For most people, Saint Patrick’s Day is a day of fun and laughter. Most adults generally celebrate by getting together with friends and having a beer or two together, while children often associate the holiday with wearing green. And, most years, St. Patty’s Day is celebrated at different times by adults and children…children acknowledge it at school while adults/parents acknowledge it after hours with friends.
However, this year the day falls on a Saturday, meaning it’s up to parents to find a way to celebrate the holiday with their kids this year. Below are a few activity ideas to help you and your children celebrate the holiday together.
- Host a Dance– If you have some extra space, or know someone who does, then hosting a St. Patrick’s Day dance/party can be a lot of fun. For example, if you live on an acreage with an old barn, you’ve got the perfect space for a dance…or even if you have a large bonus room can be a great place for a gathering. To make it fun for all ages, allow your children to invite their friends and parents, as well as, your friends too. Have a best dressed contest and encourage guests to wear green formal dresses and suits. You can also make green punch and serve lots of green appetizers. Depending on the guests and your thoughts, you may even consider serving green beer and other festive cocktail drinks. A St. Patrick’s Day dance/party allows parents and kids to celebrate the holiday with each other, creating a lot of fun memories!
- Visit a Local Celebration – Since Saint Patty’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, there will be many communities hosting public celebrations for families to attend. Most of these celebrations will have all the food, drink, fun and entertainment your family needs. Who knows, if there isn’t a nearby celebration, maybe you can make a weekend trip out of it and attend one several hours away!
- Have a Scavenger Hunt – Little children love games, so why not create your own backyard St. Patty’s Day scavenger hunt? The kids can spend a couple hours figuring out clues to find their four-leaf clover. This can be a great activity when combined with a family BBQ. You can even take it a step farther and end it when the kids find the prize…a stack of movie tickets for a movie the entire family can go to after the BBQ…or, maybe even a few Leprechaun themed movies to end the night with!
Whatever you decide to do this year on Saint Patrick’s Day, find a way to celebrate it with your children. It may not be the “normal” way you celebrate the holiday, but since it is on a Saturday this year, make it special for the kids. Even if you never celebrate the holiday, do something symbolizing it this year for the children.