue farmers market has cabbage, leeks and potatoes in season.

Kids enjoy the baking part. Soda bread needs no yeast or rising time, so it fits into a school night. Green frosting on a cupcake is easier still.

Getting home safely

A Wednesday night out means work the next morning. Plan the ride home before the first round.

• Walk or train. Downtown bars are a short walk from Palo Alto station. Check the last train before you settle in, since weeknight evening service thins out.
• Rideshare and robotaxis. Uber, Lyft and Waymo serve Palo Alto. Our robotaxis and rideshare guide explains coverage.
• Choose a driver. Police often add DUI patrols around holidays.

More in March

St. Patrick's Day sits in a pleasant stretch of the year. Wildflowers start on the foothill trails, the Gamble Garden blossoms come out and the weekday crowds at Stanford thin during spring break. A morning walk in the hills followed by an evening pint downtown makes a fine Palo Alto version of the holiday.

Visitors in town that week have plenty to fill the days. The Pearson-Arastradero Preserve turns green after the winter rains and its grassland trails are gentle enough for any walker. The Cantor Arts Center on campus is free and open Thursday to Monday. Stanford's spring sports seasons are under way too, with baseball and softball games on many weekends. A green scarf at a Cardinal game is about as close as Palo Alto gets to a St. Patrick's Day parade of its own.

If you would rather keep the celebration small, invite friends for an Irish breakfast on the Saturday after, with eggs, sausages, beans and soda bread. It is a gentler way to mark the day than a crowded bar on a work night.

Frequently asked questions