Now well past the new year, you’ve decluttered your closet except for one article: that one green top. Why? St. Patrick’s Day of course. Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is by far one of the best things March has to offer whether or not you’re Irish, excited to break out that green top, or just simply enjoy Guinness. If you’re thinking of hosting a small St. Patrick’s Day party at your rental home in Boston, MA, planning a festive pregame at your apartment in Chicago, IL, or are having an annual all-out bash at your home in Louisville, KY, we’ve got some party ideas you need to check out.
What is St. Patrick’s Day?
Before we dive into party planning, it’s a good idea to know the basics of this holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day began as a holiday to observe the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish have celebrated the holiday for over 1,000 years and traditionally spend the morning in church and celebrate in the afternoon.
Today in the U.S. however, we tend to focus more on dancing, drinking and celebrating. Even if you’re not Irish, you can still remember St. Patrick, wear green, and celebrate this festive day.
Ideas for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party
Planning the best St. Patrick’s Day bash is about more than just grabbing anything green and buying out your party store’s supply of shamrocks. From festive cocktails to celebratory activities, we’re here to help you host the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party ever.
1. Send out superb St. Patrick’s Day party invites
Whether you choose traditional or digital, there’s no party without people. Instead of a generic invitation, opt to theme yours to the holiday with green construction paper and festive stickers if you’re going physical, or a rainbow background and leprechaun GIF if you’re choosing the digital route.
Before finalizing the “when” for your party, check to see if there are any local parades or other events in your area. For example, Chicago infamously dyes its river green, so consider planning your party around that iconic event. Perhaps your party could be a pre-game for City Cruises Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day River Dyeing Cruise that offers “lively Irish music and stunning views of the city’s skyline,” says senior vice president Kathy Bryja, or for a classic pub crawl.
2. Wear green to your St. Patrick’s Day party
We’ve already mentioned it, but don’t forget to wear green. According to Irish mythology, wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, thus helping you avoid getting pinched. While we can’t exactly confirm or deny this, do consider adding some green to your party attire.
For guests who forget or wish to accessorize further, put out a spread of green hats, buttons, festive temporary tattoos, and glasses for your party guests. These accessories can also double as props for any selfies you take during your bash.
3. Go Irish with your St. Patrick’s Day party decor
Whether you have a large house to decorate or a small studio apartment, you can still make your space festive. Add seasonal garland, streamers, and balloons to your cart or decide to DIY the decor.
If you decide to take the homemade route, “Putting together a Saint Patrick’s Day Party doesn’t have to take a lot of time or break the bank,” says Julie Dang of So Dang Fun. She recommends “using colorful paper plates and painter’s tape to make a giant rainbow backdrop or creating a giant pot of gold from black plastic tablecloth and some gold paper plates.” Another idea is to “wrap pumpkin pails in plastic tablecloth to form little pots of gold and hang them from the ceiling with clear fishing wire and command strips,” adds Julie.
photo courtesy of So Dang Fun
4. Perfect the St. Patrick’s Day playlist
No party is complete without music, so before the big day, make sure to prep the perfect playlist. Peter Currie of Shand Import LLC recommends “including The Pogues, the Cranberries, U2 and maybe The Clancy Brothers for something more traditional,” in your mix. If you want to keep the good vibes going, consider heading to an Irish pub afterwards. If you’re in the South Pasadena area, Peter suggests the family-owned pub Griffin’s of Kinsale for Irish eats, drinks, and traditional music. If staying in is more the move, order some bottles of Find Good Spirits and…
5. Make festive drinks
St. Patrick’s Day is a pretty big drinking holiday so it’s best to be prepared for all guests big, small, alcoholic, sober, and everyone in between.
A classic drink for the 17th is, of course, a pint of Guiness (alcoholic or not), but don’t forget about whiskey. Josh Wulf, founder of Wulf Cocktail Den, likes to “use whiskey from the Emerald Isle in cocktails like the dubliner, the good cork, and the tipperary.”
