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By Brigitte Najarian-Mier on March 1, 2026
One of the more fun holidays to celebrate in Ventura County Coast is St. Patrick’s Day. Every year on March 17th, locals and visitors alike get together to celebrate Irish culture. But how did it all begin? The roots of the holiday run deep. Originally, an enslaved missionary escaped Ireland and later returned to convert the Irish to Christianity, using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. What a lot of people don’t know is that the fanfare of it all actually started in America. Irish immigrants used it to commemorate pride in their homeland while in the U.S.
Irish Presence in Ventura County Coast
The history of Irish heritage in Ventura County Coast leads back to the 19th century, where laborers established themselves in the community. They constructed commercial buildings and Victorian homes still standing today. Check out the Mitchell Block on Thompson Boulevard and you’ll see some of their work.
The Main Irish festival Event
I don’t want to brag, but we’re very well-known for our annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. The festivities start at 10 AM in downtown Ventura on March 14th. It runs along Main Street from Lincoln Drive to Fir Street so make sure you get there early and pick your favorite spot. There will be floats, dancers, horses, musical performances, and so much more. This year’s theme is “Catch the Leprechaun Spirit”. I’m picturing costumes for my husband and me that involve a butterfly net and an orange wig
Pubs and breweries that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Hands down Dargan’s Irish Pub has been the community staple for years. Run by Irishman Liam Sherlock, they serve all the classics: corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, and, of course, Guinness.
Fluid State Beer Garden is next up on the list and just a few blocks away from Dargan’s. They’re dog-friendly and have a great Irish-themed menu including scotch eggs, reubenesque pizza slices, green bloody Marys, and Irish coffee.
Craving a green pint of beer? Ventura Coast Brewing Company serves them up with an O’Sully Green Lager and pesto prosciutto pizza.
If you feel so inclined to get jiggy with it, Bright Spark Brewing will have live Irish music along with an Oatmeal Stout I’ve been dying to try.
Heads up: You might spot the Ventura Fire Department Pipes and Drums Band along your pub crawl. They start at Boatyard Pub and make the rounds throughout downtown playing traditional Irish music wherever they go.
St. Patrick’s Day hikes
Take your Irish festival celebrations to the hills. Personally, I love hiking around this time of year because the mountains are super green. Ventura Botanical Gardens and Harmon Canyon are great because you also get some epic sea views along the way.
Make it a weekend getaway and visit the Channel Islands National Park while you’re at it. You have to take a ferry to get there, but you’ll be glad you did because it’s miles of untouched land and protected ocean waters. From endangered species to historic shipwrecks, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a visit to the Channel Islands is actually the perfect way to end your visit.
Plan Your St. Patrick's Day Getaway
This St. Patrick’s Day, join in on all the fun Ventura County Coast has to offer. So many Irish events and activities celebrate this tradition, and now you can make your very own. Plan your stay and add all the Irish eats, pubs, and festivities to your itinerar
