It isn’t often I mention booze-free ways to party. After all, the name of my blog begins with Vodka! But, as a mom of three I realize it’s fun to get festive with the fam on holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, so when Sarah at The Prevention Coalition offered to share some alcohol-free ways to light it up like a leprechaun, I said “Bring it, girl!” What’s great about these ideas is that they actually celebrate culture, and we could all use a little more o’ that, right?!
10 Alcohol-Free St. Patrick’s Day Activities
Most people recognize St. Patrick’s Day as an international drinking day, replete with green beer and pub-crawls. But the Emerald Isle is full of inspiring music, enchanted dances, entertaining phraseology, and a rich history of myths and stories of bravery. In most major cities across the world, you’ll hear the sound of bagpipes and clog dancing on St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to celebrate the alcohol-free side of Irish culture, here are 10 ways to get your green on this week!
- Host a St. Patrick’s Day party for your kids, featuring green treats, “gold coins” of chocolate, and green Kool-Aid. Then, send them on a shamrock scavenger hunt in the yard or have them create their own paper clovers and hide them throughout the house.
- If there aren’t any Irish events happening locally, consider a mini vacation to visit a city that hosts a St. Patrick’s Day festival with Irish dancers, folk music performers, and green colored rivers and landmarks.
- Visit a local museum that offers exhibits on Irish history and artwork. If you don’t have one nearby, research your family history online and see if you have Irish heritage.
- Go to the public library with your kiddos and check out a few books of Irish folklore. You can spend the evening reading and acting out stories (always amusing!) while enjoying some green snacks.
- Watch a movie that tells the story of an Irish lad or lassie! Try a family-friendly option like The Luck of the Irish or enjoy a date night romcom such as Leap Year.
- Turn your favorite desserts green. Options include sugar cookies covered in icing and green sprinkles or chocolate cupcakes topped with green buttercream and gold, edible glitter paired with a cup of Irish Breakfast Tea.
- Learn to play an Irish instrument. Are you familiar with the penny whistle? You can order this simple flute-like instrument online or pick one up from a local music shop. It won’t be long before the magic of the melodies make you feel like a real Irish musician.
- Make homemade St. Patricks’ Day decorations with your kids, including paper-cut-outs of shamrocks and leprechaun hats you can sport for the day.
- Take your kids out for Shamrock Shakes! Green mint-flavored shakes McDonald’s has during the month of March were always a childhood obsession. Continue the tradition with your little ones.
- Play an Irish-themed board game with your family or friends. Monopoly has a version of the game called Irishopoly.
This article comes courtesy of Sarah Lockwood, co-creator of The Prevention Coalition, an online forum for people seeking information about substance abuse.
How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your family? Let us know in the comments below!
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