While St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) celebrates the life and death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the holiday has evolved into a celebration of American Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green in the days both leading up to and following the holiday.

Not Irish? Not to worry. These local family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebrations welcome everyone, so come and celebrate your luck o’ the Irish!

More Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Your Family

• Search for Four-Leaf Clovers: Long considered a Celtic token of good luck, these rare pieces of greenery are the ultimate needle in a haystack. Unless there’s snow on the ground (it is still winter after all!) spend some time searching for a token of your own. 
• Have the Leprechaun visit every night while you sleep: Similar to the Elf on the Shelf, the Leprechaun comes by every night to do mischievous things like empty the tissue box or hide the remote. Or, have the kids make leprechaun traps!
• Read How to Catch a Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Book for Kids or There Once Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover for some lighthearted fun.
• Make Irish Potatoes: These aren’t real potatoes, they’re a sweet coconut truffle covered in cinnamon. A tradition unique to Philadelphia and super fun (and easy) to make!
• Research Your Family Tree: Even if you don’t have Irish roots, now is a great time to trace your own family’s history and find out where you and your family are from!
• Eat Corned Beef and Cabbage: A classic dish of the Irish, this meal is both hearty and delicious.
• Have an Irish Movie Marathon: For the Younger crowd, queue up the made for tv Disney movie The Luck of the Irish. For the teens, give Boondock Saints a go.
• Share your blessings with someone else. Although the December holidays are over, the need for volunteers and charitable gifts are still vital. Use your family’s time and talents to give back to the community.