The streets of Murphys in Calaveras County will once again come alive as thousands from throughout Northern California flock to the Mother Lode region for the town’s annual Murphys Irish Day. This year’s event is set for March 15.

Main Street shop owners along with over 100 vendors will once again offer their wares as the town pays tribute to its Celtic heritage. Murphys Irish Day is hosted on the third Saturday of March each year in honor of the Patron Saint of Ireland. Presented by the Murphys Business Association, proceeds from the event benefit activities funded by the association, as well as community projects.

The day begins with a pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Murphys just a block off Main Street at the corner of Church & Algiers Streets. Purchase tickets in advance from their website.

At 11 a.m., the swirl of bagpipes heralds a parade of marching bands, classic cars, horses, community organizations, novelty entries, and some of the finest children in the land.  This year we will be honoring Jan & Patty Schulz, owners of The Spice Tin and tireless supporters of Murphys who will serve as the Grand Marshalls of the parade.

The day continues with live entertainment on two stages and the street featuring singers, dancers, musicians, and jugglers.  

All this, in addition to the charming shops, fine restaurants, and tasting rooms that line historic Main Street and help create what is nationally recognized as one of the finest small towns in America.

This year the Murphys Community Club will be hosting the Murphys School of Music and selling food and drinks in the Community Park from 12 noon to 4 p.m.  Attendees can enjoy performances by the Murphys School of Music students and take a walk through the park down to the creek for a break from the crowds on the street.

The Native Daughters will be hosting a scavenger hunt beginning in their hall.  Purchase a ticket and be entered for a chance to win a cash prize and show off your skills.

TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS

Parking is very limited in town during events. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the free parking available on the grounds of Ironstone Vineyards and use the free shuttle into town.  The shuttle runs between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and drops off in the parking area behind the Arbors Shopping Area next to the Black Sheep Tasting Room, just a short, level walk from Main Street and the main event area. Ironstone has impressive plantings of daffodils and other spring bulbs and a winery and tasting room, so it’s worth the visit.  Parking will not be available until the afternoon in the Black Bart parking lot across from the Community Park. It will be used for parade staging in the morning, and parking on the surrounding side streets is extremely limited due to their narrowness and use as detour routes during this event. Handicap accessible parking is available in the Masonic Hall parking lot, but it fills up quickly.  Additional accessible parking is available on Jones Street behind Alchemy Cafe; show the volunteers your placard, and they will let you through if parking is available. 

Whether you plan to park at Ironstone or in the free parking lot at the Old Schoolhouse on Jones Street, the free parking lot at the Masonic Hall on the corner of Church and Algiers, or the surrounding side streets, come early.  The hour before the parade begins at 11 a.m., the area around Murphys can become congested, traffic moves slowly, and the shuttles can get backed up.  We’d hate to see you miss the parade because you are sitting in traffic.  

Please come prepared to enjoy yourself with warm clothing as the weather can change quickly here, and we often have days that include both sun and rain or even a little snow.  That rarely dampens our spirits, and this is a rain-or-shine event.  We consider a little precipitation to be authentic Irish weather! We have never canceled for weather, but very low snow and unsafe conditions could result in a cancelation, so please keep an eye on our home page to keep up on what to expect.  Happily, the forecast is currently for dry weather on Irish Day.

Many people make a weekend of it for this event.  Check out our calendar and the countywide calendar at GoCalaveras to see what else is planned for the weekend.  Take a look at our 2024 entertainment-schedule to see what to expect.

Please plan to celebrate responsibly by arranging for a designated driver or planning to stay for dinner and enjoy some non-alcoholic drinks before heading out.  Calaveras does have public transportation, but it is limited.  They will be running their Saturday Hopper to Murphys on Irish Day.  You’ll be able to catch it in the same parking lot where our shuttle picks up and drops off.  Please make sure you are in the right line! You can check out their schedule and stops here.  We also have a taxi service and a couple of tour companies who may be able to arrange something for you.  There is rarely Uber or Lyft available in the area.  Make sure to stay hydrated, enjoy plenty to eat during the day, and keep moving…we want you to enjoy our wines and beers, but, most importantly, we want you to stay safe and come back often!

First Aid is provided by our firefighter’s association and first responders at their booth at the corner of Main and Church Streets near the Hovey Tasting Room.  Lost children should also be brought to the first responders, who will work with our volunteers to reunite them with their families as soon as possible.  Want to support our Fire Department? Buy a t-shirt or a sweatshirt from them while you’re here!