Every year millions of people around the world dress up in green and celebrate the Irish Holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day. From shamrock cookies, to leprechaun traps, to time spent with friends at the pub– there’s plenty of ways to celebrate St Paddy’s Day. But depending on if you’re hosting a get together for friends or for your kids, you may be looking for something specific to make your party one to remember. Send out festive St. Patrick’s Day cards to get your guests in the lucky spirit and check out our selection of St Patrick’s Day party ideas below to get started.
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- When is Saint Patrick’s Day?
- How To Throw A St Patrick’s Day Party
- St Patrick’s Day Party Themes
- Fun St Patrick’s Day Decoration Ideas
- St Patrick’s Day Party Food
When is Saint Patrick’s Day?
St Patrick’s Day is traditionally held on March 17th each year. The date reflects the anniversary of the passing of the Irish patron saint, St. Patrick. Traditional activities associated with the holiday include attending mass or service, attending a feast, or more recently, throwing a party.
How To Throw A St Patrick’s Day Party
When you’re ready to get started with your party planning be sure to send out festive St. Patrick’s Day invitations for your guests. You are able to personalize your St. Patty’s invitations to include all the necessary information you need to throw your St. Patrick’s Day party. To plan a great St. Patty’s day party, take a look to the checklist below:
- Pick a Location. Finding the right spot for your party, whether it be your house, a park, or other, can be a little tricky. When deciding where to host your party take into consideration parking, how many people the space will fit, and how easy it is to get to.
- Choose Your Theme. While most people simply choose to stick to a traditional St Patrick’s Day Theme of green colors, shamrocks, and gold coins– you may want to do something a little more creative. Look to our section below for help with finding the right theme for your party.
- Make a Guest List. Making a guest list shouldn’t take too long, however it is important to check it a few times to make sure you’re not leaving anyone off.
- Send Out Invitations. Once you’ve created your St Patrick’s Day invitations, you’ll want to send them out with plenty of time. Send out invitations at least three weeks in advance to make sure they get to where they’re going.
- Pick Out Decorations. Whether you’re shopping for your lucky decorations or making them from scratch, it’s important to give yourself plenty of time. Starting the preparations last minute will only cause you stress and frustration.
- Finish Food Prep. You’ll want to have all your food preparations finished the night before the party. This way you’ll have minimal work to do the next day and you can focus on enjoying the party.
- Get Help for Set Up. Asking a friend or family member to help you with last minute set up makes a world of difference. You’d be surprised how quickly the games, music, decorations, and other entertainment setup can be accomplished.
- Enjoy!
St Patrick’s Day Party Themes
Finding the perfect theme or design idea to carry out your party doesn’t need to be hard. Adding a theme to your St. Patrick’s Day party will add additional lively factor that all your guests and yourself will enjoy. The little things that you implement into your party theme will make the party more memorable for all who attend. Use any of the ideas below or let them inspire you to create one of your very own.
St Patrick’s Day Adult Party Ideas
Looking for the perfect adult friendly theme for your St Paddy’s Party? We came up with the best St. Patrick’s Day party ideas below that all your adult friends can enjoy. These party ideas are a great way to dress up in your favorite green clothing, drink the best Irish beverages and celebrate the Luck of the Irish with your best friends. Look to our St. Patty’s day ideas below!
1. All That Glitters is Gold
Throw an adults only party full of gold and glittery decor. Hang a rainbow over the entrance to the party and invite everyone to the “pot of gold.” Include plenty of food, drink, and music. Consider adding special holiday touches to decor, like personalizing shot glasses to spell out “Good Luck!”
2. Thank Goodness for Guinness
A Thank Goodness for Guinness party highlights the legacy of Irish craft beer. Make sure to get stocked up well before the party in different varieties of Guinness, and check out our beer tasting party ideas for more inspiration. For an extra added touch, create a festive Thank Goodness for Guinness bunting banner and make that another focal point in your beer tasting party.
St Patrick’s Day Office Party Ideas
If St Patrick’s Day falls on a work day, there’s no reason you should have to skip out on the festivities. Here’s our idea for a festive work party:
3. St Patrick’s Day Feast
Have everyone bring in a different Irish or green themed food or dessert and have a grand feast, potluck style. Alternatively, you can have an Irish feast catered in and enjoy Irish music and food together as a company.
St Patrick’s Day School Party Ideas
Going to school during a holiday should be fun, and that’s what these school party ideas are! Find them below:
4. Lucky Game Day
It’s their “lucky” day! Fill the school day with games like Irish bingo, shamrock Hopscotch, or a gold coin toss. It’s sure to keep the kids excited and busy through the entire school day.
5. All Green Party
Have all students come to school dressed in their best all green outfits. Include plenty of green foods and drinks and throw a party at the end of the school day. To commemorate this All Green Party, you can create a personalized selfie frame for them to use and take pictures they will remember forever. Need food inspiration? Check out our ideas in the next sections.
St Patrick’s Day Party Ideas Kids
With all the magic in the air on St Patty’s Day, the kids are sure to look forward to a party. So if you’re looking for something to impress the little ones, check out our St Patrick’s Day party ideas for kids below:
6. Under a Rainbow Party
Decorate the party room as the place below the rainbow. Create rainbow decorations out of construction paper and fill plastic pots or leprechaun hats around the room with gold coins. If an outdoor space is available, rent a rainbow parachute for the kids to play with.
7. Catch a Leprechaun Party
Who doesn’t love making a leprechaun trap? Help the kids craft their very own traps out of shoe boxes, string, and other small materials. It’s great for their problem solving skills, and a lot of fun. Just don’t forget to leave behind “dropped” gold coins in the traps for the kids to find later.
