30 Fun St. Patrick's Day Activities for the Whole Family to Enjoy
Lucky you, there are both traditional and new ideas.
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There's a reason St. Patrick's Day is also known as a partying holiday. Anyone who has experienced a St. Patrick's Day parade can confirm that the festivities easily match or even surpass those of other holidays. Whether it's the opportunity to put together your best green getup, make green foods and drinks, or enjoy all the gold, rainbow, and green St. Patrick's Day décor, there's something enjoyable about the holiday for everyone, kids and adults alike.
Regardless of your Irish heritage, there are numerous ways to participate, making March 17 one of America's most beloved celebrations. Consider adding one, some, or all of these St. Patrick's Day activities to your family's agenda for the day—they're sure to be a success. Whether you plan to work on easy St. Patrick's Day crafts or post pics with cute St. Patrick's Day Instagram captions, there are tons of ways to get into the festive Irish spirit.
If you need indoor activities for kids, cook up some traditional Irish foods and dishes or dress up the family pet in an adorable leprechaun-themed outfit. Or, make a hilarious Instagram video of the whole family singing karaoke with your favorite Irish songs. Braving the outdoors? Go hunting for four-leaf clovers or have a scavenger hunt that ends with a pot of gold! You will make St. Patrick's Day a bit more memorable with any of these new St. Patrick's Day traditions.
Check out even more fun and festive things to do:
Make Lucky Charms Bars
They may not be authentically Irish, but these sweet treats will be so magically delicious to eat! Plus, they take only 20 minutes to make so you could easily whip them up for any last minute celebrations.
Get Ree's Lucky Charms Bars recipe.
Play Festive Games
The whole family will love gathering around for St. Patrick's Day games! Whether you keep it classic with themed bingo and charades or switch things up with leprechaun hide and seek, everyone will have tons of festive fun. You can use chocolate gold coins as prizes for the winners.
Visit Green Landmarks
If there's a St. Patrick's celebration in your area, you may get extra lucky to see something turn green! Savannah dyes their famous fountains green, while Chicago dyes an entire river. See what might go green in your area!
Learn a Little Gaelic
Gaelic is one of the official languages of Ireland. Learning a little bit of the Celtic language might be tough, but that's what apps and Google translate are for! Sláinte!
Build Leprechaun Traps
The kiddos will love building these cute traps, just in case those pinching little leprechauns come to visit this St. Paddy's Day. You'll find three fun ideas here that are all easy to construct.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
Attend Mass
While many celebrate with secular festivities, St. Patrick's Day is a feast day for many branches of Christianity. If you're in search of a deeper meaning, contact your local parishes to find out the times that mass will be celebrated.
Learn Saint Patrick's History
Who was the man behind the holiday? Take the day to read up on Ireland's patron saint, who, yes, was a real person and is still revered to this day by the large Irish diaspora all over the world.
Make a Rainbow
If you aren't lucky enough to get an actual rainbow on St. Patrick's Day, make your own at home! By employing a prism or a glass of water, along with sunlight at the appropriate angle, you can produce rainbows that span across the floor, walls, and ceiling of your room. Unfortunately, the pot of gold at the end of it isn't included.
Make a Traditional Irish Meal
Chef up a traditional Irish meal featuring dishes like fried cabbage, shepherd's pie, beef stew, and apple cake. Assign your kids to be the sous chefs so they can learn about cooking and Irish culture all at once!
Have a Cookie Decorating Contest
Make a big batch of sugar cookie dough and let the kids go crazy with fun-shaped cookie cutters in line with the St. Patrick's Day theme. Everyone can cut their cookies out in the shape of a shamrock, rainbow, or pot of gold and decorate with festive green and gold icing and sprinkles. Plus, they make the perfect snack for your Irish movie marathon!
Take a Virtual Tour of the Emerald Isle
You don't have to hop on a plane to see the gorgeous scenery that makes Ireland the 'Emerald Isle.' There are so many virtual tours that take you to popular landmarks like the Giants Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher, and Blarney Castle through your screen!
Make Green Slime
Making slime is an easy and fun activity that kids and adults can play with together. It's great for any themed occasion, as the color is completely customizable. This festive slime tutorial infuses the slime with glitter and gold coins!
Get the tutorial at Crafts By Amanda.
Paint Your Nails Festive Colors
Channel the luck of the Irish with a festive St. Patrick's Day manicure. Choose from our selection of green, gold, and glittery nail design inspo to guide you! You can go simple with colorful nail polish or use nail decals or pens to create fun designs.
Visit Your Local Irish Cultural or Arts Center
Explore if your city has cultural centers catering to diverse immigrant communities, such as the Irish community. Check for any upcoming enjoyable holiday activities, such as dance classes or art showcases, that they might be hosting. You never know, you might find your new favorite hobby!
Make a St. Patrick’s Day Card
Get together some cardstock, St. Patrick's Day stickers, markers, scissors, and stencils, and let the creative juices flow as you and your kids make some festive homage cards on March 17. Even if you aren't necessarily creative, you're in luck, because the vibrant colors and symbols associated with St. Patrick's Day offer abundant creative inspiration!
Grab a Meal From an Irish Restaurant
If you don't feel like cooking up a whole Irish meal, grab a bite at a local Irish eatery! Chances are any restaurant you go to will be a good time on St. Paddy's Day.
Brush Up on the Irish Immigration Story
Did you know that the Irish made up approximately half of all migrants to the country during the 1840s? It’s true! Of course, it’s important to learn about the history of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. But kids might relate better to a narrative about the people who brought all their favorite great Irish traditions to America. You can find plenty of online resources that help tell the story.
Sip on a Shamrock Shake
These fresh and minty shakes will be slurped up in less time than it takes to them (only 15 minutes!). Top your shakes with maraschino cherries and fresh sprigs of mint. If you have green food dye in the pantry, you can always add a splash to the whipped cream to make it extra festive!
Get the Shamrock Shake recipe.
Dress Up in Your Best Green Outfits
Dress up in green, white, and gold hues and snap an adorable family pic you can post to Instagram. Leprechaun hats and glitter are an absolute must. If you don't have any shamrocks at home, you can always make your own!
Bake Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is a popular St. Patrick's Day dish and, luckily, it's super easy to make! You can enjoy it any time of day—breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This recipe is best served warm and with butter or jam. Yum!
Get the Irish Soda Bread recipe.
Micaela Bahn is a freelance editorial assistant and recent graduate from Carleton College, where she majored in English literature. She loves running, photography, and cooking the best new recipes.
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