17 Best St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

Ready to throw a party of a lifetime? Dive into our ultimate guide filled with creative ideas to make your St. Patrick’s Day party unforgettable. These St. Patrick’s Day party ideas are so much fun while honoring the Irish heritage.

1. Green Decorations

Transform your space with green, gold and rainbow decorations for a St. Patrick’s Day party. Shamrocks, pots of gold and vibrant color schemes that instantly set the mood for celebration. Add gold accents to enhance the festive atmosphere and a touch of magic with rainbows symbolizing the leprechaun’s pot of gold.

For a whimsical ambiance use paper lanterns in green and themed table settings with shamrock-patterned tablecloths. Scatter faux gold coins on tables for a playful touch. Place these decorations strategically and you’ll have an enchanting environment that captures the essence of St. Patrick’s Day.

2. Irish Feast

An Irish feast is a must for any St. Patrick’s Day party. Treat your guests to hearty dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and beef stew. Corned beef and cabbage is a one pot meal with cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions perfect for a party.

Warm Irish soda bread with butter or alongside beef stew is an authentic touch. These traditional dishes honor Irish heritage and brings warmth and community to your party.

Serve with traditional Irish music and you’ve got the perfect backdrop for your food experience.

3. Green Drinks

Elevate your St. Patrick’s Day party with some green drinks. Green beer is a classic and fun. For a non-alcoholic option serve shamrock shakes made with vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring. Top with whipped cream and a cherry for extra festivity.

For a twist mix up a Shamrocker, a green margarita made with melon liqueur, triple sec and orange juice. Or go for the Guinness & Green Jelly Shots, with layers of stout and whiskey with Irish cream gelatin. They taste great and add to the festive atmosphere of your St. Patrick’s Day party.

4. Games and Activities

Games and activities keep your guests entertained at your St. Patrick’s Day party. From St. Patrick’s Day Bingo to Lucky Charms relay races these are fun. Include an Irish trivia game to test your guests knowledge of Irish folklore.

Get creative with scavenger hunts for hidden pots of gold or a cookie decorating contest. These activities are entertainment and a way for guests to bond.

Here are some game ideas:

• Lucky Charms Relay: Participants race to transfer Lucky Charms cereal using spoons. This fun activity brings out the competition in your guests and adds to the whimsy of your party.

• Pot of Gold Coin Toss: Toss chocolate gold coins into a pot, score points for each coin that lands in the pot. The highest scorer wins a prize, this is a fun way to get everyone involved.

• Four Leaf Clover Hunt: Participants search for hidden four-leaf clovers, lucky finders win prizes. Hide clovers in creative places to keep guests entertained throughout the party.

5. Host an Irish Dance Party

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish dancing party to immerse yourself in Irish culture. Learning Irish step dancing with friends is a fun activity, you can find tutorials on YouTube to guide you. If you want to take it up a notch consider hiring a professional Irish dancer to teach and perform, add an authentic touch to your party.

Invite a live Celtic ensemble or bagpiper to perform traditional Irish music and enhance the festive atmosphere. This combination of dance and music will have everyone on their feet celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

6. Photo Booth with Props

Set up a photo booth with themed props to capture the memories of your St. Patrick’s Day party. Props like leprechaun hats, shamrocks and rainbow decorations make the photos fun and festive. Use green streamers and banners to create a backdrop and add shamrock-shaped sunglasses to make it more fun.

This photo booth is entertainment and a keepsake for your guests.

7. Party Favors

Leave your guests with a little something by handing out St. Patrick’s Day party favors. Ideas include chocolate coins, shamrock stress balls, leprechaun-themed rubber ducks and mini gnome figures. These small tokens of appreciation show your guests they are valued.

For a more personal touch create St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts with festive graphics like rainbows, pots of gold, leprechauns and Irish puns. These t-shirts can be a fun memento of the St. Patrick’s day party, so guests can remember the fun long after the party is over.

8. Live Traditional Irish Music

Live traditional Irish music is a great way to amp up the atmosphere of your St. Patrick’s Day party. Jigs and reels bring lively tunes that make you want to dance and sing, creates a sense of community and joy. Book live music or create a playlist of traditional Irish songs to set the mood for your party.

When booking live music make sure the venue’s acoustics are good to enhance the experience. Discuss any specific songs or types of music you want with the performers to tailor the entertainment to your needs. Attention to detail will ensure the music matches the overall vibe of your St. Patrick’s Day party.

