28 Shamrockin’ St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas
Lauren Miolene
Editor
Everyone's Irish on March 17th, so there’s no excuse to not have a St. Patrick’s Day Party! Whether it is a quick get-together before your local parade or a full blown Irish fest, these St. Patrick’s Day party ideas can easily be incorporated into any type of event.
From planning a kids St. Patrick’s Day party to an adults only celebration, we have creative ideas that can be used for any guest list. Put on your best green ensemble, hang an Irish flag, and get ready to drink buckets of beer because St. Patrick’s Day party planning is in full swing.
Here are our top St. Patrick’s Day party ideas that are pure gold:
St. Patrick’s Day Party Invites
Once the party date is decided and the guest list is made, the next step is to send festive invites. Browse custom St. Patrick’s day party invitations on Etsy, or use our St. Patrick’s Day digital backgrounds for an evite.
Leprechaun Footprints
Every party needs a little magic, and these DIY leprechaun footprints will do just that. Paint the bottom of a child’s shoe green and stamp the floors to leave a leprechaun sized footprint. Make sure to use washable paint for easy cleanup after the shenanigans.
Bagpipes
Every St. Patrick’s Day party needs bagpipe music, we don’t make the rules! Browse The Bash to find local bagpipe players that can cover all of your favorite Irish tunes. With their traditional sound and kilts to match, guests will be transported to the rolling hills of Ireland with this special party music.
Wear Green
If the color scheme for this event wasn’t obvious, you’re going to want to wear your best green ensemble. Use whatever clothing you already have in your closet to create the perfectly mismatched outfit for this St. Patrick’s Day party. Bonus points if anyone dresses like a leprechaun!
Rueben Sliders
One of the most important parts of hosting a party is ensuring there will be enough seating if serving a big meal. If your event space has limited seating, opt for a handheld option of your entree, like Rueben sliders. To prepare these mini sandwiches, all you’ll need are dinner rolls, sliced corned beef, and swiss cheese. Guests can then garnish with sauerkraut and Russian dressing to their liking.
Pub Crawl
Nothing can beat the energy inside a traditional Irish pub. After the party shenanigans, grab a few friends to hop between your favorite pubs and bars for your own bar crawl. Try a different beer or stout from each location to celebrate March 17th.
Balloon Backdrop
Every party needs a photo opportunity, this is where the balloon wall comes in. Arrange shades of green balloons, shamrock shaped ones, and St. Patrick’s Day sayings to create a custom balloon wall. Guests will love taking turns posing in front of the backdrop, taking photos they’re definitely going to want to post on Instagram later.
Rainbow Decor
If green isn’t your favorite color, don’t worry! A rainbow color scheme and matching decor can be used instead. Stick with vibrant colors or pastel shades that will make this party magical. Incorporate rainbow balloons, streamers, and colorful tableware throughout the space that will make everyone happy and cheery.
Irish Dancers
What will take your St. Patrick’s Day party to the next level? A performance from traditional Irish dancers! These choreographers are professionally trained in step dance to fill your party with exciting energy. The dancers’ fast moving and fancy footwork will keep audiences mesmerized during your celebration.
Irish Mimosa
What better way to start the top o’ the morning than with an Irish mimosa? You might be wondering, “what is an Irish mimosa?” The answer is simple; add a drop of blue curacao into your champagne and orange juice to create a vibrant green color. This is the perfect St. Patrick’s Day drink idea, especially if you’re hosting a brunch celebration.
Shamrock Shakes
This signature frozen green drink only comes out once a year, so you’re going to want to take advantage by serving it at your party. Whip up your own at home shamrock shakes by blending together vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract, and green food coloring. Don’t forget to serve with whipped cream and a cherry on top!
The best part about this sweet treat is that it can accommodate different dietary restrictions. If someone follows a vegan diet, swap the ice cream and milk for a dairy-free alternative that will be just as delicious.
Irish Karaoke
Playing Irish songs during your celebration will definitely bring good luck, but add good fun with some Irish karaoke. Listen to our St. Patrick’s Day playlist that features songs like, “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” “Whiskey In The Jar,” “Rattlin Bog,” and plenty more festive tunes. Consider booking a DJ to take over aux and crank up the volume so all you have to worry about is having a good time.
Fortune Teller
If you’re feeling lucky, confirm your intuition with a fortune teller. Choose from psychics, astrologers, and tarot card readers that will be able to share a glimpse of your future. These magical visitors will keep everyone entertained during the St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans.
Caterer
If you’re craving a traditional Irish-American meal of corned beef and cabbage, consider booking a caterer for your dinner party. These chefs and their staff know how to prepare food from all different backgrounds in creative ways. If your event doesn't call for a sit down meal, these talented cooks can prepare delicious finger foods and appetizers for guests to snack on.
