A week of rainy weather, reminiscent of the Emerald Isle, set the stage for San Diego’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Balboa Park on Saturday. Thousands of people dawned green at the 43rd annual Irish festival and embraced the warm sun.
Muddy grass smooshed under the feet of attendees milling about the festival grounds, some carrying beers and bratwurst while others shuffled over to a stage to watch local Irish dance students tap and leap in sync.
John Hyatt, a spokesperson for the Irish Congress of Southern California who organized the event, said the all-day celebration, which ran from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., was completely put together by volunteers. The theme of this year’s festival was “Celebrating Irish Businesses.”
The one-day festival on Saturday offered an outlet for people to share Irish culture and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day whether they have Irish heritage or not.
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“I hope what (people) take away from the event is a feeling of hospitality that we’re known for in the Irish community,” Hyatt said.The Cal Fire Pipes and Drums and Honor Guard were among the parade participants taking part in the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival in Balboa Park on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fifth Avenue was lined with families cheering on the bands of bagpipes played by the local firefighters marching in the parade, as well as the “Friendly Sons of St. Patrick” singing Irish folk songs, while some of the kilted men smoked cigars as they walked.
In addition to the show of local Irish dance troupes and community organizations, the parade also showcased other cultural groups in the parade. A woman adorned in shamrock necklaces waved a giant Mexican flag. She was followed by young girls in vibrant ballet folklórico skirts fanning the asphalt.
“Everybody’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day,” said Bay Park resident Nancy O’Hanlon, who was sporting sparkly shamrock glasses.
Nancy O’Hanlon of Bay Park was among the spectators cheering on parade participants marching at the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
She’s been coming to the San Diego St. Patrick’s Day parade since the mid-1980s — the first one was held in March 1981. O’Hanlon said she enjoys celebrating her Irish heritage with friends each year and showing support to so many different communities in San Diego.
Joe and Laura Little drove about three-and-a-half hours from Edwards Air Force Base in Antelope Valley to attend Saturday’s parade. The couple said it’s important for them to share Irish culture with their sons, Noah and Seth. Plus, it was a fun reason to visit family in the area, including Joe’s 97-year-old, Irish American great aunt Mee.
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Joe Little, who was wearing the Irish flag tied around his neck like a cape, said a family trip to Ireland is on their bucket list. For now, they were excited to experience the drums, bagpipes and Irish culture at the San Diego parade.
Cathy Ward, executive director of the Irish Outreach Center, said the parade’s emphasis on Irish businesses is important because it’s one way to give back to the community. She moved to San Diego in 1989 from County Wicklow after seeing a picture of it in a newspaper — at the time, she’d never even heard of the place she now calls home.
As the head of the Irish Outreach Center, Ward helps connect San Diegans to their Irish heritage with resources such as passport services, local events and group trips to Ireland. For Irish newcomers, they extend their signature hospitality to get people settled into a completely new environment.
“It’s a soft landing,” she said. “Hundreds of Irish students come every summer to work seasonal jobs … so we invite them in and give them a little welcome.”
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Irish dancers perform during the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival along the parade route near Balboa Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Several antique fire trucks took part in the parade. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Several dance troupes performed along the parade route. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lindsay Subia of Solana Beach was among the spectators cheering on the parade participants at the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Dancers from San Diego perform the several routines of Irish step dancing. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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Irish dancers perform during the 43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival along the parade route near Balboa Park. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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That welcoming connection made all the difference for Grainne McGuire, who came to San Diego a decade ago from County Mayo in Ireland. She got plugged into the local community right away and joined an Irish sports league, playing Gaelic football and Camogie.
Ultimately, that led her to found a business called Kiana Sportswear in 2023 alongside her teammate Sophie Grego, making athletic gear for female athletes playing traditional Irish sports. The two women credit the local community for supporting their aspiration and getting their name out there.
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“We wouldn’t be a business unless we had the Irish community around us,” said Grego, who was attending the St. Patrick’s Day parade for the first time.
Two families were displaced from their Carmel Valley townhome after it went up in flames earlier this afternoon.
This happened just before 3 p.m. on Moratalla Terrace. Fire investigators said the fire started inside a garage unit because of faulty electrical equipment and robotics projects. One neighbor said she’s thankful for the quick response.
“The people that own the house were in the driveway calling 911, and within, I think within five minutes of me smelling the smoke the fire trucks were here,” said Nikki Briggs. I’m just thankful that everyone was okay, and that it didn’t keep spreading. Like if it would have been a wildfire, that would have been terrible.”
Firefighters say most of the damage was contained in the garage. A total of nine people were displaced by the fire. Five people lived inside the unit that burned. Thankfully all of them made it out safely without any injuries.
Shares of Gossamer Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOSS) have received a consensus ‘Hold’ rating from the 10 research firms currently covering the company, according to a report from MarketBeat. The average 12-month price target among analysts is $5.43.
Why it matters
Gossamer Bio is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing therapies for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, as well as oncology. The ‘Hold’ rating and mixed analyst views could impact investor sentiment and the company’s ability to raise capital for further drug development.
The details
The analyst ratings for Gossamer Bio include two ‘Sell’ recommendations, four ‘Hold’ ratings, and four ‘Buy’ recommendations. Some firms have lowered their price targets on the stock, with HC Wainwright decreasing its target from $10 to $5.
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Gossamer Bio released its latest quarterly earnings report on March 17, 2026.
The players
Gossamer Bio, Inc.
A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California that is focused on developing oral, once-daily therapies for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, as well as oncology.
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The takeaway
The mixed analyst views on Gossamer Bio highlight the challenges facing the company as it seeks to advance its pipeline of drug candidates through clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The ‘Hold’ rating could make it more difficult for the company to raise capital and fund its operations.
Oceanside Harbor Beach. (File photo courtesy of @CityofOceanside via X)
A man apparent drowned in the waters near the Oceanside Pier Saturday morning, despite efforts by lifeguards and paramedics to revive him.
The Oceanside Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division and the Oceanside Police Department responded to a report of a missing man at about 4:30 a.m.. Officials said the man was last seen swimming in the ocean about a half-hour earlier.
Lifeguards and police immediately initiated a coordinated search effort using pier vantage points, surveillance cameras and watercraft, but the search was suspended at approximately 5:30 a.m. after no one was found, fire officials said.
“At approximately 10:50 a.m., lifeguards discovered an unresponsive adult male, matching the earlier description, in the water near Lifeguard Tower 12, at Oceanside Harbor Beach,” Division Chief Blake Dorse said in a statement. “The individual was removed from the water, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately initiated.”
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Fire and rescue personnel continued efforts to resuscitate the man on the way to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He is believed to be the one who was reported missing near the pier.
Authorities did not release the man’s name.
“The Oceanside Lifeguard Division reminds the public to exercise caution when entering the ocean, especially during early morning hours or when lifeguards are not actively monitoring the water,” Dorse said. “Always swim near an open lifeguard tower and avoid entering the water alone.”
