St. Patrick’s Day celebrations look a little different this year. Several parades and local activities have been cancelled in order to adhere to pandemic mandates. However, that doesn’t mean you, and your family, can’t channel your inner Irish spirit this year! It just takes a little creativity to get things going. And luckily for you, we’ve got you covered with 7 fun activities everyone will enjoy.
1) Head to the Kitchen
A great St. Patrick’s Day celebration starts with delicious food! Head into the kitchen to bake some festive desserts.
For an easy bake, whip up your favorite cupcakes and decorate them with green frosting. If you’re favorite cake flavor happens to be yellow, white, or funfetti – take a little food coloring and dye it green! Feeling adventurous? Try a classic Irish soda bread.
Need some more baking ideas? Here’s 25 classic Irish dessert recipes to try out.
2) Have a Green Drink
If there’s one St. Patrick’s Day tradition that is worth celebrating, it’s drinking a green beer!
Indulge in a classic Guinness or any of your other favorite pints. For the under 21 members of your group, beer isn’t the only thing that can be green. Smoothies are a great family-friendly green drink that are not only delicious, but are packed with healthy nutrients.
You can also try a green limeade, Kool-Aid, or milk!
3) St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Remember the days when you would walk into your classroom at school and the desk would be overturned, glitter was thrown on the floor, and chocolate coins could be found hiding?
Bring that St. Patrick’s Day magic into your home with a St. Paddy’s Day scavenger hunt. After decorating the house, have the kids look for traces of leprechauns!
Gold coins, shamrocks, green dollar store toys, and more make for great scavenger hunt ideas.
4) Watch an Irish Movie
Settle in with some green popcorn and the tasty treats you baked earlier for an Irish move night! If you’re watching with kids or looking for something the whole family can enjoy try out one of these movies:
The Secret of Kells – Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film against Up and Princess and the Frog, this movie tells the story of Brendan, a young man in medieval Ireland, who befriends a fairy and heads off on a quest to fight evil.
Wolfwalkers – In this animated movie, an apprentice hunter joins her father on a journey to Ireland to hunt a wolf pack. This family movie boasts an incredible 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If you’re looking for something a little more adult, try these suggestions:
Wild Mountain Thyme – Set on two Irish farms, this film follows two child neighbors and friends who have to decide what to do with their land as their parents age. Starring Emily Blunt and Jamie Dornan.
The Hole in the Ground – This highest-grossing Irish horror film tells the story of a mother who believes her son has been replaced with an imposter.
Leap Year – One of our favorite romantic comedies, Amy Adams flies to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day.
5) Enjoy a Live Concert
Popular Irish band, Dropkick Murphys, is ready to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a live stream concert. The lineup will feature some of the most popular and beloved songs along with some new music from their upcoming album. The concert is free to stream, but the band is accepting donations to benefit various charities. If you donate before or during the live stream, your name will be featured on a scrolling banner during the concert.
The concert starts at 4:00 PM Central Time and can be streamed here.
6) Make St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
Wearing green is a must on St. Patrick’s Day and some creative crafts can take your outfit, and your decor, to the next level!
Entertain the kids by making leprechaun hats, cutting out shamrocks, or trying out one of these kid-friendly crafts.
You can even have a costume contest!
7) Give Yourself an Irish Blessing
Obtain some luck of the Irish by reciting an Irish blessing out loud. Then dive into some Irish poetry for some words of wisdom.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of the 11 most beautiful lines in Irish poetry.
