How to Throw a Great Saint Patrick's Day Party

Saint Patrick's Day is a wonderful reason to get together with friends, have a good time, and enjoy all things Irish. If this sounds appealing, here are some ideas to help your party be a success.

Step 1

Get the invitations out at least two weeks in advance. This will give people plenty of time to make plans to attend and respond to the invitation. To keep it simple and easy, email the invitations, using some type of fun background with shamrocks or something else that speaks of the holiday.

Step 2

Have fun with the decorations without spending a lot of money. Many discount retailers will have paper shamrocks, Saint Patrick's Day themed napkins, paper cups and plates that are ideal for the occasion. Try draping strands of green lights here and there for effect, as well as making ample use of banners and other fun items.

Step 3

Do a green menu. If you want to keep everything limited to finger foods, you'll find that it is relatively easy to come up with green food. Green food coloring in homemade goodies like sausage balls works great.

A punch made using lemon lime soda and lime sherbet will be a welcome sight for guests who don't drink, and green beer will work well for those that do.

If you want to expand the menu to include other foods, then have plenty of green salads, green mashed potatoes, chicken grilled with green herbs and spices, and a lime flavored cake that is made even more appropriate with a little green food coloring.

Step 4

Consider making the party into an event where everyone dresses in something that has to do with Ireland. It could be traditional Irish clothing, a prominent figure from Irish history, a fictional Iris character, or a popular Irish entertainer.

Step 5

Get some Irish music going. You can load up with traditional Irish bar tunes, or go with some of the contemporary music by Irish artists. As long as you and your guests like the music, and there is room for dancing, the party should be a huge success.

Tips and Warnings

Keep the individual tastes of your guests in mind, as well as any dietary restrictions. By making sure everyone is comfortable and has enough to eat, it will be much easier for them to mingle and have a good time.