Lucky Charms Rice Krispies
Rice Krispy treats are one of the easiest desserts to make. For this festive version just add the colorful marshmallows from Lucky Charms and you’ve got yourself the perfect St. Patrick’s Day party food idea!
Pro tip: If your event is earlier in the morning, like before a parade, consider setting up a colorful Lucky Charms bar for guests to whip up a quic bowl of cereal.
DIY Shamrock Decorations
What’s more festive than shamrocks and four leaf clovers? Use this green shape as the focal point of your lucky party. Cut out shamrocks with green construction paper and feature them on walls, tables, or make your own banner. If you're not feeling creative, hang shamrock garland, sprinkle shamrock confetti on tables, and even hang shamrock string lights available on Amazon for added ambience.
Guinness
You’re going to want to buy a few kegs of everyone’s favorite Irish stout for this St. Patrick’s Day party. Get creative with your cocktails by incorporating this classing beer into your favorite drinks including Drunken Leprechauns, Irish Car Bombs, Black and Tans, and many more.
Pro tip: If you’d rather just stick to sipping your stout, consider booking a bartender to mix up these deliciously festive cocktails.
Baileys Truffles
Make this simple dessert using just three ingredients: Oreo cookies, Baileys Irish cream, and your choice of white or dark chocolate. Add the cookies into a food processor and blend until fine. Pour the Baileys into the food processor and keep mixing until it becomes a dough. Scoop and roll the dough into bite size balls and let set in the freezer. Once the truffles are ready, dip in a coat of chocolate. If you opt for white chocolate as a finishing touch, add a drop of green food coloring.
Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt
Whether this party is for the kiddos or the adults, guests of all ages will enjoy the fun of a scavenger hunt! Create riddles for players to solve that will lead them to their next clue. The team to find the end of the rainbow will win a pot of gold, of course! Fill a plastic cauldron with chocolate coins, lottery tickets, and other goodies your guests will like for a grand prize.
Green Grazing Board
For St. Patrick’s Day party food ideas, you’re going to want green, green, and more green. Assemble your favorite green goodies on a board for guests to graze and snack on. Assemble popular party hors d'oeuvres like green veggies and guacamole, or you can always take a sweet route. Put together a board with green cookies and St. Patrick's Day cupcakes for a delicious dessert option.
Book an Irish Band
If you’re a fan of The Dubliners or The Cranberries, you’ll love the excitement of an Irish band's performance. These talented musicians can play your favorite traditional tunes to covers of today’s top hits. Browse our site and start communicating with Irish bands for your St. Patrick’s Day party music.
Rainbow Jello Shots
No party is complete without Jello shots, especially since they’re so easy to make. Pick up Jello mixes that are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and your choice of clear alcohol. Follow your favorite Jello shot recipe and pour into small plastic containers. Before serving, arrange the colors into a rainbow shape that will make all guests feel extra lucky.
Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is a staple, but it’s not really party food. Don’t worry, we’ve rounded up a few creative Irish soda bread recipes that will make the perfect addition to your corned beef meal. Try making Irish soda bread muffins or cookies for a party-friendly option.
Irish Movies
Consider renting an outdoor movie screen to watch fan favorite St. Patrick’s Day movies. Feel nostalgic with Disney’s Luck of the Irish, watch a festive rom-com like Leap Year, or if you’re feeling brave, watch Leprechaun. Pop some popcorn and get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with a classic movie night.
Green Beer Tasting
Whether you’re drinking Corona, a sour, or your favorite IPA, add a few drops of green food coloring for St. Patrick's Day fun. Although it’s not necessary and won’t change the taste, it’s a festive touch! Serve the beer in clear steins at your party so you can see the green shades in everyone’s cup. Give sample sizes at first so guests can conduct their own tasting.
Irish Food Potluck Dinner
The best part about a potluck dinner is that you can get a taste of everything, plus the name totally fits the theme for a St. Patrick’s Day party food idea. Guests can bring traditional Irish meals like shepherd's pie, beef stew, and corned beef hash, but if your party is more casual, try fun appetizers like Reuben egg rolls, Guinness cheese bread, and pretzels with beer cheese.
St. Patrick’s Day Slime
What kid doesn’t love making their own batch of slime? At the kid’s table, arrange a set up including clear glue, contact solution, baking soda, and tons of green and gold glitter. This St. Patrick’s Day craft will keep the little ones entertained for hours. Don’t forget to include condiment containers with lids so everyone will be able to take this party craft home.
Irish Whiskey Tasting
Gather your favorite bottles of Irish whiskey including Jameson, Bushmills, and Glendalough for your own tasting. Order sample cups from Amazon so guests can compare the different notes, and do your research for food pairings. Serve lite bites featuring a variety of cheese, fruit, and nuts that will compliment the sips of whiskey perfectly.
Find more St. Patrick’s Day party ideas here on The Bash.
