St. Patrick's Day is coming up! I don't know about you, but little holidays like these are fantastic excuses for me to throw cute little parties with friends and family.
Confession: I used to be obsessed with holidays when I was a kid. St. Patrick's Day was special because of all the unique traditions. My mom always made corn beef and cabbage, and my grandma would bring over soda bread. My brothers and I would bring out every green decoration we could find. We'd even pull out green plastic eggs for a green egg hunt (which is more Easter-themed, but it was still fun).
I remember some of my friends believed in the Leprechaun visiting their house, and even though I knew he wasn't real as a kid, I had a blast playing with my friends. It seems a little devious now, but there was one year I sprinkled green confetti around my basement and hid plastic shamrocks for my friend to find, tricking her into believing the Leprechaun liked our house better than hers.
My favorite was wearing every green thing I had. Pants, shirt, headbands, bows, socks ~ even jewelry!
I guess what I mean to say is ~ it's not always easy to make a big deal about little holidays like St. Patrick's Day. But I promise, your kids will cherish whatever traditions you build with them as they grow up. And isn't that worth so much more?
Here are some cute, easy ideas to make a St. Patrick's Day party with your kids, friends, and family. They might even spark some traditions you'll treasure for years to come! Let's dive in:
Food for St. Patrick's Day Party
St. Patrick's Day themed food is easier than you think. The main course can be a crock pot meal, and the rest isn't too different than what you'd make on a regular weekday. You'd be surprised at how exciting green-colored food can be to kids!
Soda Bread
Soda Bread is an Irish classic. My grandma always made two loaves, one plain and one with raisins. It pairs great with corn beef and cabbage, and it's super easy to make! Let the kids help you to make it a family activity.
Shamrock Chips
These cute shamrock tortilla chips are perfect for a St. Patrick's Day party and they are a breeze to make! It's super easy to find green spelt tortillas at your local supermarket or Whole Foods. Pair with yellow salsa for a 'pot of gold' and you'll have an adorable snack for your party.
Corn Beef and Cabbage
You can't have St. Patrick's Day without it! If you have a crock pot, it's super easy to throw it in during the morning and let it cook during the day. It'll be ready to serve by dinner, and it tastes amazing! Just make sure to get your cabbage and corn beef early ~ grocery stores run out fast.
Avocado Fries
These green avocado fries are easy to make and they look delicious. If you're looking for an easy appetizer to serve your guests (that even the kids will eat), look no further and make these yummy fries.
Green Potato Salad
This healthy and easy green potato salad looks so good, I might have to make it year-round. And since potatoes are Irish, it's the perfect St. Patrick's Day side!
Fruit Skewers
These adorable fruit skewers are super easy to make and they'll make everyone happy (even the pickiest cousins). Stack green fruit like green apples, grapes, kiwis, and honey dew on bamboo skewers for a green treat. Or layer colorful fruit in a rainbow to make it even more festive!
Desserts for St. Patrick's Day Party
St. Patrick's Day desserts are adorable and easy to make. And no, they don't have to include an ungodly amount of green food coloring to please your children. Here are some easy, fun, and delicious St. Patrick's Day dessert ideas!
Apple Cake
Apple cake is an authentic Irish classic and it's easy to make. Let your kids help with mixing and pouring to involve them as well. It also tastes good enough for the adults to genuinely enjoy as well, so it'll be a hit for everyone you're inviting to your St. Patrick's Day party.
Lucky Rice Crispy Treats
These rice crispy treats are so cute and they look amazing. Mix in the marshmallows you find in Lucky Charms, add a little green food coloring, and voila! You have the perfect St. Patrick's Day treat for kids and adults alike.
Rainbow Pretzel Wands
These pretzel wands are simple and super cute. Sprinkle rainbow sprinkles on white chocolate-dipped pretzels for a rainbow theme. Or use green sprinkles with highlights of gold and white. Whatever you choose, your kids will love helping you make (and eat) these yummy treats.
St. Patrick's Day Bundt Cake
This pistachio lemon bundt cake sounds delicious and it looks perfectly festive for St. Patrick's Day. If you're hoping to throw an aesthetic party for your friends and family, baking a bundt cake is trendy and delicious!
St. Patrick's Puppy Chow
This puppy chow looks way too delicious. It'll be gone before dinner's even served. Make a bigger batch and give some out to the neighbors, too! They'll love the sweet gesture, and you can get your kids involved as well. Win-win!
Don't Forget To Use Irish Butter!
Here's my shameless plug for my favorite butter ever! It's a bit of a splurge, but using authentic Irish butter in your bundt cake, apple cake, or puppy chow will make a huge difference. Plus, this butter is just amazing on toast and basically everything else, too. I'd say it's worth the investment.
Drinks for St. Patrick's Day Party
We all know about the green beer that's served everywhere on St. Patrick's Day. But when the kids go to bed, you'll want something a little more sophisticated to sip with your friends. Here are a few drinks you can easily mix at home for the perfect St. Patrick's Day party with friends.
Shamrock Shakes
This one is great for those who don't drink alcohol! They're super easy to make and they can easily double as a dessert. Kids and adults will both love them, and they're all you need to make your St. Patrick's Day party a success. Try out this Paleo Shamrock Shake recipe for a healthier version, too.
Guinness Floats
This boozy spin on root beer floats looks delicious and super simple to make! All you need is a little bit of ice cream, chocolate syrup, and a Guinness beer. Perfectly Irish and perfectly delicious.
Apple Martini
This green apple martini is sophisticated and simple. They're perfect for sipping with your friends after the kids go to bed.
