The Best St. Patrick’s Day Activities for a Day Full of Fun

Like most holidays, Saint Patrick’s Day evolves as you get older. When you’re a child, March 17 means wear your favorite green outfit to school and softly pinching your classmates who forgot to wear theirs. When you’re in your 20s, the holiday gives you an excuse to drink green cocktails and all of the Guinness your little heart desires. As a parent, figuring out ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your kids becomes more of a priority. But even those who aren’t parents may be looking for new St. Patrick’s Day activities to try this year, instead of heading to the local pub with friends or family and grabbing a few rounds of their holiday-themed drinks.

Whether you want to whip up a traditional Irish dish or simply embrace all things green, play holiday-themed games or cuddle up on the couch for an Irish movie marathon, the list of fun ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is endless. There’s a St. Patrick’s Day activity for everyone — no matter your interests or age.

1. Bake soda bread.
Add a little Irish flair to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year with a traditional soda bread recipe that consists of flour, baking soda, buttermilk, and salt, according to Rory O’Connell, an Irish cuisine and food history expert. It originated in the early 1800s and allowed people who didn’t have an oven (most people at the time) to make bread.
2. Wear green.
Of course, March 17 can’t come and go without you donning at least one piece of green clothing or accessory. Whether you’re trying to avoid being pinched, or you want an excuse to wear your green pleather pants, consider embracing the colorful tradition.
3. Make an Irish meal.
There are so many delicious St. Patrick’s Day recipes out there to make your celebration even more authentic this year, like a traditional beef stew infused with two cups of Guinness or corned beef and cabbage. (recipe below)

4. Have a shamrock cookie decorating contest.
Decorating cookies can be a part of any holiday, not just Christmas. Gather your little ones (and even your big ones) for the shamrock cookie decorating contest of the ages. Winne gets bragging rights and maybe an extra cookie or two after dinner. No matter the champion, however, you and your quaranteam will have cookies for days.

5. Play a St. Patrick’s Day-themed game.
With all of the St. Patrick’s Day-themed games that exist, you could have a different one for every hour of March 17, if you really wanted to. From St. Paddy’s Bingo for the whole family to green drinking dice (available on Amazon) for the adults, everyone’s bound to find a game they won’t want to put down.
6. Make green slime.
Slime on its own can be really fun but making your own slime? That takes the fun to the next level. You and your quarantine pod can watch the goo come to life in front of you. And the best part? This slime kit comes with a bunch of colors, so you can make green on St. Paddy’s and any other color another day.
7. Make Some Lucky Charms Marshmallow Treats.
Step aside, Rice Crispy treats, there’s a new sheriff in town. At least for St. Patrick’s Day. These aren’t your average cereal-marshmallow squares.

1. Grease a 9″-x-9″ baking dish with butter. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add marshmallows and salt and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in Lucky Charms.
2. Pour into pan and smooth top, being careful not to pack cereal too tightly into prepared dish. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.

8. Make a St. Patrick’s Day craft.
Your little leprechauns will love making these easy shamrock-shaped plates, wreaths, and hats using affordable materials. The best part? Your finished products will leave you with cute holiday decorations to spread around the house.
9. Bake something green.
Starting the day off with Green Velvet Silver Dollar Pancakes and ending it with sweet Lucky Charm Cookies sounds like the perfect way to ring in the colorful holiday.
10. Make St. Patrick’s Day cards.
Cards are one of the easiest ways to brighten someone’s day, even if it’s for a holiday you don’t normally dish out cards for. The options are endless: Make some for your grandparents, people at your church, or the kids at the local hospital, and you’ll bring smiles to many faces on March 17.
11. Plan a socially distant scavenger hunt.
Test your luck this year by setting up a scavenger hunt with a few friends, family, and the kids — with green masks, of course. You can hide treats around the neighborhood with clues, and, who knows, you just may win the pot of gold!

12. Bring your favorite Pet in on the action!
Don’t forget to include your dog or cat in the Irish fun!   Dress them up (if they’ll let you) and make them some pet-friendly treats!
13. Cook like an Irishman.
Invite your significant other and have an at-home Irish cooking class by following along with an online tutorial. Or if you prefer having a step-by-step physically in front of you, consider ordering a copy of The Farmette Cookbook: Recipes and Adventures from My Life on an Irish Farm, which features classic Irish recipes made modern, like Irish farmer cheese soufflé. (Slow Cooker corned beef recipe below)
14. Listen to Irish music.
Irish music gets the heart going and have some very interesting ballads. So, throw on some classic Irish tunes and bust out a jig in your living room with the whole family. Pandora and Amazon have Irish music.
15. Have an Irish Coffee.
If you’re not a Guinness fan, Irish Coffees make the tastiest — and most festive — cocktails to drink on March 17. Try this delicious recipe, which features brown sugar for extra sweetness. There’s a healthy amount of Irish whiskey in here to keep you toasty, so savor it slowly.
16. Learn Irish dancing. 
Irish step dancing is a completely unique and recognizable style of dancing. If you’re in it to break a sweat and try a fun new way of working out, or you’re looking to really hone a new skill, an Irish step class is a fun way to try something new and get out of your comfort zone on St. Paddy’s. There are plenty of online videos to teach you, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home.
17. Search for four-leaf clovers.
Take the kids on an adventure in search of lucky four-leaf clovers. They’ll be endlessly entertained searching through a clover field to find the lucky ones, and it’s a good way to get outside and get the imagination wandering.