9. St. Patrick's Day Parade

Participating in or organizing a St. Patrick’s Day parade is a tradition that shows cultural pride. If local St. Patrick’s day parades are not available, create a mini-parade at home with friends and family. Advance registration and planning is required for larger parades so be sure to plan ahead.

Add Irish-themed accessories like green wigs, shamrock hats and beads to your parade participation. Use a truck or flatbed trailer as a base for your parade float and bring plenty of energy and spirit to the party.

Live streaming options also allow you to watch parades from the comfort of your own home.

10. Dress Code: Green and Gold

A green and gold dress code adds to the fun of your St. Patrick’s Day party. Encourage guests to wear clothes in these colours, from leprechaun costumes to four-leaf clover outfits.

Don’t forget to provide shamrock hats and green wigs for those who may have forgotten their green attire. This dress code will have everyone looking the part and adds to the overall celebratory atmosphere.

11. Craft Corner for Kids

A craft corner keeps kids entertained during your St. Patrick’s Day party. Provide materials for DIY projects like paper strip clovers, vibrant suncatchers and rainbow pom pom wands.

Make leprechauns with felt, pipe cleaners and pom poms and let the kids get creative while celebrating Irish folklore. Encourage each child to make their own to take home as a memento of the party.

12. St. Patrick's Day Movie Marathon

For a low key celebration host a St. Patrick’s Day movie marathon with Irish themed films. Include movies like Hunger, Normal People, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Leap Year in your lineup.

Ask guests to bring snacks and drinks and create a cozy atmosphere while watching the films. This is a great way to wind down after a day of partying and enjoy the holiday with friends and family.

13. Create an Irish Pub

Transform a corner into a cozy Irish pub with brick wallpaper, Celtic decor and vintage beer signs. Add a dartboard, traditional games and a snug area with warm lighting and comfortable seating. A bar with proper glassware, Irish snacks, trivia cards and dimmed lighting will complete the pub experience.

14. Interactive Food & Drink Stations

Interactive food and drink stations are a great way to engage your guests and add some fun to your St. Patrick’s Day party. Here are some ideas:

• DIY Irish Nacho Bar: Set up a station where guests can top potato slices with cheese, bacon, green onions and sour cream. Offer a variety of toppings for a customizable experience.

• "Build Your Own Shamrock Shake" Station: Provide vanilla ice cream, milk, mint extract and green food coloring. Include toppings like whipped cream, chocolate chips and cherries for a personal touch.

• Irish Whiskey Tasting Station: Feature a selection of whiskeys for guests to sample, paired with traditional snacks like soda bread and cheese to enhance the experience.

15. Irish Themed Food Competitions

Add a competitive element to your St. Patrick’s Day party with these Irish-themed food competitions:

• Soda Bread Bake-Off: Invite guests to bring their best soda bread recipes. A panel of judges will decide the winner based on taste and authenticity. Encourage creativity with ingredients for a unique twist on traditional Irish soda bread.

• Potato Cooking Contest: Challenge participants to make their favorite potato-based dishes. From colcannon to boxty this competition highlights the versatility of the humble potato and adds to the fun of your party.* Shamrock Shake Challenge: Have guests create the best shake using mint extract, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

These competitions showcase your guests’ culinary skills and a fun way to enjoy Irish flavors on St. Patrick’s Day.

16. Try Your Luck Casino Night

Add some excitement to your St. Patrick’s Day with a Try Your Luck casino night. Transform your party space into a mini-casino with card tables, poker chips and dice games. Encourage guests to dress up in green and gold attire for extra fun.

Set up gaming stations for blackjack, roulette and poker using chocolate gold coins as currency. Add themed games like Leprechaun’s Luck or Pot of Gold Roulette and prizes for winners.

For a relaxed vibe, provide Irish-themed board games and puzzles. Pair with Irish whiskey cocktails or shamrock shakes for a fun night.

This casino night brings everyone together and makes your St. Patrick’s Day party one to remember.

17. Themed Awards/Contests

Add to the festive fun of your St. Patrick’s Day with themed awards and contests. These lighthearted competitions get everyone in the holiday spirit. Here are some ideas:

• Best green attire

• Most creative leprechaun costume

• Best Irish accent

• Best Irish dance moves

• Most spirited guest

Make Your St. Patrick's Day Party Unforgettable

A great St. Patrick’s Day party is all about embracing the holiday with decorations, Irish food, festive drinks, games and entertainment. With these ideas you’ll have a St. Patrick’s Day to remember with your loved ones.

So gather your people, wear green and gold and get ready to party on St. Patrick’s Day. Whether through dancing, crafting or just being with good company these party ideas will make your St. Patrick’s Day awesome.