How to Throw the Best-Ever St. Patrick’s Day Party: Pro’s Easy Ideas Make It Fun + Festive

With all the classic delicious food, festive drinks, music and fun moments spent with friends and family, it’s no wonder St. Patrick’s Day is a favorite holiday for so many. And if you feel like skipping a crowded parade or pub this year, you’re in luck! We tapped party pros for their best tips on tossing together a stylish Emerald Isle-themed bash in the comfort of your own home. Keep reading for the savvy and simple St Patrick’s Day party ideas.

“The color inspiration for this party is shades of greens with gold,” says party pro Stephanie Eckman, founder of ThePartyDarling.com. “Whether you’re Irish or simply Irish at heart, you’ll have the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day celebration with this setup!” It’s easy to get the look of Eckman’s chic tableau (above)! Just push a table against a wall and top with a white tablecloth and gilded party-store plates and cups. Knot inflated green, gold and white balloons onto string to create a garland; tape to wall and ceiling. To finish, tape a few party-store paper fans to the wall. Next display help-yourself sweet treats on cake plates and sprinkle confetti, gold coins and shamrocks on the table.

Surprise loved ones with lucky place settings

Eckman brought the classic colors of the holiday to each seat at her bash with gorgeous green-and-gold settings. For each, top a gold party-store plate with a smaller shamrock-kissed paper plate. To offer rustic countryside flair, add a green plaid napkin and wooden utensils.

Win instant smiles with festive popcorn cups

Guests will delight over a popcorn “bar” complete with cute cups and fun toppings! To do: Set out festive paper cups alongside a large bowl or tub of popcorn. Place a large spoon or scoop in the popcorn. Next, set out small bowls with serving spoons and fill with sweet and savory mix-ins like chocolate chips, candies, peanuts, ranch seasoning and more!

Add a rainbow of color with a beautiful bouquet

All it takes is a medley of colorful supermarket blooms and a few minutes to create a fluffy, rainbow-inspired bouquet. It’s a perfect focal point for a dining table or a happy “hello” for an entry table! To get the look, pick up a few bunches of seasonal supermarket blooms in a variety of colors (choose bright shades of red, orange, yellow, blue and violet to capture a vibrant rainbow feel). Next, fill a 6″ clear glass vase halfway with water. Snip stems to lengths between 7″ and 11″. Add stems to the vase one at a time, alternating colors as you go, forming a soft, rounded mound. Fill in gaps with scattered pops of “gold” by tucking in yellow filler flower (like Goldenrod) and extra greenery. Display.

Sweeten the day with stout cupcakes

Infusing beer into cupcakes lends a hint of malty deliciousness that enhances the sweet flavors! To make a batch: Replace 1 cup of liquid in a boxed vanilla cake mix with 1 cup of stout beer (like Guinness), plus an extra 2 Tbs. of oil and bake according to box directions; let cool. For the frosting, whip 2 Tbs. of stout beer into your favorite vanilla frosting recipe and pipe onto cupcakes in swirls. Finish by topping cupcakes with green sprinkles and holiday party picks. For a variety of St Patrick’s Day party supplies and decor, starting at $2, visit ThePartyDarling.com.

Say “cheers” with creamy signature sips

Refreshing yet decadent, this mint-chocolate twist on a traditional grasshopper cocktail is a dream — and it doubles as dessert! To make two cocktails at once, combine 1⁄4 cup of crème de menthe, 1⁄4 cup of white chocolate liqueur and 1⁄4 cup of heavy cream in an ice-filled cocktail shaker; cover. Shake well and strain into glasses. Garnish with a sprig or two of fresh mint. Tip: For an extra layer of yum, dip the rims of the glasses in water, then chocolate shavings before making the drinks.

Related: These 7 Irish Drinks Are Delicious + Authentic — Perfect to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Enhance the fun with a festive coin toss game

Get everyone in the party spirit with a playful spin on a simple skill-based game of coin toss. Just stagger party-store black pots or leprechaun hats upside down on the floor and assign each a different point amount depending on the difficulty of the toss. Then have guests take turns tossing plastic coins into the hats or pots. The person who scores the most wins a prize, like a cute little bag filled with chocolate gold coins and a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Another way to boost the fun? On-theme music! Give your space the atmosphere of an inviting, lively Irish pub with a soundtrack that suits the holiday! If you prefer CDs, check out St. Patrick’s Day Great Irish Pub Songs ($11, Amazon.com) or search for the “St. Patrick’s Day” playlist on Spotify.

Serve up sweet joy with wow-worthy ‘drip’ cake

To make this showstopper, stack 3 cake layers on a plate, spreading a thin layer of white icing in between each layer and over cake; chill. Mix a drop or two of gel food coloring (add more gel for bolder color) and a drop of vodka, then use a clean paintbrush to paint a stripe around the cake’s sides. Continue painting stripes in rainbow colors. Pour 1⁄2 cup of warmed heavy cream over 1 cup of white chocolate chips; mix until smooth. Spoon over cake and let drip down edges. Pipe 6 colorful frosting swirls on top.

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For more Saint Patrick’s Day ideas and stories check out:

Irish Nachos Are a Delicious Potato Twist on Nachos That’ll Wow Your Crowd — Here’s the Easy Recipe

Beyond Corned Beef: This Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Is Irish Chef’s Favorite

Why Do People Keep Pinching Me? The Origins of 4 St. Patrick’s Day Traditions, Explained