Choose Sober Celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day

Looking for alternative festivities for St. Patrick’s Day?

Thankfully, there is more to the holiday than imbibing green beer.

Here are some great ideas for celebrating sober.

Irish eats.

Opt for some traditional Irish foods to make the day fun and festive.

One idea is to cook up a full Irish breakfast to start the day off right.

Fry some tomatoes with a few slices of bacon and serve some black pudding, aka blood sausage.

Bake a loaf of soda bread and accompany the meal with a pot of tea.

Snack later on yummy, buttery scones or delicious apple tarts.

For a hearty supper, roast a meat with potatoes, peas, and carrots and top it all off with gravy.

Non-alcoholic beverages.

If the day doesn’t seem right without an interesting beverage, you can always brew up a fun punch.

Betty Crocker suggests mixing iced green tea or limeade with lime sherbet and either ginger ale or lemon-lime soda for carbonation.

Garnish with slices of kiwi fruit or wedges of lime to keep the color theme pure.

Creative crafts.

Making your own decorations is a great way to celebrate the day.

For instance, Redfin recommends creating your own simple but fun banner with string, ribbon, and paper.

Or you can make a wreath out of clothespins painted various shades of green and add a shamrock or two in the center, then hang it in your laundry area or on the front door.

Do you love decorating with canning jars?

Create shamrock luminaries, painted green and stenciled with clover leaves, and illuminate them with tea lights. Another option is to spray-paint your jars with metallic paint and add some green shamrocks for the holiday.

Insert handfuls of fresh flowers in varied heights for a cheerful centerpiece.

Fun and games.

Do you have little ones in the family?

Include them in your celebrations with St. Patrick’s Day-oriented games.

Little can make a holiday more special than watching children laughing and playing.

Some experts suggest games like a treasure hunt in which you hide gold-wrapped chocolate coins or butterscotch candies and have the kids fill pails with the “gold.” Another use for the pails and coins is a tossing game akin to a beanbag toss.

Simply set up the pails across from the children, and they can toss coins into the pails.

Would your children enjoy bowling?

Create a game similar to bowling, only you’ll need to make a rainbow on poster board. Children slide their coins toward the end of the rainbow where the pot of gold would be. They can knock each other’s coins away as the game progresses. In the end, whoever has the coin closest to the end of the rainbow wins.

Parades.

Attending a parade or two is a terrific way to occupy your St. Patrick’s Day, and if you take the children along or gather some friends, it’ll be all the more fun. Historically, the day began as a religious celebration in high-end clubs, but some professionals note it evolved to include parades throughout North America. Check with area municipalities for celebrations near you.

Irish music.

Round out your holiday enjoying traditional Irish tunes with a modern twist.

One reviewer recommends trying selections by contemporary musicians, such as the instrumental ensemble that calls themselves “Lúnasa,” or the band “Dervish” who offers a distinct and talented vocalist bringing old standards back to life.

Your St. Patrick’s Day merrymaking will be lively and engaging with a handful of clever ideas. Celebrate with interesting foods and beverages, create fun decorations, enjoy your children playing games and watching parades, and wrap up the day with traditional music. You’ll find your alternative festivities will make a most memorable event!

By :Sarah Lockwood

About The Author

Sarah co-created The Prevention Coalition to provide an online forum for people seeking information about substance abuse.

Ms. Lockwood is a retired social worker. Today, she writes for The Prevention Coalition.

You can reach her at: sarah@thepreventioncoalition.org