Host a St. Patrick’s Day Party

February 12th, 2013 posted by Jan Finlayson

This St. Patrick’s Day, your kids will love celebrating with a party that celebrates with an Irish theme. Begin by decorating in a green theme with plenty of gold and rainbows. The kids can wear green hats that you buy or that they make at the beginning of the party. Here are some ideas of fun games that bring the spirit of the Irish out.

Treasure Hunt – Find the End of the Rainbow Prior to the party, make several rainbows using markers and poster paper. Hide pile of chocolate or gold coins with each rainbow around the party area. Create a map or give out Irish themed clues for the children to use to find each rainbow.

Hot Potato Don’t drop that potato! This traditional game of passing a potato around a circle is sped up by fun Irish jig music. The player that is caught holding the potato when the music stops sits out and is in charge of the music for the next round. You can also do a variation using a Blarney Stone, which can be any small stone.

Irish Jig Chairs Continue with the festive Irish music for a rousing game of Musical Chairs. The children must dance a jig as they follow around in a circle.

Party Food It’s not a St. Patrick’s Day party without great food that includes potatoes or something green. Try to stay on the healthy side making potato skins with minimal amounts of bacon and cheese. Green apples, kiwi, and green grapes can be served with yogurt. Small sandwiches or quesadillas can be cut out in the shape of a shamrock. Green gelatin is another fun and festive food. Top things off with this different version of a Shamrock shake:

Luck of the Irish Peppermint Shake

2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream 3/4 cup milk Junior Mints or Peppermint Pattie Bars, about a 1/2 cup, cut in pieces Green food coloring

Place the candy in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend at medium speed for 30 seconds. Stir as needed and blend until desired consistency and color is reached. Top with leftover candy pieces. Serve with spoons and straws.