8. Gold Hunt
Similar to an Easter Egg hunt, leave small stashes of chocolate gold coins hidden around the party. Send the kids with plastic pots or buckle hats to fill with the coins. Alternatively, you can lead the kids on a scavenger hunt with a large pot of gold and sweets at the end.
Fun St Patrick’s Day Decoration Ideas
Everyone knows that it’s the decorations that make a party look so fun. Along with banners, streamers, balloons, and other typically decor, check out some of our St Patrick’s Day Party ideas for decorations below:
9. Custom Coasters
Decorate these custom coasters with horseshoes, shamrocks, or phrases like “Happy St Paddy’s Day” for a special touch to your party everyone is sure to love.
10. Irish Flag
Whether your party is hosted at a pub or your house, hanging up an Irish flag is just tradition during this holiday,
11. Bottle Openers
Including a festive design on these custom bottle openers aren’t just great party decorations; they also make perfect party favors.
12. Shamrock Cutouts
Using construction paper or similar materials, cut out shamrocks to hang up or leave on party tables.
13. Custom Can Coolers
These can coolers are both useful decorations during your party, as well as fun mementos to remember this St Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Day Centerpieces
Whether for your food or snack table or to display anywhere else in your St. Patrick’s Day party– you’ll want a standout center piece. And we have a few fun suggestions for you below:
14. Pot O’ Gold
Include a classic pot of gold, filled to the brim with chocolate gold coins. This timeless St Patrick’s Day centerpiece is a delicious star to any party.
15. Fresh Flowers and Green Balloons
For more elegant parties, consider tying green and gold or green and white balloons to a vase of seasonal flowers.
16. Green Cupcake Tower
Whether the party is full of kids or grown-ups, cupcake towers are appreciated by everyone. Get creative with your cupcakes and encourage everyone to take one before they go home.
17. Guinness Tower
Adult St Patricks Day party goers are sure to love a centerpiece made out of an array of Guinness cans and bottles. Include accents of gold coins or green beads to help make this centerpiece stand out even more.
St Patrick’s Day Accessories
Don’t spend so much time planning your party that you forget to get into the spirit yourself. These accessories will help get you into the Irish spirit and ready for St Patrick’s Day.
18. Green Beads
Green beads make up one of the most classic accessories for this green holiday. Layer up with plenty of different designs, or bring extras to give friends for good luck.
19. Shamrock Ears or Leprechaun Hat
While slightly silly looking, these headwear accessories are classically fun. Don’t be afraid to make your own set ahead of time.
20. Green Shirt/Sweater
For those who need a last minute outfit, most usually have something green in the selection of their closet. A simple green sweater or shirt will do fine in a pinch– that is, if you don’t want to get pinched.
21. For Dogs: Green Bandana
If you’re bringing a pet to the party, don’t leave them out of the holiday spirit. Help them dress up with these customizable pet bandanas.
St Patrick’s Day Party Food
One of the biggest staples to Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations is food. Including the right mix of festive desserts and main courses will help ensure your party is a success. Check out some of our favorite ideas below:
Irish Appetizers For St Patrick’s Day
Looking for Irish themed appetizers to hold your guests over until the main course? Look to the ideas below or use them to inspire a menu all your own.
22. Mint Jelly Clover Biscuits
Mint Jelly and biscuits are a classic Irish combination, although rarely enjoyed in the United States. Include them in your menu for a fun twist that’s sure to thrill your guest.
23. Irish Nachos
While Irish in name, this appetizer is actually believed to have been invented in Texas, but your guests don’t need to know that. Bake potato slices, crisps, or fries with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and green onion for a classic twist on nachos.
St Patrick’s Day Children’s Party Food Ideas
Kids might love dessert more than parties, so it’s important to include the right sweets on your Saint Patrick’s Day menu. For inspiration, look to the choices below:
24. St Patrick’s Day Cupcakes
Green frosted cupcakes are a classic for Saint Patrick’s Day for a reason. They’re delicious, and relatively easy to make, as long as you’re careful with the green dye.
25. Clover Cookies
These frosted clover cookies almost look too pretty to eat, but they’ll probably be quickly devoured by a party of hungry children.
Green Food For St Patrick Day Potluck
Some people love turning their menu green for Saint Patrick’s Day. If you’re trying to do the same, we’re here to help with our St Patrick’s Day party ideas for green food mentioned below.
26. Green Beer
A classic for pubs and house parties everywhere, green beer looks as distinctive as it tastes. And if you choose to feature some at your party, make sure to match it with a holiday themed custom pint glass.
27. Matcha Clover Cake
Love Matcha? Consider making this cream filled clover matcha cake. It’s sure to impress guests and tastes as good as it looks.
28. Green Trifle
Made of custard, green gelatin mousse, and ladyfinger cookies or vanilla cake, these mini trifles are perfect for any Saint Patrick’s Day.
Irish Foods For St Patrick Day
If you’re searching for more traditional Irish foods to serve at your party, look no further. We’ve added our two favorites to this list.
29. Corned Beef and Cabbage
Corned beef and cabbage are perhaps the most classic Irish dinner. If you’re planning a dinner party or even serving buffet style, this might just be the right option for you.
30. Beef Stew
Beef stew is made up up beef, vegetables, and potato, seasoning, and sometimes, beer. This classic Irish meal is a great party food to bring out to impress your guests.
Resources Related to St Patrick’s Day Party Ideas
If you liked this resource on St Patrick’s Day party ideas and you’re looking for related content, please see our resources below.
- Holiday Content Hub
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