Bailey's Irish Cream
St. Patrick's Day is a convenient excuse to enjoy Bailey's Irish Cream a little more than you usually do. Mix it with your favorite drinks or drink it alone ~ either way, this Irish classic is delicious and easy to serve at any party!
Spiked Hot Chocolate
Something about sipping a rich, spiked hot chocolate by the fireplace seems romantically Irish to me, so I had to include it. Even if you choose to leave the alcohol out, drinking hot chocolate as an adult is woefully underrated.
Golden Irish Mule Cocktail
This gorgeous cocktail looks delicious and beautiful! It's a little more fancy with edible gold flakes floating around the top and a sophisticated mix of drinks, but it's so worth the effort.
Outfits For St. Patrick's Day Party
There's more to dressing up for St. Patrick's Day than just wearing green. Here are some cute and easy ideas to dress festive this year!
Green + Gold Dress Code
Tell your guests they have to wear at least a little bit of green for the party (or else they'll get pinched!). Some people will go all out and others will wear the bare minimum. Either way, it's fun to set the tone for a festive Irish party.
Rainbow Headband
Calling all DIY supermoms! This rainbow headband is simple and fun to make with your little girls. All you need is some yarn, hot glue, and a headband. Making something like this is a great way to get your kids excited about St. Patrick's Day!
Green and Orange Bandana Bibs
Dress your baby in adorable bandana bibs for St. Patrick's Day this year to keep them warm, dry, and festive. Our Estes Set has both green and orange (Irish colors) so your babe can still look festive even after all that drooling;).
Green Headbands and Bows
Another simple way to dress up your little princess for St. Patrick's Day is by picking out green headbands or bows for her wear to your party. Our Anne Set has an adorable green velvet bow that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day (and all days). We know it'll match the cute outfit you have planned for her.
Estes Swaddles
Our Estes Swaddles are about as Irish as Parker Baby gets! With green, orange, and a light gray color, they are quite nearly the colors of the Irish flag (just more aesthetic;). Swaddling your baby in a pine-colored swaddle blanket is one way to be subtly festive on St. Patrick's Day.
Decorations For St. Patrick's Day Party
Your decorations don't have to be cheesy, cheap green accessories from a party store. Believe it or not, your St. Patrick's Day party can be classy and simple ~ at the same time. Check out some of our ideas here:
Green Balloon Arch
Balloon arches can be a lot of work, but if you're planning on taking lots of pictures at your St. Patrick's Day party, you should definitely consider building a green, white, and gold one like this! You can also add Shamrock Balloons around your house to carry the theme throughout.
Table Decorations
Keep your table decorations simple and classy! Add a gold table runner like this one to make your spread festive. Tasteful banners like these can brighten your dining room, and adding a classy collection of green candles can make your party festive, yet not tacky.
Party Favors
St. Patrick's Day party favors are super cute, easy to make, and exciting for the kids. Fill burlap shamrock bags with edible gold coins for a festive party favor, or hand our shamrock shaped cookies to the kids as they walk out the door. Get creative!
Pub Coasters
These coasters are a subtle touch, but can add so much to the theme of a St. Patrick's Day party. Plus, they're pretty cute, so you can use them year-round no problem!
Set Up a Photo Wall
If you're into taking lots of pictures like me, setting up a photo wall is super fun and easy. Grab a banner as a backdrop and a few photo props to pose with, and you'll be ready to go.
Shamrock Streamers
These shamrock streamers are super easy to make and they are the perfect touch to any St. Patrick's Day party! Just grab simple light green and dark green streamers and a pair of scissors to make a decoration that will impress your guests big-time.
Activities For St. Patrick's Day Party
You might be tempted to send the kids off on a 4-leaf clover hunt for a few hours so you can sip your cocktail in peace, but we've pulled together a few more creative ideas to make your party fun for both the adults and the kids;). Check them out:
Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Building a simple scavenger hunt for the kids with a pot of "gold" at the end is a great way to keep them busy for a while. Older and younger kids will both love this challenge, and you'll definitely catch a break as they rush through your house searching for treasure;).
Rainbow Luck Game
This game is great for kids of all ages! And it involves candy, so you know they'll have a blast eating it all at the end. It's super easy to print off the game 'board' and it'll definitely keep the kids busy for a while.
Play Ambient Irish Music
A few years ago, I had this crazy realization that half the bands I listen to are completely Irish! Play some Snow Patrol, U2, The Cranberries, Van Morrison, and Celtic Women in the background to support authentic Irish artists on St. Patrick's Day.
DIY Blarney Stone Craft
This DIY Blarney Stone craft is just way too cute! Paint rocks with the kids at your party, stick some eyes on them, and teach them about the real Blarney Stone in Ireland along with other cool facts about St. Patrick's Day. It'll be a huge hit.
Catch the Leprechaun
The night before St. Patrick's Day, have your kids set up a 'trap' for the Leprechaun complete with bait (like gold chocolate coins) and a devious pitfall (like a shoebox). While your kids are in bed, sprinkle green glitter across the scene and eat the gold chocolate coins with your husband. Your kids will love seeing the 'evidence' the Leprechaun left behind, and it'll be a great conversation starter for your St. Patrick's Day party.
Like I said before, St. Patrick's Day was special to me as a kid not because of anything to do with St. Patrick's Day, but because of the time I got to spend doing goofy fun things with my siblings and parents that day.
Spend time with your kids, celebrate with friends and family, and you'll make memories that are far more valuable than any pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Hopefully these ideas inspire you to celebrate this year! Let us know what you're planning on doing this St. Patrick's Day in the comments ~ we'd love to know. Good luck! ;)
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