Looking for even more whisky cocktails? Richard Lombard-Chibnall, owner and founder of The Molly Malone Irish Whiskey suggests a classic old fashioned or whiskey sour. His whiskey of choice is, of course, Molly Malone for its “sweet and light taste, signature note of classic crispness, gentle vanilla notes, and delicate soft oakiness.”
If non-alcoholic is more your speed, opt for Seir Hill’s whiskey. You and your guests can enjoy the same cocktails with a whiskey that “delivers all the rich, complex flavors you love – for whiskey sours to Irish coffees, minus the hangover,” says marketing lead Andrew Chartier.
With or without alcohol, Jen Peñas of A Year of Cocktails suggests her exclusion creation, the “Irish Delight.” “This simple two-ingredient cocktail is a crowd pleaser as it combines everyone’s favorite Irish whiskey with a deliciously flavored Irish cream liqueur to create your new favorite St. Patrick’s Day cocktail,” describes Jen. Instead of a classic Irish coffee, try this option this St. Paddy’s Day instead!
With all of these recipes, it may be hard for you to enjoy the party with all the bartending. Instead, “create an Irish pub-themed DIY Irish coffee and cocktail bar where your guests can try their hands at playing Irish bartender,” suggests ClipDish’s Joe Cotellese. “Print out recipe cards for cocktails and stock your bar station with liquors, mixers, and toppings,” continues Joe. This station will not only keep your guests quenched, but will also “create a natural ice breaker for guests while freeing you up to mingle.”
6. Serve authentic Irish food
The Irish love their food almost as much as they love their beer, which means you’ll need both for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day menu.
“A well-curated menu featuring favorites like smoked salmon canapés, boxty bites, and a classic cheese platter sets the perfect tone for a joyful gathering,” says Irish Food Hub’s Robby Waddell. “Hearty mains such as corned beef and cabbage sliders, shepherd’s pie, and Guinness beef stew pies offer comforting flavors that guests will love,” continues Robby. For sweets, serve up traditional Irish sodabread, Baileys Irish cream truffles, Irish coffee cheesecake bars, shamrock shakes, or all four.
After all, this holiday is all about “bringing people together over delicious Irish-inspired dishes filled with flavor, warmth, and a touch of Irish magic,” reminds Robby.
7. Add some St. Patrick’s Day party entertainment
While conversation should be flowing and music lively, it can’t hurt to offer a little something extra.
With your perfect Irish playlist, consider also showing a few videos on how to Irish jig. Whether or not everyone gets up and learns to dance, it’s nice to have something playing in the background.
Another option is to have a movie or two on hand to watch to add in a little extra entertainment. For films, opt for ones that either feature an Irish character, Irish actors, or take place in Ireland. You can’t go wrong with Darby O’Gill and the Little People, Far and Away, or The Secret of the Kells.
8. Plan a few festive activities
Besides the basics, it’s a good idea to have a few activities (besides the basic drinking games) to liven up the party.
Damien D, founder of Eirin Apparel, suggests turning “your party into a treasure hunt by hiding chocolate gold coins around the house or yard.” “It’s like an adult-friendly version of an Easter egg hunt with a touch of Irish luck: simply give guests clever clues or riddles to find them, and whoever collects the most wins a fun Irish-themed prize (maybe a bottle of Baileys or a shamrock plant),” continues Damien.
For a more hands-on activity, “Give your guests a fun keepsake by setting up a bracelet-making station with green, gold, and black cords to weave simple Celtic knots,” recommends Damien. You can easily find supplies at a local craft store (or order them online) so every guest leaves with a little wearable luck. “Bonus points if you print out the meanings behind different Celtic knot designs,” adds Damien.
Have the best St. Patrick’s Day
Now you should be all set to host the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party from invitation and decor to food and entertainment. Enjoy celebrating, appreciating the Irish culture, and sláinte!
