St Patrick's Day Party Ideas
You don't have to be Irish to take advantage of St. Patrick's Day party ideas for planning your own March 17th gathering.
St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas
Setting the Date
Although St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17, you may wish to plan the party on a nearby day to be more convenient for guests. It will also depend on the type of party you plan. A casual Irish dinner will be warmly welcomed on a Wednesday night, while a wild blowout with kegs of green beer is best saved for the weekend.
Location
You can plan a St. Patrick's Day party in your own home. A larger celebration, such as a party for an extended family or a larger Irish community, may require you to rent a local hall to fit the extended guest list. In addition, many bars and clubs host their own St. Patrick's Day events, with themed food and drinks, Irish musical performances, and other special features. Instead of recreating this atmosphere at home, you may want to gather your friends and head to one of these special events as a group.
Invitations
You should be able to find a few St. Patrick's invitation designs at local party stores. In addition, printable invitations from sites like Hoover Web Design offer a larger selection of ideas.
You can also create your own invitations using common St. Patrick's Day images, such as:
- Shamrocks
- Leprechauns, possibly with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow
- Irish flag
- Map of Ireland
- Images of the Irish countryside
- Celtic crosses
Add a touch of green glitter to homemade or printed invitations for some extra flair.
If your party will be held on March 17, don't assume that all guests will know the date; make sure to include it in the basic invitation information. Remind guests to wear their favorite green clothing.
Decorations
Green is the color of the day for any St. Patrick's Day party. Common decorations feature the same images as invitations, including a lot of shamrocks. You can find themed party decorations at brick-and-mortar and online party stores.
One unique do-it-yourself decoration idea is to cut small green footprints out of construction paper and tape them throughout the party site as "leprechaun footprints". This is especially suitable for a party with kids, but guests of all ages can enjoy this whimsical touch.
Menu
St. Patrick's Day party menus can include either traditional Irish flavors or foods that add a pinch of green to the party. For traditional Irish recipes, cook up:
- Corned beef and cabbage
- Irish soda bread
- Irish stew
- Lamb
- Potatoes
To add a festive flair to some everyday foods, a bit of green food coloring can make the following recipes, and others, ready for the party:
- Green eggs and ham
- Green cookies, cake or cupcakes
If you plan to serve alcoholic beverages, you can't get much more Irish than Bailey's and Guiness. For non-alcoholic drinks, choose lime powdered drink mixes and green punch.
Don't Forget Favors
St. Patrick's Day party ideas don't usually call for elaborate party favors, but a few small trinkets like the following ideas can offer a fun way for guests to remember the evening.
- Shamrock necklaces - You can find shamrock necklaces in styles similar to Mardi Gras beads at many party supply stores. Placing a string of shiny green beads around your guests' necks can be a great way to welcome them to your party.
- St. Patrick's Day buttons - Purchase buttons for your guests to wear with fun slogans like "Kiss Me I'm Irish" or cute leprechauns or shamrocks.
- Green hats - Plastic bowler hats and fabric leprechaun hats are two popular choices. Look for shamrock accents and fun materials like sequined fabrics.
All of these favors can double as decorations if you spread them around the party space. Just encourage guests to pick one up on their way out the door. After good food and pleasant company, it's the perfect way to share the spirit of St. Patrick's Day.
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