Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Kids: Fun and Festive Ideas for the Whole Family

St. Patrick’s Day is more than green clothes and shamrock hunts; it’s an opportunity to honor Irish culture, spend quality family time, and create memories with your kids that will last a lifetime! Whether you’re Irish or simply Irish-at-heart, we’ve put together some fun, family-friendly ideas to help make this St. Patrick’s Day extra special. Whether you’re looking for arts and crafts ideas, recipes, games, or outings, there’s something here for everyone!

1. Get Crafty with St. Patrick’s Day DIYs

Time to break out the glue sticks, glitter, and green paint! Making crafts is a great way to get kids into the holiday spirit. Here are some simple and merry ideas:

• Shamrock Suncatchers: Create colorful shamrock window decorations with green tissue paper, contact paper, and black construction paper.
• Leprechaun Hats: Use paper cups and plates to create tiny leprechaun hats. Finish with a gold buckle for a little extra pizazz!
• Rainbow Mobiles: Rainbows cut out of colorful paper and hanging by string make a jolly decoration.
• Pot of Gold Jars: Paint or glitter up some mason jars, then fill them with chocolate coins or little treasures.

2. Make Some Irish-Inspired Treats

Without yummy food, no celebration is complete! Give the kids a role in the kitchen with these fun, simple recipes:

• Rainbow Fruit Skewers: Assemble a rainbow of fruits like strawberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, and blueberries on skewers for a healthful yet snazzy nibble.
• Shamrock Shakes: Blend some mint chocolate chip ice cream with milk and a handful of spinach (for a secret healthy boost) for a wondrous St. Patrick’s Day delight.
• Pot of Gold Cupcakes: Bake cupcakes and top with green frosting, gold sprinkles, and a chocolate coin.
• Irish Soda Bread: Make a basic version of this traditional bread — it’s a fun way to introduce children to Irish food.

3. Go on a Leprechaun Hunt

Transform your home or backyard into a whimsical leprechaun adventure!

• Set the Scene: Leave little green footprints (made with washable paint or cutouts) leading toward the kids’ “leprechaun trap.”
• Leave Clues: Write a scavenger hunt with rhyming clues that lead to a hidden “pot of gold” (chocolate coins or small toys).
• Incorporate Some Magic: Leave behind a mess for the leprechaun (green confetti all over the place, chairs knocked over) or a silly note thanking the kids for trying to catch him.

4. Dress the Part

Get the entire family into the spirit by dressing up in green and gold:

• DIY Costumes: Create leprechaun hats, beards, or fairy wings of felt.
• Face Paint: Paint on freckles, shamrocks, or rainbows on your little one’s face for a little festive touch.
• Miscellaneous: Green socks, hair bows, temporary tattoos, whatever you have!

5. Explore Irish Culture

Make St. Patrick’s Day a good time to teach kids about Irish traditions and history:

• Read Irish Folktales: Read stories about leprechauns, fairies, and St. Patrick himself.
• Learn an Irish Dance: Find a few videos on YouTube of traditional Irish step dancing and practice some moves together.
• Play Irish Music: Put together a playlist of Irish folk songs or give kids a chance to hear instruments like the tin whistle or bodhrán.

6. Plan a Family Outing

If you’re interested in celebrating outside of your home, search for local St. Patrick’s Day festivities:

• Parades: Many cities throw family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day parades featuring music, dancing, and floats.
• Festivals: Seek out Irish cultural festivals that include food, crafts, and live performances.
• Nature Walk: Go for a hike and look for signs of spring — green leaves, clovers, maybe even a rainbow!

7. Spread the Luck

St. Patrick’s Day is about luck and kindness, so spread a little cheer.

• Kindness Rocks: Decorate some rocks with St. Patrick’s Day motifs and leave them around your neighborhood for other people to find.
• Donating Green: Collect any gently used green clothes or toys and donate them to a local charity.
• Write Lucky Notes: Kids can write encouraging words or make drawings to share with others — friends, family members, neighbors.

Final Thoughts

St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to celebrate with your kids and start family traditions that will last a lifetime. Whether you are crafting, cooking, or searching for leprechauns, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy some time together as a family.

Happy (and lucky) St. Patrick’s Day from your friends at NW Kids Magazine! Wishing you laughter, love, and maybe a touch of magic on your day.

For St. Patrick’s Day events, check out our online calendar

What are some of your favorite St. Patrick’s Day traditions? Let us know with your thoughts in the comments below!