[Sandra Beals - March 15, 2023]
Get your costumes ready and come celebrate being Irish for a day on Saturday, March 18th! Each year on the third Saturday in March, the town of Murphys gathers to honor its Celtic heritage. The family-friendly event is free of charge and the parade starts at 11:00 a
m on Main Street, Murphys with festivities continuing until 5:00 pm. The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance encourages festival attendees to also explore our family-run tasting rooms along Main Street and our vineyard spaces throughout our Gold-Rush Era Wine Region. We look forward to seeing you and have prepared our Top 5 Tips for making the best out of your time at Murphys Irish Day:
#1 - Arrive early to park and find a parade spot
Parking is very limited in town during events. We encourage you to take advantage of the free parking available on the beautiful grounds of Ironstone Vineyards and use the free shuttle into town. The shuttle runs between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm and drops you 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 lovely winery & 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. We need to ensure that emergency vehicles can get through and around town and that private driveways do not get blocked….please be considerate and honor those No Parking signs! It would undoubtedly wreck your day if you found your vehicle had been towed.
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 & Algiers, or the surrounding side streets, please come early. The hour before the parade begins at 11 am, the area around Murphys can become congested, traffic moves slowly, and the shuttles can get backed up. Accessible parking is available in the Masonic Hall parking lot, but it fills up quickly. Please remember that Main Street is closed to traffic from 6 am and will not reopen to vehicles until about 7 pm or whenever the street is clear and safe to access. Vendors & entertainers with event passes will have access through the Big Trees Road intersection between 6-9 am for setup.
#2 Check the Murphys Irish Day Entertainment Schedule HERE and save on your smartphone for easy reference.
A full day of fun has been planned by our friends at the Murphys Business Association. Live music at five outdoor spaces along Main Street during the day and three bands will perform at businesses throughout Murphys in the evening. Family-fun including a hot dog lunch and games can be found at Murphys Community Park from noon to 4:00. Looking for more options around Calaveras Wine Country? Find our Tasting Room Map HERE.
#3 Locate our Hydration Station, bring water bottles and snacks to stay on your game!
The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance and the Calaveras Visitors Bureau host the Murphys Visitor Center at 202 Main Street, Murphys (across from Alchemy Cafe). We provide a free Hydration Station to refill water bottles Weds-Sun @ 10:00-4:00. Our friendly hosts will also provide restaurant and winery recommendations along with maps and visitor guides. Guests love the Calaveras County and Murphys, CA merchandise and fun frog bling for sale. Come on by!
#4 Dial in your Transportation Options in Advance
Due to spotty cell coverage in our Sierra Foothills Wine Region, Uber and Lyft are not common options. Our friends at Gold Rush Tour Company will be offering shuttle services with advance booking HERE. In addition, the Calaveras Connect Bus Schedule can be found HERE. And a few taxi cabs will be available at Murphys Taxi by calling (209) 404-6229. We want you to have a great time this weekend. We also prioritize SAFETY FIRST in our family-run business community and encourage you to have your game plan in place before getting your party on. Also, be sure to check the weather for this outdoor event as it has been a bit chilly lately - bring warmer clothes to layer if needed.
#5 Call ahead to Make Restaurant Reservations or Locate our Grocery Store
Many of our family-run restaurants accept reservations by phone. You can find our Restaurant Directory HERE. Most offer indoor and outdoor seating with heat lamps and dog friendly areas. OR if you aren't feeling the crowds, you can call in take-out orders. Another option for packing a picnic lunch or cooking dinner at your vacation home rental is Sierra Hills Market, walking distance from the Main Street of Murphys. Located at 17 CA-4, Murphys, CA - in the shopping center across the street from the Watering Hole Restaurant where Murphys Pizza can also be found. Several of our Vineyard Tasting Rooms offer picnic areas, snacks and deli refrigerators including Indian Rock Vineyards and Hatcher Vineyards Home of School Street Wines - both off of Highway 4 (minutes from the Main Street of Murphys.