St. Patrick’s Day: The Ultimate Party-Planning Guide

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, it is time to don your green attire and start planning your celebrations. Whether you are hosting a large event or a small gathering, this guide will provide you with everything you need to make your celebration special. From recipes to games to security—we have you covered in this St. Patrick’s Day party-planning guide.

St. Patrick’s Day Games

Bingo

Here’s an easy classic—bingo. Adults and children alike can enjoy the thrills of marking cards and winning prizes. Bingo is an easy game to set up. Simply procure some fun prizes, design your own bingo card, and get the gang together! Use this game for small and large gatherings.

Hide the Coin

This one is most suitable for small gatherings and is enjoyed by kids of all ages. The game itself is simple—hide a coin(s) somewhere in your home or venue. You can either inform your guests of the game or wait until your guests find the coins unprompted. Each coin can correspond to a specific prize, or let your lucky winner choose a prize from a collection.

Trivia

Who doesn’t love a little trivia? Divide your guests into teams, or every man can play for themselves. Prepare your questions and get your guests ready to compete (with a delicious Irish beer or whiskey, if you’re so inclined). Not super familiar with Irish history? Don’t worry—ChatGPT can do the legwork for you!

St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Shamrock Shakes

Let’s start with another classic. There is no need to run to your local fast-food establishment when you can impress your guests by making deliciously minty milkshakes from scratch. Here is what you will need to make one shamrock shake (simply multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you are serving).

• 2 cups softened vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup whole milk OR Irish cream (see recipe below)
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Green food coloring
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Maraschino cherry (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

Simply add your vanilla ice cream, peppermint extract, and a few drops of food coloring to your blender. Blend well until the food coloring is evenly distributed. Then, pour into a cup, top with whipped cream and sprinkles, and serve with a cherry on top and a smile.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Nothing goes better with St. Patrick’s Day than corned beef, and nothing cooks it better than a slow cooker. Here is what you will need to knock the socks right off your guests.

• 6 medium red potatoes, quartered
• 3-4 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2-3 medium carrots, cut into chunks
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 corned beef briskets with spice packets (3 pounds each)
• 3/8 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 2 tablespoons whole peppercorns
• 4 cups beef broth
• Seasoning binder

To make delicious corned beef in the slow cooker, begin by patting your meat dry with a paper towel. Then add your binder. I recommend using brown or Dijon mustard, but it is up to you. Lather each piece of meat with 1-2 tablespoons of the binder of your choosing. This will help keep your seasoning applied to your meat during the cooking process. Remember, all you need is a thin layer!

Now that your binder is applied, we can season your brisket. Evenly cover your meat with brown sugar, coriander seeds, and whole peppercorns. Next, add your potatoes, carrots, and celery to the bottom of your slow cooker. Then, add your brisket over the top of your veggies. Cover your meat with slices of onion. This will help keep your meat nice and moist during the duration of the long cooking process.

Lastly, pour your beef broth over the top of your meat and veggies and cook low and slow for eight hours. Remember to baste your brisket every 2 hours to keep it nice and juicy. To serve, cut the brisket across the grain and be sure to fill your plate with plenty of tender veggies. You can also pour a little juice from the slow cooker over the top of everything for added flavor.

Homemade Irish Cream

Irish cream is a favorite at many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Whether served with coffee, whiskey, coffee and whiskey, or simply as is, homemade Irish cream can add something special to any celebration. Irish cream is so simple to make, and your guests will love it! Here is what you will need.

• 12 ounces of evaporated milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

To make your Irish cream, put all the ingredients listed above in a blender and blend until silky smooth. That’s it. You did it! For a little pick-me-up, fill your coffee cup with a 50-50 mixture of black coffee and Irish cream. You can also add a shot of whiskey for a truly Irish experience.

 

Secure Your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

As you begin to prepare your venue, entertainment, and refreshments for your amazing St. Patrick’s Day event, don’t let security be an afterthought. Perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective way to perform gate control is through wristbands from Wristband Resources™. We offer a wide variety of different band types, all of which can be customized to feature the name of your event or organization. Using our online configurator, you can add custom text, logos, graphics, and fonts to your wristbands. We offer three types of bands that are commonly used for holiday celebrations.

Tyvek Wristbands

Tyvek wristbands are our most inexpensive offering and are perfect for events lasting 72 hours or less. Though paper-like, these bands are tear-resistant and waterproof, which is handy in case somebody spills their Irish cream.

Cloth Wristbands

Cloth wristbands are preferred by upscale events because they are designed for both comfort and type. Your guests will want to take them home as a souvenir of the fun they had at your celebration. Like our other bands, they are waterproof and durable.

Silicone Wristbands

Silicone wristbands are often used in fundraisers and team-building activities. These bands are reusable and can be sold to raise money and show support for an organization or institution. For instance, a school’s sports team may use these rubber bracelets in a St. Patrick’s Day-themed fundraising event to raise money for a new facility or equipment.

Get Started

We take a lot of pride in producing the highest-quality wristbands for any celebration. Through Wristband Resources™, you have the tools to design the perfect wristbands for any St. Patrick’s Day party. Simply start by choosing the type of band that works best for you, then add your custom text and logos. It has never been simpler.